My BookCon 2017 Experience: Expectations Vs. Realtiy

So BookCon happened a gazillion years* ago, and IT WAS SO DIFFERENT THAN I EXPECTED??? I expected it to be SUPER DUPER crowded, and also that I would be able to navigate through the sea of bookish people.

Neither of those were true.

Here’s a list of my expectations:

  • I would be super hungry during it
  • I would not be able to go to Ryan Higa’s event
  • It would take an hour to get through check
  • I would be able to get all the books.
  • I would talk to a bunch of bookish people.
  • I would be able to go to Leigh Bardugo’s signing.

Hahahhahahah none of these were true.

NEWS FLASH: reading 10 articles on “How To Survive BookCon” DOES NOT MAKE YOU A BOOKCON EXPERT.

I learned the hard way…

*Accurate number.

(Also update: I made a posting schedule and I HAVE FAILED SO FAR?? Julianna is a lazy butt confirmed. See, this is why Julianna does not try to be productive. ALSOOOOO I have a blog button? EVERYONE ELSE DOES, SO??)

Watercolor Streak

Crowdiness

Shhhhhh let’s pretend that “crowdiness” is a word. ANYWAYS, I guess that half of it was because I arrived at BookCon 45 minutes late?? (It took like 2 hours to get there, okay? AND I NEEDED TO EAT FOOD.)

I was super confused at first, actually, because I WENT IN THROUGH THE WRONG ENTRANCE. #WHOOPS

But LATER as I went in through the RIGHT ENTRANCE, there were only like two people waiting in line, and I got through pretty quickly! (But, then again, I ARRIVED 45 MINUTES LATE)

When I was actually at the convention area, I did not go to any panels but just walked around and fangirled over all the books. My two sisters were with me and they kept on telling me to “FOCUS, JULIANNA. LOOK AT THE FREE BOOKS.” But I kept on running around to each booth because SERIOUSLY. HOW COULD I NOT.

There were a lot of people inside, and I may or may not have accidentally almost ran into some people? I DIDN’T THOUGH. I AM PLEASED WITH MYSELF.

Watercolor Streak

The Actually Talking To Other People

This didn’t really happen?? Maybe because I wasn’t in many lines?? The only time I talked to someone and wasn’t like “What is this line for?” was when I was in the Marie Lu signing.

And at that point, I was just super nervous and frazzled because MARIE LU MARIE LU MARIE LU. The other girl was really nice, though! She was asking me about what I would say, and I mumbled something incoherent about screaming. I HAVE NO #SOCIAL SKILLS OKAY.

And anyways, another reason people may not have talked to me was because I’m on the younger side of the teenager spectrum and am super short and look like a kid. And everyone else was mostly 17-20 years old. SO THAT IS TOTALLY WHY. NOT BECAUSE I AM NOT GOOD AT SOCIALIZING.*

*Do not disagree with me here.

Watercolor Streak

Getting the Books

Hahahahahaha. I suppose I should be pleased with myself, because I got eight free books. But also I am internally #crying because everyone got amazing book hauls??

*cough cough* MIKAELA loooook she got allll the booooks?? howww??

Here are the free books that I got:

{all covers link to their Goodreads}

3440961523531317 29739361 32991569 34137888 30038900 30038842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But seriously. All these different book sizes. I HATE IT. *melts into puddle next to corner*

  • Ephaidria by Jim Grieco
    • I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT. Also, this was sci-fi and hey, it looks interesting! And it was also signed, which was cool.
  • I am Yoga by Susan Verde & Peter H. Reynolds
    • Shhhhh yes I got a children’s book but I gave it to my little brother! And since we got two copies, we gave the other to my little brother’s first grade classroom. These were also signed!
  • Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton
    • I LOOOOOVED REBEL OF THE SANDS. But also I already read this book? AND it was only so-so? And I don’t like buying books that I’ve already read?? Whatever, I’m happy because I won it in a trivia contest.
  • Jane, Unlimited by Kristen Cashore
    • I AM SUPER SUPER EXCITED ABOUT ThIS ONE. I think this is the only one that I planned on getting that I ACTUALLY got. This is also an ARC which is being released in September! *cue happy screams*
  • I, Eliza Hamilton by Susan Holloway Scott
    • So, this is a historical novel that I was in line for (I didn’t even know that it was this book!) and it SOUNDS INTERESTING BECAUSE HAMILTON.
  • The Big Life by Ann Shoket
    • Shush we got this book because they were just giving them away at the end of the convention? I AM NOT SAYING NO TO FREE BOOKS. Also this sounds like a self-help book and I THINK I NEED THAT.
  • Gracious by Kelly Williams Brown
    • This was ALSO being given away at the end of the con and once again, IT’S A BOOK. I LIKE BOOKS? (And also who am I to argue with the will of the publishers??)

