Week Eleven Prompt

I think that both e-books and audiobooks offer many appeal factors.  Some people prefer e-books over physical books for specific reasons, and some prefer to have a book be read to them via an audiobook for other specific reasons. Personally, I still prefer to read a physical book, but there are times when reading an e-book has been more convenient.

When looking at factors that make e-books appealing, one of the first things that I have discovered myself, and also have heard from patrons at my library is the convenience factor.  Using an e-reader, be it a Kindle, iPad, etc., is lighter and less bulky to carry when traveling.  An e-reader can also be easier for one some to slip into their purse or bag to take with them when they are going about their day.  I have also had patrons comment that they like that they can put several book titles on their device at one time, which is easier to travel with than carrying around 3, 4 or maybe 5 physical books. 

I personally found this appeal factor to be true on our Spring Break trip last week.  My goal was to read two books during our trip and I also wanted to have an audiobook for the whole family to listen to during the long car ride.  Having all three of these things on my iPad was so convenient, and I didn't have to worry about misplacing the audiobook CD's in the car.

I don't think that changing the font, line spacing or text color affects the tone of the book.  Being able to change the font size is one reason that I have heard several patrons say they like to read e-books.  This allows them to see the words easier and to enjoy the reading experience.  I have noticed that once I get absorbed into a story, I don't really pay attention to the font color or size.   

Audiobooks offer their own appeal factors as well. Many of the audiobook users at my library use them for specific reasons, such as traveling and wanting to enjoy a story on the long drive.  One patron only ever checks out audiobooks.  I recently asked her what she enjoys about them and she told me she likes to listen to them when she cleans, knits or sews.  This way she can do two things at once.  My daughter, who is an avid reader, cannot read in the car with out becoming ill.  Being able to listen to an audiobook on her Kindle has been a great solution to this problem!

I think that track length, narrator choice and music all factor in in the appeal of an audiobook.  Another library patron has commented to me that while she listens to audiobooks much more often than reading a book, she does not like the fact that it is hard to find where she stops in the story if she needs to stop the book before the end of the track.  She has been an audiobook reader for a long time, and misses the books on cassette for this reason.  A narrator can also have an affect on the appeal of an audiobook.  Listening to someone that reads too fast, too slow, or possibly has a voice that you just don't enjoy can make the experience unpleasant.

E-books have continued to gain popularity at our library.  The only concern I see is that while our patron count has gone up, our circulation count, as far as physical library items, has gone down.  This is due to the large number of e-book readers at our library.  It will be interesting to see how this trend affects the look of the library in the years to come.   

 

Book Club Experience

For this book club experience, I had the opportunity to observe a book club that a group of ladies in my town began about five years ago.  This group consists of a group of 10 women that range in ages from mid thirties to retirement age.  I think that it began as a group from church, but has evolved from there to include friends and mothers & daughters.  The group meets monthly and alternately meets at a few of the member's homes.  On the day I visited, one of my friends was hosting, and I was thankful that they allowed me to not only observe, but also participate.

The atmosphere of this book club was very light.  The current group of women have been meeting together for over a year now, and everyone seemed very comfortable with each other.  There were snacks available throughout the evening, and the meeting started off with a time of catching up on each others lives before delving into the book discussion.  On this particular evening, there were seven ladies in attendance plus myself.

There are two women that take turns leading this group.  On this particular evening, Sue lead and did a fabulous job of keeping control of the discussion.  She provided great open ended questions and was able to draw the discussion back in to the topic at hand when needed.  It was obvious that she has done this many times, and has a "leader" personality. Typically, Sue would pose a question and the rest of the group would discuss.  She only added thoughts or insights into the discussion when the conversation lagged.  While they do not read one particular genre, they do limit their book selections to fiction.  In looking over a list of books that they have discussed in the past, it seems as though they tend to lean towards bestsellers.       

The book that was being discussed this month was The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.  All but two of the women finished the book before meeting. Overall, the discussions was steady and everyone was respectful of each others thoughts and opinions.  There were definitely opinions both ways on this book, with some liking the story and others really disliking the characters and the writing.  One member, who is definitely not shy,  expressed strong dislike for the characters and the novel as a whole.  She is a lively lady full of opinions and humor.  I think I would have enjoyed just listening to her thoughts on this book for the full hour!  While this person did have a lot to say, it did not feel like she dominated the discussion.

I really enjoy this book club discussion.  I think that this particular group is a great mix of personalities, and I experienced what an ideal book discussion should look like.  I am a little disappointed that they are not looking to add any new members at this time, because I would really enjoy being a part of this group on a regular basis. 

Special Topics Paper

Below is a few excerpts from my special topics paper on Amish fiction, which is a subgenre of Christian fiction.  This genre is extremely popular at my library.  We have a large community of Amish where I live, and I see both Amish and the non-Amish check out these books daily. 

