Week 15 Prompt

Here are some ways that I think work really well to market a library's fiction collection:

1: Displays-I don't think we can underestimate the power of a good display. My library has a display that is right by the main circulation desk. This display reminds me of the strategically placed candy shelves that line the checkout aisle and the grocery store. Both do an excellent job of making a person grab just one more thing before they leave.

2: Book Clubs- I think book clubs are a great way to market a library's fiction collection and grow new readers, especially book clubs that meet away from the library at breweries or coffee shops. Book clubs that have some special hook are effective at grabbing people's interest and can be unique to each library. For example, at my library the adult services staff are going to start a new book club called "Souper Readers" or something similar. Anyway, the idea is that at each book club meeting they will have some soup to snack on while they chat about the chosen book.

3: Book toks or Short Videos-I think we've all seen the power that tik tok booktok videos have had in bringing attention to books that were getting musty on library shelves, Colleen Hoover anyone? This isn't something my library currently does, but I do think its a great way to promote books and highlight titles in a library's collection. It's also a great way for library staff to share some of their favorites and connect with the library community. 

Week 14 Prompt

My first thought about the hypothetical question of separating out books that are LGBTQ fiction and Urban Fiction from the general collection and placing them in their own special area is a knee jerk reaction/response of "no." Here are my reasons for saying no to this:

1. I don't like the idea of "othering" books and making them separate from the rest of the library collection. I'm a bigger fan of making sure that a fiction collection is diverse and representative of everyone. I'm also a fan of making the library online catalogs easier to use, that way people are more likely to find the titles they want to read. 
2. With the rise in book challenges and especially of LGBTQIA+ titles, I think separating out the books would put a bigger target on them.
3. I'm just not a big fan of separating books out into genres. I think it takes away from people finding books that they would enjoy but would not come across if the books were shelved in separate areas. 

This question reminds me a little of the debate about putting genre stickers on library materials. I've worked at libraries that have the genre stickers and use them to separate out books into separate shelving locations and I've worked at libraries that have no genre stickers and shelve all genres together. The first library I mentioned eventually did away with shelving their book genres separately but decided to keep the genre stickers and shelve all the books together. This was seen as a way to make both groups of library users happy, the ones who liked the ease of the genre stickers and those that found the whole system confusing, especially when an author would write in more than one genre and then be shelved in two separate locations. 

This example is all to say that I think the answer to this question depends on the library community and its library users. 

Week 13 Prompt

As a librarian I firmly believe that people should read books they enjoy, regardless of genre. I've spent a lot of my time as a librarian in a youth services setting, and I'm here to tell you, more adults should try picking up a picture book. These books are full of rich storylines and engaging artwork. 

Speaking to the topic of adults who read young adult books and/or graphic novels, I think it falls in line with the purpose of a library for librarians to get books in the hands of people who want to read said books. I don't think there should be any stigma on any genres people want to read. I've often thought it would be fun to create a book club for adults, but have it be one where we only read young adult materials, or even only picture books. 

There are quite a few authors of young adult books where the characters of the original series have aged up into adulthood, causing librarians quite a headache when it comes to deciding where the series should live. These books and series would make for an interesting display. At my library we regularly create displays on various subjects that include books from the children's, teen and adult collections. This display is located near the circulation desk, so there's ample opportunity for something to catch the interest of a library patron, regardless of their age. 

Nonfiction Annotation

 

Author: Richard Ovenden

Title: Burning the books, a history of the deliberate destruction of knowledge

Genre: Nonfiction

Publication Date: 2020

Number of Pages: 320

Geographical Setting: All over the world

Time Period: various points in history, leading up to more present day times

Series (If applicable): n/a

Plot Summary:

This is a historical account of the destruction libraries and archives have faced throughout history. The author connects historical events and the destruction of knowledge and shows the ways in which literature and learning have managed to survive against seemingly insurmountable odds. The book begins with an introduction to the topic that starts with a picture of the Nazis burning books in 1933. A chilling and eye-opening way to begin that sets the tone for the rest of the book. There are black and white images spread throughout the book, with each chapter beginning with an image that is related to the chapter’s topics. Letters, quotes, and journal entries are also included throughout the story to provide insight into the historical events. What follows are detailed accounts of how and why knowledge has been destroyed throughout various points in time and in a wide variety of locations from around the world.

The story is conversational in tone, making it very readable and approachable and not just a dry accounting of history. With a descriptive use of language, using words like “swooned over” this story reads like a love letter to the history of books, learning and libraries.

Wyatt defines nonfiction as one that is broken into two categories “task books and non-task books” (2007, p.2). Taks books are those that guide the reader to accomplish some function and non-task books are ones books for pleasure, learning, recreation, exploration and escape (Wyatt, 2007, p.2).  Burning the Books would fall into the latter category of non-task book as it is a story that people read to learn and explore a topic.

