So I picked this up completely based on the title. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is one of my favorite casting jobs ever. It was the first role I remember seeing him in, and it...was...awesome. My love for Colin Firth aside, his inclusion in the book Finding Colin Firth by Mia March at all seemed superfluous. Including an actor in her books seem to be her "hook;" another title by her, which I haven't read, is The Meryl Streep Movie Club.
Finding Colin Firth is the story of 3 women at crossroads in their lives. Bea, a recent college-grad has just found out she's adopted. Veronica, who gave a baby up more than 20 years ago, is searching for closure and hope. Gemma, a workaholic who has lost her job has just found out she's pregnant. Their stories come together in Boothbay Harbor, ME, where a Colin Firth movie is being filmed. How they navigate all the changes and where it leads them is at the heart of the story. I found most of the characters one-dimensional. The most compelling story was Veronica's; I would have preferred more of her story than Gemma's. I would put this in the "chick lit" category, but it isn't one of my favorite light reads.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
The Astronaut Wives Club
I "sort of" read The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel. Having heard the author on NPR and a few of the women on CBS Sunday Morning, I thought this would be a compelling book to read. I'm often interested in reading the woman's story, since often the history we read/learn/hear about is really HIS story. What could have been a great narrative non-fiction was, at times, rather bland. I wish the author would have instilled a greater sense of urgency and tension. It seemed like opportunities for great storytelling was wasted. While I admire the women and their survival under incredibly difficult circumstances, I feel like the story could have been told better.
Three Times Lucky
Just finished reading Three Times Lucky by Shelia Turnage, and liked it a lot. Set in a small town in North Carolina, this is the story of Mo (short for Moses), a girl who washed up on shore during a hurricane and was found by the enigmatic Colonel, proprietor of the local cafe. While looking and writing to her "upstream mother," Mo becomes embroiled in murder, kidnapping, and another hurricane. Luckily for Mo she really is three times lucky.
The main character's spunk, loyalty, ingenuity, and intelligence reminded me of Sammy Keyes, the main character in the Sammy Keyes... mysteries written by Wendelin Van Draanen. Also from a non-traditional home and dealing with quirky best friends (Dale Earnhardt Johnson III) and enemies (Anna Celeste, aka "Attila"), Mo keeps her wits and helps solve the crime.
The main character's spunk, loyalty, ingenuity, and intelligence reminded me of Sammy Keyes, the main character in the Sammy Keyes... mysteries written by Wendelin Van Draanen. Also from a non-traditional home and dealing with quirky best friends (Dale Earnhardt Johnson III) and enemies (Anna Celeste, aka "Attila"), Mo keeps her wits and helps solve the crime.
Continuing on...
I've decided to try and continue using this blog as a way to keep track of books I've read. I'm not sure what form the entries will take -- simple lists with a few appeal factors, book reviews. In all likelihood it will be a combination; it will depend on how strongly I fell about the book.
We'll see how long this lasts...
We'll see how long this lasts...
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Week 9: Book Trailers...and The End
Assignments 1 & 2
I read the articles and looked at some book trailers on YouTube. I was thoroughly underwhelmed and unimpressed. Having watched them after reading the articles, I can say I agree that unless there is a great hook, it looks professional, etc. it isn't useful at all. I didn't find one that made me want to read the book. Frankly I watched a couple for books I had read and they made me rethink my position on the book. Some were too long and had elevator music, others employed bad actors, lighting, and "special" effects to sell the book. It didn't work. Overall I found the experience of watching book trailers to be disappointing.
Assignment 3
Overall I found this process to be interesting and informative. Be More Bookish got me to look at Goodreads more (very helpful going into Summer Reading), learn about Early Word, and think about the incredible number of subgenres I didn't even know existed. Having the opportunity to explore new resources is imperative for a Librarian; having time to do that has been a challenge. One suggestion I might offer is to consider more carefully the amount and type of work assigned per week. I have been perpetually a week behind since, I believe, week 3. The amount of work in some weeks and the fact that we had to comment on others blogs before we could finish our assignment made it challenging to complete in a timely way. Another issue is when this initiative was rolled out. The start coincided with school visists, summer reading gear-up, and many other end-of-school events. I would suggest considering starting in the future during a different time of the year or breaking up some of the assignments. I'm glad to have completed the initiative, and hope there are similar opportunities in the future.