The interest in Amish fiction can trace its beginnings to 1997 when Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning, was published by Bethany House.  This subgenre of Christian fiction has seen a steady growth in popularity since that time. The Shunning eventually was turned into a movie by Hallmark films, and is still shown today at regular intervals on their channel. (Hamaker, 2011)  Lewis, along with Wanda Brunstetter are among the two most popular Amish fiction writers. They have earned a combined 30 million dollars since the late 1990’s, and in the past 12 months have each sold approximately 200,000 copies worldwide. Beverly Lewis along with several other Amish fiction writers have continued to meet the demands of their readers, and like Lewis’ The Shunning, several other books have also been turned into feature length films, Hallmark movies, and had parts in National Geographic documentaries. (McGrath, 2015)

We know that Amish fiction is extremely popular, but who is reading this subgenre and why? There are many types of readers of Amish Fiction.  The most popular being Evangelical Christian woman age 40 and older.  (Miller, 2010) This subgenre has also seen some readership from men, high school and college age students, as well as readers from foreign countries. (Fisher, 2013)  However, the first group mentioned remains at the top of the list

Those that read this type of fiction see it as a fantasy lifestyle and the perfect environment for raising Christian children.  (Miller, 2010)  According to Hamaker, another appeal to this type of novel is that women love to imagine a life where their main priorities are “their faith, their family and their friends.” (2011)  In the busy, hectic world that many of us live in, it is understandable that this is so appealing to many.  A third reason that these books appeal to so many, is our natural curiosity about self-marginalized groups.  Reading about them allows the reader to learn and be entertained at the same time. (Hamaker, 2011)  Finally, some people feel that these books “function as a devotional text.”  They like the story and the romance aspect of the novel, but they also like the way their faith is strengthened by reading these types of books. (Fisher, 2013)

We know the reasons these novels appeal to so many, but what exactly are the books about?  An article in Publishers Weekly provides a humorous example on how to write an Amish novel:

“Take

One young woman (Sarah, Katie, or Rebecca)

One Young man (Jacob, David, or Samuel)

Add one or more problems:

Someone is 21 and unmarried.

Someone has a family secret.

Someone is tempted by life outside the community.

Someone’s heart has been broken.

Mix together with one Daed, one Mamm, assorted siblings.

Bake together for 352 pages till resolved.

Garnish with Pennsylvania Dutch glossary or recipes or quilt patterns.” (2011)

Having personally read a few Amish fiction novels, I would say that this is a fairly accurate account of what goes into these books.  This is also one of the biggest complaints in Amish novels, “too many similarities in the story lines.” Some questions are too often asked such as, “Is he/she going to leave the community?” or “Are you going to keep your secret.” (McGrath, 2015)

Women's Lives and Relationships Annotation

Title:  Best Friends Forever 

Author:  Jennifer Weiner

Genre:  Women's Lives & Relationship

Publication Date:  2009

Number of Pages:  359

Geographical Setting:  Pleasant Ridge, Illinois

Time Period:  early 2000's

Plot Summary:
Addie Downs was eight years old when Valerie Adler moved across the street. Shortly after they first met, they decided to be best friends forever. But everything changed when a tragedy occurred, and a betrayal in their teen years tore them apart.  Addie has grown accustomed to her simple, yet lonely life of living in the house she inherited from her parents, and painting beautiful watercolors for a greeting card company.  When, 25 years later, Val shows up at Addie's front door with blood on her coat and a look of fear on her face, it is the start of a wild adventure for two women joined by love and history.

Subject Headings:
Female friendship -- Fiction

Appeal: This book offers a female protagonist that we learn about through flash backs of her past, and current relationships with family and her best friend.  The pacing is easy and the story offers a great deal of detail through descriptions and flash backs.  The mood is light and humorous with a little bit of mystery thrown in for interest.  The story line provides a great deal about the characters - their past issues and current problems, and how the two are related. 

3 Terms that describe this book:  predictable, funny, mysterious

Similar Authors & Works:
Fiction-

• Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand -- Like Best Friends Forever, this title offers a story of estranged best friends who find each other again when life throws them a curveball.
• Friends forever by Danielle Steel --  Similar to Best Friends Forever, this story tells a tale of friends who slowly grow apart as they become adults and are thrown back together when tragedy tears through their lives
• Conversations with the fat girl by Liza Palmer -- Both are stories of grown women dealing with changes in themselves and their childhood friends.

Nonfiction-

• The twisted sisterhood:  unraveling the dark legacy of female friendships by Kelly Valen
• Between women: love, envy, and competition in women's friendships by Luise Eichenbaum and Susie Orbach
• Connecting:  the enduring power of female friendship by Sandy Sheehy

Week Seven Prompt

I really enjoyed all of this week's readings.  They each discussed a unique issue dealing with various authors, celebrities and publishers in relation to the books they write or enjoy.  Many of these issues, or controversies, were things I personally have not really taken time to think about.  I have considered the influence that Oprah has on a book's popularity once it made her book club list.  She is a very influential woman, and many people respect her choices and opinions.  It was interesting to see how the article broke down the books on her list, and how the book's popularity changed, or wained over time.  Reading about fake memoirs was also enlightening to me.  Sometimes, I think that I must live under a rock, because I did not realize things like this occurred - to that degree.