The Books That I Bought:

9275658 23532871

 

 

 

 

 

I got three but the second one was this random compilation of quotes so IT DOESN’T HAVE A GOODREADS PAGE, APPARENTLY. *humphs in annoyance*

  • Legend by Marie Lu
    • I LOVE MARIE LU. And also it was required in order to get my book signed, so whatever. (This was signed!)
  • Stuck on Smiles [I couldn’t find the Goodreads page]
    • This was only because I got there 40 minutes late and there were no tote bags left? And so we needed to buy something to get a tote bag with it. And this has “happy quotes” and we all know I need to become a happier person.
  • Spill Zone by Scott Westerfeld
    • *cries* WE ONLY GOT THIS BOOK BECAUSE MY SISTER DIDN’T KNOW THAT THE SCOTT WESTERFELD SIGNING WAS FREE and that I had brought a book for him to sign! It was $25 and I don’t even like graphic novels that much???

Watercolor Streak

More Stuff That I Want To Talk About

(Wow, look at that totally awesome title name. I’m so creative.)

  • YUP, I DID go 40 minutes late.

“Why?” you ask. BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO WAKE UP BEFORE SEVEN. And it takes like two hours to get there?? And also I NEED FOOD??

This was probably not a smart idea to be honest because *cries* most stuff was given away within the first hours but you know what? I’M SO READY FOR NEXT YEAR.

  • I WANTED TO GO TO THE LEIGH BARDUGO SIGNING??

But I didn’t. *cries again* There were SO. MANY. PEOPLE. there! We all just crowded awkwardly for twenty minutes as security guards tried to get us to go away. It was fun, man. (IT WAS NOT.) But at least I stood within 50 feet of Leigh Bardugo? I’M WILLING TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, PEOPLES.

  • And I ALSO GOT TO MEET MARIE LU.

And she laughed at my joke??? I was like “You know, I thought I was so ready for BookCon. I was like ‘I’m totally going to get all the books.’ That DIDN’T HAPPEN.”

And then she kind of did a small laugh as she signed my book and we posed for a picture. And then I was going to tell her more but then I decided to leave because #people #are #waiting. And I am scared of the angry bookworms.

Watercolor Streak

All in all, this was a fun experience! And I am super hyped up for next year! And my sister is probably coming even though she didn’t do anything to help me get books this year. *glares at sister*

So, DID YOU GO TO BOOKCON? How was it? Did you not go to BookCon? Did you go to any bookish cons? Or did you just stay home and wallow in despair?

Many, many options.

 

 

 

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31 thoughts on “My BookCon 2017 Experience: Expectations Vs. Realtiy

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  1. Wow, BookCon sounds so fun! (Other than the huge crowd and books that you mentioned). 😉 I’ve never been to it before because I live far, far away from the States. Your experience makes me want to attend it, haha.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Book Con sounds so fun. I’m so jelly that I can’t attend book con. 😦 I hope that I will have the chance to attend in the future! It will be amazing to meet all the authors and bloggers there!

    Like

      1. I live all the way at the other side of Earth. T^T Going to Book Con would means getting on a 20 hour plane ride to New York. BUT! I will attend Book Con one day in the near future. Just not now. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

          1. Sometimes, I wish that I live in the US. That way, I can go to all the fun and amazing book events. 😦 I have a feeling that I will be jumping and running around the place like a little girl when I do go to BookCon. XD

            Liked by 1 person

  3. Um how dare you post this and make me even more jealous??? Your manners are despicable.

    HAMILTON. I honestly don’t care about historical fiction books except HAMILTON.

    I STOOD LIKE 20 FEET IN FRONT OF LEIGH BARDUGO SO HA. (Wait have I told you about what happened because it is so so sad and you should cry for me.)

