Another Cha ter Written

The 1999 Jewish Book Fair comes to a close.

" not-big names" who spoke on the same
night, authors Joshua Levine and Nathan
Englander, provided what she said was prob-
ably one the most exciting evenings of the
s the Jewish Book Fair ended its
fair because both were fabulous speakers.
two-week run, co-chairs Sylvia
"They filled the rooms they were in, and
Gotlib and Carrie Kushner were
absolutely satisfied — more than satisfied —
savoring the biggest success, in the
their audiences," Kushner said.
event's 48-year history.
"Sunday night Carl Reiner came in and
All told, an estimated 20,000 people
within two minutes had the whole Center
came to see and hear talks by such celebrity
eating out of the palm of his hand. But
authors as Alan Dershowitz and Carl Reiner,
that's to be expected. Its the unexpected and
as N,vell as other national authors and some
the unknown authors who are really exciting
up-and-coming local writers. Both Jewish
for us to see, from our end, too," she added.
Community Center locations, in West
Another serendipity came in the small
Bloomfield and Oak Park, hosted record
venue
of the Local Author Fair. Now in its
crowds. Additionally, book sales exceeded
fourth
year, the fair's intimate setting
even the expectations of the fair organizers.
allowed authors and readers to mingle freely
It was the most successful year ever,
and speak substantively with one another.
Gotlib and Kushner maintained, because of
Co-chair Marilyn Weiss said happily,
a combination of strong public interest and
"Everything
worked like clockwork. I think
sound planning.
each
year
we
do it we get better, because we
"I had about, I'd say, over a hundred peo-
get
more
experienced.
ple come up and tell me it was the best
"The authors, for the most part, felt that
book fair they'd ever been to. That part was
the
exposure there was good for them."
great," Gotlib said.
Particularly
gratifying, Weiss added, was the
The event's successes included higher
informal
and
good-natured association
book sales than at any year previous, and
among
the
authors,
who showed active
increased attendance at author talks to the
interest
in
their
colleagues.
extent that not every patron could see the
"They interacted with each other so
more popular speakers. Fairgoers filled every
beautifully,"
she said. "The local authors
seat and snatched up every book at several
enjoyed
each
other, bought each others'
author appearances.
books. It was fun."
The first weekend was so packed, fair vol-
Now, say the book fair volunteer organiz-
unteers passed out free tickets for the second
ers,
taking down the remains of this year's
set of major events to eliminate misunder-
fair
will make way for arranging the next
standings among patrons eager to get seats.
one.
Planning for Jewish Book Fair 2000 is
"We obviously had large crowds, and we
well into its preliminary stages, and will be
perfected a system that made it a little
fully under way shortly after the chairs have
smoother as (the book fair) went on,"
been stacked, and the last leftover books
Kushner said.
Saying that she was "thrilled with the way have been shipped back to their
publishers.0
things have gone," Kushner noted that two

SAM ENGLAND
StaffWriter

Clockwise from above:

She can't read yet, but 16-month-old
Marissa Ruben of West Bloomfield knows what she likes
and goes for it under the watchful eye of sister Dana, 9.
Mike King of Farmington Hills relaxes while reading.

Tirza Raz of West Bloomfield flips through
Alan Dershowitz newest book.

Nathan and Jordan Vale of Farmington
Hills check out the children's books.

Author Yaffa Eliach, right, signs
her book for the patient crowd.

11/19

1999

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