Week 6: Building Base Knowledge (Genres)

Assignment #1:

I have not found the SF Site to be particulary helpful to me.  I think it is a great tool to recommend to avid SF readers, but for someone like me who just dabbles in the genre from time to time, it does not have quite as much appeal.  A few useful tidbits:

• Search feature if you are looking for a review on a particular title
• The site reviews SF movies as well as books
• New Arrivals section for those looking for the latest titles in the genre
• Podcasts reviews if you want something a little more interactive

Assignment #2:

I am still learning to get used to Prezi and find it to be frustrating at times.  While I can see the positives it brings versus PowerPoint, I still prefer the simplicity and ability to print that PowerPoint brings.  We are actually thinking about using Prezi for our Leadership Development Program presentation, so it was helpful to explore it again.

Assignment #3:

Fan Websites:

1.) Cozy Mysteries (http://www.cozy-mystery.com/)

• Fan Buzz: It is clear that the bloggers on this website are passionate about their cozy mysteries.  It appears to be popular among women who are looking for a fun and engaging mystery.  I found the website using a Google search.
• Three Authors: Leslie Meier, Joanne Fluke, Laura Childs
• Appeal Factors: Fun, engaging, light-hearted, gentle, upbeat, leisurely paced

2.)  Paranormal Romances (http://paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com/)

• Fan Buzz: Contains a list of current reviews and a guest author appearance by A.D. Starling with background information and a summar of her latest novel,  King's Crusade.
• Three Authors: J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Karen Marie Moning
• Appeal Factors: Fantasy, sensual, Fast-paced, amusing, steamy

3.)  Steampunk (http://www.steampunk.com/fiction/)

• Fan Buzz: For fans of this genre, there is a Steampunk Book of the Day category and an archives listed by month which contain reviews of titles.  There is also a useful search feature if you know the title you are looking for and an events page which gives updates on author signings and conventions.
• Three Authors: Scott Westerfield, Stephen Hunt, Charles Babbage
• Appeal Factors: Action-packed, world building, fast-paced, compelling

Genre Mashup:

1.)  Steampunk + Paranormal

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest has all of the appeal factors of a traditional steampunk title, but combines it with zombies.

2.)  Paranormal + Historical Fiction

 Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith retells parts of Abraham Lincoln's life and combines it with the paranormal element of vampires.

Week 5: Building Base Knowledge (Part II)

Assignment #1

Goodreads:
I have been checking my Goodreads account on a more regular basis and have been attempting to add titles I have read and sort them into bookshelves.  Additionally, I have been adding co-workers and other friends in an attempt to follow what others are reading.  Additionally, I have noticed that as I add more titles, the recommendations provided by Goodreads have been more accurate and on par with titles I would like to read.  Creating bookshelves has helped as well, as it will make recommendations based on the specific shelf if I want to read in a particular genre.

SF Site:
I have failed miserably in keeping up with checking this website each day.  I have not read enough titles in the Science Fiction to truly appreciate this website, but I added the website to the favorites bar on my work computer as a reminder to check it more frequently (something I should have done back in week one).  I will definitely say that the SF Site is a readers' services tool that I will recommend to customers who read in this genre and are looking for help finding a new title. 

Assignment #2

I have not had much experience working with EarlyWord since doing so in LATI a few years back, but have enjoyed going through and exploring the website as a refresher.  It is wonderful having a reader's services tool that encompasses all of the popular reading lists that many of our customers enjoying using, all in one place.  As we discontinue the practice of printing Hot Titles list, EarlyWord is another resource, in addition to the BCPL webpage, that we can recommend to customers who are searching for popular titles.  Additionally, I subscribed to the newsletter so that I will receive email reminders in case I forget to check the website as frequently as I should.  

I think the Movie & TV Tie-in lists will be a great resource for both recommending upcoming materials that will be popular to customers and also for merchandising and creating displays.  These books can often be hard to find and/or think of when you are creating a Movie & TV Tie-in display, so these lists will be very useful resource to consult.  In addition, I know that I will continue to use EarlyWord to easily locate Best Sellers and Award Winners lists, as well as the categories lists on the left hand side when answering specific genre related readers' services questions. 

Assignment #3

I chose Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris, which I found in the Atlantic - Books to Look Forward to in 2013, which was released on April 23, 2013.  This humorous, travel writing title is written in essay format and follows David Sedaris' usual engaging, conversational and witty writting style.  David Sedaris is a popular comedic writer who appeals to readers who enjoy reading humorous stories that are witty and off the wall.

