Week 9 - Book Trailers and Training Wrap Up

I have never seen a book trailer before but I did enjoy watching some of them. The professionally done book trailers grabbed my attention right away and wanted me to read the book but most of them were cheesy. I watched one about the Hunger Games, The Apothecary and a few Nicholas Sparks titles. Those I enjoyed watching. I think they could be a good reader's advisory tool if the libraries would show them on their TVs that they have in the branches. I think that showing the book trailers will grab customer’s attention and then they would want to read the book. The book trailers would have to be professionally done, of course. All in all, book trailers are good but I reading the summary of a book is just as good.

I enjoyed doing Be More Bookish (BMB). I learned a lot from the exercises, but I thought the exercises took longer than a week to do because of my work load at the time. I wish I had more time to explore the websites that were suggested. Since BMB is over, I will continue to look at them when I have some down time.
Since doing BMB, I am addicted to Goodreads. I love that I can organize my books that I have read and want to read. We have downloaded the Goodreads app to our branch iPads.  When I am roving, I can explore what books I want to read and also give suggestions to customers. I also use Goodreads for merchandising display ideas.
For next time, I think that it would be better for it to have a syllabus ahead of time with due dates so we can go ahead if we want to.

Week 8 - Nonfiction

The four genres and book titles that I picked are:

1. History         Big Burn (973.911 E) by Timothy Egan
2. Food             Fortune Cookie Chronicles (641.3 L) by Jennifer Lee
3. Travel          Assassination Vacation (973 V) by Sarah Vowell
4. Crime          Devil in the White City (364.1523 L) by Erik Larson

The book Big Burn by Timothy Egan is a compelling and very detailed about the epic 1910 forest fire that burned across Montana, Idaho and Washington.  Timothy Egan's dramatic story shows readers how Theodore Roosevelt fought to show how important the Forest Service is and the funds that are needed to keep up with the conservation of America.  This book is for readers that like very detailed and dramatic writing.  I would recommend this book to readers who like to read Barbara Kingsolver and Geraldine Brooks.

The book Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is a disturbing yet richly detailed book about H.H. Holmes, coined as America's first serial killer, who killed young women that attend the World's Fair of 1893. It is believed that he killed almost 200 young women but only 9 bodies/body parts were found. I would recommend this book to customers who like Robert Louise Stevenson, Oscar Wilde, and Theodore Dreiser.

Week 7 - Not Just For Teens

I read the article The Next Big Thing: Adults Reading Teen Literature. This article was very informative. I am a 35 year old who reads young adult books. I am not entirely into reading what is "hot" right now, but loves to read what interests me in that genre. Young Adult fiction does remind me of the coming of age and it transports me back to my teen years!! Young Adult genre will always be on my list to read.

The next article that I read was New Adult: Needless Marketing-Speak or Valued Subgenre. I thought this article was very interesting in talking about the subgenre "new adult" within young adult. I think that this a way to grab those young adults in the 18-23 year old range. I think that these new adult books will help them "prepare" for what can happen in life during that age range. The only thing that I have an issue with is if there is sex in those books, you definitely have to figure out where it will be shelved.

I commented on Jaime B. blog and Sue F. blog.

One of the websites that I have followed is Teenreads. This website has the ultimate reading list to inspire teens to keep reading. What is nice about this list is that it gives a picture of the cover of the book and a synopsis of what the book is about. Teenreads has a coming soon section. This highlights what books are coming out in print with a summary of what the book is about. This website gives great reviews of titles that are currently out in print. I like how they highlight the genre /appeal factors in green next to the title. I thought that having contests was a great way to draw teens in to the website and to also read!! This website, I think, is intended for teens (14-18) and new adults (19-26).

The other website that I have followed is Forever Young Adult (FYA). I think website is intended for older young adults.  I saw reviews for TV shows back when I was in high school. The website has an older feel to it trying to grab the older young adult audience. I like how they give their reviews for books; they do book reports. I think that this website is successful because it has over 5800 followers on Facebook.

The website for teen imprints LB Teens, gives a good variety of teen books that are out or coming out. I also like how you can chat live with authors about their books. The other website for teen imprints, Teens/Penguin Young Readers, gives a good variety of teen books that are out or coming out. I also like that you can go to the books website to see what/how they are promoting it.

Week 6 - Building Base Knowledge

The website that I have been following is Stop, You're Killing Me! This website gives great detail on new mystery titles that are being published, in hardback and paperback. This mystery website gives book reviews and author read-alikes. What I thought was pretty cool was that you can search by your favorite mystery character to see what books they are in. Stop, You're Killing Me! lists the mystery/thriller award winners for the current year as well as the past years winners. This website is one stop shop for any mystery reader!

Subgenres

Paranormal Romance

When I Google "fan websites paranormal romance", I came across Paranormal Romance Fan for Life. There are over 200 followers for this blog. This blog gives book reviews, author interviews and giveaways for this subgenre.

