Photo: Jay Willett / WBZ NewsRadio
WENHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Taking a page out of Icelandic tradition, the Wenham Museum hosted a "book flood," on Sunday with over a dozen authors on site to meet and talk to readers looking for a story to bury themselves into for the holidays.
Museum Executive Director Kristin Noon says the practice stems from the 1940s, during WWII when paper was one of the few resources not being rationed at the time.
"So when friends and families were looking to give people gifts during the war; a book was a good choice. The tradition in Iceland that exists— all of the Icelandic people reading on Christmas Eve and drinking hot chocolate," Noon said.
Marci Darling introduced me to her New Orleans-based fiction books Martini Mystery and Champagne Scandal, where each chapter starts with a drink recipe. Darling also had non-fiction books on the table detailing her time traveling across Europe, and another on loss and grief with Divorce Diva.
16-year-old Yash Bolishetti showed his young adult book Aaron Aarrowwood and the Arena.
"It's a story about a boy named Aaron, who travels from planet to planet, living a life of crime," Bolishetti said.
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Towards the front of the room Stefanie Van Steelandt spoke about Lady of the Army: The Life of Mrs. George Patton.
"Let's just say that without his wife he would never have had the success that he had," Van Steelandt said.
WBZ's Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.
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