 

Subject Headings:

• Censorship History
• Archive History
• Book Burning History

Appeal:

Here are some words from one of our readings called “The Secret Language of Books, a Guide to Appeal” that I would use to describe the appeal of this book (Novelist, 2018).

• Compelling
• Descriptive
• Easy to Understand

3 terms that best describe this book:

• Engaging
• Richly Detailed
• Well Researched

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

 

 Author: Wayne A. Wiegand

Book: Part of our Lives, a People’s History of the American Public Library

 

Author: James Raven

Book: The Oxford Illustrated History of the Book

 

Author: William Marx

Book: The Hatred of Literature

 

 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Marie Bendedict

Book: The Personal Librarian

 

Author: Pip Williams

Book: The Dictionary of Lost Words

 

Author: Madeline Martin

Book: The Last Bookshop in London

Week 11 Prompt

 

Burning the books, a history of the deliberate destruction of knowledge written by Richard Ovenden, 2020

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum? a mix

2. What is the subject of the book? The destruction of knowledge in libraries and archives from ancient up to contemporary times. 

3. What type of book is it? History/nonfiction

4. Articulate appeal:

• What is the pacing of the book? Leisurely paced but it also isn't a story that feels like a slow and  quiet read, due in part to the vivid descriptions of the destruction of libraries and archives. 

• How does the story feel? Moving, Reflective, Thought Provoking, Hopeful

• What is the intent of the author? To provide a history of how libraries and archives have been destroyed throughout history. 

• What is the focus of the story? Early historical accounts of the destruction of libraries and archives and then moving forward in time with additional stories and examples. 

•  Does the language matter? Yes, the story is in a conversational tone, making it easy to follow along with the historical accounts. The author uses descriptive phrases like "swooned over" which makes the story read like a love letter to the history of books, libraries and learning. 

• Is the setting important and well described? Yes, the author does a great job of describing the context and setting of where the destruction of knowledge took place. 

• Are there details and, if so, of what? Yes, each chapter focuses on a different point in history and explains the who, what, when and why the destruction took place. 

• Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? Yes, there are black and white images spread throughout the book, with each chapter beginning with an image that is related to the chapter’s topics. Letters, quotes, and journal entries are also included throughout the story to provide insight into the historical events. 

•  Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? Yes, the author frames each occurrence of destruction within a historical and cultural context. The author connects these past events with more current concerns of our time, discussing the rise of technology companies, the role of libraries, and the history of early libraries and how library collections have evolved to present day.

 5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal). This book would appeal to anyone who values the written word and learning and is concerned about efforts to destroy and ban books. 

1. Compelling
2. Detailed
3. Easy to Understand

Historical Fiction Annotation

Author: Charlotte Bronte

Title: Jane Eyre

Genre: Historical Fiction, classic literature

Publication Date: has been republished many times, original publication date is 1847, the version I have was published in 2006

Number of Pages: this also varies depending on the republication version, but the version I have is 576 pages

Geographical Setting: Northern England

Time Period: early 1800’s, although the book never says specifically, but based on the year the book was published and the plot of the book, this is a safe bet.

Series (If applicable): n/a

 

Plot Summary:

This is a story of one person’s search for a place they can be their true self, a place to call home and the search for someone to share life’s journey with.

Jane Eyre tells the story of an orphan named Jane who goes to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins after her father dies. Janes relatives are not particularly welcoming to this new addition to their household. Jane faces many trials and tribulations with this new family, which ends with her being sent to a school for girls. At this school Jane’s life does not improve and one could argue becomes worse, but she does make her first true friend. When Jane comes of age she teaches at this school and begins looking for a governess position. She finds a job at Thornfield Hall. With this new position Jane faces challenges that test her closely held views of herself and the kind of life she wants to live. Jane finds love, loses love, and ultimately triumphs and carves out a life for herself.

 Our textbook Wyatt and Saricks define the historical fiction genre as one that “transports readers to the past, thereby letting them witness what has transpired in our global family time line” (2019, p.169). While Jane Eyre wouldn’t have been considered historical fiction at the time of its original publication in 1847, in our present time of 2023, the title now fits the description. From the book we get a glimpse into the challenges that women from that time frame would have faced and the limited choices they had if they were not born into a wealthy family.

 

Subject Headings:

• England Social Life and Customs
• Governess Fiction
• Classical Novel
• Love Stories

Appeal:

Here are some words from one of our readings called “The Secret Language of Books, a Guide to Appeal” that I would use to describe the appeal of this book (Novelist, 2018).

• Compelling
• Descriptive
• Atmospheric

 3 terms that best describe this book:

• Character driven
• Slow burn
• Strong female characters

 

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

 

Author: Lucasta Miller

Book: The Bronte Myth

This book tells the story of the Bronte sisters and how their personal stories have been distorted throughout history.

