Assignment One:
From looking at NPR books frequently for the past few weeks, I've developed a much better eye for picking up on appeal factors from reviews. I've often discovered that, depending on the reviewer's style, a book might sound SO awesome, but when I actually sit down to read it I find a clashing appeal factor like tone or pacing that turns me off. I also had a preconceived notion that NPR only reviews "snooty" books, and it was a little more diverse than I was expecting. And even if they aren't always showcasing books that I definitely want to read, the actual articles NPR wrote about the books were interesting on their own. I like when they include information about the story behind the book, or the author.
I also followed RT Book Reviews, which is romance genre reviews. Romance is a genre that I rarely read, so it was nice to expand my knowledge about what is new and popular. Reading the reviews helped orientate me to appeal factors in romance, and to some of the nuances of the sub-genres.
Assignment Two:
I thought the EarlyWord section for books being made into movies was super helpful. Normally I just find this information through word of mouth, so its neat to have it consolidated in one place. The bestsellers list all linked together there is also awesome, and I will definitely continue to use that.
Assignment Three:
I picked "Everything is Teeth" a graphic novel in the Amazon Best Books of the Month. This book seems like it has some universal appeal because it deals with the common human experiences of love, loss, and family. The style of illustration will greatly affect the tone, and from other people's reviews it sounds like it is dark and foreboding. It will be best fitted for people who like non-traditional / literary style narrative graphic novels.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Week 4: Building Base Knowledge
I discovered Goodreads in high school and haven't been active on it since, so it was fun to see the old stuff left over compared with what I'm reading now. I like lists and categorizing and keeping record of things, but its pretty tough for me to stay active with Goodreads. I think that it will be more fun / helpful when I add more friends.
Goodreads recommended "Olive's Ocean" because I read "Pictures of Hollis Woods," which I thought was a great recommendation. Both books are about children dealing with loss and trauma, and are gentle and uplifting in tone. "Crown Duel" was recommended because I read "Ella Enchanted," which sounds awesome and like something I would really enjoy reading.
I'm recommending "Midnight Riot" to Jason, because of his interest in Harry Potter and "The Cuckoo's Calling." "Midnight Riot" starts as a British crime drama and starts becoming more and more magical, until eventually the main character is training to be a wizard. He's introduced to a whole new magical world like Harry Potter. The pace is fast and the tone thrilling / magical realism. I am going to recommend a collection of Pablo Neruda's poems to Sara because she read "Vivas to Those Who Have Failed" by Martin Espada. Pablo Neruda has had such a big influence on Spanish language poetry and politics in poetry that his work would be a good reference when reading / thinking about Martin Espada.
Goodreads recommended "Olive's Ocean" because I read "Pictures of Hollis Woods," which I thought was a great recommendation. Both books are about children dealing with loss and trauma, and are gentle and uplifting in tone. "Crown Duel" was recommended because I read "Ella Enchanted," which sounds awesome and like something I would really enjoy reading.
I'm recommending "Midnight Riot" to Jason, because of his interest in Harry Potter and "The Cuckoo's Calling." "Midnight Riot" starts as a British crime drama and starts becoming more and more magical, until eventually the main character is training to be a wizard. He's introduced to a whole new magical world like Harry Potter. The pace is fast and the tone thrilling / magical realism. I am going to recommend a collection of Pablo Neruda's poems to Sara because she read "Vivas to Those Who Have Failed" by Martin Espada. Pablo Neruda has had such a big influence on Spanish language poetry and politics in poetry that his work would be a good reference when reading / thinking about Martin Espada.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Week 3: The Reader's Services Conversation
Conversation 1:
It sounds like this person is looking for something light but introspective, with a lot of detail about the setting / destination. I would suggest "Traveling with Pomegranates" to this person. This book is by and about Sue Monk Kidd, who has written several "Oprah Books." The story is about the journey she and her daughter take, and their changing relationship. It's a memoir, so it's very introspective, and includes a lot of detail about the places they travel to.
Conversation 2:
It sounds like this person is fed up with the Twilight hype, and might want something with more adult themes. I would first recommend "Let Me In," by John Lindqvist. This is horror about vampires, and I would check with the person to make sure they are ok with a super dark plot. If not, I would also recommend "An Unattractive Vampire," which is light and funny. It pokes fun at the myriad of modern vampire tropes that have sprung up after the craze about "Twilight." The main character is an old, ugly, traditional vampire. It's a really fun look at how what we think of as "vampire" has changed. I would also recommend Anne Rice's vampire books, which I think of as Twilight for adults. They are very romantic, but with more horror, and sexual themes for adults. I would check to see if the person is ok with the lovey dovey stuff, or if they just don't like romantic vampire lit. in general. I would ask them what it is about vampire stories that they really like, because there are a lot of other old folk-lore / monster stories to branch out to if its the horror element they like, and a lot of adult vampire / monster romance too if that's the direction they want.
