Week 9 Reflection on the Readers Services Training

Starting this training, I was uncertain of what to expect .  Although at times there was grumbling and complaining among the staff about the assignments inside of assignments and the time it was consuming to complete, I do believe I gained some knowledge from doing the readers' service training.  I don't know if I gained the kind of knowledge desired or if spending more time to be more thorough on my part would have made a difference.  I am aware of the many sub genres which I was not aware of before.  I am aware of some blogs and sights I can visit to help in readers services in genre I'm not as familiar with. Once Lotus was working I found it very informative for Science fiction.  Having to think through book recommendations seems to have helped keep these books in my memory and also to make me think about books that cross from fiction to non-fiction even as I'm putting staff recommends on the shelf.  It has made me aware of tools that I was not aware of.  I'm not sure how many of the tools I will use as it seems like there are so many.  I have to think through how this works for me  in dealing with customers.

Week 9 Book Trailer

I read about and watched several book trailers this week.  I found some boring, some artisticly attractive, some caught my attention for the author and some were you tube clever but none made me want to read the book or  even check  to see if there were other books I might want to read by the same author. 

I am waiting to see if they will help me remember the books when I am doing reader services for our customers.  Combining the visual with the written may end up being helpful to my memory of materials I don't read but may need to recommend.

Book Trailers need some work in my opinion.

Week 8: Assignment 4 Book talk 2 books using Appeal factors

An adventurous, fast paced, popular book  set in World War II , Unbroken: A World War II story of  survival,resilience, and redemption by Laura Hildenbrand  the recognized author of Sea Biscuit is the fast paced story of lieutenant and airman Louis Zamperini former Olympic runner. He crashed into the Pacific Ocean in May 1943 , lived in a raft and became a prisoner of War.  Readers of Fiction like December 6 a mystery by MartinCruz Smith would like this book because of its World War II  setting, mysterious outcome, and fast pace.


Stiff: curoius lives of human cadavers by Mary Roach is a humorous factual account of what happens to the human body once  the spirit is  gone. The detailed  historical accounts of what cadavers have been used for and how they are used and handled are presented in a  thought provoking way that only Mary Roach a popular author can communicate such a topic.  I would recommend this book to Fiction Readers of  The Normals by David Gilbert because he to uses psychological humor in conveying a story about human experimentation.

Week 8- Non Fiction

This week I  have gained knowledge in the narrative non-fiction.  The appeal Characteristics , lack of appeal characteristics, appeals unique to Non-fiction, subject matter appeal and the classificationof the non-fiction aid in reader's services to the Non-fiction reader.  The articles express the importance and enjoyment  of crossing between non-fiction and fiction in reader's advisory.

I chose Biography, History ( 943.0862), Travel ( 918.11) and Medical (611) genres.

I could recommend: Unbroken: a World War II story of survival, resilence, and redemption by Laura Hillenbrand to fiction readers who like books on the holocaust or mysteries like December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith.

For History , I could recommend In the Garden of Beasts by Eric Larson to fiction readers of books set during World War II  such as readers of Flight from Berlin by David John.

For readers of Travel/ Adventure fiction such as Boy in the snow: an Edie Kialatuk Mystery by M.J. McGrath or Contest by Gordon Korman in young adult, I would recommend River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's darkest Journey by Candice Millard.(918.11 M)

Readers of Medical fiction might like Stiff: curious lives of Human Cadavers (611 R) by Mary Roach.  I would especially recommend it to readers of The normals by David Gilbert.

Week 7 Assignment 4. Trends on forth coming teen fiction

I'm not sure about the trends in Teen fiction.  It seems that it is realistic fantasy and science fiction  in series format.  I think this has been the trend for a while- since Twilight. It seems a bit more of the other world instead of the vampire theme.  They seem to be family involved in the themes and characters as well.

I think I will have to follow these a bit longer to get a better feel for new trends.  There are trailers on many of the imprints.  I don't know if this is a new style or not.

Week 7 Assignment 3. Following the 2 blogs

John Green Books seemed to be a blog I kept going back to revisit.  It is written by John Green The NY times best selling author of Looking for Alaska.  It is a way for readers to get his thoughts on various topics and to communicate with him.  It appears successful with 321 comments on 1 post.

School Library Journal : Someday my printz will come is the other blog I chose to observe.  It appears that Karen Silverman is current writer. The blog is discussing the contenda for the best books written for teens based entirely on its literary merit each year.  School perspective reviewers of YA content are the desired audience.  It is successful.