Three authors of this subgenre are Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Nalini Singh. Christine Feehan's books are passionate love stories with danger and dark magic. Sherrilyn Kenyon vampire books are mythology, magic and sexy love stories. Nalini Singh books are intense paranormal romances with a passionate protagonist and steamy sexual encounters.

Cozy Mysteries

I Google "cozy mystery fan websites" and I came across Cozy Mystery List Blog. This website gives cozy mysteries by theme, like by animal, location, hobbies, career, etc. This blog gives newly released book titles and recommendations. This is a very good blog for those who are cozy mystery fans!

Three authors of this subgenre are Susan Wittig Albert, Betty Hechtman, and Monica Ferris. Susan Wittig Albert books are engaging and witty that is leisurely paced with a hometown feeling. Betty Hechtman crocheting books are upbeat, descriptive and fast-paced. Monica Ferris' needlework books are an upbeat and face-paced with very detailed text.

Medical Thrillers

I have been following the website Stop, You're Killing Me! and they give book reviews for medical thrillers and other mystery titles. This website has the nominees and winners for the thriller awards for the past 7 years. This website is great for any mystery reader.

Three authors of this subgenre are Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen, and Michael Palmer. Robin Cook's books are fast paced and plot driven with drama and suspense. Tess Gerritsen's books are fast paced, violent, richly detailed drama. Michael Palmer's medical thriller books are compelling, suspenseful, and fast-paced.

Mash-ups

One book that is a mashup between Christian fiction and paranormal romance would be Plain Fear: Forsaken by Leanna Ellis. This book is a dark romantic tale about love, sacrifice, and faith.

Another mashup would be Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith because it is a historical fiction and horror/vampire book.

Week 5: Building Base Knowledge (Part II)

The resource that I have been monitoring since week 1 has been Good Reads.  This website is very helpful by giving read-alikes for books that you have read but also for customers that aren't signed up with Good Reads.   Good Reads gives great book lists for genres that you or your customer are interested in.  Plus you can explore other books/genres that you don't particularly like to read.  This website is great!!!

Early Word has a lot links that would help with reader's advisory with customers. As I was searching around, I found that each of the major magazines and newspapers has published all the best books of 2012 and will do it for 2013. I love that Early Word has all the book award winners. I absolutely love that Early Word has the movie & TV based book tie-ins. I like to read the book before the movie as well as the customers that come into the library. I will continue to use all of these links because it gives great merchandising ideas for the libraries and it also is a great source for those avid readers.

The book that is coming out soon is Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich. This fast-paced book is about a widow, Holly, who gets back into shape with the help of a hot personal trainer, Logan. This book is amusing and upbeat with lots of romance. This book is for anyone who likes contemporary fiction as well as chick lit!

Week 4 - Goodreads

I have fallen in love with Goodreads.  I have inputted all the books I have read so I can easily refer to that list for staff picks.  Goodreads has recommended books for me to read based on the books I have read.  I have made a list of books to read based on Goodreads suggestions.  I have made friends on Goodreads and we can share book suggestions. 

Goodreads gives great book suggestions based on different genres.  This will help with reader's advisory for customers as well as myself when I want to find another book to read.

I just downloaded the Goodreads app to the BCPL iPads.  I can easily get book suggestions for customers as I am roving in the stacks. 


I sent the following recommendation:

you sent a recommendation to Julie Presley:

delete

Matched (Matched, #1)
by Ally Condie (Goodreads Author)

you said: "Hi Jules:) Since you liked the book Selection by Kiera Cass, I thought you might want to try reading Matched by Allyson Condie. Matched is a lyrical style book that is science fiction with a twisty dystopian plot and intriguing teenage characters. I hope that you enjoy reading it.

Jen "

 

Week 3: The Readers’ Services Conversation

Conversation #1

Since you loved the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, I suggest you try reading Three Weeks with my Brother.  This book has a reflective tone that deals with two brother’s grief about the deaths of their parents and sister while traveling around the world.  Another suggestion would be Hold me tight and tango me home by Maria Finn.  This book is another reflective book about a woman divorcing her cheating husband and learns about love and loss through tango lessons.

Conversation #2

Since you don't like the Twilight series, I suggest that you try reading Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice.  This book is about a vampire who tells a reporter about his 200 year long life.  There is no teen love story about this book.  You might want to read the Dark series by Christine Feehan. This series is a paranormal romance that is detailed and erotic.

Conversation #3

Since you liked The River of Doubt why don't you try reading Over the edge of the world: Magellan's terrifying circumnavigation of the globe by Lawrence Bergreen.  This detailed, suspenseful book is about Ferdinand Magellan's voyage around the world.  You come to read about mutiny, death, navigation and cruel leadership by Magellan.  Also, try reading Skeletons on the Zahara: a true story of survival by Dean King.  This is a very compelling story about 12 American sailors that were shipwrecked in North Africa and taken into slavery in 1815.