The actor and author hosted the annual literary awards ceremony, held on May 14 in New York City
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The stars were out at the 2026 PEN America Literary Gala.
The annual event, hosted by nonprofit PEN America, opened up the American Museum of Natural History after hours on May 14 for an important mission — to honor authors, booksellers and other literary advocates for their commitment to literature and free speech.
Author and actor B.J. Novak served as host for the evening.
“Supporting PEN is about freedom of speech, freedom of expression, standing up for real human authors who have controversies, who stir conversation and debates and inspire us to get in touch with feelings we didn't know we felt, or sharpen our own ideas,” Novak said. “But there's another purpose for the people in this room tonight. Literary glamor. Writing is glamorous. Reading is glamorous. Freedom of speech is glamorous.”
As such, Novak name-checked a number of glam literary (and literary-adjacent) powerhouses in his opening speech. Here is a list of some of the buzziest.
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Nicolas Cage
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Novak kicked off a night with a note to the crowd — and a reference to the National Treasure star.
“I can see it — all of the literary and cultural [entities] gathered, patting themselves on the back for their commitment to free speech,” Novak said. “Meanwhile, disguised as one of the waiters is Nicolas Cage, here to steal the T-Rex skull that disproves evolution.”
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Stephen King
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“Everyone in this room was inspired by some literary rock star,” Novak said. “For me, it was watching Red Sox games on Channel 38 and realizing that Stephen King had season tickets.”
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Various other "literary rock stars”
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Novak used his speech to highlight the importance of writers as literary influences and tastemakers.
“We've seen posters of Jack Kerouac and Charles Bukowski and James Baldwin and Newbury Comics alongside Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain,” Novak said, adding, “We know that those people were emulating their own literary rock stars. We need to replenish that well.”
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Celebrity readers and book club leaders
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Novak emphasized that some of today’s biggest literature advocates are bookish celebrities, who aren’t afraid to share their passion for reading in different ways.
“I love that Bella Hadid rocks a Strand tote bag and that Emily Ratajkowski carries one from Daunt Books,” Novak said. “And I love that Kaia Gerber and Dua Lipa and Emma Roberts and Laufey have exclusive clubs and they are book clubs.”
Novak also shouted out Harry Styles and his love for the author and fellow marathoner Haruki Murakami, who interviewed the singer for Runner’s World.
Related: Looking for a Starry Read? Consider Joining a Buzzy Celeb Book Club
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Ann Patchett
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“I think it's great that Ann Patchett is a smoke show,” Novak said of the acclaimed author and bookseller, who was honored with the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award. “She doesn't have to be.”
Related: Novelist Ann Patchett Loved This Beloved Book As a Kid: 'I Was Obsessed'
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Gary Shteyngart
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“The next generation is clamoring for its literary legends and we all need to work together on this,” Novak said, joking that he wants to see a movie “about MFA students robbing Carly Tagen-Dye, Lizz Schumer Gary Shteyngart's watch collection.”
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Bill Murray and George R. R. Martin
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Novak also shared other kinds of stories he hopes to see in the future.
“I'm sick of hearing stories about Bill Murray crashing people's weddings,” the host said. “I want to hear about George R.R. Martin wandering graveyards at midnight, offering joints to teenagers and then asking them how they think he should end The Winds of Winter." The book has been unfinished for over 15 years.
Related: George R. R. Martin Gives Update on Game of Thrones Writing: ‘Sometimes I’m Not in the Mood for That'
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Page-to-screen stars
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Novak wrapped up his speech by paying homage to the page-to-screen adaptations that have recently hit the screen — along with one that’s on the way.
“I love that Paul Mescal played Shakespeare last year in Hamnet and Jessie Buckley won an Oscar for playing his wife Anne Hathaway and the modern day Anne Hathaway is playing a journalist in the number one movie in America and starring in an adaptation of The Odyssey this summer while adapting Caro Claire Burke's novel Yesteryear.”
Related: 36 Book-to-Screen Adaptations to Watch in 2026 from Emily Henry, Colleen Hoover and More
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