I read the articles and looked at some book trailers on YouTube. I was thoroughly underwhelmed and unimpressed. Having watched them after reading the articles, I can say I agree that unless there is a great hook, it looks professional, etc. it isn't useful at all. I didn't find one that made me want to read the book. Frankly I watched a couple for books I had read and they made me rethink my position on the book. Some were too long and had elevator music, others employed bad actors, lighting, and "special" effects to sell the book. It didn't work. Overall I found the experience of watching book trailers to be disappointing.
Assignment 3
Overall I found this process to be interesting and informative. Be More Bookish got me to look at Goodreads more (very helpful going into Summer Reading), learn about Early Word, and think about the incredible number of subgenres I didn't even know existed. Having the opportunity to explore new resources is imperative for a Librarian; having time to do that has been a challenge. One suggestion I might offer is to consider more carefully the amount and type of work assigned per week. I have been perpetually a week behind since, I believe, week 3. The amount of work in some weeks and the fact that we had to comment on others blogs before we could finish our assignment made it challenging to complete in a timely way. Another issue is when this initiative was rolled out. The start coincided with school visists, summer reading gear-up, and many other end-of-school events. I would suggest considering starting in the future during a different time of the year or breaking up some of the assignments. I'm glad to have completed the initiative, and hope there are similar opportunities in the future.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Week 8: Nonfiction
Assignments 1 & 2
Read the articles and watched the video. I don't go to nonfiction referrals often, even though I've read some of the popular nonfiction titles that were mentioned (e.g., Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). I found the video tutorial particularly useful -- lots of good info packed into a short video.
Assignment 3
I noticed when looking at this assignment that there is a lot of crossover in the genres and location varies. For example, there are memoirs in the Dewey classification for Sports, as well as many in the Biographies. I decided to just state where I would find the title I'd referenced rather than try and cover them all.
Memoirs: can be found in, among other places, Biographies; Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Science: 611, but also 523.49 and other call numbers depending on the subject; Stiff: The Curious Life of Cadavers by Mary Roach
History: 940.53, etc.; The Girls of Atmoic City: the Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan
Sports: 796.357 for baseball, other sports in the same general area; A Pitcher's Story: My Innings With David Cone by David Angell
Assignment 4
Stiff: The Curious Life of Cadavers by Mary Roach
If you've ever wondered what happened when a cadaver was donated to science, Mary Roach can tell you. In Stiff she writes in (sometimes) excruciating detail on the scientific uses of dead bodies, her interviews with morticians, scientists, and others providing a vivid picture of the often unknown uses for dead bodies. From car-crash testing (the chapter is called "Dead Man Driving") to weapons research to airline disasters, Roach lets no dead stone unturned. She even offers some historical perspective, including how dead bodies helped in the studies of the crucifixion and the guillotine. While her subject might lend itself to the macabre, it is her amusing, off-beat sensibilities which truly make this, and much of her other work so enjoyable and accessible for those of us that don't love science. This darkly funny, thoughtful, engaging book might appeal to anyone who appreciates a good laugh a la David Sedaris. Good for older teens, too.
A Pitcher's Story: My Innings With David Cone by David Angell
When master baseball chronicler Roger Angell decided to follow David Cone through his 2000 season with the NY Yankees, he expected an “inside look at a wizardly old master at his late last best.” Instead what he found was a “Merlin falling headlong down the palace stairs.” Despite his perfect game, five World Series rings, and Cy Young award, Cone was in the midst of his most difficult season. A victim of age, injury, and bad luck, Cone speaks honestly about his past triumphs and current failures. Meanwhile, Angell gives the reader an inside look at the dugouts, players and scandals of Major League Baseball through the eyes of one of its most poised, intelligent and respected players. An enjoyable read for any baseball lover, including any teens, who like a character-driven, contemplative narrative.
Read the articles and watched the video. I don't go to nonfiction referrals often, even though I've read some of the popular nonfiction titles that were mentioned (e.g., Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). I found the video tutorial particularly useful -- lots of good info packed into a short video.