 

Author: Mary Wollstonecraft

Book: Vindication of the Rights of Women

At the time of its original publication in  1792, this book was considered to be scandalous because of its arguments for women’s rights.

 

Author: Claire Harman

Book: Charlotte Bronte A Fiery Heart

This book tells the story of Charlotte Bronte and how her life shaped the books that made her live on long after she was gone.

 

 3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Jane Austen

Book: Pride and Prejudice

This book also focuses on a strong female character and her journey to carving out a life for herself in a time where marriage is one of the few options.

 

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Book: Little Women

This book focuses on the story of a group of strong women and the choices they make to carve out lives for themselves in a society where choices are few.

 

Author: Emily Bronte

Book: Wuthering Heights

This book focuses on a strong female main character, the limited choices she has during the time period she lives in and what she sacrifices for love.

Week 11 Prompt-Ebooks/Audio Books

 As an avid reader a library user I wasn't a big fan of e-books when they first started gaining in popularity and availability. I thought that a part of the reading experience was the touch and feel of a book and the smell. I think many of us have gone into a used bookshop and the physical smell of books is something unique in and of itself. That added to the fact that the early e-readers were not the most user friendly added to my dislike of e-books. Does anyone remember the Kobo and the early Kindle paperwhites? Those things were clunky and confusing devices to use. 

My opinion of e-books started to shift when I took the plunge and ordered a Kindle Fire. The device was very easy to use, and I loved the fact that I didn't have to remember to return an e-book like with a regular library book. I also liked being able to change up the font sizes and page colors. The look and feel of e-books is not the same as a physical book, but I think the convenience factors outweigh these deficits. For library patrons e-books are fantastic for readers who need large print. This group has a whole new world of books available at their fingertips.

I've never really gotten into audio books, e otherwise. I think I've just had a few narrators who were duds and then just never tried out any other options. I remember the days of audio books being cases that included a thick stack of discs. Then the format shifted to mp3 player style, which was more portable and user friendly. I work in a youth services department, and we have an audio book collection of these mp3 style books, but we've been shifting more resources towards ordering e-audio books. With a vast majority of people having smart phones, it's easier than ever for people to download a library app and have access to a large variety of e-audio content. I don't think touch and feel play as large a role with audio books, it's more about a format that is user friendly and accessible. 

I think library e-book consortiums play a large role in how popular e-content can be with a community. If a library is part of a larger consortium, chances are their patrons will have access to the content they're looking for. Within the past year or so my library joined a much larger e-content consortium and we've seen our circulation stats for e-content go up. Sharing resources and content is a win, win for libraries and their patrons. 

Book Club Visit

      I visited a local library’s book club that meets once a month on a Thursday evening. The book club is called “Brews+Books” and meets at a local brewery. The atmosphere of the brewery is relaxed. The building used to be an old gas station, so there are high ceilings, cement floors, and a mix of booths and tables. The place was pretty empty, besides the book club members arriving. The book club took place before a trivia event. The book club met at a reserved area of tables that were pushed together in a long, straight line. When I arrived, the librarian running the book club was there, had placed printed out book club questions on the tables and was chatting with people who were arriving. Attendees generally ordered a drink from the bar area and then sat down to begin the discussion. The librarian brought their own waterbottle.

     There are over 25 people who attended the book club, with a mix of ages and genders. People began chatting before the book club discussion began and it was clear that this group was familiar with one another. Some discussed how they were in other book clubs and how this particular book club had grown since Covid. There had also been a change in the librarian who was running the book club and that may have factored in with the growth of the club. The majority of the group was on time, but a few straggled in.

I knew the librarian running the book club and mentioned that this was for a class. The librarian had also been through an MLIS program and was familiar with these kind of assignments. I was planning on reading the book, but ran out of time, so I took my notebook and chose a spot at the end of the table. It was clear that most, if not all, the people who attended had read the book. I’m trying to remember what the book was called, but the title is escaping me. It was a thriller with the storyline of someone being locked away in a basement for most of their life, there was a murderer on the loose, a baby in the mix and flashbacks to the past. From the conversations people were having about the book club, it was clear that this club often readers thrillers and true crime types of books. 

     The librarian asked open ended questions to get the discussion started and then let the group run with that question for a while. With how the tables were set up, and the music playing through the building, it was often hard to hear what everyone was saying. Group members would ask each other questions about the story they’d read. Then after a while the librarian would focus the group back on the next question. The librarian would sometimes share their own thoughts on the story and took an active role in the conversation, but also gave the group time to flesh out their thoughts. While there were members who shared more, there were no show stealers. Group members actively listened to one another and were respectful of everyone’s thoughts. 

