Let’s kick this off by stating the (potentially) non-obvious. Shall we?

Here’s the Unbound mission:

To bring together readers and writers to create diverse communities, and to expose participants to new ideas and authors in order to inspire a life-long love of books and reading.

And, for those of us (potentially) unawares, a brief history:

The Unbound Book Festival’s inaugural year was 2016. It took place in and around The District of downtown Columbia. The first year’s programming featured keynote speaker, author Michael Ondaatje, writer of the novel “The English Patient,” which is part of the popular historical fiction genre, it won the prestigious Man Booker Prize, and went on to become a film of the same name. The film, readers may recall, won loads of awards, including nine Oscars. Pretty impressive for the kickoff year of a small, FREE, volunteer run, independent, midwestern festival centered on books, writing, and reading. Truly. And the following years? Also most braggadocious. Subsequent keynote speakers featured rock-star famous names in the world of storytelling such as: Salman Rushdie (2017), Zadie Smith (2018), and George Saunders(2019). Oh my!

Zadie Smith and Camille Dungy at the Missouri Theatre, 2018 (photo credit the Missourian)

No joke, y’all. Right here in downtown Columbia, Missouri. It happened. It is happening.

All this under the humble umbrella of a free book festival in flyover country, Unbound. Literally. These aforementioned distinguished guests, these pilgrims, traveled to our fair city to share their time and thoughts. They, who have spent countless hours and efforts quietly observing, considering, and sweating - working to illuminate and express things nearly inexpressible about the human condition. Things about life, love, loss, and relationships, about society, culture, philosophy, policies and politics, about disappointment, joy, and realms of absurdity too. Sometimes they are letting us know there’s a question we have that we’ve been avoiding. Yes, they come and share and leave again, going back to their desks and tinkerings. What do you reckon they left behind? What’s the value add?

Opinions may well vary. But history is clear: all cultures and societies tell stories. All individuals do too. We’re all constantly, consistently, consuming, believing, telling, and participating in stories. From the greatest to the least of us, consciously or unconsciously, well or poorly, true or false, simple or complicated, and, most often, somewhere in the murky middle - we tell and live out stories. So, when a free festival comes along and beckons you into a few days of deliberate reflection on such things . . . you jump at the chance. You get your buns in a seat and bring a pen. You do as the ancients and sit at the feet of those who have gone out ahead and returned to tell you what they saw.

Crowd gathered to hear an Unbound Q&A session during the festival’s inaugural year, 2016. (photo from Missourian)

If you want to learn more about the Unbound Book Festival and how to attend, they have a stellar website that shows you the schedule of events, this year’s (and previous years’) list of poets and novelists, essayists and teachers, and you can get the 411 on this year’s keynote: Emily St. John Mandel, author of many books and recipient of honors. It’s neat stuff.

Unbound kicks off this Thursday, April 18th and lasts through Sunday, the 21st. Take a day or two out from the hustle bustle, spend some time pondering, get inspired, and explore The District at the same time! Maybe you’ll encounter a new favorite book store, coffee shop, local bar or restaurant. Maybe you’ll make a new friend or consider a new thought or become acquainted with a new favorite storyteller or poet. It’s all here waiting to be discovered.

We hope to see you there!

The Unbound Book Festival

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