I would recommend this title to those who enjoyed other works by David Sedaris, as well as Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Know by Dave Barry as it too is humorous and witty, and written in essay format.  Another option would be Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern because it is funny and uses a conversational and unconventional writing style that helps add to the humor.

Week 4: Building Base Knowledge (Goodreads)

Goodreads Book Recommendation

I posted the following book recommendation on Richard Segwald's Goodreads page since he liked Hunger Games:

"I see you read the Hunger Games and liked it. If you are interested in a similar teen dystopian, I would give Divergent by Veronica Roth a chance. It is action-packed and effectively builds the bleak & futuristic world of Chicago. Like Hunnger Games it is a first person female narrative which is is currently being made into a movie. It will also be a trilogy with Insurgent being book two and Allegiant, book three, set to come out in late October."

About Goodreads

One of the components I have really enjoyed about  the Be More Bookish training is that it reminds us of all the wonderful RA tools we have available to us.  Goodreads is an excellent tool in which I hate to say, I completely under use at times.  This training has forced me to rediscover my Goodreads account and bring it to the forefront of my mind when performing readers' services. 

I feel that building a successful Goodreads account is a bit overwhelming in the sense that I need to find time to sit down and add/remember all of the titles I have read, sort them into book shelves so they are organized, and then rate them.  It definitely seems that it becomes a more useful tool, especially the Recommendations function, as you build your book shelves and rate titles, because it has more information about your preferences.  I do not have many shelves yet, but as I build my reading lists, I will be able to sort them and get recommendations based on the kind of book I feel like reading.  The Listopia function is a useful tool for customers as they can search lists of books in any number of ways, ranging from Best books of the 20th Century, to genre specific lists or ones created by Goodreads friends. 

Week 3: The Readers' Services Conversation

Conversation #1 - Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

What I heard:

· Descriptive

· Female character

· Setting: different countries

· Reflective: memoir

· Funny/light

·  Oprah books

I would recommend, Wild by Cheryl Strayed because it is a descriptive, memoir writing about a female character who is struggling emotionally but uses travel to help cope.

Conversation #2 - Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

What I head:

· Vampires

· Adult

· Fast-paced

I would recommend, Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice because it is a fast-paced series about vampires.  If the person was looking for a adult romance series (without the angst), I would recommend the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series by Laurell Hamilton.  The first book in the series, Guilty Pleasures, is fast-paced and urban fantasy fiction.  

Conversation #3 - The River of Doubt by Candice Millard

What I heard:

· Nonfiction

· Travel

· Historical

· Fast-paced

· Suspenseful

I would recommend an Erik Larson book such as The Devil in the White City because it is a historical, true crime that is suspenseful and adventurous.  

Week 2: Appeal Factors & Book Recommendations

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth is an adrenaline packed teen dystopian that is a perfect read-a-like for fans of the Hunger Games trilogy.  Set in future Chicago, society has been divided into 5 factions based on virtues: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent), with each faction performing duties based on their virtue.  Once a year, all 16 year olds are gathered together and must select the faction in which they will spend the rest of their lives.  This decision weighs heavily on Beatrice Prior, as she must choose between remaining in a safe life with her family, and acknowledging who she really is.  Forced with a difficult decision, Beatrice surprises and is forced into initiation where she learns that she has a secret, one that if outted, means almost certain death.  Through this fast-paced journey, Beatrice finds that not everything is as it seems and that her dangerous secret is both a blessing and a curse.  Following in the footsteps of the Hunger Games, it will be made into a movie in 2014.  An entertaining debut novel and first book to the trilogy by Veronica Roth.

A Storm of Swords by George Martin

A Storm of Swords, book three of George Martin's famous series, A Song of Fire and Ice, is a meandering modern fantasy which is quickly growing in popularity because of the hit HBO TV series, Game of Thrones. Martin's epic saga continues to build as the combination of complex and often dysfunctional characters, magic, mystery, and adventure keep reader's guessing and constantly on their toes  The fight to rule the Iron Throne rages on as contenders come and go and alliances are made and quickly broken.  With the Seven Kingdom entrenched in constant chaos and war, armies of wildlings, misfits, mythical creatures and undead corpses are forming and waiting to strike.  Meanwhile, across the sea, exiled queen Daeneries continues to watch her dragon's grow as she builds an army to stake her claim on the throne.  With tensions mounting, each character is tested, as no one seems safe during the storm of swords.  

I recommended two book's to Karin Kinzel's Blog.