Assignment 3
I noticed when looking at this assignment that there is a lot of crossover in the genres and location varies. For example, there are memoirs in the Dewey classification for Sports, as well as many in the Biographies. I decided to just state where I would find the title I'd referenced rather than try and cover them all.
Memoirs: can be found in, among other places, Biographies; Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Science: 611, but also 523.49 and other call numbers depending on the subject; Stiff: The Curious Life of Cadavers by Mary Roach
History: 940.53, etc.; The Girls of Atmoic City: the Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan
Sports: 796.357 for baseball, other sports in the same general area; A Pitcher's Story: My Innings With David Cone by David Angell
Assignment 4
Stiff: The Curious Life of Cadavers by Mary Roach
If you've ever wondered what happened when a cadaver was donated to science, Mary Roach can tell you. In Stiff she writes in (sometimes) excruciating detail on the scientific uses of dead bodies, her interviews with morticians, scientists, and others providing a vivid picture of the often unknown uses for dead bodies. From car-crash testing (the chapter is called "Dead Man Driving") to weapons research to airline disasters, Roach lets no dead stone unturned. She even offers some historical perspective, including how dead bodies helped in the studies of the crucifixion and the guillotine. While her subject might lend itself to the macabre, it is her amusing, off-beat sensibilities which truly make this, and much of her other work so enjoyable and accessible for those of us that don't love science. This darkly funny, thoughtful, engaging book might appeal to anyone who appreciates a good laugh a la David Sedaris. Good for older teens, too.
A Pitcher's Story: My Innings With David Cone by David Angell
When master baseball chronicler Roger Angell decided to follow David Cone through his 2000 season with the NY Yankees, he expected an “inside look at a wizardly old master at his late last best.” Instead what he found was a “Merlin falling headlong down the palace stairs.” Despite his perfect game, five World Series rings, and Cy Young award, Cone was in the midst of his most difficult season. A victim of age, injury, and bad luck, Cone speaks honestly about his past triumphs and current failures. Meanwhile, Angell gives the reader an inside look at the dugouts, players and scandals of Major League Baseball through the eyes of one of its most poised, intelligent and respected players. An enjoyable read for any baseball lover, including any teens, who like a character-driven, contemplative narrative.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Week 7: Teen Books for Adults
Assignment 1: Great chart from Lawrence PL. Found some books I've read and some new ones to add to the stack. It's always helpful to have Hunger Game read-alikes.
Assignment 2: I chose the first article, New Adult: Needless Marketing-Speak Or Valued Subgenre?, because I wanted to know how the category "New Adult" was being used. As of the date of this article, according to PW most retailers hadn't heard of the term, with one saying the term "will be perceived as lame." The use of "New Adult" seems to be about marketing, so the Readers' Advisory implications are clear. I haven't had anybody come up and ask me about "New Adult" books, but I have had younger adults asking for book recommendations where titles of this subgenre may have been useful. The most interesting point made in the article to me was made by an editor who said that "New Adult" fills a hole in the romance genre, noting several self-published titles that he cites as "New Adult." I'm of the opinion that there is a readership for "New Adult" books, but it's the name that might be off-putting to some people.
The second article I read was The Next Big Thing. I was curious what the author would cite as reasons adults are reading teen books, besides "the obvious fact that YA books are amazingly entertaining, and full of awesome." Of the many that were listed (e.g., adults have favorite teen authors; savvy marketing), there were two that stood out to me. The increasing number of bestselling adult authors now writing YA fiction, like Grisham, Patterson, and Picoult, are bringing a new audience to the books. This is an opportunity for adult readers to connect with other Teen fiction. The author clearly believes (and I agree) that pop culture has had a huge influence on adults reading YA books. She cites TV shows like The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Downton Abbey, Pretty Little Liars, etc., as influencing adults reading in Teen Fiction. From personal experience I can say that's true. Adults watch movies/TV shows with teen protagonists, so the crossover to YA fiction isn't surprising. (ETA: I think it's interesting the author uses YA throughout the article. I prefer the use of Teen -- much easier to understand)
I posted comments on Justin H's blog and Cayce H's blog.
