The Vermont Book Shop, located on Main Street in downtown Middlebury, is hosting a series of upcoming events highlighting regional authors and literature on modern-moment issues. The independent bookstore frequently collaborates with the Town Hall Theater (THT) to host larger literary events.
On Jan. 21, THT and the Vermont Book Shop hosted an event entitled “Living on the Land, Words and Practice” with Ethan Tapper and Helen Whybrow. Tapper, a forester, and Whybrow, who previously worked in independent publishing, discuss their most recent books, “The Salt Stones” and “How to Love a Forest.” In their discussion, the authors further explored “how their work and their writing informs their relationship to place.”
Executive and Artistic Director of THT Lisa Mitchell handles collaboration with the Vermont Book Shop. Mitchell looked forward to the event with Tapper and Whybrow, noting that their topic feels especially relevant.
“In a time when many people are becoming less connected to the land, and more tethered to devices, these authors' unique storytelling, connected to a sense of place, is especially inspiring. And this event is at full capacity with a waiting list, which demonstrates what a hot topic this is,” Mitchell said.
On Feb. 12, THT will host another event in collaboration with the book store, celebrating the launch of “Luminous Bodies,” a historical fiction novel by Devon Jersild based on the life of Marie Curie.
According to the Vermont Books Shop’s website, the novel follows Curies’ life it attempts to stretch “beyond the mythical image of Curie as a woman of drive and consequence… and invite[s] the reader to experience her deeply personal losses and the loss of faith she suffered in the face of a pitiless patriarchy.”
Jerslid is the wife of Professor Emeritus of English and Creative Writing Jay Parini, and the book was published by Paul Dry Books, which is owned by the brother of Charles A. Dana Professor of Political Science Murray Dry.
The final event the bookstore has planned as of this week highlights Hepburn Professor Emerita of Sociology Margaret Nelson’s upcoming book “Peddlers, Merchants and Junk Dealers: Family Life in Small-Town Vermont.” The shop plans to partner with Havurah of Addison County, an organization for Middlebury’s Jewish community, for this specific program. The event is scheduled for June 2026, but the exact date has not yet been announced.
These events are free to the community and market broadly to reach students and local residents alike. Mitchell noted that affordability is important when planning events, ensuring that a diverse audience can engage with the literature.
“No one is turned away due to a lack of funds. We want everyone to be able to participate in the arts,” Mitchell said.
The bookstore has also coordinated events with Ilsley Public Library prior to its ongoing renovation and hosts events in its own space, such as the “Poetry in the Shop” series, where authors read their poetry out loud. But Becky Dayton, owner of Vermont Book Shop, noted that their Town Hall Theater events have been the most successful.
“[Lisa Mitchell] is just as committed to partnering with local organizations to have a really well-rounded program at Town Hall Theater that goes beyond the stage,” Dayton said.
Dayton shared that these events help her to understand and engage with material that she would not have otherwise encountered. By hosting live author events, she learns about new experiences firsthand, seeing them as important for human connection.
“To experience firsthand what it’s like to be exposed to the person, to the creator, to the artist, and then be influenced by it directly was a good lesson for me. I find it necessary to experience what it’s like to talk to people who have different experiences from my own, and so I think that’s what drives me to do these live author events,” Dayton said.
The Vermont Book Shop and THT continue to play a vital role in the Middlebury community through their literary events, bringing audiences together to engage with authors firsthand. With plenty to look forward to in both the winter and spring, the bookstore continues to announce new events on its website.
Violet Wexler '28 (she/her) is a Local News Editor.
Violet has previously served as a staff writer. She is majoring in Political Science and intending to minor in Russian and Psychology. Outside of The Campus, she works with MIDDvotes, hosts a radio show with WRMC, and helps out in the admissions office. Last summer, she was on campus at Middlebury assisting with political science research!