For this response, however, I would like to discuss the article, "The James Patterson Business."  I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I have not read any books by this author.  However, I am very aware of his popularity.  His books are regularly checked out at my library, and he has a noticeable growing presence in the middle grades section of the youth department.  As someone that also likes to browse book stores, I see his novels taking up a significant amount of shelf space.  Also, he can be seen and heard in many television commercials promoting his books, or perhaps I should say, his brand.

After reading this article, I am more aware of how his name has become a brand.  Patterson does write an amazing amount of books, and it only makes sense that others are helping him accomplish this feat.  While his name is on the book, and the article does allude to the fact that he is involved in the planning and writing of each novel, it is obvious that no one is providing any details as to what extent he is involved in the writing of each book.  I would like to think that he is involved enough that the integrity of the writing matches only his best work.  It would appear that this is the case, since his books continue to fly off the shelves both at the library and at the bookstore.

Patterson has worked hard to accomplish all that he has in the book industry.  This is evident by reading about his life and growth as an author in the article.  He has obviously used his experience and knowledge in marketing to create and develop his brand at a seemingly rapid pace.  Since the writing of this article, he has increased his presence in the middle and younger grades.  I cannot help but think that James Patterson's brand will continue to grow over the next several years. 
 

Mystery Annotation

Author:  Janet Evanovich

Title:  Takedown Twenty

Genre:  Mystery

Publication Date:  2013

Number of Pages:  295

Geographical Setting:  Trenton, New Jersey

Time Period:  Present Day

Series:  Stephanie Plum

Plot Summary:
In Takedown Twenty we find female bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum living and working in Trenton, New Jersey, chasing criminals, trying to decide between two men, and solving the mystery of why a full grown giraffe is running around loose in the city.  All of this is done with a little mystery, a lot of humor and with the help of her sassy friend and partner, Lula.  Stephanie's attempts to find Salvatore "Uncle Sunny" Sunucchi are proving to be more difficult than she anticipated, especially when her boyfriend's grandmother does all she can to throw Stephanie off his trail.  On top of all this, Stephanie finds herself spending many evenings playing Bingo at the senior center, while trying to uncover who is killing little old ladies and throwing them in dumpsters. 

Subject Headings:
Plum, Stephanie--Fictitious Character 
Women bounty hunters--Fiction
Organized crime--New Jersey--Fiction

Appeal:
In this twentieth installment of the Stephanie Plum series, we learn a little more about the main character, and enjoy the funny, yet sassy sidekick's antics as well.  The story is set, once again in Trenton, New Jersey where we learn more about Stephanie's home and the area she lives in.  The mood is both lighthearted and funny, yet at times, serious and suspenseful.  The pacing of the story is quick, yet occasionally descriptive.   

Three terms that describe this book:  Humorous, fast-paced, suspenseful

Similar Authors and Works:
Non-Fiction
Mob - 200 Years of Organized Crime in New York by V. W. Peterson --  This book provides information on the mob, which is a main part of the storyline in Takedown Twenty.

Betrayal, Murder and Greed:  the true story of a bounty hunger and a bail bond agent by Pam Phree and Mike Beakley -- Stephanie Plum is a bounty hunter, and much of the story is centered around her line of work.  Those interested in this type of job, might find useful information in this book.

The huntress:  the true saga of Dotti and Brandi Thorson, Modern day bounty hunters by Christopher Keane and Dotti Thorson -- This title offers a look into this area of the criminal justice system, and the inspiring story of two women who have prevailed in a world of men, fighting to the top of a tough and dangerous profession

Fiction
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (or any book in the Kinsey Millhone series) -- Another mystery book series that includes a female protagonist with her share of problems and fast paced mysteries with plenty of twists and turns.

The Last Word by Lisa Lutz -- This book offers mystery, plot twists, a bit of humor, and drama created by working with family, all things found in Evanovich's book as well.

Body Movers by Stephanie Bond -- Similar to Takedown Twenty, this book provides mystery, suspense and humor. 

Any other book in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

Week Six Prompt

A fairly popular genres at my local public library would be gentle reads.  However, I have noticed that many patrons tend to read several books by the same author.  I wanted to come up with an idea to promote not only this genre, but also to promote a variety of authors that write this genre.  This would help our patrons continue to read the genre they enjoy, but also introduce them to new authors.  I would also hope to introduce this genre to patrons that don't usually read gentle reads, as well. 

In order to promote gentle reads, I would create a display.  A few weeks before assembling the display, I would ask some of the library staff to read a book in this genre and to write a short review on the book - a brief synopsis and what they liked about the book.  I would display the book, the review and a few other titles by the same author for each staff's top pick for this genre.