Final Thoughts

Overall I was kinda disappointed with the resource selections. What I did enjoy most about these RA sites and assignments was the more no apologies blogs that they have led me to, which I have now bookmarked to read, instead of the original list of genre sites from the beginning.

The blog in its entirety: reading, searching, assignments and manipulating the crappy-ness of Blogger took longer than the allotted or expected time.  I really dislike Blogger.

Some of it felt like a lot of busy work: as in, you really could have just posted us students the links to blogs and sites and set us free to explore.

WK9: Wrap up!!!

Book Trailers

Yeah I'm down with book trailers, why not. Some of them are like hilarious B-movies.  Is it setting books up to them be promoted as movies, if they sell really well, sure, but that's not all bad right.  I think they are a great alternative option when looking for new books, especially for children and young adults, who may be more reluctant to read.  They offer an introduction in a different format that will appeal to many readers.

WK8: Nonfiction Pt. 4

Book Talks


Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Author: Hunter S. Thompson

“In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.” 

“1) Never trust a cop in a raincoat.
2) Beware of enthusiasm and of love, both are temporary and quick to sway.
3) If asked if you care about the world's problems, look deep into the eyes of he who asks, he will never ask you again.
4) Never give your real name.
5) If ever asked to look at yourself, don't look.
6) Never do anything the person standing in front of you can't understand.
7) Never create anything, it will be misinterpreted, it will chain you and follow you for the rest of your life.”  

---HST Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

(*Sometimes to hook them, all you need is a good quote or two.)

The Devil in the White City
Author: Erik Larson

As the White City rises around them, a murderer does not lurk, but glides through the city and into the arms of many a beauty. Stealing their money, stealing their trust all while the Ferris Wheel is about to bust. Larson gracefully weaves the stories of Daniel H. Burnham (World's Fair Architect) and H.H. Holmes (Chicago Serial Killer) a tale of innovation, opportunity and beauty into that of disaster and death.  While fact can seem more gruesome than fiction in this narrative, the abundance of architecture and personality will help to balance out the feeling of impeding danger.

WK8: Nonfiction!!!!! FINALY! Pt. 1-3

Interesting articles and I enjoyed the video on all the NF appeal factors!

Suggestions:

HISTORY: Devil in the White City by Erik Larson 364.1532 L

• Detailed, interesting characters
• Literary Drama
• True Crime
• Chicago History
• Architecture Interests
• Intertwining stories
• Evolved and unfolding plot

MEMOIRS/Sports: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas BIO THOMPSON

• Fast paced
• whimsical imagery
• foaming at the mouth drug-culture to ingest the new American norm and morals
• Roller coaster plot
• Like drug induced debauchery, then this book is for you!

MEDICAL: The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks  by Rebecca Skloot. 616.027 S

• Part Bio
• Part medical ethics drama
• Science interests

CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES: Debating same-sex marriage by John Corvino & Maggie Gallagher 306.848

• Commentary of the issue of same sex marriage
• Opposing views
• Current events
• GLBTQ interests
• Comical as well as intellectual conversation

NOTES
Appeal Factors: popularity, format, size, type size, length, reading difficult, plot, characters, dialogue, writing style, time period, theme, pacing, setting, tone, genre
Author Appeal characteristics:
Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Religion, Reputation (Oprah vs. HST)
vs
Lack of appeal: sex, drugs, violence, language, particular genre, point of view
(HA! the 'lack of appeals' are my definite appeals!!!)

Wk7: Not Just for Teens Pt. 4

Week 7: Assignment 4
Choose any two of the following teen imprints and spend some time on their websites. Blog about any trends you find in either current or forthcoming teen fiction.

• Harlequin Teen
• Paranormal/supernatural
• Gods/Goddesses
• Dystopia
• Harper Teen
• Dystopia (I 'm feeling a trend here...)
• Books into TV/Movies
•  More Dystopia...

WK7: Not Just For Teens Pt. 3

Week 7: Assignment 3

Choose any two of the following blogs/websites. Follow them for a week. Post comments to your blog regarding who is writing it, who is the intended audience, is it successful, etc.

• John Green Books or John Green’s Tumblr
• Posts From: JG, his sister, his brother and other random people.
• Audience: Anyone who likes JG. Anyone who wants to be entertained, ...errr, confused.
• Successful: I think it's a great way for JG to connect to his fans and reader base and really interact with the public.  This vlog features short video clips ranging from topics of pop culture, JG himself and anything else you can think of.  I also think he does a great job picking guest vloggers, they are usually hilarious.
• Stacked
• Written by 3 Librarians, at least two of which are Public LIbrarians.
• The audience is definitly for other librarians, teachers and avid readers, but provides great ideas and introduction for new readers as well.
• I have absolutley been intertained by this site, specially because of the varity fromt he three writers. They cover many genres, formats, events/confereces and genreal commentary on the literary world.

W7: Not just for Teen Pt. 1 & 2

Week 7: Assignment 1 “What to Read Next”

Love, Love, Love this next reads flowchart from LPL (one of my awesome former libraries!!!). They have great people working there with exciting ideas. We have printed this document and now use it as RA for Teens at the Info Desk.
See how cool they are...here is a pic of a coozie I just receive from them, hehe! ( and some cats I traced. Don't look at the cats, just look at the coozie...Okay you can look at the cats, they are cool.)

 

 

Week 7: Assignment 2

Read any two of the following short articles. Post comments on your blog, and make comments on two colleagues’ blogs.

• New Adult: Needless Marketing-Speak Or Valued Subgenre? Publisher’s Weekly, Dec 14, 2012
• I totally agreed with this article, regardless of the marketing term the core readers/fans will find this genre and read it until their eyes bleed. The main concern for marketing-speak or labels is to make the moneys and bring in more new reads, to again make the moneys. I am all for introducing new readers to genres/authors they may have not know before or some they think are only for certain ages/types, but it really doesn't matter how catchy the term of the genre is, it matters that the books are meeting the readers appeal factors and that hopefully it is good writing.

• The Next Big Thing YALSA; The Hub, Oct 2012
• I enjoyed the 10 reasons why adults are reading more YA Books. For instance, several Adult Fic writers are writing new fiction for teens. Nostalgia, surprise, surprise. Trending themes like the paranormal/supernatural. Savvy marketing tools, for those who can't always think for themselves, I mean, need RA suggestions. And I don't know if they actually mentioned this, but just because the readers age out of YA range doesn't mean they stop reading those authors/books and seek out similar titles.

I also commented on Zeke W.'s Blog & Maureen R.'s blog posts.