     Towards the end of the discussion people get a little antsy and some start looking at their watches or phones to check the time. The librarian introduces the next book for the next meeting and people pick up copies to take home. There were not enough books for all the people who wanted one, but the librarian assured everyone that they would be getting more in at the library soon. Some people stay to chat after the meeting is over. Overall, it was a fun book club meeting that was full of interesting conversations. The only drawback was that it was hard to hear everyone speak because of how the space was set up. The brewery does have an outdoor seating area and there was talk that when the weather improved the group would meet outside. It can be hard to find a book club that meets in the evenings, at least in my area. So, this may be a book club that I visit again once my classes are over. 

Special Topics Paper Summary-Role of Readers Advisory in Library Service

      This special topic paper will analyze the role readers advisory plays in library services. Wyatt and Saricks state that “the goal of readers advisory service is to help readers discover titles they are currently in the mood to read” (2019, p. xv). This seemingly simple task can prove to be daunting for inexperienced librarians. But it is a role that people often find synonymous with libraries, this idea that a librarian will help them find a “good” book. This paper will analyze the history of readers advisory, staff training, and the public’s expectations from librarians. 

     Crowley states that finding a date for the beginning of the readers advisory service “is at best a frustrating, almost arbitrary exercise” (2005, p. 37). This is due to the idea that historians have a difficult time agreeing on some of the very basic definitions of terms like “what is a library,” and “what is readers advisory” (Crowley, 2005, p.38). 

     When librarians were asked, via a survey spearheaded by the Library Journal, about the biggest challenges they face when conducting readers advisory, many responded that it’s difficult to work with genres and authors, they aren’t familiar with or haven’t read (Wyatt, 2021, p. 26). The adage “practice makes perfect” comes to mind when honing readers advisory skills. The job of readers advisory is a task that is being shared by more and more librarians within a library system and not a job set aside for one specific person (Wyatt, 2021, p.27). 

    Smith states that we can think about the relationship between readers, books, and book selection as a reader’s ecology that has three basic parts: discovery, discernment, and delivery (2022, p. 34). Readers want to find new things to read, they want to know if a book is right for them or not, and then they want to acquire that title (Smith, 2022, p.34). The whole process often sounds much more straightforward than it usually ends up being.

     Overall, libraries and readers advisory have a long and storied history, one that is continuing to evolve and grow with the needs of their communities. 

References

Crowley, B. (2005). Rediscovering the history of readers’ advisory service. Public Libraries, 44(1), 37–41.

Smith, D., Fredrick, V., & Friedli, A. (2022). Engaging readers: readers’ advisory + reader   engagement = reader services for our times. Library Journal, 147(3), 34.

Wyatt, N. (2021). Surveying the field: ra by the numbers. Library Journal, 146(8), 26–31.

Wyatt, N., Saricks, J. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions. 

Science Fiction Annotation

 

Author: Martha Wells

Title: All Systems Red- The Murderbot Diaries

Genre: Science Fiction

Publication Date: 2017

Number of Pages: 152

Geographical Setting: Space

Time Period: The Future

Series: Murderbot Diaries

Plot Summary:

A New York Times and USA today best seller and the winner of multiple book awards, Murderbot explores a future world where planetary exploration is a reality and robots are a part of the everyday experience.

The self-named character of this story is called Murderbot. The story begins with Murderbot professing that “I could have become a mass murderer before I hacked my governor module, but I realized I could access the combined feed of entertainment channels carried on the company satellites.” This level of snark and self-reflection sets the tone for the rest of the story. Murderbot, aka a SecUnit, has been assigned to a team of planetary explorers by an organization referred to as the Company. Murderbot is there to ensure the teams safety and does so within the first few pages. As the story progresses it’s clear that this Murderbot is not like the other units that have come before it. This one has feelings and cares for things, albeit somewhat begrudgingly.  

The team that Murderbot is assigned to soon faces an unknown threat on the planet and comes to realize that there’s something different about their SecUnit. We learn that in this world it’s not uncommon for people to be augmented with machine parts, but there is a certain hierarchy within the system. As the team and Murderbot face this threat, together, we learn more about the team members and Murderbot. We see them all start to come together and build a certain level of trust. Throughout the story Murderbot is concerned that its carefully guarded secret will come to light. The story is fast paced and hurtles towards an end that begs for a sequel. 

Our textbook Wyatt and Saricks define the science fiction genre as one that “explorer worlds that could be, with a particular interest in futuristic science and technologies” (2019, p.93). This story of a self-aware, snarky robot fits the bill. 

Subject Headings:

• Interplanetary Voyages

• Robots

• Human Computer Interaction

Appeal:

Here are some words from one of our readings called “The Secret Language of Books, a Guide to Appeal” that I would use to describe the appeal of this book (Novelist, 2018).

• Suspenseful

• Engaging

• Action-packed 

3 terms that best describe this book:

Robots with Emotion

Space Colonization

Life on other Planets

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Ray Kurzweil

Book: The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology

This book explorers the idea of a future where machines will become more intelligent than human beings. Fans of the Murderbot series would be intrigued by this idea. 