Assignment 3: I've decided to follow 2 authors' blogs: John Greene and Shannon Hale. I love John Greene, so it's no surprise that I love his blog. Both seem to be written by the authors themselves, and while Hale's is more centered on her writing, both authors provide opinions on topics of the day as well as some personal info. I liked the combination, though I thought Greene's provided an interesting view into the author's mind.
Assignment 4: After looking at MacMillan's Tor Teen and Teens at Random, I'm struck by the similarity in their forthcoming titles. Lots of dystopian, sci-fi, fantasy, horror titles coming. Looking at these 2 sites I was reminded of something a colleague once said about how all Teen fiction is depressing. I'm not sure that's true, but I do wonder where the dystopian saturation point is. One other thing I noticed at Random House's site was that they offer a couple of newsletters, one of which is all about the Poalini books. Why did this strike me? I didn't realize that he was still publishing the series. Personally I didn't like Eragon and never picked up the others.
Assignment 2: I chose the first article, New Adult: Needless Marketing-Speak Or Valued Subgenre?, because I wanted to know how the category "New Adult" was being used. As of the date of this article, according to PW most retailers hadn't heard of the term, with one saying the term "will be perceived as lame." The use of "New Adult" seems to be about marketing, so the Readers' Advisory implications are clear. I haven't had anybody come up and ask me about "New Adult" books, but I have had younger adults asking for book recommendations where titles of this subgenre may have been useful. The most interesting point made in the article to me was made by an editor who said that "New Adult" fills a hole in the romance genre, noting several self-published titles that he cites as "New Adult." I'm of the opinion that there is a readership for "New Adult" books, but it's the name that might be off-putting to some people.
The second article I read was The Next Big Thing. I was curious what the author would cite as reasons adults are reading teen books, besides "the obvious fact that YA books are amazingly entertaining, and full of awesome." Of the many that were listed (e.g., adults have favorite teen authors; savvy marketing), there were two that stood out to me. The increasing number of bestselling adult authors now writing YA fiction, like Grisham, Patterson, and Picoult, are bringing a new audience to the books. This is an opportunity for adult readers to connect with other Teen fiction. The author clearly believes (and I agree) that pop culture has had a huge influence on adults reading YA books. She cites TV shows like The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Downton Abbey, Pretty Little Liars, etc., as influencing adults reading in Teen Fiction. From personal experience I can say that's true. Adults watch movies/TV shows with teen protagonists, so the crossover to YA fiction isn't surprising. (ETA: I think it's interesting the author uses YA throughout the article. I prefer the use of Teen -- much easier to understand)
I posted comments on Justin H's blog and Cayce H's blog.
Assignment 3: I've decided to follow 2 authors' blogs: John Greene and Shannon Hale. I love John Greene, so it's no surprise that I love his blog. Both seem to be written by the authors themselves, and while Hale's is more centered on her writing, both authors provide opinions on topics of the day as well as some personal info. I liked the combination, though I thought Greene's provided an interesting view into the author's mind.
Assignment 4: After looking at MacMillan's Tor Teen and Teens at Random, I'm struck by the similarity in their forthcoming titles. Lots of dystopian, sci-fi, fantasy, horror titles coming. Looking at these 2 sites I was reminded of something a colleague once said about how all Teen fiction is depressing. I'm not sure that's true, but I do wonder where the dystopian saturation point is. One other thing I noticed at Random House's site was that they offer a couple of newsletters, one of which is all about the Poalini books. Why did this strike me? I didn't realize that he was still publishing the series. Personally I didn't like Eragon and never picked up the others.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Week 6: Genres
In week one, I decided to follow a genre that I don't read but should know more about, so I began following Street Fiction. I've found the lists most prominently featured on the homepage to be least helpful, as they don't seem to be updated and are often older titles with links to Amazon. It works more as a general resource rather than for forthcoming titles. There are some other features that are interesting. The links under "Librarian Resources" include useful booklists from other Libraries and articles from professional journals. As a "newbie" to the genre, I found the articles gave me some helpful insight into the genre. I also liked the lists of Urban Fiction by geographic location under "Places," including Baltimore.
I chose 3 subgenres that I typically don't read and found websites with simple google searches.
