WK6: Building Base Knowledge (Genres) Pt. 3

I can't say that I'm unfamiliar with these subgenres, my profession kind of requires me to be...

But the first two happen to be genres which I am not a fan of and would not initial chose to read...so I probably require more knowledge on the subjects.

• Mystery: Cozy
• Romance: Religious Clean
• Realistic Fiction: Literary

Mystery Cozy

• Fan Website: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Cozy-Mysteries-New-Releases.html
Buzz/Excitement: I like that they do include links to ebook formats for the readers. And on those same lines, they discuss TV Series that are related to some of the books they suggest or have similar plots.  This site really seems interested in working from viewer suggestions of content including suggested books to post and list request from the followers.
• Resource: google.com
• Authors: Agatha Christie, Daryl Wood Gerber (aka Avery Aames), Debbie Macomber.
• Appeal Factors: quick pacing, crime-solving (mostly female) detective, fun light-hearted read, takes place in small town/village, evolving characters that readers become attached to, not graphic or violent, emphasis on plot and character development. (via http://www.cozy-mystery.com/Definition-of-a-Cozy-Mystery.html)

Romance: Clean Religious

• Fan Website: http://www.firstthings.com/
• Buzz/Excitement: Not really a "fan" website, because it is published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life,  but a good resource none the less.  Well the Amish are always big in this genre! They use a page entitled "On the Square" to feature Top writers. I think this name is very suitable for the genre, hehe.
• Resource: google.com
• Authors: Cindy Windsmall, Wanda E. Brunstetter, Lori Wick
• Appeal Factors: Storyline, growing characters, values

Teen Fiction

• Fan Website: http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/
• Buzz/Excitement: Anything Teen!!! Tie ins to movies, events, book clubs and losta Pop Culture!!!
• Resource: Colleague/Previous Co-worker of awesomeness
• Authors: Neil Gaiman, John Green, Veronica Roth
• Appeal factors: Can be a wide range: adventure, paranormal, chapter/book length is usually an issue as well as series status (bc all teens love series, right?), plot, relatable characters

Mashups

• Steampunk/Westerns: The Buntline special : a weird west tale
  by Resnick, Michael D.
• Rational: People that like Steampunk also like westerns, lotsa outlaws and such.  Combining two sub areas of culture that did/could have happened at the same time, just in different part so the world.
• LGBTQ/Teen: Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe
  by Sáenz, Benjamin Alire.
• One word: DRAMA....just kidding!  Teens like to read about others like themselves, that are also going through/experiencing the same things emotionally, physically, spiritually.  For LGBTQ persons this can be unique, and teen literature is a perfect place to introduce this and relate to those interested readers.
 

WK6: Building Base Knowledge (Genres) Pt.2

..SO...MANY...GENRES...

WK6: Building Base Knowledge (Genres) Pt. 1

Assignment 1:
I have been following the RT Book Reviews site specifically for the Erotica and Paranormal genre pages.

In the Erotica section the "hot Topics" sidebar includes current news/events and relevant for hip and new readers alike...this is usually the first place I go when visiting the site. Their interviews are usually pretty darn entertaining. And I have loved all the other sites/blogs I've been introduced to because of RT Book Reviews such as: http://www.smutketeers.com/.

The Paranormal gets my love for some similar quirks, like that fact that they are obsessed with tracking the covers of books and series in the genre. Paranormal also includes a Recent Top Picks List which is really helpful in exploring the genre.

Just FYI:

Erotica

I thought I would add this link about the discussion of genres via ALATT.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/ALAthinkTANK/483469665059192/?notif_t=group_activity

This link gives you some sample titles for the different levels of "Erotic Fiction." I would recommend also checking out the Glossary List at the end. Kinda basic, but I can't say I knew them all...
http://www.harlequin.com/store.html?cid=3448

WK5: Week 5: Building Base Knowledge (Part II)

Assignment 1:

Recommended Links – Genre: RT Book Reviews

Recommended Links – Books: Daily Beast
Useful information: In my job and in recommendations for library users, I always think about the abundance of ways people consume information and entertainment; be it in the form of books, magazines, movies, music or from human beings themselves and in what format they prefer: print, audio, digital etc.  I enjoy Daily Beast for its consideration of all of these formats and manifestations.  RT Book Reviews has brought my attention to more genres/sub genres.

Assignment 2:
I'm loving the ALA Nonfiction readalikes.  The Penguin Debut Authors is another favorite, as I am always looking for new blood.  The season previews is an invaluable tool, for up and coming books for popular and niche.
I would say, yes, generally the most popular titles at RE are the NYT Bestsellers.  From my experience people usually want to read the book after the movie has come out... and they realize that is was originally a book! For those who have already read the book being made into a film, they do like to reread  the book first.

Assignment 3: 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Neil Gaiman

Well Mr. Neil Gaiman is a popular one, from children to adults, Gaiman's appeal is there for new readers, avid readers, hipsters...Pretty much once you read Neil Gaiman, you read all of Gaiman, though some are obviously more powerful than others. This story will appeal to readers who like paranormal/supernatural aspects/characters and adventurous boys conquering mysterious and sometimes frightful obstacles.

