Reader Reviews Vs. Reviewer Reviews

Huffington Post recently shared an article that was of great interest to me. I have been writing this book blog for seven years without any real, concrete guidelines. I read what I want (mostly) and write more about how the experience affects me. This makes me feel mightily guilty sometimes. Occasionally I've attempted to be a little more disciplined but it doesn't last.

Then I read this article. It clarified a lot of things for me. Rachel Thompson wrote Reader Reviews Vs/ Reviewer Reviews: Is There a Difference? with authors in mind but it is instructive for a wider audience.

The Pittsburgh Novel Blog Site

Do you love having your stories anchored to a special place where you have lived, wished you lived, or would just like to visit?

Today I learned about The Pittsburgh Novel, A Reader's Guide to Western Pennsylvania Fiction, 1792-2013.

I've linked to a review of Dennis Palumbo's most recent mystery Night Terrors, which I have also reviewed on Book Keeping.

If you are fascinated or curious about Pittsburgh, you'll want to check out this blog.

Agatha Award Nominees

Malice Domestic 2013

Looking for a new, worthy mystery to read? Check out the nominees for this year's Agatha Award. Winners will be announced in May at Malice Domestic. You can see the list at Mystery Fanfare, a great blog for mystery lovers.

The Big Red Christmas Book

My second guest blog was posted today on Girl Who Reads. Take a look and post a comment about Christmas books or stories that made a difference in YOUR childhood.

Stuff and Nonsense Has Posted My Review of TRUST YOUR EYES!!!!

Please visit Stuff and Nonsense, the book blog of my friend Marlyn Beebe, who asked me to write my very first 'guest' blog after reading Linwood Barclay's TRUST YOUR EYES. It would be wonderful if you would comment (as long as you are kind).

Armchair BEA Conference Day 4

Yesterday at Armchair BEA was a washout for me because my computer decided it couldn't handle all the tasks I was giving it to do. I'll try to get some time in today but it's already afternoon. The problem with trying to attend from home is that life has a tendency to intrude.

Friday is the last day and the topic is The Future of Book Blogging. I don't want to miss that!

Having been lucky enough to attend a real live Book Expo America in the past, I can vouch for the video clip from Day 2 shared by Emily of  Emily's Reading Room.

Worthy 2012 Titles

These are not necessarily books published in 2012 but rather the best of what I have read so far this year. They are listed in the order read from oldest to most recent. They are a random mix of non-fiction, juvenile, romance, mystery, and thriller. #BUTHATSJUSTME.

WIRE TO WIRE in a Occupy Wall Street Library

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin (Erik Larson)
"Erik Larson has once again proved he is a master of narrative nonfiction. This is a page turner set during Hitler's rise to power." (2012 paperback)

Bad Things Happen (Harry Dolan)
"Literate mystery fans, rejoice! Crisp, clean writing and plotting draw you in and keep you hooked. Harry Dolan is an author to watch." (2009)

Steal Like an Artist:10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative (Austin Kleon)
"It doesn't take long to read but it is inspiring and it's better in book format. I've already bought a copy for a friend. This is a great little book!"  (2012)

Wire to Wire (Scott Sparling)
"Intriguing, disturbing, and perfectly balanced, WIRE TO WIRE may change the way you look at the world and your place in it. Read it." (2011)

The Icon Thief (Alec Nevala-Lee)
"A first novel and literate thriller about the Russian mafia, the International Art World, and secret societies that is beautifully written." (2012)

Save Queen of Sheba (Louise Moeri)
"I just had to reread this gem of a story that I remembered from my days of reading juvenile books as an adult. It remains perfect. A wagon train is attacked by Indians and there are only two survivors, David (12) and his spoiled sister, Queen of Sheba (6)." (1981)

After Annie: A Novel (Michael Tucker)
"If you like solid writing, interesting characters, and a good story set in the theater world, you may be willing to put up with the cantankerous Herbie Aaron who is trying to survive his beloved wife's death from cancer. It's worth it." (2012)

Then She Found Me: A Novel (Elinor Lipman)
"Love. Love. Love. Elinor Lipman. She writes charming, literate stories that seem light and airy but underneath - ah, yes underneath - share a message. You want her characters to be your friends." (1990)

#ArmchairBEA Introduction

So today Armchair BEA features introductions from participating bloggers. I have gotten that far in figuring out what I am supposed to be doing! If you don't know what I'm talking about you can visit the Armchair BEA website. This absolutely fabulous idea allows those of us who can't make it to New York to be part of the publishing industries premier event.