Cozy Mysteries: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/ In the most recent post and responses, the passionate readers talked about Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles Mystery Series, Janet Bolin's Threadville Mystery Series, Jeanne M. Dams' Dorothy Martin Mystery Series. Cozy mysteries are gentle reads, leisurely paced, and homespun.
Vampire Horror: http://www.vampire-diaries.net/ Though claiming it is both about the books and the TV show, this fansite focuses more on news from the show. The buzz now is about the spin-off, The Originals. Titles include Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, and Necroscope by Brian Lumley. These books are atmospheric, gruesome, and suspenseful.
Paranoraml Romance: http://paranormalromancewriters.com/ The spotlight of this website is the authors and their books, which include reviews. There are links to forums, but they don't seem to be heavily used. Some books in this subgenre include A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper, Only Lycans Need Apply by Michele Bardsley, and Accidentally Dead Again by Dakota Cassidy. Appeal factors include sensual, engaging, and (my favorite) sassy, and include some sort of supernatural creature, like werewolves and witches.
I'm calling these titles Classic Horror Parodies. Why? How else would one classify the witty, zombie-filled world of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith or My Favorite Fangs: the Story of the Von Trapp Family Vampires by Alan Goldsher. Both are humorous, parodies of classic, well-known stories...but with zombies and vampires.
I chose 3 subgenres that I typically don't read and found websites with simple google searches.
Cozy Mysteries: http://www.cozy-mystery.com/ In the most recent post and responses, the passionate readers talked about Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles Mystery Series, Janet Bolin's Threadville Mystery Series, Jeanne M. Dams' Dorothy Martin Mystery Series. Cozy mysteries are gentle reads, leisurely paced, and homespun.
Vampire Horror: http://www.vampire-diaries.net/ Though claiming it is both about the books and the TV show, this fansite focuses more on news from the show. The buzz now is about the spin-off, The Originals. Titles include Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, and Necroscope by Brian Lumley. These books are atmospheric, gruesome, and suspenseful.
Paranoraml Romance: http://paranormalromancewriters.com/ The spotlight of this website is the authors and their books, which include reviews. There are links to forums, but they don't seem to be heavily used. Some books in this subgenre include A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper, Only Lycans Need Apply by Michele Bardsley, and Accidentally Dead Again by Dakota Cassidy. Appeal factors include sensual, engaging, and (my favorite) sassy, and include some sort of supernatural creature, like werewolves and witches.
I'm calling these titles Classic Horror Parodies. Why? How else would one classify the witty, zombie-filled world of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith or My Favorite Fangs: the Story of the Von Trapp Family Vampires by Alan Goldsher. Both are humorous, parodies of classic, well-known stories...but with zombies and vampires.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Week 5: Early Word
Playing catch-up...
So if I'm honest, I've been inconsistent about looking at the resource I chose, Early Word. I did sign-up for their e-mail update, Spreading the Word, which I've read. I've really liked that feature -- it puts the info right in front of me and doesn't mean me having to go to another web site. Through that I've been introduced to some new authors and upcoming TV/movie tie-ins that we might get asked about, and added a few more hold and books to the pile of "must-reads" on my coffee table. There's a lot of interesting and good info on Early Word, though it is often obscured by the volume of info available. For example, why is the first link under "Categories" to 2011-Summer? It's alphabetized, but is that the most effective use of prominent space on the home page? My experience with Web site usability makes me wonder if they've ever done any user testing.
One highly anticipated title of 2013 is from an author I've enjoyed. Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell is a compilation of offbeat, whimsical short stories. Like her previous book, Swamplandia!, she offers up her surreal take on changing tattoos, citrus-munching vampires, and the everyday world. If you've enjoyed Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender or The Fat Man in History and Other Stories by Peter Carey, you'll enjoy Vampires in the Lemon Grove.
