BEA and BEA Bloggers 2012, recapped

First off, I should say that I had one particular factor this BEA that made me more inclined to look on the bright side: it was my first real BEA, and so I had no idea what to expect. So I'm inclined to be more positive in my assessment, than, say, The Book Smugglers were (you can read their excellent recap here). That said, with a couple days between me and New York City to think about it, I can't say either the BEA Bloggers conference or BEA itself swept me off my feet. I met more than enough lovely bloggers, publicists, and authors to make up for it (and had a great time exploring the city), but all in all, I was dismayed at how exploitative, confusing, and off-the-mark the whole thing felt.

BEA Bloggers:
 
BEA Bloggers got off on the wrong foot right away with its networking breakfast, which really didn't involve much networking at all, but rather a lot of New York people talking to other New York people, and a lot of lesser-known authors doing their darndest to promote their work (with no regard at all for the book blogging world besides what we could do for them).

Jennifer Weiner's keynote, which followed, had very little do with actual book blogging--but then again, neither did Maureen Johnson's two years ago when I last attended the Book Blogger Con, so I was happy to listen to a funny, engaging, profane, and all-around wonderful speaker do her thing. I was a little dismayed that she seemed so dead-set against negative reviews (which you all know I feel pretty strongly about), but I thought her comments on the book industry's bias against anyone who isn't a white straight guy were relevant in a room that was mostly filled with the women blogger underdogs of publishing.

The next panel, “Blogging Today: What You Need to Know and What’s Next," featured a very interesting discussion on blogger ethics, and you could definitely feel the tension in the air when Erica Barmash (who I was lucky enough to meet at 2010's Blogger Con) said that she would absolutely refuse to work with a plagiarist. This was the only reference the entire convention to an issue that was actually relevant to book bloggers--namely, the recent controversy over The Story Siren's plagiarism. This was probably the best panel of the day, but my feelings about it were still lukewarm. I'm dismayed that there weren't more actual book bloggers on the panels, but rather other professionals in the book industry who seemed more interested in putting bloggers in their place than actually helping book bloggers become better book bloggers (and isn't that supposed to be the point of a book bloggers' convention?).

The lunch went about as well as the breakfast, which is to say terribly, but as I wrote in my Day 1 update post, I did get to meet Charlotte of Charlotte's Library, and I also had a great conversation with a librarian who was interested in starting a group book blog with the regulars in the teen section who had something to say about books they loved (or hated).

Next up were the breakout sessions, which were the real disaster of the convention. I attended the monetization panel and the panel on the blogger-publisher relationship, both of which were frankly awful. The actual book bloggers on the panels--Thea of The Book Smugglers, Sarah (Poshdeluxe) of Forever Young Adult, and Jenn of Jenn's Bookshelves tried valiantly to salvage what was left of this convention's relevance to other book bloggers, but the rest of the panelists (most especially the moderators) were once again more interested in self-promotion and using book bloggers as a free publicity machine than anything else. (Though the publicist from Simon & Schuster on the blogger-publisher relationship panel had some interesting things to say.)

The closing remarks by The Bloggess were funny and insightful, but like Jennifer Weiner's keynote, left me confused as to what the whole thing had to do with book blogging. (And to be fair, she seemed just as confused by her invitation to speak as we were.)

All in all? Disastrous, and I was sad to see that the energy and excitement about book blogging I'd seen my first year at the con had almost completely evaporated.

On the Floor at BEA:

Mom and I hit the BEA floor for the first time Tuesday morning, and I was frankly awed by the scale of the thing. For an industry that a lot of people say is dying, they sure throw a lot of money into promotions and gimmicks (toilet bowl keychains, lots and lots of stickers and posters, bookmarks, tote bags, fancy notebooks and folders, and more). There was a definite air of desperation on the floor, and a lot of confusion as I talked to publicists as to what, exactly, the role of book bloggers should be in this brave new world of publishing. Some wouldn't give me the time of day (though these were the minority), others were beyond friendly and wonderful and had so much awesome wisdom to pass on, and others just seemed lost and handed me another bookmark.

Based on the ARC numbers I've heard people talk about from previous years, I was also surprised at few there were that I was really excited about. I did snag a copy of Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys that I'm thrilled about, and also Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz, which are my top two. (The Hachette publicist also told me she'd mail me an ARC of Crewel, which along with Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans, looks like one of the better dystopians in the glut that's still choking the market.)

BEA Events
 
I attended three events/panels at BEA: the Adult Author Breakfast, the YA Editor's Buzz, and the Meet the Apocalypsies event. I started out with the Adult Author Breakfast, which I know might seem a little odd for a YA book blogger, but I could only afford one of the breakfasts and as soon as I heard that Barbara Kingsolver was speaking, I knew which one I would pick. I'm happy to say that the panel was one of my favorite parts of the whole week, mostly because it was just funny, awesome authors talking and no one telling me or anyone else how to love books and how to write reviews. (I also managed to snag an advance copy of Barbara Kingsolver's new novel, Flight Behavior--yessssss!)