Author: James Barrat

Book: Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era

This books profiles people from across the spectrum of AI and asks the question of “can we coexist with beings who’s intelligence dwarfs our own”? This idea of coexisting with robots would appeal to readers of Murderbot. 

Author: Martin Ford

Book: Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future

This book considers a future where Robots have replaced many, many kinds of jobs. The book Murderbot envisions a future where robots and humans work side by side. So, this book would appeal to Murderbot readers as it peers into the future of work. 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Martha Wells

Book: Artificial Condition

This is the second book in the Murderbot series and would appeal to people who enjoyed the first book. In this book we learn about the dark past of Murderbot and how it got its name. 

Author: Larry Niven

Book: The Goliath Stone

This book explores the idea of nanites being created as a miracle cure and then taking on a literal life of their own. Murderbot readers would find parallels between both stories. 

Author: Daniel H. Wilson

Book: Robopocalypse

This story is set in a world where robots are a part of everyday life and everything is fine, until it's not. Readers of Murderbot would find this story interesting and relatable with its themes of sentient robots. 

Week 7 Prompt: Author Mills aka James Patterson

While looking at the topics for this week's prompt, the one that stood out to me was author mills and James Patterson specifically. I can't remember coming across the phrase "author mill" before, but if there's anyone befitting of that sentiment it would be James Patterson. In my early days as a teen librarian who did collection development for the teen section, I can remember enjoying the first few series that James Patterson came out with. The Maximum Ride series was very popular with our teens at that time. Then Patterson begun co-authoring books and did this thing where he'd give credit to the co-author. But inevitably their names were much smaller and his was in a bigger font, splashed across the cover. This kept repeating itself every year and the Patterson shelf kept growing. Then he comes out with his own imprint and the books that are credited back to him keep growing. 

This article in the New Yorker states that Patterson gives detailed outlines of a story to his co-writers and then they have to flesh out the rest of the book. This sounds like the very definition of "author mill" to me. These co-authors do the majority of the work and Patterson gets most of the credit. Even though I find Patterson's whole setup a bit repugnant, people do enjoy the book he writes and publishes. So, I put aside my own misgivings about Patterson and order his books and add them to our library shelves. 

I have heard the argument made that Patterson is giving relatively unknown authors a chance to grow and build their own following. This idea ties in with the article we read this week "How the New Celebrity Book Clubs are Boosting Literary Sales." The article states that bookclubes like Reese Witherspoon's help boost authors book sales and help drive business to local bookstores. In the case of Witherspoon's bookclub, many of the books that are chosen for this book club get turned into movies by Witherspoon's production company. If you pair together a famous name and a relatively unknown name, you have a recipe for something that may end up benefiting both parties and readers alike. 

 

Author: Josh Malerman

Title: Bird Box

Genre: Horror

Publication Date: 2014

Number of Pages: 272

Geographical Setting: suburb of Detroit Michigan

Time Period: sometime in present day

Plot Summary:

Malorie is in her middle to late twenties and is the sole caregiver for two small children, both aged 4. Malorie has the same concerns that every mother has, is she a being a good mother, do her children have enough to eat, are they growing up too fast. Unlike mothers that have come before her, Malorie is raising her children in a world where an unknown danger lurks outside. Unlike other children, her children have never seen the outside world. Her children must learn to hear better than they see in order to survive. The world they live in is one where people wear blindfolds or risk seeing something that drives them to do harm to themselves and others.

The story flashes back to the time this unknown threat began and follows Malorie before she knew she was pregnant. We see Malorie’s life unfold as the world around her falls apart. The story also flashes back to when she leaves her house and finds other survivors. We know from the current timeline that Malorie is alone with the children and the survivors she found are no longer with her. You’re left wondering what happened to these people, knowing it can’t be anything good. The flashbacks and the present all collide, and the story builds to an ending that makes you wish the novel was longer.

Wyatt and Saricks define the horror genre as something that “plays and speaks to our worst fears” (2019, p. 237). This story plays on our fears of being hunted by something we can’t see and our fear of having to go through the world where seeing something can mean death.

Subject Headings:

• Horror fiction
• Apocalyptic literature
• Parent and child fiction

Appeal:

Here are some words from one of our readings called “The Secret Language of Books, a Guide to Appeal” that I would use to describe the appeal of this book (Novelist, 2018).

• Suspenseful
• Compelling
• Disturbing
• Descriptive

 3 terms that best describe this book:

• Sense of doom
• Slow burn
• Strong female characters

 

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Richard Preston

Book: The Hot Zone

This is a story about the deadliest outbreak of the Ebola virus and the efforts made to contain it. This would appeal to Bird Box readers as it taps into a deep fear of something unknown and seemingly out of our control.

 

Author: Jon Krakauer

Book: Into Thin Air

This is a story about a disastrous expedition up Mount Everest. This book would appeal to Bird Box readers as it taps into the physical and mental challenges of survival.