Conversation 3:
This person sounds like they are interested in expedition / adventure in history, and for something that is fast-paced and more focused on the "plot" of the journey than in a ton of extraneous historical detail. I would recommend a book that was written for non-history majors but that tackles an exciting account of adventure and expedition. I would recommend old-school Everest mountain climbing stories, something about Shackleton's expedition, Lewis and Clark, or the Age of Discovery in general. Something with a quick pace is "Over the Edge of the World" by Laurence Bergreen. It's about Magellan, and reads like epic adventure fiction rather than nonfiction. It is also impressively researched / supported factually, which seems like something this patron really liked about "River of Doubt."
It sounds like this person is looking for something light but introspective, with a lot of detail about the setting / destination. I would suggest "Traveling with Pomegranates" to this person. This book is by and about Sue Monk Kidd, who has written several "Oprah Books." The story is about the journey she and her daughter take, and their changing relationship. It's a memoir, so it's very introspective, and includes a lot of detail about the places they travel to.
Conversation 2:
It sounds like this person is fed up with the Twilight hype, and might want something with more adult themes. I would first recommend "Let Me In," by John Lindqvist. This is horror about vampires, and I would check with the person to make sure they are ok with a super dark plot. If not, I would also recommend "An Unattractive Vampire," which is light and funny. It pokes fun at the myriad of modern vampire tropes that have sprung up after the craze about "Twilight." The main character is an old, ugly, traditional vampire. It's a really fun look at how what we think of as "vampire" has changed. I would also recommend Anne Rice's vampire books, which I think of as Twilight for adults. They are very romantic, but with more horror, and sexual themes for adults. I would check to see if the person is ok with the lovey dovey stuff, or if they just don't like romantic vampire lit. in general. I would ask them what it is about vampire stories that they really like, because there are a lot of other old folk-lore / monster stories to branch out to if its the horror element they like, and a lot of adult vampire / monster romance too if that's the direction they want.
Conversation 3:
This person sounds like they are interested in expedition / adventure in history, and for something that is fast-paced and more focused on the "plot" of the journey than in a ton of extraneous historical detail. I would recommend a book that was written for non-history majors but that tackles an exciting account of adventure and expedition. I would recommend old-school Everest mountain climbing stories, something about Shackleton's expedition, Lewis and Clark, or the Age of Discovery in general. Something with a quick pace is "Over the Edge of the World" by Laurence Bergreen. It's about Magellan, and reads like epic adventure fiction rather than nonfiction. It is also impressively researched / supported factually, which seems like something this patron really liked about "River of Doubt."
Monday, May 2, 2016
Appeal Factors
Using appeal factors is an easy way to connect quickly with someone regarding their preferences. Appeal factors speak to the individualized and specific tastes that we all have. Personally, reading is a way for me to escape to a place where I have a lot of control - I can follow my tastes any way I want. If I am in the middle of a story and decide its going in a direction I don't like, I can put the book down. I know what factors appeal to me, and am always on the hunt for books that are "just right." Sometimes I can get angry or disappointed with books that are not a good fit. If I'm not careful, I can start to think they are badly written, or boring, or weird. I automatically use appeal factors to find what I like, but I have to remember that there are so many other people's tastes and preferences to think about if I want to participate in a more collective appreciation of books. Getting outside of your own head and using appeal factors to help a stranger (or a friend) find the right book is like saying "Hey. You're awesome, your tastes are awesome, and I want to help you find a book that reflects that." Below is a breakdown of the appeal factors for three books that I love.
"The Shadow of the Wind"
This book's tone is florid and fantastical and a little frightening in parts. It reminded me of Pan's Labyrinth (though not as heavy). Its pacing immediately draws you into the intrigue of the plot and intense characterization. The pace remains thrilling throughout the novel, due to a combination of plot twists / intrigue, characterization, and language choice. The language was sometimes densely poetic, but in a way which drove the story forward and helped to give some specificity to characters who were otherwise created from the plot. The setting is Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War, in a world where magic and reality are intertwined. There is a lot of detail -when I heard this I was worried I wouldn't be able to get through the book because it would slow down the pace, but it actually really drives the plot forward. This was thrilling magical realism, with Gothic intrigue and plenty of romance.