    DUDE WHEN I MET ALLY CARTER WE LITERALLY SAID NOTHING. IT WAS HORRIBLE. I’M SO EMBARRASSED. *cries* I don’t know how how you were able to make a joke in front of MARIE LU.

    Please take me with you next time. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. *evilly laughs*

      I KNOW RIGHT. I WANT TO READ RON CHERNOW’S BOOK NOW EVEN THOUGH I DON’T LIKE READING BIOGRAPHIES.

      XD YOU TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED and yeah I am crying for you.

      XD I HAVEN’T READ ALLY CARTER’S BOOKS but yeah that must’ve been embarrasing… also I was just thinking about how much of a failure I was at BookCon and it came out as a joke instead of a depressed mumble??

      I’ll stuff you into a tote bag XD

      Liked by 1 person

  4. You made me laugh Julianna! Wrong entrance..that could be me. I’m certain I’ll have a similar experience in a few months in London 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I ended up talking to only a few people in line! I’m just not a social person and can’t keep up a conversation for a long period of time, but it was nice to talk to other people!

    I ONLY GOT ALL THE BOOKS I GOT BECAUSE I WAS DETERMINED. AND BECAUSE OF MY MOM AND BROTHER. 😂 So happy to see you got Jane, Unlimited; I got it as well and it sounds amazing! 😍

    Aw, it sucks that you didn’t get to meet Leigh Bardugo! I’m lucky that my mom was standing in the right place at the right time! I also got to meet Marie Lu and she was SO SWEET! ❤

    I haven’t read one book from my haul yet and that’s because I got a lot of e-ARCs over the months, and didn’t think I’d get any at Bookcon. I HIGHLY REGRET THE DECISION I MADE TO GET ALL THESE DAMN NETGALLEY BOOKS.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. SAMEE THOUGH. I actually read a ton of articles and they were all like “you’ll make tons of friends” but THAT DID NOT HAPPEN TO ME?? Darn, they have tricked us all XD

      HAHA YEAH. I’M ALREADY MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER FOR NEXT YEAR’S BOOKCON. I’ll force my older sister to come too this time XD so we can spread out and plan to get all the books, like you did. Yes omg I’m super excited for Kristen Cashore’s book!

      I knooow, I’m also crying inside toooo. And YES I KNOW RIGHT? I LOVE MARIE LU GAHHHH.

      XD THESE DARN NETGALLEY BOOKS. THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN PLOTTING FOR US TO NOT BE ABLE TO READ ANY OTHER BOOKS.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Ahhhhh how cool is it that you went to BookCon!!!! That is literally my dream 😍 One day I’ll have to fly over to America and get all these wonderful FREE books!!!

    AND YOU MET MARIE LU??? AND SHE LAUGHED AT YOUR JOKE??? WOW, WHAT A QUEEN! I love her and I’m so happy for you that you got to meet her! Do you plan to go again next year?

    Like

  7. Okay now I sit in bed insanely jealous because WHY DOESN’T AUSTRALIA HAVE THIS. I KIND OF REALLY NEED IT THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT YEARS AGO. AHHH, all this excitement even when things seem a tad stressful has my jealous worms squirming (okay, ew and gross. I’m sorry, my metaphors are on the opposite side from lyrical so I’m sorry but that’s kind of me right now – a squirming worm). I have all these wild imaginations of socialising with people there! But knowing me I would probably just stare at people and imagine conversations because well, sadly I’ve been there before *stares off distance in sadness* BUT UM YEAH. I SHOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT I LOVE THIS POST. AND I THINK I MENTIONED I LOVE YOU BEFORE? BUT IN CASE I HAVEN’T WELL, I LOVE YOU AND WILL YOU MARRY ME (wait what who said that (yep that was me I’m obsessed. I’m kind of scared of myself right now please don’t run))

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha AGHHHHHH IT WAS SO FUN. XD SAME I AM CONSTANTLY A SQUIRMING WORM.
      And haha I had soooo many thoughts about talking and meeting people but then again I HAVE ZERO SOCIAL ABILITY so that didn’t really happy XD
      THANK YOU FOR LOVING THIS POST. HAHA YES YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THAT. XD well THANK YOU. XD

      Like

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