The YA Editor's Buzz was a little iffier. While I walked away really excited about Colin Fischer, Crewel, and What's Left of Me, I have to say I'm a little frustrated at the prevalence of high-concept novels that can be sold with a single hook. Colin Fischer and Skinny were the exceptions to this rule, and unsurprisingly, both were contemporaries. I love sci-fi/fantasy/dystopia to death, but 90% of the truly great novels in this category are a lot more complicated than just an "in a world where..." hook. (Think Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler and The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, which I couldn't describe with a hook if I tried.) YA and the publishing industry at large seem to be trying so hard to recapture the buzz of The Hunger Games, and it's making truly extraordinary writing hard to find.

Lastly, the Meet the Apocalypsies event was a madhouse. People fought for spots and swag (though there was still lots left over) and you could barely talk to the authors, it was so crowded. Still, it was neat to put flesh-and-blood to the authors I've heard so much buzz about, and the dance cards they handed out--basically a glossy sheet with the authors' names, their books, an covers, and a spot for the author to autograph--were a great idea. While I might not be able to get signed books from any or all of these authors, I'll still have their signatures (with a few cool personalized messages) to remember them by.

In a little, ego-boosting side note, over half the authors in the Meet the Apocalypsies event recognized me and my blog, which surprised me. Holla!

Conclusions
 
Publishing is changing more and faster than it has since the invention of the printing press, and it shows. No one seems to know exactly where bloggers fit into the big picture (including, I think, bloggers themselves), or how to deal with the fact that publishing isn't all about old white guys anymore. On the floor, BEA was astoundingly, glaringly white--but I think (and hope) that that's changing. It didn't escape my notice that not a single one of the buzzed books this year featured a major character of color, or a gay protagonist, though Colin Fischer gets props for having a protagonist with Asperger's. It didn't escape my notice that the giant Immortal Rules poster in the Harlequin Teen booth featured the same white, brunette model, even though Alison Seikomoto was clearly described as Asian in the books.

I had a wonderful time meeting with Lyn Miller-Lachmann (who blogs social justice and children's literature/YA at The Pirate Tree) and Neesha Meminger (who wrote three awesome books with South Asian protags, Shine, Coconut Moon, Jazz in Love and Into the Wise Dark) and discussing the future of publishing. The future, we all hope, will be bright--democratic, diverse, and all the better for it.

All in all, I had a wonderful time meeting wonderful people. I couldn't have dreamed of a better trip. But I think a fair critique of a convention, an industry, and their flaws starts a necessary dialogue about how we want things to look next year.

Am I right? Wrong? Crazy? Please share your BEA (and industry) thoughts in the comments!

Review: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Goodreads | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble
YA, Fantasy, 563 pages, Dial

• Series: 3rd in the Graceling Realm (preceded by Graceling and Fire)
• Pub date: May 1st 2012
• Disclosure: Bought a copy from my local indie bookstore. Yay!

Judged by its cover: This cover is probably my least favorite of the Graceling series--it's not particularly interesting, and the girl's eye freaks me out a little--but it's still pretty decent, especially for a high fantasy novel, most of which tend to have laughably terrible cover design.

Goodreads blurb:

Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.
Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.

The Long...

I imagine, as an author, it's hard to pour three years of effort into a sequel. Every year that passes, the stakes get higher, and fans get restless. Writers of trilogies with a book out every year suffer enough from reader letdown. How must it feel to read negative reviews of a work that you've poured so many more hours into?


But you can relax, Kristin Cashore. This isn't a negative review.

As I wrote in my anticipatory post of this release about a month ago, Cashore has always excelled at creating female characters that are both fierce and vulnerable, powerful and profoundly confused. With Bitterblue, she completes the trifecta that began with Katsa and Lady Fire. I've read many reviews calling Bitterblue weak, pathetic, whiny, and boring; not nearly as captivating as our first two heroines. Personally, though? I could relate to Bitterblue perhaps more than to any other character Cashore has given us yet. When their story began, Katsa and Fire were already empowered, respected, and strong: adults, even though this series is marketed as YA. In Bitterblue, we are given someone at the cusp of adulthood instead: someone who's not yet sure how to navigate the world, someone still trusting, someone who's heart is begging to be broken. In other words, she's a kid. She's me. And what kid isn't a little weak, a little pathetic, a little whiny, and boring (myself included)?

Bitterblue also differs from its predecessors in its political focus. While the Graceling Realm has always had some of the most realistic political intrigue in fantasy today, Bitterblue especially takes the snarls and difficulties of leadership to a whole new level. While occasionally the constant double-crossings and big reveals were tiring, I can't help but admire Cashore for writing a young adult novel with a plot that's more than just a platform for romance.