So if I'm honest, I've been inconsistent about looking at the resource I chose, Early Word. I did sign-up for their e-mail update, Spreading the Word, which I've read. I've really liked that feature -- it puts the info right in front of me and doesn't mean me having to go to another web site. Through that I've been introduced to some new authors and upcoming TV/movie tie-ins that we might get asked about, and added a few more hold and books to the pile of "must-reads" on my coffee table. There's a lot of interesting and good info on Early Word, though it is often obscured by the volume of info available. For example, why is the first link under "Categories" to 2011-Summer? It's alphabetized, but is that the most effective use of prominent space on the home page? My experience with Web site usability makes me wonder if they've ever done any user testing.
One highly anticipated title of 2013 is from an author I've enjoyed. Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell is a compilation of offbeat, whimsical short stories. Like her previous book, Swamplandia!, she offers up her surreal take on changing tattoos, citrus-munching vampires, and the everyday world. If you've enjoyed Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender or The Fat Man in History and Other Stories by Peter Carey, you'll enjoy Vampires in the Lemon Grove.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Week 4: Goodreads
Better late than never...
I had signed up for Goodreads, but hadn't really done much with it. I took this opportunity to look at it a little more closely. Like with many social networking sites, it can suck you in, but the more you put into it the more you'll get out of it.
I spent a LOT of time on Listopia. After a while all those "Best of..." lists look the same. I tried out a few quizzes, too. Didn't do too badly, but I do question some of the answers!
I created a couple of shelves for books and added some of my titles. Pretty easy to do. I made friends with one colleague, and put a request into others. I recommended a book to Mary Kay L. Since she suggested a great picture book for a read-aloud and also likes quirky picture books, I suggested My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman. Like Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake, the plot centers on a female character that is a handful, and both stories have great twists at the end.
My overall impression of Goodreads -- a good way to get some personalized recommendations, but I think I'd trust Novelist before Goodreads for good read-alikes.
I had signed up for Goodreads, but hadn't really done much with it. I took this opportunity to look at it a little more closely. Like with many social networking sites, it can suck you in, but the more you put into it the more you'll get out of it.
I spent a LOT of time on Listopia. After a while all those "Best of..." lists look the same. I tried out a few quizzes, too. Didn't do too badly, but I do question some of the answers!
I created a couple of shelves for books and added some of my titles. Pretty easy to do. I made friends with one colleague, and put a request into others. I recommended a book to Mary Kay L. Since she suggested a great picture book for a read-aloud and also likes quirky picture books, I suggested My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman. Like Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake, the plot centers on a female character that is a handful, and both stories have great twists at the end.
My overall impression of Goodreads -- a good way to get some personalized recommendations, but I think I'd trust Novelist before Goodreads for good read-alikes.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Week 3: Let's Talk Books
Conversation 1: I want a book like Eat, Pray, Love.
The customer seems to be looking for a book with female protagonist, that is amusing and reflective. While I think she likes to be "in the know" on what's popular (I'd share the best seller list with this customer), I think I'd focus on a memoir that might inspire great conversation. One of my favorites is And I Shall Have Some Peace There: Trading in the Fast Lane for My Own Dirt Road by Margaret Roach. Although published a few years ago, I only recently read it. In this memoir, Roach chronicles her journey from high-demand, stressful corporate job (she worked for Martha Stewart) to her escape to farm life. Another possibility is Here, There, Elsewhere: Stories from the Road by travel writer William Least Heat Moon. In this travelogue, the author chronicles his journeys all over the world, from Mayan villages to the vineyards of Long Island. I really enjoyed how the stories took the seemingly mundane and made everything so memorable.
Conversation 2: I like vampires, but I hated Twilight.
I understand this customer, as I hated Twilight myself. If s/he hasn't read it yet would suggest trying Ann Rice's classic series, beginning with Interview With the Vampire. It's very dark, Gothic fiction. Although the story unfolds slowly, it doesn't feel like a slow read. For something completely different, they might like the Southern Vampire series by Katherine Harris. It's a fabulous, darkly funny series. It's a fast-paced read, with lots of interesting characters. I really enjoy the characterizations, in this fast-paced series. Another fast-paced, funny vampire story would be Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. This pseudo-biography presents a revisionist history of why Lincoln fought against slavery in a quick, easy read.
Conversation 3: River of Doubt read-alikes, please.
