BookFest 18 Complete

BookFest 18 was a raging success yesterday, as they usually are.  We met after 1pm (I was late) and went to Powell's for our annual book buying.  It was MUGGY - not hot- but the air was heavy, especially for Oregon. We usually don't have to really deal with too much humidity.  We found book carts IMMEDIATELY upon entering the story. We both thought that they must have purchased more of the magic carts - we each had one and I had several sightings of other carts around the store, which is unusual. Sometimes, we never even SEE one, much less get one for each of us. Let me tell you, it is so much easier to lug around a giant pile of books in a wheeled cart than in a plastic basket hanging from your arm.  We were probably there for about 3 hours and then went to Hunan for Chinese and after-buying comedown.

After Hunan, we went to Kevin's house and did book reveals.  That is one of the most fun parts of the day, but it also eases us into the exhaustion phase. You wouldn't think that book buying was so tiring, but there is so much anticipation.  We both got some surprises - I really broke out of the mold this year and bought some unlikely books given my usual preferences.

One thing I did this year that I thought was fun and interesting - I solicited recommendations from folks on Facebook - books that rocked their world.  I only got one of the recommendations, but the others will be on my list.  I looked for a bunch of them but some weren't there or the copies weren't good or I already had a copy.  I'm going to be reading several of them in the coming months, though.  I think it definitely gives you insight to read what moves people.

Here's my list for 2012 BookFest:

Wallflower in Bloom – Claire Cook

The Uncoupling – Meg Wolitzer

Tiger’s Curse – Colleen Houck

Tiger’s Quest – Colleen Houck

The New Yorkers – Cathleen Schine

The Healing: A Novel – Jonathan Odell

Habibi – Craig Thompson

Girlchild: A Novel – Tupelo, Hassman

From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant – Alex Gilvarry

Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card

Dreams of Rivers and Seas – Tim Parks

The book of Jonas – Stephen Dau

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk – Ben Fountain

We have plans for years 19 and 20, so I can't wait. Not to be rudely self-congratulatory, but we are kind of brilliant...we thought of this idea together and committed to it and it is still FUN and going strong 18 years later. I think that is the best part of this whole thing - both of us still enjoy the process so much.  Thanks, Kevin, for another great year!