"The Collector"
This book's tone is dry and methodical. It is not driven by plot so much as the characters -it centers around one man (The "Collector"), and a woman he has kidnapped. The setting comprises mostly of the space he has confined her in, although in some passages we follow the woman's thoughts and recollections to the outside world. To me, the main appeal of the book is the author's use of language. The language and tone of the book are in a way very similar to magical realism. In magical realism, fantastical events are given the same weight as the mundane, creating a magical world deceptively similar to our own. In "The Collector," the horror of the main character's mental state is narrated as dryly as if it were exploring a normal mind. In this way the author points out that to a monstrous person with little human contact, the horrific is normal. The main character's interactions with the woman he has captured show her pushing back, carefully letting him know that what he has done is not normal, and that its not right. Although the plot was slow, the pacing of the novel was quickened by the fascinating dynamic between the two characters. This is a great novel for growing / learning -it puts you in the uncomfortable perspective of someone whose mind is no longer functioning the way it should. This is a fictional story, but if you are interested in true crime, this book will probably be fascinating to you.
"The Lovely Bones"
Like "The Collector," this book centers around horror that can exist in the most mundane places. However, the author of "The Lovely Bones" uses language and detail to more deeply explore grief and other emotions that follow horrific events. The plot, narrated by the ghost of a little girl who has been murdered, explores how the horrific circumstances of her death complicate the grief she, her family, and community feel. It reads like a mystery, as her family struggles to find answers about how and why she was killed. Although this is a book about grief and horror, the tone is often sweet, warm, and full of life. It includes beautiful detail, celebrating the girl's life even though it is lost. It brings dignity and hope to a traumatic event. I think this book has a lot of appeal to everyone, because it explores all the range of emotions that accompany unexpected loss, and shows the many ways that people and communities deal with trauma. I say this because for learning / experiencing it asks readers to grow and expand their mindset to think about the implications of a horror that (thankfully) not everyone has experience with, while also appealing to fundamental emotions and experiences that we all share and empathize with.
"The Shadow of the Wind"
This book's tone is florid and fantastical and a little frightening in parts. It reminded me of Pan's Labyrinth (though not as heavy). Its pacing immediately draws you into the intrigue of the plot and intense characterization. The pace remains thrilling throughout the novel, due to a combination of plot twists / intrigue, characterization, and language choice. The language was sometimes densely poetic, but in a way which drove the story forward and helped to give some specificity to characters who were otherwise created from the plot. The setting is Barcelona after the Spanish Civil War, in a world where magic and reality are intertwined. There is a lot of detail -when I heard this I was worried I wouldn't be able to get through the book because it would slow down the pace, but it actually really drives the plot forward. This was thrilling magical realism, with Gothic intrigue and plenty of romance.
"The Collector"
This book's tone is dry and methodical. It is not driven by plot so much as the characters -it centers around one man (The "Collector"), and a woman he has kidnapped. The setting comprises mostly of the space he has confined her in, although in some passages we follow the woman's thoughts and recollections to the outside world. To me, the main appeal of the book is the author's use of language. The language and tone of the book are in a way very similar to magical realism. In magical realism, fantastical events are given the same weight as the mundane, creating a magical world deceptively similar to our own. In "The Collector," the horror of the main character's mental state is narrated as dryly as if it were exploring a normal mind. In this way the author points out that to a monstrous person with little human contact, the horrific is normal. The main character's interactions with the woman he has captured show her pushing back, carefully letting him know that what he has done is not normal, and that its not right. Although the plot was slow, the pacing of the novel was quickened by the fascinating dynamic between the two characters. This is a great novel for growing / learning -it puts you in the uncomfortable perspective of someone whose mind is no longer functioning the way it should. This is a fictional story, but if you are interested in true crime, this book will probably be fascinating to you.
"The Lovely Bones"
Like "The Collector," this book centers around horror that can exist in the most mundane places. However, the author of "The Lovely Bones" uses language and detail to more deeply explore grief and other emotions that follow horrific events. The plot, narrated by the ghost of a little girl who has been murdered, explores how the horrific circumstances of her death complicate the grief she, her family, and community feel. It reads like a mystery, as her family struggles to find answers about how and why she was killed. Although this is a book about grief and horror, the tone is often sweet, warm, and full of life. It includes beautiful detail, celebrating the girl's life even though it is lost. It brings dignity and hope to a traumatic event. I think this book has a lot of appeal to everyone, because it explores all the range of emotions that accompany unexpected loss, and shows the many ways that people and communities deal with trauma. I say this because for learning / experiencing it asks readers to grow and expand their mindset to think about the implications of a horror that (thankfully) not everyone has experience with, while also appealing to fundamental emotions and experiences that we all share and empathize with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)