 

Author: Cheryl Strayed

Book: Wild From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail

This is a story about the authors 1100-mile solo trek along the Pacific Coast Trail. This book would appeal to Bird Box readers as it features a strong, independent woman, with nothing to lose, who learns what she’s capable of.

 

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Josh Malerman

Book: Malorie

This is the sequel to Birdbox and is set twelve years after the first book takes place. This book would appeal to anyone who enjoyed the first book.

 

Author: David Moody

Book: Autumn

Both of these books are about a band of people who survive in a world where everything has changed. In the case of this book a world where a deadly disease turns people into unthinkable monsters.

 

Author: Kassandra Montag

Book: After the Flood

Both of these books are about strong women who fight for their survival and the survival of their children in an apocalyptic world. In the case of this book a world where Americas coastal cities and the heartland are wiped out due to rising water.

Horror Book Promotion Proposal

To promote books in the library collection that are in the horror genre I would recommend that the library create an eye-catching display. October would be an ideal month for such a display. On Pinterest I found a few fun display options. The first display uses a skeleton as a prop and has the slogan of "Dying for a good book?" It also has some horror themed props of tomb stones. The library could make use of any Halloween decorations it has to give the display even more pizzaz. Also, on Pinterest I came across the idea of putting skeleton hands in books. This would be a fun addition to the display. We could put skeleton hands in the books and have a short, catchy reason as to why a patron should check out the book. We could add slogans like:

• Heads will Role 
• Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
• No one Can Hear you Scream
• They're Coming to Get You

Kirkus Style Review

 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

A hard-working literary agent meets her match in the form of a not so charming editor.

The story follows Nora Stephens, a literary agent who has spent her life putting other people first. Years before our story begins, Nora is put in the role of being the sole provider for her much younger sister, Libby, after their mom passes on. Life forces Nora to take up the mantle of responsible older sister, to make hard decisions and ensure the happiness of her sister.  Nora has never been the heroine in her own story. If life were like a hallmark movie, she’s the self-professed uptight, manicured city girl who gets dumped when her boyfriend meets his match in some picturesque small town. When her now married with children, 5 months pregnant, younger sister, Libby, unexpectedly invites Nora to join her on a sister’s trip, Nora suspects that something in her sister’s life is going awry. The sisters spend a month in cottage in a small town called Sunshine, South Carolina. Libby creates a check list of challenges for Nora and encourages her to step outside her comfort zone. While in this small town, Nora keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a rival editor, who has proven to be brusque and brooding in their previous work interactions. Nora and Charlie begin to discover that perhaps their first impressions of one another were just that, first impressions. The book banter between Nora and Charlie is witty and poignant and builds a foundation for a greater understanding between the two. This sister’s trip changes everyone’s lives in unexpected ways.

In the backdrop of a small-town, sisters find their way back to each other and one sister may just find her own love story. Book Lovers is a celebration of sisters, romance and small towns.

Week 5 Prompt

 

Different publications review different types of books and they allow different types of conversations. For example, Booklist will not publish negative reviews, while, as you have all seen, Kirkus has no problems with it (check out this savage review - https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sebastia-alzamora/blood-crime/). Ebook only books, which are increasingly popular (especially in the romance genre) see little to no reviews in professional publications unless they have a big name author. How does this affect collection development?

It is unfortunate that some books will be reviewed in review journals, and some will not. There are so many books being published that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to sift through them all for a review. I’m sure there are plenty of worthy books that are overlooked in collection development because they are not reviewed in popular review sources. This means that library collections could be missing out on books that their community would enjoy. The beauty of having different review sources who review different materials means that a librarian will see a variety of materials and can assess what to add to a library’s collection. Each review source having different types of reviews they will publish, or not publish, also helps a librarian make more informed collection development choices. This can be especially true when the same item is reviewed in several different review sources.

I have posted two more documents in the week five files. One is two reviews of an ebook only romantic suspense novel, one from a blog and one from amazon. Look over the reviews - do you feel they are both reliable? How likely would you be to buy this book for your library?

The blog post review of this title is a more polished review and reminds me of reviews I come across in review journals. The Amazon review of this title isn’t as polished, but it does go over the main plot of the book. The reviews taken together paint a clearer picture of the books appeal. If I worked at a library where these types of books were popular, I might be inclined to purchase this book for the collection. This title has some hallmark vibes, which can be popular with some readers.

 

The other document contains some reviews of Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt, an incredibly popular memoir. These reviews are all from professional publications, feel free to find more on your own I just nabbed a few from the Book Review Digest database for you. How do these reviews make you feel about the possibility of adding Angela's Ashes to your collection?

All the reviews of this title paint it in a positive light and make it appear to be a book that would be worthy of adding to a library’s collection. The fact that three different review journals have positive reviews of the title would make this book stand above other titles that may not be receiving as positive of reviews. Here again, it would really depend on the library’s community and it’s readers as to whether this book was added to the collection. It would also depend on the library collection itself and if there was a need for books on this subject matter.

