Overview

This was my third time attending the L.A. Times Festival of Books and I had an absolute blast. Here, I describe my overall experience, the (many) books I bought, and my tips for anyone wanting to go the FOB in 2024.

My Day

My dad and I arrived at USC around 9 AM, which was perfect because that gave us enough time to walk around the campus as vendors were setting up. We made mental notes of tents we wanted to revisit later in the day. I scheduled two panels for the day, one around noon and the other in late afternoon.

Between the two panels, we walked around, bought books, and I signed up for a Los Angeles Public Library card. It was very hot, and after hours of walking and standing in the sun, around 3 PM we sat in the shade and just talked as we waited for the last panel. My tote bag quickly filled up with freebies and books. We left around 6 PM with our feet tired, tote bag full, a little sunburnt, but happy.

Panels

What Fiction Has to Offer: Ottessa Moshfegh and Rachel Kushner with mediator David L. Ulin

This was the first panel of our day. I signed up for this panel to hear Moshfegh speak. I loved My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Eileen, and I was excited to read her latest novel Lapvona. I had not read any of Kusher’s work, but after this panel I am excited to delve into her novels, starting with The Mars Room. My only problem with this panel was that the subject of the talk, “what fiction offers us,” is too broad and all-encompassing of a subject to be discussed in an hour-long conversation. Still, both Moshfegh and Kushner did an amazing job, despite the vague questions. It was fascinating to hear both of them talk about their work.

Siblings and Survivors: Dk Nnuro, Tracy Rose Peyton, Lynn Steger Strong, with mediator Aimee Liu

I originally signed up for this panel because I wanted to see Leila Mottley. However, days before the event I got an email that Mottley canceled. While I was bummed Mottley could not attend, I felt like having four authors in the panel might have been too crowded. Having three authors allowed each of them enough time to discuss their own work and build upon the ideas of others. I am so glad that I went to this panel, because it was fascinating to hear each of the authors talk about the similarities and differences between their works, as well as what inspired each of their novels.

Books I bought

• My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

  • This is the only book that I bought that I had already read. I did not bring my copy for Moshfegh to sign, so I bought a new, crisp copy that is proudly displayed on my bookshelf.

• The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

• Flight by Lynn Steger Strong

• What Napoleon Could Not Do by DK Nnuro

• Night Wherever We Go by Tracy Rose Peyton

  • Historical fiction

• Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David J. Chalmers

  • Non-fiction

• Daughters of Harriet by Cynthia Parker-Ohene

  • Poetry

• Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell

  • Fantasy

• The Black Queen by Jumata Emill

  • Mystery

• Seasons of Albadone by Élan Marché and Christopher Warman

  • Fantasy

  • The first novel in The Eighth Chant Series

• A Contract in Sol Forne by Élan Marché and Christopher Warman

  • The second novel in The Eighth Chant Series

• Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones

Tips for next time

Get there EARLY

I recommend getting to the festival at around 9 AM. This gives you enough time to walk around the campus while vendors finish setting up to scope out tents to visit later and to buy books before the crowds. From 12 PM to 3 PM, some of the booksellers’ tents were so cramped it was impossible to browse.

Bring tote bags!

There were so many people walking around with tote bags, and for good reason. People were giving out so many goodies, not to mention all of the purchased books, so it was great to bring one or two bags to carry everything around.

Bring snacks and water

This is the one downside of the festival: finding a place to eat. They have a few food trucks for the event, but they are either too crowded, too expensive, or both. So make sure to bring enough water and snacks to keep you hydrated and happy as you walk around.

Don’t schedule in too much

One of the pitfalls I could see other visitors easily making is trying to squeeze in too many panels into the day. It is so fun to see all of the authors talk, but waiting in line and running around trying to find the next room can eat up your time. Try and aim for less than three author panels.

Be prepared to walk a LOT

I wore my watch the whole day, and I logged in over 14,000 steps! So, bring plenty of water, comfortable shoes, and be prepared to get your steps in.

Conclusion

I had such an amazing time! What I love about events like this is that it makes the world of literature three-dimensional. Seeing authors talking and sitting a few feet away was such a personal experience. To the weeks leading up to this event, I kept joking that the FOB was my “Superbowl”. If you love reading and book culture and you live close by, you need to visit next year. It is a celebration of authors and readers that makes me love reading even more.