Which isn't, of course, to say that this book lacks romance. Cashore juggles more subplots of the heart than ever before, from the book's first gay romances (there are two), to the evolution of Katsa and Po's relationship (a very complicated happily ever after), to Bitterblue's own feelings for bad boy Saf (as far from previous love stories in this series as you can get). Bitterblue's struggles to find acceptance and love may get a little tiring to read, but they're sure to hit close to home for late bloomers everywhere.

Other highlights are castle librarian Death (pronounced "deeth"), who's Graced with the ability to remember everything he's ever read--in my opinion, the coolest Grace we've seen so far--and the use of ciphers, which got me excited to come up with secret codes of my own.

Is Bitterblue a perfect book, or even a perfect sequel? Of course not. It's probably the most heavy and difficult to read of all three of the Graceling novels. But I also think it was a necessary installment; not exactly where we wanted the story to go, but where it had to go. My admiration for Kristin Cashore knows no bounds--this book kicks ass, and I couldn't recommend this series more highly.

...and the Short:

Full of all the intrigue, mystery, confusion, and revelation of growing up, Bitterblue broke my heart and put it back together again. Very different from its predecessors--but that's what keeps a series interesting.

The Final Word: Loved it.

BEA, Day 3 update

Today was my last day full day in NYC, and as such, it was pretty sad but also incredible. I went to the Random House Power Readers breakfast, toured Central Park, wandered the BEA floor, hung out at a fabulous cafe and watched the traffic go by, rode the subway for the last time, and generally soaked up the city ambiance. I made contacts with some wonderful publicists, and got my hands on some ARCs I am really, really excited about. All in all: everything I had dreamed this trip would be, and more.

I would blog all of this with pictures. (I promise I have lots of pictures.) But as I am staying with family, I'm taking this last night in NYC to spend time with my adorable cousins, and also to rest up for the (long) trip home tomorrow. I'll probably be incommunicado till Friday, and so--till then--I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who made this trip so great. I hope to see you all again soon, and to make it back to BEA within the next few years!

I <3 NYC!

BEA, Day 2 update

 I am running on ten hours of sleep in two days! This leads me to use excessive exclamation points! I'm sorry! Let me make it up to you with this picture of me in front of the Empire State Building!

I went to the Adult Author Breakfast (which was awesome, and I took lots of notes, and I can't wait to share insights with all of you), and I saw one of my favorite adult authors, Barbara Kingsolver:

I went to the YA Editors Buzz panel! Only some people were jerks and took all of the ARCs of Crewel and What's Left of Me! So I was sad! But I did three other awesome ARCs, so suck it, greedy pushy people!

I also met Malinda Lo in real life! And she signed a copy of Adaptation for me! (And no, I don't know what I'm doing with my hand in this picture.)

I got to see Mary Casanova with her new book Frozen, which I helped beta-read, so it was super-awesome to see it on shelves!

Then I wandered the floor a lot and got about sixty pounds of books and swag which is a LOT to carry around (note to future BEA-ers: BAG CHECK IS YOUR FRIEND), so then I was tired and ate Korean food with Corinne Duyvis. (With whom I did not get a picture because I am an idiot!)

I got to meet even more of the fabulous Forever Young Adult crew at the Apocalypsies event (which was crazy-busy with wonderful people and authors so I didn't get any pictures). Meghan, Jenny, Sarah: HOLLA!

I had a surprise meet-up with Kate Milford! (And you can find the picture of me with her puppet Lish on Twitter.)

Then I got to have dinner with two of my favorite bookish people around, Lyn Miller-Lachmann and Neesha Meminger! You should read their books! Because they are great!

And then my mom and I carried crazy amounts of books ten blocks between the restaurant and the subway station and now my back and shoulders hate me! So!

GOOD DAY, PEOPLE! SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Review: Transcendence by C.J. Omololu

Trascendence by C.J. Omololu
Goodreads | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble
YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance, 336 pages, Walker Books for Young Readers

• Series: 1st in Transcendence series
• Pub date: June 5th 2012
• Disclosure: Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Thanks!

Judged by its cover: It's nice to see that they can finally put white girls and a black boys together in a cover design just as crappy as the covers they put all the white girls and white boys together on. Seriously, this is cringe-worthy and I wouldn't want to be seen with it in public, but kudos to the publishers for refusing to whitewash. Besides, Griffon's model is seriously hot, even if Cole looks waifish.

