Belated BEA report-because it took me days to unpack my bag, organize my thoughts, and synthesize all that took place! This year's BEA( Book Expo America) format at the Javits Center differed in duration-three mid-week days-and also in organization. Two days were devoted to booths and floor set-ups, and the first day was devoted to panel discussions and symposiums. I went in on Wednesday, May 26th, the middle day of the three. The most notable floor difference to me was smaller booths and display areas, except for Spanish and Arabic language houses. They seemed to have increased their floor space and the number of their representatives. Also striking, of course, was everybody working very, very hard.

I was delighted to have been included in Little, Brown's luncheon for Emma Donoghue, author of ROOM, scheduled for a September 13th publication. Judy Clain, who understands my reading tastes and needs, highly recommended this book, and of course, I finished it in nearly one sitting. The novel opens with Jack, a five-year old, living in Room, his entire world. It's where he was born, where he and his Ma eat and play and learn. At night, Ma puts him safely to sleep in Wardrobe, in case Old Nick comes. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma it's the prison where she's been held captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for her son. But Jack's curiosity is building alongside Ma's desperation, and she knows Room cannot contain either indefinitely. Told in the funny, inventive, and poignant voice of Jack, ROOM is a powerful novel of a mother and son whose love allows them to survive the impossible.

Now I'm reading the galley of THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE, a reprint of Brian Moore's memorable novel. The New York Review of Books will reissue this classic on June 15, 2010; this is the same publisher that reissued one of my favorite 2009 books, STONER by John Williams.

Galleys on my list include GREAT HOUSE by Nicole Krauss; her novel, THE HISTORY OF LOVE, is in my top ten. I'm also eager to read the galley of Julia Glass's new novel, THE WIDOWER'S TALE (Sept.), and A CURABLE ROMANTIC by Joseph Skibell (Sept. 7) Watch for JULIET by Anne Fortier (Aug. 24th) and APE HOUSE by Sara Gruen (Sept. 7th). Everyone is absolutely raving about THE LONELY POLYGAMIST BY Brady Udall; I haven't heard such unanimously positive buzz about a new book as this one is garnering.

Dinner at Del Posto, courtesy of Sally Marvin and Random House, was an elegant, delectable opportunity for RH to introduce authors of new and forthcoming books. I was particularly taken by Anne Fortier, author of JULIET. Reserve your copy now for an August 24th publication date. Also, Sara Gruen's new novel, APE HOUSE, is scheduled for a September 7th publication, and everything she said about it fascinated me. My friend Robbie Goolrick, author of A RELIABLE WIFE, read the manuscript and it put him on his knees. That's high praise! I hope that Sara will have time in the Fall to fit in a Literary Matters event. And please don't forget to order LET'S TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, a memoir by Gail Caldwell. If you weren't at the May luncheon to hear Gail speak about herself and her book, this is required reading.

Let me know what you're reading-and what you're recommending. Happy, restful reading summer to all.