BEA 2015: Books, Books & More Books

It took me a couple of minutes to recognize her. It was only after a burly security guard urged me to move along did the realization sink in: that was the actress Julianne Moore signing copies of her new kids' book, Freckleface Strawberry: Lunch, or What's That?, at the Penguin Random House booth.

Some years ago, when I first attended Book Expo America (or BEA as it is usually known) I noticed just one signing line, an insanely long one for Stephen Colbert. If I were to know that he would leave The Colbert Report in a few short years, I would have expended the energy to wait around for his signature on the book he was releasing then.

Over the years, the celebrity glitz and pomp seems to have been dialed up. This year, for example, in addition to Julianne Moore, we had Kunal Nayyar from Big Bang Theory and Mindy Kaling, the television writer and actress, all make an appearance. For me the real star of the show was Gloria Steinem, one of the icons of the feminist movement, and it was heartwarming to see so many lined up to pay homage as it were. Steinem was there to promote her upcoming book, My Life On the Road, and I had her dedicate my copy to my two daughters.

The giant advertising panels at New York City's Javits Center were an indication of just where marketing budgets were being directed. The new book from Harper Lee, Go Set A Watchman, for example, enjoyed its moment in the sun with the largest banner at the entrance. Equally exciting to notice for many Percy Jackson fans was a plug for kids' author Rick Riordan's new series, Magnus Chase, coming in the fall. 

Of special interest to BookBrowse, Anthony Marra (A Constellation of Vital Phenomena) has a collection of short stories releasing in the fall: The Tsar of Love and Techno. Adam Johnson (The Orphan Master's Son) was signing his collection of short stories, Fortune Smiles. Lauren Groff (Monsters of Templeton) was promoting a new novel Fates and Furies, and Sloane Crosley, especially popular among the 20-something set was winning the crowd with her debut novel, The Clasp.

As always, the mad rush for Advance Reading Copies was evident frustrating a few by just how rapidly they were being gulped down. Perhaps this is why Penguin Random House decided on a measured system of handing out tickets to attendees who had to stand in line for a signed copy.

I came away with five books in all including The Clasp by Sloane Crosley (which I finished on the train ride back home, loved it); Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff; The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman; a fun mystery, The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra, featuring an Indian inspector; and the Gloria Steinem book.

Given that I promised I would bring home books I would actually make time to read, I think I did pretty well, don't you?

Next year, BEA moves to Chicago. I'm not sure I will make it but I sure hope it comes back around to New York soon enough. Just being surrounded by all things books for two whole days is a special kind of rush for a bookworm like me.

Poornima Apte, BookBrowse Editor