Goodreads blurb:

When a visit to the Tower of London triggers an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that occurred centuries before, Cole Ryan fears she is losing her mind. A mysterious boy, Griffon Hall, comes to her aid, but the intensity of their immediate connection seems to open the floodgate of memories even wider.
As their feelings grow, Griffon reveals their common bond as members of the Akhet—an elite group of people who can remember past lives and use their collected wisdom for the good of the world. But not all Akhet are altruistic, and a rogue is after Cole to avenge their shared past. Now in extreme danger, Cole must piece together clues from many lifetimes. What she finds could ruin her chance at a future with Griffon, but risking his love may be the only way to save them both.
Full of danger, romance, and intrigue, Transcendence breathes new life into a perpetually fascinating question: What would you do with another life to live?

The Long...


The Tower of London is an intimidating place. On my trip to England when I was 12, I spent an afternoon in London with my parents, wandering Tower Bridge and contemplating Traitor's Gate. We didn't get to go inside--we'd arrived too late in the day to make the entrance fee worth it--but I got a swooping feeling in my stomach just the same. It feels old. You know it's old. And when you feel and know these things, you start to wonder if some essence of yourself had visited before. At least, that's the premise behind Transcendence, and I can't help but feel that there's more to explore in that idea than Omololu manages here.


Having just finished a romance spanning many lives before I started this book--My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares, author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants--I think I know what's wrong. There will never be a time when the idea of a man who has lived before--grown up, fallen in love, had sex, had children, grown old--falling instantly in love with a girl who we are told has experienced these things in past lives which she conveniently doesn't remember, isn't creepy. It's the 50 First Dates factor that accompanies all amnesiac love stories: "Isn't that a little...exploitative?" 


Omololu does do her darndest to make it work. Griffon takes a side of sexy and sweet with his creep factor, and Cole's passion for her cello kept her from being bland, even if she occasionally comes across as a few fries short of a happy meal. The Akhet mythology that drives the story isn't exactly original, but it is workable. The subplot between Cole's divorced parents is an awfully cute cliche. And the climax was genuinely surprising. The problem is that there's a whole lot of mediocre in between, and not enough excellent to get it off the ground.


So no, it wasn't for me--but I do need to take the moment to say how fantastic it was to read a multicultural romance between a white girl and a black boy, a pairing that I see so rarely in YA. The fact that we're seeing characters of color trickle in even to the pulpier levels of YA is a good omen.


...and the Short:

A paranormal love story spanning centuries that just can't quite get past the creepier aspects of its mythology.

The Final Word: Meh. 

BEA, Day 1 update

I'm here! I'm alive! I got lost on the subway this morning! But hey, guys, IT'S NEW YORK CITY! Better yet, it's New York City during Book Expo America, which means extra bookworm bonus points! Today I bought my first MetroCard:

Watched the subway come into the station:

Sat with the illustrator of Go the F*ck to Sleep at the BEA Bloggers breakfast, as well as the author of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (which you may know better as the Oscar-winning short  film):

Got to meet Charlotte of Charlotte's Library:

And Sarah/Posh of Forever Young Adult:

Lesson of the day: no one, and I repeat, no one looks good under convention center lighting. Especially camera-shy dorks like myself. Never let it be said that this blog is not educational.
 
I also Ana and Thea of The Book Smugglers, with whom unfortunately I did not get a picture, because it was 4:00 p.m. and my brain was dead.

As for the conference itself, there was a whole lot of bluster from publishers and self-promo obsessed authors, but I had a great time hanging out with other bloggers (and also some lovely librarians) and can't wait to start putting the tips I picked up into practice. I'll go over all the panels I attended in greater detail in my wrap-up post, but I took some great notes and I can't wait to share my insights.

As for the keynote by Jennifer Weiner and the closing remarks by The Bloggess, suffice to say that these ladies are kickass. Both of them inspired me not just to be a better blogger, but to be a better person--no lie. Both Jennifer Weiner's speech and the Q&A session (in which I ask a YA question!) are online, and I'm still waiting to see what they do with Jenny's.

Completely un-book-related, my mother and I finished off the day with dinner at Bombay Talkie,which is on 9th Ave. and is semi-cheap for fancy food and also happens to be ridiculously delicious. So if you are ever in NYC and dig Indian street food, that's the restaurant for you.

All in all, it was an incredible day, and it's looking like another incredible one tomorrow. And now, holy bedtime, Batman!

Off to see the wizard (and also to BEA)

It's finally happening! In about fifteen minutes, I'm jumping in the car to the airport for my second time (and first full week) at BEA and the BEA Bloggers convention. I'm so excited I'm crawling out of my skin and I can't wait to meet you all! If you're wondering where to find me, you can find my schedule here (and a picture of me here).

As far as posting, I'm not sure how much quality computer time I'm going to get, but I do have a bonus review scheduled during the week, so keep an eye out for that.

And finally, a huge thank you to everyone who's read, shared, and commented on my negative reviews post. In the space of a day it's become one of my most popular posts ever on Maggie's Bookshelf, which makes me pretty happy. Hello, new followers! I hope I don't let you down.

See you in NYC!