Suggested reads: Coraline, Graveyard Book, Neverwhere: Neil Gaiman
Lets throw some girls heriones in there too: Comics or TV Series
Beautiful Creatures, Garcia, Kami

BCPL Suggests:
The book of lost things, Connolly, John
Over sea, under stone, Cooper, Susan

Among others, Walton, Jo

Chabon, Michael

Millhauser, Steven

Barker, Clive

WK4: Goodreads!

Week 4: Assignment 1 Explore Goodreads (especially features like Listopia and Explore) and write/share your impressions/discoveries/revelations on your blog. If you have not already, please join Goodreads and add and rate at least 15 titles. Look at what Goodreads recommends for you – why do you think those titles were chosen? Complete the following Goodreads features and functions:

• Create shelves for the books you rated.
• Make friends with colleagues.
• Recommend a title to a colleague based on a title or titles that they have enjoyed using the comments field on Goodreads. Be sure to include appeal characteristics in your recommendation and note why it is similiar to the title or titles they enjoyed.
• Include this recommendation on your blog and write/share your impressions, discoveries, or revelations from exploring Goodreads.

I have used Goodreads for a while now.
Mainly I use it as a way to keep track of the books I have read and want to read...because I love to make lists, but I am also really good at losing them!!!

I love listopia.  I use for finding books I want to read on particular topics; I use it when someone comes in to ask if I can recommend an inspirational NF book and for all around RA.

As far as what Goodreads recommends for me...not really spot on for my tastes.  I might like one or 2 suggestions out of about 15.  But maybe that means I need to fine tune my ratings a bit more.  I have a couple users that I follow that I find are more productive in that area.

I will admit, I don't really use Goodreads to review the books I have finished, though I do rely on others users reviews to really decide if I will give a new book a try... Looks like we are in a one sided relationship here...maybe I should start giving back...

Recommendations for Sharon:

She read: Hunger Games. 

Recommendations:  These def have that alternate universe theme and appeal to both YA & Adult readers. 

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 
• The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth - YA dystopian world with life changing decision to be made and dealing with preconceived societal roles. Just like hunger games there are physical & psychological hurdles to overcome.
• The Giver Series by Lois Lowry - YA alternate universe/dystopia where children are face with moral and life changing decision and challenging authority.

She read Jurassic Park.Recommendations: Again with the alternate universe theme and aspects of sci-fi...

• Blade Runner (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) by Philip K Dick  
• The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs - Set in a mysterious tropical jungle with dinosaurs (of course) with animal human relationships.
• Life of Pi  by Yann Martel - because of the adventure tale and cannibal island!
• DNA & Genetic Engineering by Robert Snedden - to coincide with the scientific aspects
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - also has to do with genetic science except in humans.

Most of these suggestions have a film version that I would def recommend checking out too!

WK3: The Readers’ Services Conversation

Week 3: Assignment 1 Review NoveList article “The RA Conversation” by Neal Wyatt. 
Week 3: Assignment 2 Listen to this podcast of Nancy Pearl talking about books. Note how long her individual book talks are, how she describes the book, and how much plot is discussed.
Week 3: Assignment 3 Review these patron descriptions of “what they are looking for” and post an entry on your blog on what you heard or deduced, and what title you would recommend. (Note: There isn’t one “right” answer to what title you would recommend to these customers, just be able to support your recommendation.)
Conversation 1 | Conversation 2 | Conversation 3

Convo1:  What I heard from her conversation is that she like to have other people pick her books: anything that is popular and that other people are reading and all of the Oprah books.

So what would I immediately think of...

• Gone Girl and the new 'gone girl' of this summer...The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.
• As far as similar recommendations for Eat Pray, Love
• All Over the Map by Laura Fraser, is one that comes to mind.

Convo2:  Looking for the theme of vampires or paranormal but looking for something more adult, realistic with better writing possibly??

I would suggest the following:

• the original Bram Stoker’s Dracula - the classic where it all started (sort of)
• the motion picture “Dracula’ with Gary Oldman - not to be missed (I love tying in all types of media!)
• The Fall trilogy by Guillermo del Toro - (a more adult audience and relational themes as well as the classic apocalyptic theme)
• Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series (If you are familiar with this series you know it includes many paranormal characters, not just vampires intertwined in steamy, exciting and diverse relationships).
• Discovery of witches by Deborah Harkness
• Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology - in depth academic nonfiction study of the history, myth, culture surrounding vampires.

Convo 3:  So he's looking for something with adventure that is fast paced and based on true events.

The first thing that comes to mind is:

• Lost City of Z by David Grann.
• Into Africa: the epic adventures of Stanley & Livingstone by Martin C. Dugard
•  Mornings on Horseback: by David G. McCullough

WK2: Recommendations

I am recommending a few books to Anne Abaeo Baker @ gardenerlibrarian.blogspot.com

She wrote about these two books:

Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron, by Daniel Clowes

Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakaeur

I'm gonna focus on her second selection, where she described main appeal factors for "... anyone who enjoys learning about history or other cultures and religions, and anyone who is intrigued by faith-based murders. Definitely fulfills the 'learning/educational' appeal factor."

I would recommend a new one out concerning the Westboro Baptist Church entitled Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15791137-banished

Another classic one focusing more on history/religion/myth of another culture is the Popol Vuh, the Sacred Book of the Quiché Maya http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=✓&query=Popol+Vuh%2C

We can also go as far as books on Rasputin and Charlie Manson.  I like this one by Brian Moynahan.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/179705.Rasputin

And of course Helter Skelter: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/105992.Helter_Skelter