Oh, Book Expo America!
If only I could have attended you!
Alas, I couldn't make it to BEA this year but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can go in 2013 or 2014. The adventures to be had! The friends to make! And, of course, THE ARCS TO GRAB!
Granted, I'm a pretty slow walker---I blame it on my very small gait!---but I'd definitely ramp up my speed to gather as many ARCs that can I fit into my arms. If I had gone to BEA this year, these are the books that I would've sprinted toward:
Fantasy Reads!
I've wanted to get my hands on this book ever since I read the deal announcement on Publisher's Marketplace. Plus, weren't there six or seven publishers who wanted to buy it? Hello, dream situation!
Understandably, Crewel was one of the biggest ARCs of BEA and the premise certainly has me intrigued: a society of women who can weave time with matter. Must. Read. Now.
I'm lucky enough to be friends with Meg in real life---she is lovely and funny and whip smart---and I simply can't wait to read her debut novel! SKYLARK was chosen as a YA Buzz Panel Pick this year and I'm super excited to dig into this dystopian fantasy.
Please, Let Me Read You!
So this book is set in the 1920s. Have I mentioned that the Roaring Twenties is my FAVORITE historical era ever? Yep. I need to read this.
I fell in love with Stead's novel When You Reach Me, which won the Newbery Prize in 2009. Her newest offering, Liar & Spy, just received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly so I'll definitely be on the lookout for this when it comes out.
Yes, I Read Adult Books Too
THE YELLOW BIRDS by Kevin Powers
A book about Iraq veterans written by an Iraq veteran. Me = Intrigued.
Also, a bookseller at Politics & Prose read this in one sitting and described it as: "It's visceral; the language is so poetic, so literary." Me = Very Intrigued.
THE SMITTEN KITCHEN COOKBOOK by Deb Perelman
I'm a mega fan of Deb's cooking blog, Smitten Kitchen, and so my taste buds are watering for her debut cookbook. Until it comes out, I shall bake a few more of these strawberry cakes, which is the best cake I have ever made. I'm not kidding! It's really that good. Even my uber-picky Chinese grandma loved it!
Man, I wish, wish, wish I could've gone to BEA!
Next year, folks. There's always next year. :)
So what would you have grabbed if you had gone to BEA? Or if you did go to BEA, what are your most treasured ARCs? (Also, can I borrow said ARCs? Pretty please? What if I made you cake?)
