Armchair BEA: Notes

While I couldn't attend BEA this year, and probably won't get to go next year, I had a great time participating in Armchair BEA.  I have to admit that I mostly lurked and hopped around reading all of the posts that people wrote.  I found new bloggers who I started following.  It was interesting to read all of the interviews that were done this week and to view the vlogs posted from the bloggers who were at BEA.

Thank you to the organizers of this year's Armchair BEA!  I look forward to participating in next year's event.

Armchair BEA: What I would be doing at BEA

I starting blogging about what I was reading because I wanted someplace where I could put my thoughts on what I was reading.  Blogging is also giving me the opportunity to try books/genres that I might never have looked at if I wasn't blogging and reading other book blogs.  And how does that tie in with BEA one might ask?

If I was at BEA, while I'd be looking to see if any of my favorite authors were there so that I could try to get something signed, I'd also be checking out new authors and what the publishers might have that is not something that I would normally pick up to read.  I would be taking this time to try something new.  Isn't that one of the points of BEA?  Seeing what is new and deciding if you like it or not? 

I'm sure that by the end of the week, I'd have a long list of items that I would be adding to my TBR pile.  Some of the items, I might actually get while at BEA, others would be on the to-read list for the library or bookstore. 

I hope that I would also have spent some of the time getting to know others, i.e., bloggers, publishers and hopefully, some authors while I was there.  BEA is a wonderful opportunity to make new contacts and to strengthen existing ones, if you have the opportunity to do so.

Looking at the schedule for BEA, I'd be having a great time between the discussions, the author signings and checking out the exhibits.  While I'm slightly envious of all who are able to be there, I am glad that I am getting a chance to participate in the Armchair BEA.

Review - A National Party No More

As someone who was born and raised in a Democratic environment, I was interested in seeing what Sen. Miller had to say.  As I have grown older, I have found myself disagreeing with many of the policies put forth by the politicians where I live and have changed political parties.

I have to say that I was surprised to find that Sen. Miller and I agree on many points and policies.  I was thinking that I was going to be reading a book that touted democratic policy as the Democrats around me have been pushing for the last 20 years or so.  Instead, I found statements that ran along the same lines as many of my own thoughts on policy and ways to improve our government.

Review - Treason

Let me start by prefacing this review with two things.  First, I have been involved with the law since before I graduated from college.  I have several family members, including my husband who are lawyers and while I was working, my job was in the legal area.  I worked for a law library and then, until last year, I worked for a large law firm.  

Second, I am a strong supporter of our military.  What our service men and women do is incredible and I admire their dedication, service and sacrifice.  They put themselves on the front line so that we might live our lives safe from tyranny and, in most cases, violence.  

With that said, I couldn't wait to see if I would like Don Brown's Treason, from his Navy Justice series, or not.  I have to say that I did enjoy reading this book and had a hard time putting it down.  

I thought that the characters were well thought out and developed throughout the story.  I also liked how he kept some things until the very end of the story, such as Diane's praying for Zack.  For some reason, I never thought of her doing that since there wasn't any mention of religion when it came to Diane's character.  I don't think that I should have been surprised though.

The only negative thing that I have is that I really don't like how Mr. Brown has given terrorists ideas, not that they really need them, but ideas on how to attack our country.  I feel the same way about the media reporting to the world how attacks are carried out and how one attack/plot has failed or what the government is doing to prevent future attacks.  Yes, I can see the benefit of saying "We are ready for you." but I also feel that we, as a country, don't need to publicize our weaknesses or what our defenses are to those who would seek to destroy us.

I look forward to reading more from this series and author.  I would recommend this book to others.