BookExpo was, in a word, overwhelming. Luckily my friend Janelle (reviewer extraordinaire) knew the lay of the land and kept me from wandering aimlessly though the convention center.
I really don't know how to sum up the experience, so here are some of the tidbits:
- I am now the proud owner of a signed copy of The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi, who is both beautiful and "cool" and has written two wonderful novels despite being five years younger than me.
- I needed a whole bag just to carry Penguin's catalogs.
- I can't wait to try out some recipes from I Love Coffee!: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks by Susan Zimmer.
- I kept far away from James Patterson and all the super big name people signing.
- I heard a great interview with Laura Byrn Paquet about Wanderlust: A Social History of Travel, which sounds like an amazing book.
- I ran into a mystery bookstore owner who recommended picking up a copy of The Faceless Fiend by Howard Whitehouse (they were giving out ARCs at the Kids Can Press booth), saying it looked like a winning combination of Artemis Fowl and Victorian England.
- I drool over the Raincoast Books catalogs.
- I shared a lunch table with Rebecca Upjohn. Her first children's book, Lily and the Paper Man, which will be published by Second Story Press this fall. I'm definitely going to buy a copy for my nieces.
- I just finished reading one of the books I picked up at BookExpo, Villa Serena by Domenica de Rosa (expect a little review later this week).
Keep an eye on my library once LibraryThing is up and running again. There'll be some interesting new additions.
Sounds like a great weekend! I'm sorry I wasn't there.
ReplyDeleteHopefully one day I'll come to share Trevor with the world. Or at least with the Canucks and other cool people who come to CBE.
Sounds like you had a really good time, Karen, I am going to join you and Janelle next year, ok? :)
ReplyDeleteI do hope that you'll enjoy my "Faceless Fiend"! And seek out the book before it in the series, "The Strictest School in the World.
ReplyDeleteIf you like them, tell everyone.
If you don't, er, be quiet ---
Howard,
ReplyDeleteNice to see you here!
The Strictest School in the World is already on my wishlist. grin. The books look wonderful, I'm 99% sure that I'll like them.
Lotus,
it would be fabulous if you could come along next year.
I'm still trying to sort through everything so that I can do my recap as well, although I'm not sure I can beat yours.
ReplyDeleteLotus, you must join us next year.
I put some books into LibraryThing last night, but I haven't even really started my sorting let alone gone through the catalogs. lol
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog from June (it's now nearly November) and I wanted to thank you for mentioning my book, Lily and the Paper Man. The book is now out in stores and doing well. It has just been nominated for the 2008 Ontario Library Association's Blue Spruce Award. I enjoyed the brief meeting I had with you and Janelle at Book Expo.
Rebecca Upjohn