THE WIT LITERARY FESTIVAL’ S COMMUNITY CONNECTION CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN AND DEEPEN
It Literally Takes a Village
B y M i c h a e l B o r d e n // P h o t o s B y O l i v i a D o u h a n
Matt Tannenbaum and daughter Shawnee are the logistical engine behind the WIT Literary Festival.
THE WIT LITERARY FESTIVAL’ S COMMUNITY CONNECTION CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN AND DEEPEN
Everybody in Lenox knows Matt Tannenbaum. For nearly 50 years, the local celebrity has been the owner and soul behind Lenox’ s venerable The Bookstore, a beloved community institution where every turned page sparks connection, conversation, and sometimes a little magic. Over the decades, it has blossomed into more than just a place to buy books; it’ s a literary sanctuary where dusty classics abut the latest bestsellers, and on weekend nights, the adjacent“ Get Lit” Wine Bar hums with conversation, laughter, and the clink of glasses. Walk in, and Matt is liable to hand you a DVD of his widely shown Hello, Bookstore or a copy of My Years at the Gotham Book Mart, offering a personal glimpse into a world where books are treated like cherished friends.
74 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Fall 2025