Sunday Salon 5/23: "Deep breath before (A)BEA" edition

The blog has been created. The posting themes have been chosen and announced. The giveaways are in the works, and the Twitter-party planning is ON. This Tuesday, Armchair BEA will be ready to roll! If you're not going to be in New York City this week partaking of Book Expo America and the Book Blogger Convention, you're invited to join your fellow book bloggers (130 and counting!) in this online book-based get-together!

I'm amazed by how quickly and (relatively) painlessly this whole project has come together, gratified by the excited response to it., and so pleased I had the opportunity to help make this event happen! This has been a genuine team effort on the part of a small group of generous volunteers, and I'd like to give them a quick shout-out and many thanks:

Danielle (The1stDaughter) of There's a Book, who got the ball rolling
Emily of Emily's Reading Room, who will host our Twitter party (Thursday, May 27, 8-10 PM Eastern time)
Michelle of Michelle's Masterful Musings
Tif of Tif Talks Books
Sarah of Puss Reboots

I'm looking forward to a week of fun and great discussions, and hoping to get to know some other book bloggers better - hope to see you at Armchair BEA!

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Reading Progress and Plans

Reviews posted this week:
Letter to My Daughter, by George Bishop

Next reviews/reading in progress:
The Heart is Not a Size, by Beth Kephart (scheduled 6/1/10, after BEA/ABEA)
The Irresistible Henry House, by Lisa Grunwald

New to the TBR:
for me (both were "on the wishlist" before I actually created a Wishlist)
The Center of the Universe: A Memoir, by Nancy Bachrach
Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal, by Julie Metz

New to the Wishlist:
My Name is Mary Sutter, by Robin Oliviera

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BOOKMARKS: Reading-related Reading

Boycott a publisher, injure an author. Also: would you risk injuring your relationship with an author by posting a review they've asked you NOT to?

Indie booksellers and book bloggers: promoting partnership (via The Book Lady's Blog, which is leading the way via its relationship with Fountain Bookstore!). This initiative is being promoted by SIBA (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance), but I'm sure other regional groups could start their own (SoCal indies - I'm over here! *waves*)

Combating the book-blogging blues with small steps (and a new Ning group!). Somewhat related: on review policies and pitfalls. Speaking of pitfalls: the pitfalls of taking (and making) book recommendations personally

I realize some of the people headed to BEA this week may already be there (and not reading Sunday Salon posts today), but if you're still around, Jen of Devourer of Books has compiled the panels and discussions, author signings, and sideline events that BEA-going book bloggers are most excited about - check them out for inspiration (or ideas for your Armchair BEA topic posts!)

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I hope you have a great reading week!