Sunday Salon: Have you heard about *Armchair BEA*? No? Then read on!

Despite how it might feel if you read a lot of book blogs, not everyone is going to BEA and/or the Book Blogger Convention later this month - and shouldn't those of us who are staying home get to have some fun too?

As several of us were on the beloved/dreaded Twitter a few days ago lamenting our BEA-outsider status, we realized we could put a positive spin on the situation instead. We might not be in New York City meeting bloggers and authors and collecting ARCs, but we could try simulating the experience virtually - and thus Armchair BEA was born! (Thanks to Danielle for launching the idea and to Aarti for coining the name!)

We are still putting together the details, but we're talking about doing guest posts and/or interviews on one another's blogs, topical posts, and giveaways (possibly via the Book Depository so international bloggers can join in more easily). We'll have a way for people to confirm their interest in participation soon (most likely a simple sign-up form, something like the one used for Book Blogger Appreciation Week), as well as a graphic/button to post, and we already have the Twitter hashtag #armchairBEA. only requirement to join in is that...well, you're NOT going to BEA!

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Reading Progress and Plans

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I'm finishing up reading The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff for a review scheduled to post on Thursday...and after that, I have nothing on the calendar until July. That doesn't mean I won't be reading anything, of course! However, since my family is going to be on vacation for two weeks in June, I chose not to make any review commitments with due dates attached until after we come back.

I owe LibraryThing three Early Reviewers reviews (two for ARCs), and I like to stay in their good graces, so I'll be moving those books near the top of the "read me next" stack:

The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
Letter to my Daughter by George Bishop

(I'll owe them four reviews if my April LTER win, Beautiful Maria of My Soul by Oscar Hijuelos - the very-belated sequel to The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love - arrives soon, so I'd better get cracking!)

Two more ARCs for summer releases are lying in wait as well:

A Fierce Radiance: A Novel, by Lauren Belfer
The Summer We Read Gatsby: A Novel, by Danielle Ganek

Aside from all this, I've got the "older" review books and the books I pulled for my Women Unbound and Blogging Authors Reading Project challenges...and I'm seriously considering not taking any of them on our trip, and just reading e-books on my Kindle.

Anything interesting coming up on your reading calendar?

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BOOKMARKS: Reading-related Reading

Some book bloggers have near-daily dealings with publicists - here's an author's take on working with them

Can stating that one "doesn't have (or make) time to read" be a defense mechanism? Nymeth ponders what it might mean. Speaking of time, or timing: Is reading that book just when you need to be reading it a lucky chance of perfect timing...or something more?

Do you review a book a bit more gently if you've had some interaction with its author? And what do you say to an author when you're standing at that book-signing table?

Ban that book, and and you just might miss an opportunity for parent-child discussion. Also regarding reading and relationships: reader/non-reader marriages

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In other news this week, some book-blogging friends have announced new business ventures focused on bringing creative people and social media together more effectively. Best of luck and much success to Amy, Nicole, Rebecca, and Michelle!

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I hope you have a great reading week!