 

Do you think it's fair that one type of book is reviewed to death and other types of books get little to no coverage? How does this affect a library's collection?  And how do you feel about review sources that won't print negative content? Do you think that's appropriate? If you buy for your library, how often do you use reviews to make your decisions? If not, how do you feel about reviews for personal reading, and what are some of your favorite review sources?

I do think it’s unfortunate that some books will receive all the reviews and other will not. I’m sure there are books that a library and its readers are missing out on because the books have not been in the review journals a librarian reads. I think that review sources that won’t print negative content are doing librarians a disservice. There is no way for a librarian to read every book, so they must rely on review sources to make collection development decisions. If review sources are only printing positive things a librarian is missing out on crucial information. Each library and its readers are unique, and a librarian's goal is to curate a collection of books that readers want and need. I purchase books for the youth services department at my library and am a big proponent of review journals. They keep me informed of what’s being published and help me make decisions on what to add to our collection. To help combat some of the books that are missed in review journals I will look at Amazons best seller lists and their list of new books for various age categories. I also look at other lists of books that are curated on various websites like Bookriot. If I feel that a book review in a journal may be missing something I will go on Amazon and read a review from someone who hated the book. People that feel strongly about a book will often take the time to go into a lot of detail and this can help paint a clearer picture of the book.

Secret Shopper Summary

 I visited a local library that I haven’t been to in a few years, one night after work this week. The library has one service desk in their adult area. I approached the person working at the desk and said that I was looking for a good book and wondered if they had any recommendations. The person starts off by asking what I’d read recently that I enjoyed. I mentioned that I’d really been getting into thrillers and had read a book by Ruth Ware and the librarian said they had some suggestions. Then another librarian pops out from the back work area and says they also had some recommendations. The librarians ended up tag teaming the question. They walked with me to the stacks and asked questions like:

• What authors have you read that you really liked?

• What about thrillers did I enjoy, the mystery part, the pacing, detailed plots etc…

• Did I like books set in small towns or other locations?

I walked away with three books that I ended up checking out.  Plus, a nice list of future book ideas and authors, as well as an invite to a bookclub one of the librarians hosts each month. 

The librarians did not use any special tools to suggest books. Both librarians were readers of the thriller genre, so that definitely helped. It did make me wonder if it had been a different genre if it would have been as successful. But overall, it was a great experience, and I would go back for more recommendations. 

Week Three Prompt

 1.       I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next!

 The Lunatic Café is the fourth book in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. This is according to the series list on Novelist.

 2.       What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.

 The Women of Pearl Island by Polly Crosby. I looked up the Prodigal Summer and clicked through a few of the Readalike suggestions. The person was asking for something a bit faster paced and this book says it’s a leisurely pace. So, I think the definition of faster paced would need to be defined more with the questioner. This writing style of this story is lyrical and has an outdoor focus like the Prodigal Summer.

 3.       I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there!

This question would need some follow-up as to whether they’re looking for fiction or nonfiction. If they were looking for historical nonfiction I would recommend To hell and back: the last train from Hiroshima by Charlies R Pellegrino. This book is based on the stories of survivors of Hiroshima and has a writing style of compelling and richly detailed.

 4. I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any suggestions?

I would begin by asking this person if the knew that Well Schooled in Murder was the 4^th book the Thomas Lynley Mysteries series. Then I would ask them if they had read the other books in the series and if not I would begin by recommend the first book, which is called A Suitable Vengeance.

5. My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?

I would begin by asking if their husband was interested in graphic novels or regular print books. If the answer was graphic novels I would use the Readalikes option on Novelist and recommend The rage. Volume 1, Zombie generation, a story about a virus that turns children into zombies.

6. I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.

I would clarify that the person meant movies that were from the past five years and not books from the past five years that have been turned into movies. Then I would use Novelist to search GX Page to Screen, filter down the results and recommend:

• Normal People
• Where the Crawdads Sing
• The Queen’s Gambit

 7. I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.

I used the appeal mixer and put in fast paced and chased and came up with these recommendations:

• Lights Out by Natalie Walters
• Flight Risk by Cara Putman

Both books are categorized as suspense and fast paced. Both are also categorized as Christian Fiction in nature, which usually means low foul language and no sex scenes.

Tools I use to find books:

Honestly, I use Amazon a lot to jog my memory of other books. I’ll type in a book the person said they last enjoyed and then scroll through the recommended list of titles Amazon brings up. I’ve found this helps me remember what other books we have in our library collection.

Fantastic Fiction is another great place to find book recommendations. I love how the website is organized by genre.

I use Netgalley a lot for ARCs. I’ve found that this is a great way to keep on top of the new things that are coming out. I see titles there that I don’t always come across in the library review journals I read.

I’m also a big fan of review journals like Kirkus and School Library Journal.