Week7: Assignment 2

  I read New Adult: needless Marketing- Speak or Valued Subgenre?  Publisher's Weekly, Dec. 14, 2012 and the article The Next Big thing: Adults reading Teen Literature.  The term "New Adult" sounds like a buzz word that is being thrown around and debated from different viewpoints.  I'm not sure if  I see the value even after reading these articles.  There have always been and always will be crossover issues.  There will always be teens that read Adult books.  Adults are already reading Teen books so why rename them.  Put them on display and let the Adults see them.  Twilight and Hunger games were not  in the adult section but many adults read them. The Book Thief has been read by both as well as the Boy in the striped Pajamas.  The articles seem to  have some good points for both sides of the debate.

Week 6 - Building Knowledge (Genres)

1.  I had great difiicutly getting into Locus last week.  This week I discovered that it was up and running.  It has the full magzine to read and get advisory information from.  I found that I enjoyed that part of the sight.


Assignment 2- Prezi link of Fiction Genres and subgenres.  I found this helpful in providing subgenres and information about them that hopefully will help me be more discerning when speaking with customers.


Assignmnet 3-  Pick 3 subgenres

Fan website for each subgenre:  I found this to be difficult for me.  I tried Google searching in several different ways.The fan websites I found for Steampunk Science Fiction and Superhuman science Fiction had the fans excited about clothing or what I would call toys that could be made or purchased.  The visual effects were more important than the written material.

3 Authors or titles that are associated with or typify the 3 genres I chose.  The hallmarks or appeal factors of each subgenre.

Steampunk Science Fiction:  Set in Victorian England and sometimes the Wild West. Alternate steam power with cogs and machinery.  A fan recommended Predator Cities a series by Philip Reeves for Teens.

Superhuman Science Fiction:  Once Crowded  Sky by Tom King  Main characters possess superhuman abilities and are pitted against powerful foes.

Magical Realism:  magic and the real world combine.  e.g. Suzannea Clarke's  Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell;  Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern;  Magician King by Lev Grossman


Mashups:  Isabel Allende's House of the Spirits would fall into the romance genre as well as Magical realism.  It deals with the other world, as well as the romance.
 Cibola's Promise by Erin Lausten is a Western Steampunk Adventure.  It contains the Western Setting and Clothing and adds the adventure of the West as well as the  haunting in their lives and what the future holds.

Building Base Knowledge II cont'd

Question 2;
In Early Word I think I will look at the coming soon- Season Previews  to become better acquainted with what is coming and can formulate some possible read alikes for several of the books that might be popular.


Question 3:  After looking at Coming Soon- Season Previews on Early Word, I've chosen the book   Detroit: an American autopsy by Charles Le Diff .  Literary expression and language is the strong appeal of this book along with the  setting of a place of power that has crumbled and has hope of rebuilding.  It has philosophical appeal as it tries to uncover the whys of what has happened to the journalist's home town.  If you liked When a crocodile eats the sun by Peter Godwin, Detroit : an American autopsy might appeal to you.  It is written by a journalist that goes back to Zimbabwe to visit his aging father and sees the devastation of  his childhood homeland because of corruption.

Detroit  is expected to be popular because of the author's literary style and language.  It addresses concerns of the American people and gives possible hope.

Week 5: Building Base Knowledge (Part II)

Here it is week 5 when I am to write about what I have gained/learned from the NPR and Locus.  NPR has been helpful in giving me some awareness of popular titles for  customers.  When I combine the choices  with Early Word and other sites it gives a complete picture of what will be asked for.  In the most recent perusal of NPR  I was impressed with And the Mountain Echoed by Hosseini.  I want to remember that in his new  book Hosseini does not focus on " the political turmoil but family loss".  The setting  is in Afghanistan partly just as in His other books.   NPR  has interesting lists that are helpful.  I like the availability of non-fiction titles that are offered.

Locus is the other site I was going to frequent.  Opening the site has proved to be a difficulty in at least 3 of the days that I have attempted to visit the site.  I am not ready to weigh in on how this site has helped me.

Week 4 GoodReads Continued

GoodReads offers far more than I realized in terms of readers' services.  It offers Listopia which I discovered is list of books that are created by readers/ users in terms of genre and interests.  It offers suggestions for reading as well as basic reader's advisor.

Popular is another  category that I think would be helpful in readers' services and in keeping up with current titles.

The quizzes add a challenge but also assist thinking about books in terms that may help with working with customers.

I found the rating of books did affect whether I wanted to read them.

Having signed up for Goodreads several years ago and then not using it, made this assignment very helpful for me to get more involved and see the many options it has to offer. 

Assignment 4: Goodreads

Here is the book I recommended to Melissa :

Beckyrecommended the book:

The Scorpio RacesbyMaggie Stiefvater

"This is a fast paced, intense read of a life and death water horse race on the beach that combines fantasy with realism as two very strong characters lives become entwined by their needs and the emotion of the race. There are some similarities to Hunger games in that many horses and people are expected to die in the race. It is also a teen book. "

toMelissa

 

I will post my Goodreads thoughts when I next have time.

