Saturday, September 5, 2015
Conclusions
I found Be More Bookish to be very helpful in cultivating a set of resources that I can now pull from when I am helping customers on the floor each day. Having ReadALike sites and blogs devoted to certain genres helps me stay in the know about novels I might not be inclined to read, but may have a following at my branch. It has also helped me recognize the kinds of genres and narratives possible, which will be especially useful for readers advisory - pulling out appeals and being able to draw on the listening skills necessary to adequately help a patron is essential in exceptional service. The discussions regarding book trailers and demographics (YA, NA, etc.) were also nice because they let me grapple with these thoughts in an informed way. Reading and viewing the materials provided was a nice way to engage in a thoughtful contribution to the discourse surrounding reader's advisory. I feel more informed in dealing with patron issues sand have been able to take away different tools for future use - especially appeal factors and subgenres.
Week Nine
Assignment:
I am still ambivalent towards book trailers after reading Nina Metz's piece on why these usually fail. The first time I saw a trailer, I was perusing Ellen Hopkin's site in search for her newest books and stumbled upon book trailers for a lot of her previous stories. These were like weirdly underambitious YouTube videos that put segments of the book over moving images with a voice over. These were not wildly engaging for me, nor did they provide incentive for me to want to read these books. The quality is low and they often give concrete images to things that stories often leave up to imagination. However, there seem to be some plus sides to these. They give marketing to books that people might not know about unless they were in search of new novels and they definitely fit a niche market of internet users that just stumble around the internet looking for entertainment. While the book trailers themselves may not be the best example of production, they still bring attention to books and the authors and allow readers to anticipate getting the next book into their hands. Book ads that propagate goodreads and other reading sites seem a little more effect. They are flashy while being edgy, and truly simple enough to get the main details for the book out - title, author, date.
I am still ambivalent towards book trailers after reading Nina Metz's piece on why these usually fail. The first time I saw a trailer, I was perusing Ellen Hopkin's site in search for her newest books and stumbled upon book trailers for a lot of her previous stories. These were like weirdly underambitious YouTube videos that put segments of the book over moving images with a voice over. These were not wildly engaging for me, nor did they provide incentive for me to want to read these books. The quality is low and they often give concrete images to things that stories often leave up to imagination. However, there seem to be some plus sides to these. They give marketing to books that people might not know about unless they were in search of new novels and they definitely fit a niche market of internet users that just stumble around the internet looking for entertainment. While the book trailers themselves may not be the best example of production, they still bring attention to books and the authors and allow readers to anticipate getting the next book into their hands. Book ads that propagate goodreads and other reading sites seem a little more effect. They are flashy while being edgy, and truly simple enough to get the main details for the book out - title, author, date.
Week Eight
Narrative nonfiction is an exciting form of story telling which incorporates the details of nonfiction into a story woven with a lot of the insight and pacing a reader might glean from a fiction novel.
Assignment One:
There are sixteen types of narrative nonfiction categories which are offered in the presentation. Travel stories would be housed in the early 900s, which is where you might find Wild by Cheryl Strayed or Carsick by John Waters. These are stories that incorporate the truth of the travel and the perspective gained. In roughly the 814-818 section, you will find humor and essays. Authors such as David Sedaris (Engulfed in Flames), Amy Polher (Yes Please), and Augusten Burroughs (Running with Scissors) are housed here and have written many stories framed around their actual lives. In the late 900s, you'll have history books which retell historical events and disasters with a plot and conversation that will engage the reader to watch the events play out like a story - this is where Dead Wake (Erik Larson) and many World War II inspired stories will be found. Finally, in the 610s, the medical stories will be found. These will include stories like Stiff by Mary Roach and Ghost Boy by Martin Pistourius that retell dramatic events or medical oddities in an entertaining way.
Assignment Two:
For someone who enjoys novels that are dramatic and disastrous, I would recommend Dead Wake. This novel feels and reads like any fiction story and incorporates a host of characters that develop throughout the novel. It is quick paced, witty at times, but ultimately, will leave you begging to find out what happens to many of the cast of characters. Larson's writing is smooth, eloquent, and sounds like an old friend telling a story from memories.
For someone who enjoys fun, quirky novels about families and life, I would recommend Yes Please. Polher writes like she is talking to you, as if you are her best friend in the world. The stories she gives are funny and quick, but really get the reader engrossed in her humor. From the back reading panel which gives all the reasons you should buy the book, Amy Polher grabs your attention and shows she has something to say - and whatever it is will be hilarious.
Assignment One:
There are sixteen types of narrative nonfiction categories which are offered in the presentation. Travel stories would be housed in the early 900s, which is where you might find Wild by Cheryl Strayed or Carsick by John Waters. These are stories that incorporate the truth of the travel and the perspective gained. In roughly the 814-818 section, you will find humor and essays. Authors such as David Sedaris (Engulfed in Flames), Amy Polher (Yes Please), and Augusten Burroughs (Running with Scissors) are housed here and have written many stories framed around their actual lives. In the late 900s, you'll have history books which retell historical events and disasters with a plot and conversation that will engage the reader to watch the events play out like a story - this is where Dead Wake (Erik Larson) and many World War II inspired stories will be found. Finally, in the 610s, the medical stories will be found. These will include stories like Stiff by Mary Roach and Ghost Boy by Martin Pistourius that retell dramatic events or medical oddities in an entertaining way.
Assignment Two:
For someone who enjoys novels that are dramatic and disastrous, I would recommend Dead Wake. This novel feels and reads like any fiction story and incorporates a host of characters that develop throughout the novel. It is quick paced, witty at times, but ultimately, will leave you begging to find out what happens to many of the cast of characters. Larson's writing is smooth, eloquent, and sounds like an old friend telling a story from memories.
For someone who enjoys fun, quirky novels about families and life, I would recommend Yes Please. Polher writes like she is talking to you, as if you are her best friend in the world. The stories she gives are funny and quick, but really get the reader engrossed in her humor. From the back reading panel which gives all the reasons you should buy the book, Amy Polher grabs your attention and shows she has something to say - and whatever it is will be hilarious.
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