 

 

 

 

Thriller Annotation

 

Title: In a Dark, Dark Wood

Author: Ruth Ware

Genre: Thriller

Publication Date: 2015

Number of Pages: 308

Geographical Setting: Set in London and the countryside in Northumberland.

Time Period: present day, at least similar to the year it was published.

Series (If applicable): n/a

Plot Summary: Leonora, Leo, is a twenty-six-year-old crime writer who lives in a tiny flat in London. She receives an unexpected invitation to a hen party weekend to celebrate the engagement of a friend she hasn’t seen in ten years. After some hesitation and pact with another long lost friend, she decides to make the trip to the Northumberland countryside for the weekend. The event takes place down a long lane, in a glass house, out in the middle of a forest, with little to no cell reception. The party is made up a group of relative strangers who all have the bride in common. Each person is complex and not what they first appear, each has their own history with the bride, and each has their own reasons for being there.

The story alternates between a hospital setting and the events of the hen party. From the beginning it's clear that the party goes horribly wrong in some unknown way. The story keeps building with every new revelation about the characters, until the point where both the present and past storylines collide.

In our course readings for this week Saricks describes a thriller as a story that takes place in a short amount of time and a story that has a sense of menace throughout (2016, p.17). I think this book fits this description. The story takes place over a weekend and there is a sense of foreboding with the way the story begins with a nightmare flashback and then to a hospital room.

In another reading for this week the authors Wyatt and Saricks describe a thriller as fast paced, full of action and conflict and having a sense of danger throughout ( 2019, pp. 5-6). Given that Saricks was also the author in the reading mentioned above, it makes sense that their descriptions of what a thriller is would be similar. Both versions are representative of how this book is set up and how the story unfolds.  

Subject Headings:

Psychological fiction

Female Friendship fiction

  Appeal:

Here are some words from another reading from this week called “The Secret Language of Books, a Guide to Appeal” that I would use to describe the appeal of this book (Novelist, 2018).

This story would appeal to people who enjoy reading stories that:

•          Have Strong female characters who are relatable.
•          Are fast paced.
•          atmospheric and a bit menacing

3 terms that best describe this book:

• Character driven
• Slow burn
• Atmospheric

 

 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Paula Hawkins

Book:  A Slow Fire Burning

Both authors write stories that are character driven and layered and have many twists and turns. This particular book focuses on three women and their relationships with a murdered man.

 

Author: Riley Sager

Book: The Last Time I Lied

Both authors write stories about how past secrets come back to haunt peoples’ present day lives. This book focuses on a group of friends, a mysterious disappearance from a summer camp and secrets revealed.

 

Author: B.A Paris

Book: The Dilemma

Both authors write stories about people who have secrets and how those secrets effect the people around them. This book focuses on a couple celebrating their 40^th anniversary, but each has a secret that will change their lives forever.  

 

Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

Author: Harold Schechter

Book: Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men

In a similar vein as Ware’s book, this one focuses on a woman and her secrets, in this case murder. There are many unexpected revelations and twists and turns.

 

Author: Emily Copley Eisenburg

Book: The Third Rainbow Girl: The Long Life of a Double Murder in Appalachia

In a similar vein as Ware’s book, this story focuses on how one terrible event and the secrets around it can affect the lives of so many.

References

Novelist. (2018). The secret language of books, a guide to appeal. Ebscohost.

Saricks, J. (2016). At Leisure with Joyce Saricks. Booklist, 112(17), 17.

Wyatt, N., Saricks, J. (2019). The readers advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions.

Reading Profile

Reading has always been something I've enjoyed. Growing up I was the first of my cousins to learn how to read. I was the oldest and have great memories of being at my grandma's house, surrounded by cousins and piles of books. My grandma had a monthly book subscription and we'd all flock to her house to see what new titles came in the mail that month. My grandma also had a collection of books that my dad and aunts and uncles had read growing up. Books like Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Archie comics.

Looking back, I can see how these early years shaped the kinds of books I now enjoy reading. Along with mysteries I also read plenty of romance, historical fiction, children's books, and young adult books. I am one of those people who will put a book down if it's just not grabbing my attention. I think there are sooo many books out there, that there is no reason to slog through one I'm just not that into. I have found that sometimes I will go back to a book I've put down. Sometimes you just need to be in the right frame of mind for some stories. 

If I had to make a list of my top 5 favorites books of all time, the list would look something like this:

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
• Persuasion by Jane Austen
• The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood
• If I Stay by Gayle Forman
• We Are in a Book by Mo Willems

With this class my plan is to branch out of my reading comfort zone a little. I plan on reading some genres I haven't read as much from before. Fun story, I'm in a group chat with some friends that we've called Murderbots that's based off of a series by Marth Wells. I haven't actually read any of the books in the Murderbot Diaries. So, I'm thinking this is the perfect semester to finally read the first book.