This year Book Expo America was quite a different experience for me. Last year I lacked contacts, so I really thought I needed ARCs. Also, I think I placed more importance on ARCs than necessary at this time last year. Now I have contacts, so I really just wanted to give my PR reps lots of hugs and hear about what books each publisher thought I might enjoy. I stood in exactly two and a half lines to get books signed. I am not even going to get into the “and a half” part other than to say “Two And A Half Lines” sounds like a bad BEA or possibly drug related sitcom. Over the next week or two, I will be posting about the books that caught my eye at BEA Bloggers, Book Expo America, and at the bookish events I attended. Consider this part two of three posts containing books that caught my eye during the festivities. Some of the books are upcoming releases for this Fall and others have been out for a while. The following are books that grabbed my attention at Book Expo America:
The first two books are the ones I was most excited about getting my grubby, little hands on, and I stood in line to get them signed by the authors. Both of the books are published by Da Capo. I’m not quite sure what is in the water over at Da Capo. I imagine it’s maybe crushed up ecstasy or cherry flavored Kool Aid, because they are producing some awesome books. And by awesome books I mean the two I stood in line for. The other books in this list are in no particular order of how excited I am to read them or anything like that. I am much too lazy right now to rank my excitement in any way other than giving a really worn out thumbs up to all of them. Don’t forget! I’ll be posting about even more books that caught my attention in a third post based on book buzz at parties I attended hosted by HarperCollins, Random House, and Penguin.
With Michael Ian Black and Meghan McCain
America, You Sexy Bitch by Michael Ian Black and Meghan McCain If you are a regular reader it will come as no surprise that I was looking forward to snagging a copy of this book. I recently hosted Michael Ian Black Week here on the blog, and I am a huge fan of his. Click here to see the posts from MIB Week. Also, America, You Sexy Bitch: A Love Letter to Freedom
Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Fanny Merkin (AKA Andrew Shaffer) Fifty Shames of Earl Grey
Other Books I learned About At BEA And Am Looking Forward To Reading:
When It Happens To You: A Novel In Stories by Molly Ringwald I was really excited to hear one of my favorite actresses has a book coming out this September. When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories
This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz I had the pleasure of seeing Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz speak at the Adult Book and Author Breakfast on day one of BEA. I can’t put into words how wonderful it was to hear him speak. I was basically nodding my head in agreement and elbowing my husband during his entire speech. Listening to Diaz contemplate love and passion and how it affects men who have been taught not to show they care with regards to the plot of his latest novel This Is How You Lose Her
The Art Of Procrastination: A Guide To Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging and Postponing By John Perry The Art of Procrastination appeals to me for one very big reason: I am the QUEEN of procrastination! Also, I have been in the mood for some quirky nonfiction, so this was exactly the kind of thing I am looking to read lately. John Perry is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University. According to the back of the book, he actually wrote The Art of Procrastination: A Guide to Effective Dawdling, Lollygagging, and Postponing, Including an Ingenious Program for Getting Things Done by Putting Them Off
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters I loved Ben H. Winters’s last book Bedbugs. It was one of my favorite books of 2011. So, I am thrilled that he has a new book coming out! The Last Policeman: A Novel
The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi W. Durrow This book actually came out in 2010, but I learned about it from Debra, Algonquin’s fabulous online marketing manager. I was told The Girl Who Fell from the Sky
BEA attendees, what books caught your eye on the expo floor? Leave a comment and let me know!
FTC Disclosure: Please assume that I received any book reviewed or mentioned on the site for free from the publisher. Also, if you purchase books by clicking the Amazon links throughout the site, I get a small commission.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a question that has nothing to do with the post above (sorry): I think, since I followed your blog, you have only written one slightly negative review. It just made me wonder – are you really so lucky when picking out books? Or do you sometimes read something, realize it is horrible, and then decide not to write about it?
I know there are probably good things to say about most books, and one of the things I really enjoy about your blog is the variety in compliments you give a book – you don’t just have a model for how to praise a book, but actually write what you liked about it. And that’s nice. But really, do you never read something awful?
Nat
Yes, I have read some pretty awful books! I typically know within the first 40 pages whether I’m going to like a book or not. Once I hit 40 pages, if I’m still not feeling it, I stop reading it.
In my review policy it states that I don’t review books that I don’t finish. I don’t feel like it’s fair to the author to negatively review a book I haven’t finished.
Also, I am very choosy about which books I select for review. I do as much research on each title as I can to see if this is something that will suit my specific taste. Sometimes books still miss and sadly they don’t get reviewed on the site because I couldn’t finish. I try to pass along the ones I couldn’t finish to blogger friends so they will still get coverage elsewhere.
My philosophy is that my TBR is to big to waste my time reading something that I’m going to end up fretting over writing a negative review. There have been one or two that I was able to finish & I tried to be as critical as possible without being harsh. That’s hard for me to do because if I let myself go I tend to have a very gregarious personality. If I eventually review 50 Shades of Grey you’ll see what I mean, because I probably will not hold back on that one. (But I still haven’t finished it! haha) The last Sookie Stackhouse noel was the most current negative review I’ve done. It was mostly out of disappointment because I have become so invested in the series.
I also review for RT Book Review Magazine and I do not have the same luxury with that publication. I have to finish each book and give my honest opinion: the good, the bad, and the ugly.:)
I did a post about this too and it was tough to narrow down, but I think the book I most excited about is In the Shadow of the Banyan.
I’ll have to look up Shadow of the Banyan. I usually like the same books as you, so I bet I’ll enjoy that one too.
It was really hard for me to narrow down the list too. Last night I finally said “enough’s enough. I have to make a decision.” It’s so hard to pick just 7 out of the many wonderful books that were out on the floor this year. My only consolation is that I’m going to do a longer, party buzz post that will cover books from the Random, Penguin, and Harper events.
Isn’t Junot the best! He’s so sweet and he was at the Penguin booth for awhile speaking with fans and telling them how much he appreciated them reading his work. Such a great guy and a talented writer.
Heidi Durrow is the sweetest author and I LOVED “When She Woke” by Hilary Jordan. So glad I nabbed an arc for that last year.
I’m amped about the Janet Groth book from Algonquin, the new Dennis Lehane, the new Maggie Stiefvater, and Vagina: A Biography. I was glad to get the Kat Zhang book also since I heard things about it and am excited to finally read Jesmyn Ward’s book. Just started America, You Sexy Bitch for Mandy’s Book Club!!!