Here are librarians milling around, waiting for the Exhibits to open at 5:30 pm. When they do open, the crush is not insignificant.
This year, I had a mission: I wanted an Advance Reader Copy of Megan Whalen Turner’s fifth book in the Queen’s Thief series, Thick as Thieves. I even reread the rest of the series this week.
I checked the publisher (HarperCollins), learned the booth number (2016), and headed straight for it.
I got a copy!
Mind you, they were in the back — you had to ask. I got a tip from a friend years ago that if there are books you know you want, to be ready to ask for them.
But then — Book Frenzy began. Publishers placed out Advance Reader Copies (and even some finished books) free for the taking.
You roam the crowded aisles walking past them.
I don’t have it in me to resist. I’m afraid that I’m in good company.
What’s more, I have a medical reason why I should not carry bags of heavy books on my right shoulder, so I get to bring a wheeled bag onto the floor (with a doctor’s note).
Alas! That tends to make me show even less restraint.
I came away with 35 books tonight. (Well, 5 of those were from the Mini-Institute.) I will use the ones for middle grade readers as prizes for a games program I do at the library. Some, like Thick as Thieves and Frog Kisser!, a new Garth Nix book, I will probably read before I get home.
The only solution to Book Frenzy seems to be to stay OUT of the Exhibit Hall. Unfortunately, some programs I want to attend are happening at the Pop Top stage or Book Buzz Theater in the back of the Exhibit Hall. And I got a ticket to the YALSA Morris and Nonfiction Awards event, where they give you books if you attend.
I’m afraid once I pick up one book, I’ll figure I might as well fill my bag.
So the question of the conference for me becomes, can I learn restraint?
And also, where shall I ship today’s load of books? FedEx in the hotel or the Post Office on the Exhibit floor? (But if I go to the Post Office, I’m sure to pick up more books on the way….)
I’m not going to cart these books back to the conference, so it will be FedEx, but which morning should I bring them down? If I don’t do it tomorrow, I’ll be tempted to keep adding to the load….
The trouble is, these are lovely problems to have. I’m also afraid I’m quite unrepentant. Which doesn’t bode well for my future self-restraint.