Week 3 - Reader's conversation

I'm finding the articles the last 2 weeks very helpful and informative.

Converstaion 1:    Eat, Pray, Love. I hear the reader saying that they like popular titles with characters that are interesting, reflective and funny.  The setting of the different countries and their description  added to their enjoyment.  The customer is also looking for a book for a book group.

Grace Eventually  by Anne Lamott would be a book the reader might enjoy.  It is witty, fun and reflective  and the author explores life and her view of faith in light of family and life situations.  It is a good book for a group discussion as well.


Conversation 2:  Vampire books not like Twilight with no angst, no romance, and fast paced.

I am not a reader of Vampire books.  I would recommend based on other readers suggestions Vampire Academy series or Blood Drunk by Angela Lovell.  Blood Drunk has a strong male protagonist and a steady pace as the main character seeks to find his sister and enters the world of the vampires. I would take the reader to Novelist so that they might look for other possibilities.


Conversation 3:  River of Doubt:  The Reader liked that it was historical, true, very fast paced.

I would recommend:  Unbroken: A World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption by Laura Hillenbrand.  It is fast paced, factual, and historical.  The life of  Louis Zamperini an olympian, prisoner of war, and member of the Army Air Force is true, adventuresome and an excellent read.

Edward Klein may be an author the reader might like to try.  Fast Paced and historical in his writing but does not contain the adventure of River Doubt and Unbroken.

Week -2 Addendum

I visited several co-workers blogs.  I left a book suggestion on Kim B's blog and on Doug B's blog.  The books I chose were Mister Death's blue-eyed girls for Doug B and  Farishta on Kim b's blog.

Week 2- Annotation 2

Farishta by Patricia McArdle

Angela Morgan is at a change in her career and life and accepts a position for the US government in Afghanistan. As she details with  the lack of respect by her coworkers as well as the culture Angela is also dealing with PTSD from previous events in her life.  Not only does she grow and develop as a person in her new job post, she also discovers a way to help the women in Northern Afghanistan and thus gets the name Angel ( Farishta) from the people.

Setting was a great appeal to me as it was in another culture but also dealt with the military and government culture as well.

Pacing:  It was a fast paced book .

Characterization:  Immediately Angela Morgan draws you in as a character.  Her passions for each thing that she does as well as how she develops and grows beyond the grief of her past. complemented by the British commander, local warlords, and the local women.

Storyline:  Adventure, touch of romance, but definitely a  strong psychological and intellectual component. 

Language:  not a strength in this book-  Descriptions of the culture are well done

Detail:  Adds to the richness of the book.  Great description of the culture but not overly detailed.

Tone:  The subject is a dark subject but handled with passion and hope.  Doesn't leave the reader feeling dark but wanting to help

Learning/ experiencing:  Angela Morgan developes and learns to go beyond her past and develop a new sense of who she is.

I enjoyed this book because the setting was helpful in understanding what was in the news about  Afghanistan.  My friend's son was in the military in Afghanistan and it gave me knowledge of what he was facing daily.

Elements of Appeal- Week 2 Annotation 1

The Housekeeper and the Professor by  Yoko Ogawa

A Math Einstein type Professor has his memory reduced to  80 minutes of  short term memory after being in an accident.  He needs care throughout the day and thus he meets the housekeeper and her son.  The relationship and effect that they have on each other revolves around math and the professor's love of children and baseball. 

Pacing: medium to quick as it is only 180 pages.

Characterization:  The characters are never named except the son of the housekeeper is given a nickname of root because the professor thinks his head resembles a square root sign.  Inspite of this you become attached to the characters and their relationship with each other.  Rich; fullbodied

Story Line:  Psychological in its subject

Language: sparce; clear; relies on inferences;

Setting:  The professor's house; occasionally they leave the house but primarily it is set in the house and its location to the master house.

Detail:  enough detail to keep the characters real and developing.

Tone:  Compassion and Beauty

Learning/ experiencing-  the characters all grow as people through the contact with each other.  The professor grows the least as his memory is only 80 minutes.  One reader states: " imagine being a child greeted with new joy and respect daily.."  

This is a book I've read multiple times.  I enjoy the math references and challenges as well as the way the characters learn to relate to each other and grow.  I would guess there is an intellectual appeal to it as well.

Book Link and Genre Link - Week 1

I will be visiting NPR Book site as well as  the Science fiction site- Locus on a regular basis. I chose the NPR sight because customers often ask for books they have heard on NPR. I chose Locus in the hope I will expand my knowledge of the Science Fiction genre and to be able to recommend some titles to my son-in-law as well as other customers.

Set up and Ready to Go!

Set up and ready to go!  Tomorrow is a big night at the Towson Branch.  It will be a Celebration of the Black-eyed Susan Book Award with our local elementary schools.  It will be great fun!