insider
BOOKSHELF
The Collective Experience. UNBOUND RETURNS IN-PERSON AND DOWNTOWN. BY SOFIA PEREZ · SUBMITTED PHOTOS
S
even years ago, Alex George
planning the event. In 2021, the decision
nothing like being there in the moment.
founded the Unbound Book
was made to go completely virtual and,
These are unique events that can’t be
Festival with the mission of
“the content was unbelievably good,”
repeated.”
bringing together readers and
George says. “Doing it that way brought
writers to create diverse communities, exposing participants to new ideas and authors. Since then, it has grown to become a nationally recognized literary festival, right in the heart of Missouri. Unbound brings together authors of world-class renown to talk about their books, work and lives. The event takes place over a weekend in Columbia,
“
There’s nothing like being there in the moment. These are unique events that can’t be repeated. - Alex George
but in 2020, the festival was canceled
This year, the Unbound Book Festival is making a fully in-person (and perhaps emotional) return with a new location in downtown Columbia from April 2124. (Previous festivals were held on the Stephens College campus.) “The quality of this year’s panels is fabulous,” George says. “We have at least two Pulitzer Prize winners and authors who were on (former President Barack) Obama's reading list this year.”
about six weeks before it was scheduled.
home to all of us that technology is
The cancellation was particularly hard
wonderful, but it doesn’t replicate being
for writers and readers of all ages.
on Unbound’s team of volunteer staff
there in person — being part of the
For more information on panels, visit
because they work year-round, tirelessly
crowd, the collective experience. There’s
insidecolumbia.com.
120 INSIDE COLUMBIA MARCH/april
2022
The festival will feature programming
