Monday, June 5, 2017

Armchair BEA 2017: Wrap-up and Final Thoughts


It's official... this years Armchair Book Expo has come and gone! I feel like it flew by, and especially with me helping on the prize team this year, I didn't get to participate with other bloggers as much as I'd hoped to.

However, Armchair Book Expo may not happen next year! Our current leader Tif, is getting too busy to run this event herself, and it's getting harder and harder to find volunteers and sponsors! If you love this event as much as I do, step up! Make sure to fill out the closing survey on the Armchair Book Expo blog and give your thoughts and suggestions.

Wrap Up:  Let us know your parting thoughts on Armchair Book Expo 2017.  Did you have a favorite day or topic?  Did you meet some new book lovers?  Share any and all thoughts with us.

I really enjoyed the varied topics we had each day! I think my favorite was the ISO day! So many bloggers gave me good suggestions on new books to read, and they got some good ones in return. This kind of sharing is what we want Armchair Book Expo to be about!

See y'all next year!

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Armchair BEA 2017

Hi everyone! Long time no see, I know... Life has been so busy and I've had little time for blogging or reading or anything else. Now that I'm somewhat settled back home from Florida and in a normal work schedule, I plan on reading more and blogging here more.



Armchair BEA, or Armchair Book Expo and it's now being called, started Wednesday and I was so busy over the weekend that I totally spaced posting the daily topics each day! I'm also on the Prize Team again so I'm taking on that additional work over today and tomorrow.

Since I missed the last few days, I figured I would just catch up with the days I missed on one big post, and if I miss anything I can use it for the wrap-up tomorrow ;)

Day 1: Introductions!

I am... a 26 year old newlywed and lifeblogger with two young kittens and a full plate of life!

My current read... is a devotional called The Comparison Trap. It's a good read!

My summer plans... are working, enjoying the sun, and spending time with family!

My blog/channel/social media... is The Librarian's Bookshelf on blogger, @arielrwilson on Twitter, and @arielrwilson on Instagram!

The best... part about this week is how many readers and bloggers come together to share a love of reading!

Day 2: What Readers Want and Collaboration

What Do Readers Want?: What makes or breaks a book? How do we rate the books, or determine if it is good literature or a good story? What do we want from an author event? How does diversity representation fit into all of this?

I think every reader is different and looks for something different depending on what genres they normally read. I know for myself that I set a limit of 100 pages, to decide if I will continue reading the entire book or call it a DNF (Did Not Finish). Because book bloggers read so many books, we have to limit ourselves and not force ourselves to read something that may end up as a waste of time.

Let's Collaborate & Listen: The online book community has changed so much over the years. How do we keep up within our own book-sphere as well as within the community as a whole (i.e., libraries, bookstores, authors, publishers, etc.)?

I personally have dipped out of the book blogosphere for the last few years, and only follow a handful of book bloggers regularly. I find that using a feed reader is still my preferred way of reading blogs! It makes it easy to see who is still updating and who I can remove from my list. I also still use Goodreads regularly and locate recommendations through there often.

Day 3: Diversity and Dining with Authors

Delving Into Diversity: Book Expo sparked quite the controversy a couple years ago regarding diversity in books and authors. Where are we now? OR, let's take a different direction and explore the diversity of the format of a book. Do we judge a book by its cover and/or content (e.g.,, audio, digital, graphic, etc.)? Or, combine the two topics and discuss diversity found in alternative content (e.g., representation in graphic novels). Get creative and maybe even controversial!

I am a book cover judge. Through and through! If a book cover turns me off, I probably won't pick it up. On the flip side, I'm likely to pick up a pretty cover and see what the book is about. While I do love the diversity there is in book media now, and I myself LOVE my Kindle, I'm still a big supporter of traditional paper books as well. I have too many books, believe me!

Dining With the Authors: Every year at Book Expo, children and adult authors are featured during breakfast. Who would you dream of enjoying a meal with? Would it be breakfast, lunch, dinner, or simply coffee? What would your meal be? What would you discuss?

Paul Stewart is my favorite author of my favorite series, one that I have gushed about a few times here on the blog. The Edge Chronicals is a fantasically written fantasy novel series, with mini timelines and huge storylines and it all wraps up so beautifully. I would love to meet him for coffee and just pick his brain! How did he come up with the multiple stories? Why did he choose the names he did? How does he keep getting ideas? I could take hours!

Day 4: ISO Books

ISO Books: As readers, we are always looking for our next book to read or a stack to fill our TBR shelves. This is your opportunity to ask using our Armchair Book Expo Book Suggestion Generator (aka YOU!). Are you wanting to expand your horizons with minority characters? Are you in search of your next book club read? Do you want to explore your graphic novel or comic book options? Or, are you looking for a book that broaches a mental health or childhood issue to help you grow in understanding and knowledge in your personal life? YOU ask and YOU answer.

I'm always ISO fantasy novels! While I do like contemporary and the occasional non-fiction, I will always return to fantasy novels. And if it's a series, even better! The more fantasy I can have on my bookshelves, the happier this reader will be ;)
 
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