Sue's Saturday Suggestions #1

This is the first edition of a new feature for the blog, where I offer a review of what posts have caught my eye over the past week or so.

Book Blogger Con at Book Expo America 2012

BEA 2012 (June 4^th -8^th) was held in New York, with the first day being given over to Book Blogging. This year the Blogger Con was bought by Reed exhibitions, which caused a lot of concern in advance. Unfortunately, this concern seems to have been justified. I was unable to attend the actual event, so I was interested to read what my fellow bloggers thought of the experience.

AnimeJune at Gossamer Obsessions mentions The Most Awkward Moment of the Conference. I was glad to read that the subject of plagiarism was raised and that the representative from HarperCollins was adamant that they would not work with plagiarists.

Jane at Dear Author was also disappointed, criticizing Jennifer Weiner’s introductory address and being unimpressed by the rest of the agenda.

Janicu at Janicu’s Book Blog went from cautious optimism to disappointment as the day seemed to be aimed mostly at what bloggers could do for authors and publishers. She also outlines the appalling registration experience.

Jessica at Read React Review thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the hall at lunchtime chatting to fellow bloggers, but what convinced that the organizers had no real idea what bloggers wanted from the convention.

Kristen at Fantasy Cafe is not sure if she will attend next year because so much of the day was aimed at what the industry wants from bloggers in return for free books.

Lisa at Starmetal Oak Reviews was somewhat disappointed, although she enjoyed the opportunity to meet fellow bloggers.

Blogging

AnimeJune at Gossamer Obsessions discusses “The Importance of Being Nice”

Fiktshun has some interesting thoughts about the difference between Readers and Followers.

Mandy B at The Well-Read wife has some great advice about creating community and driving engagement.

Melissa posting at Into The Hall of Books talks about what makes a good book review

Prometheus

I was rather disappointed by this film. I thought Michael Fassbender was excellent as David, but otherwise it was a very pretty with a boring and confused story. I think it would have been far better if the connections with the Alien universe had been left out so that it could stand alone as an exploration of theology through Sci Fi. Here are a couple of other reviews:

The Little Red Reviewer

A Dribble of Ink

Interesting Books

Here are the books that have stood out for me this week:

The Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham, review at Staffer’s Book Review

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore, reviews at Dear Author and Books Without Any Pictures

The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin, review at bookworm Blues

Miserere by Teresa Frohock, review at Bookworm Blues

Of Blood and Honey by Stina Leicht, review at Bookworm Blues

Range of Ghosts by Elizabeth Bear, review at The Speculative Scotsman

Redshirts by John Scalzi, reviews at Nashville Bookworm, the Little Red Reviewer, The Speculative Scotsman, Stainless Steel Droppings and Starmetal Oak Reviews

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman, review at Janicu’s Book Blog

The Taken by Vicki Pettersson, review at My Bookish Ways

Kristen at Fantasy Cafe has some interesting suggestions for books she picked up at BEA.

Jessica at Read React Review also has some YA and MG recommendations from her BEA swag bag.

These last two were a wonderful surprise to find on the blogs that I follow because, although they are both favorite authors of mine, they write mystery novels set in Ancient Rome

Master and God by Lindsey Davis, review at Dear Author. I love Ms Davis because of her series of books involving the ancient PI Marcus Didius Falco and the feisty Helena Justina.

The Seven Wonders by Steven Saylor, review at Fantasy Book Critic. This is one of Mr Saylor’s wonderful Sub Rosa series, featuring the investigator Gordianus