The first task is to answer some questions so here goes.

Retired from the world of libraries, I have been blogging for five years to keep in touch with the world of books. I write about random things that appeal to me that have any loosely defined connection to reading and books.

Retirement Reward

 I am (in no particular order) a mother, grandmother, actress, singer, director, reviewer, reader, blogger, genealogist, friend, and time traveler.

My Bunny

Michael Tucker's Living in a Foreign Language (pub. 7/07) is bookmarked and sitting by my favorite chair. I recently read his first novel After Annie (pub. 3/12) and wanted to read more of his writing.

What I'm Reading Now

Sitting down to dinner with Chief Inspector Gamache at the Bistro in Three Pines would be an incredible experience. If he wasn't available, his creator Louise Penny, would be a most acceptable stand-in.

Author Louise Penny

 Recently I have found it necessary to invoke the Nancy Pearl's Rule of 50 (She's such a doll!) and expect that will occur more frequently as I get older. The saying "So many books, so little time." becomes more and more true with age.

(Armchair) Book Expo America 2012

Design credit: Emily of Emily's Reading Room

I am so excited! I am signed up to participate in BEA this year and I don't even have to leave home!

Last year, for the first time apparently, BEA made provisions for those who couldn't make the trip to New York City for whatever reason. It's billed as a conference for book bloggers from the comfort of their own chair and I think it's a brilliant idea. Over 150 are signed up already and my name's on the list!

You can read more about or sign up for Armchair BEA HERE. The dates are June 4th through the 8th.

BookExpo America (BEA) is the largest gathering of booksellers, librarians, retailers, and industry professionals anywhere in North America. I was lucky enough to attend in person a number of years ago when librarians were first included. Before that the focus was on retail book sellers.

This is where the buzz starts about new books and what we'll all be hearing about during the coming year.

Meet the Author of Jacobson's: I miss it so!

Historian and author Bruce Allen Kopytek is coming to the Carnegie Branch of the Jackson District Library on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 2:00 pm to talk about his recently published book Jacobson's: I miss it so!

An expert on the vanishing department store, Bruce writes a blog called The Department Store Museum.

Last night he was honored along with others in Lansing for having a book selected as one of the twenty chosen for the Michigan Notable Books list.

Call the Reference Department to make a reservation today! Space is limited. Call 517-788-4087, ext. 1339.

Ignore Everybody (2009)

 I'm reading this very slim, quick reading book that is basically a compilation of the blog writing and artwork of Hugh MacLeod of gapingvoid.com. Naturally I read about it on someone else's blog. The entire title is Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity.

There is significance in the business card on the cover. MacLeod's artwork and text appears on the back of business cards.

What's interesting is that I have found useful advice, biting sarcasm, and actual wisdom. Forty brief statements of MacLeod's creative life discoveries begin each brief section. All of them are worth contemplating.

No. 8 Keep Your Day Job explains that our creative lives are forever split no matter where we exist. There is what you want to do and what you have to do to support what you want to do. He calls it The Cash & Sex Theory and states that those who expect to wake up one morning and be famous or rich or happy just aren't going to make it. This probably isn't really news to anyone but MacLeod's way of stating his concepts is original and thought provoking.

There's still No.s 9 - 40 to read and assimilate. I'll keep you posted.

EarlyWord.Com

This is one of those sites that you want to keep to yourself because it will make you seem so terribly knowledgeable to your friends. On the other hand, it was so exciting to discover it that I have to share it here. 

Early Word, which began slowly in January 2008 and picked up speed in June of that year,  "is a Blog and Web site on a mission — to give libraries the earliest information possible on the books their customers will be looking for, so they can stay ahead of demand."

You can browse for upcoming movies made from books, Best Books of 2009 according to a variety of sources, One Community/One Book programs and many other tools with a librarian point-of-view but still valuable to the dedicated reader looking for the next best 'read'. Check this site out. It is awesome.