Back from the BookExpo
I've returned to my office after a whirlwind 2-day tour of BookExpo America in NYC.
A few observations:
* No single title stood out as this year's Big Book. Instead, I saw numerous DaVinci Code wannabes -- ancient clues that lead to heavy mysteries. (I've peppered Kranz on Copy with secret messages -- decipher them, and you may find the Golden Key to the Temple of Gullibility.)
* Book lovers (myself included) are like vultures. By 2:00 pm on Sunday, attendees moved into scavenger mode, seeking books the exhibitors were none too eager to pack up again. With their exceptionally beautiful books, Taschen was swarmed with greedy readers; unfortunately, Taschen wasn't willing to surrender their titles and our carrion instincts were outmatched by their eagle eyes.
* Everyone and everything seemed to be represented at the show, from the major houses with giant pavilions to self-published authors tabled at the fringes. I saw hundreds of stunning, provocative books I'd love to own. I met dozens of witty, interesting persons. I walked my feet raw trolling from booth to booth.
* Sure, sex sells. The real interesting thing is the range of sex or sex-related titles proffered, everything from cheesy girly calenders to exquisite art book erotica featuring photos of the most beautiful women imaginable doing things I'd never imagined. (No, they weren't giving those books away either.)
* Naxos, a record label famed for its inexpensive yet high-quality classical music recordings, also offers audio books, including a 22-CD reading of Joyce's Ulysses. (Nope, didn't get one of those. Rats.)
* Even Las Vegas has something intelligent to offer. From Glitter Gulch comes Parmenides Publishing, specializing in English translations of ancient Greek philosophy and literature. This fall, they're offering an audio CD of Homer's Odyssey
read by translator, Stanley Lombardo. I read the opening two pages of his translation and fell in love. I bet the CD is going to be killer.
* The Expo offered a packaging area where, for a $25 fee on top of UPS shipping charges, you could box and ship your booty (as in pirate booty, not the booty you shake) back home. Great idea, even with the $25 surcharge. But the lines were insanely long. Next time out, I hope the Expo doubles or triples the number of people working the shipping room.
* I know the BookExpo is intended for wholesale book buyers and publishers, but it's a real eye-opener for any book lover. If you have a chance to attend, do. There's no better way to meet book people or drool over the latest books.
A few observations:
* No single title stood out as this year's Big Book. Instead, I saw numerous DaVinci Code wannabes -- ancient clues that lead to heavy mysteries. (I've peppered Kranz on Copy with secret messages -- decipher them, and you may find the Golden Key to the Temple of Gullibility.)
* Book lovers (myself included) are like vultures. By 2:00 pm on Sunday, attendees moved into scavenger mode, seeking books the exhibitors were none too eager to pack up again. With their exceptionally beautiful books, Taschen was swarmed with greedy readers; unfortunately, Taschen wasn't willing to surrender their titles and our carrion instincts were outmatched by their eagle eyes.
* Everyone and everything seemed to be represented at the show, from the major houses with giant pavilions to self-published authors tabled at the fringes. I saw hundreds of stunning, provocative books I'd love to own. I met dozens of witty, interesting persons. I walked my feet raw trolling from booth to booth.
* Sure, sex sells. The real interesting thing is the range of sex or sex-related titles proffered, everything from cheesy girly calenders to exquisite art book erotica featuring photos of the most beautiful women imaginable doing things I'd never imagined. (No, they weren't giving those books away either.)
* Naxos, a record label famed for its inexpensive yet high-quality classical music recordings, also offers audio books, including a 22-CD reading of Joyce's Ulysses. (Nope, didn't get one of those. Rats.)
* Even Las Vegas has something intelligent to offer. From Glitter Gulch comes Parmenides Publishing, specializing in English translations of ancient Greek philosophy and literature. This fall, they're offering an audio CD of Homer's Odyssey
read by translator, Stanley Lombardo. I read the opening two pages of his translation and fell in love. I bet the CD is going to be killer.* The Expo offered a packaging area where, for a $25 fee on top of UPS shipping charges, you could box and ship your booty (as in pirate booty, not the booty you shake) back home. Great idea, even with the $25 surcharge. But the lines were insanely long. Next time out, I hope the Expo doubles or triples the number of people working the shipping room.
* I know the BookExpo is intended for wholesale book buyers and publishers, but it's a real eye-opener for any book lover. If you have a chance to attend, do. There's no better way to meet book people or drool over the latest books.
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