This was the most challenging of the three conversations for me. I thought of a few older titles I read that I considered fast-paced, suspenseful, non-fiction stories. The Lost City of Z by David Grann tells the story of English explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared in the jungles of Brazil while searching for a rumored city he called Z. This mystery-adventure is an entertaining, compelling read. Another "oldie but goodie" is Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer, is the story of an expedition up Mount Everest that went very, very wrong. Krakauer chronicles his treacherous, and disastrous journey in a compelling way. Amidst the story of his own struggles, Krakauer describes the history of Everest's many climbers.
The customer seems to be looking for a book with female protagonist, that is amusing and reflective. While I think she likes to be "in the know" on what's popular (I'd share the best seller list with this customer), I think I'd focus on a memoir that might inspire great conversation. One of my favorites is And I Shall Have Some Peace There: Trading in the Fast Lane for My Own Dirt Road by Margaret Roach. Although published a few years ago, I only recently read it. In this memoir, Roach chronicles her journey from high-demand, stressful corporate job (she worked for Martha Stewart) to her escape to farm life. Another possibility is Here, There, Elsewhere: Stories from the Road by travel writer William Least Heat Moon. In this travelogue, the author chronicles his journeys all over the world, from Mayan villages to the vineyards of Long Island. I really enjoyed how the stories took the seemingly mundane and made everything so memorable.
Conversation 2: I like vampires, but I hated Twilight.
I understand this customer, as I hated Twilight myself. If s/he hasn't read it yet would suggest trying Ann Rice's classic series, beginning with Interview With the Vampire. It's very dark, Gothic fiction. Although the story unfolds slowly, it doesn't feel like a slow read. For something completely different, they might like the Southern Vampire series by Katherine Harris. It's a fabulous, darkly funny series. It's a fast-paced read, with lots of interesting characters. I really enjoy the characterizations, in this fast-paced series. Another fast-paced, funny vampire story would be Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. This pseudo-biography presents a revisionist history of why Lincoln fought against slavery in a quick, easy read.
Conversation 3: River of Doubt read-alikes, please.
This was the most challenging of the three conversations for me. I thought of a few older titles I read that I considered fast-paced, suspenseful, non-fiction stories. The Lost City of Z by David Grann tells the story of English explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared in the jungles of Brazil while searching for a rumored city he called Z. This mystery-adventure is an entertaining, compelling read. Another "oldie but goodie" is Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer, is the story of an expedition up Mount Everest that went very, very wrong. Krakauer chronicles his treacherous, and disastrous journey in a compelling way. Amidst the story of his own struggles, Krakauer describes the history of Everest's many climbers.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Week 2: Recommendations
I recommended a couple of books to Mary Kay L. I used Novelists "Title Read-Alikes" to find a few possibilities, then compared appeal terms that she focused on in her reviews. Hopefully they're pretty good matches.
Week 2: What's Appealing to Me
Picking 2 books to write about was more challenging than I thought it would be. Trying not to describe the plot but focus on appeal elements was an interesting exercise. I chose two older books that I really enjoyed and thought were very different, but once I started thinking about them in terms of appeal rather than plot I noticed what they had in common.
Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons
Set in rural North Carolina during World War II, this quirky, heartwarming tale tells the intergenerational story of three strong women through a richly detailed, character-driven, family saga of life and love.
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
This coming-of-age story is an off-beat, funny, sarcastic and entertainingly realistic look at 2 recent high school graduates' road trip, which balances tender, tearful moments with an ironic tone, and includes complex math problems, historical references, word puzzles, and footnotes.
Set in rural North Carolina during World War II, this quirky, heartwarming tale tells the intergenerational story of three strong women through a richly detailed, character-driven, family saga of life and love.
This coming-of-age story is an off-beat, funny, sarcastic and entertainingly realistic look at 2 recent high school graduates' road trip, which balances tender, tearful moments with an ironic tone, and includes complex math problems, historical references, word puzzles, and footnotes.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Week 1: And We're Off!
What do I already know? That I can't always judge a book by its cover.
I didn't do too badly on the "guess the title" games -- better with the kids books than adults. There were a few covers that I recognized but just couldn't place, and a couple that I didn't know at all. The sub-genre cover game was more challenging. I learned there are a lot of sub-genres that I don't know about.
After looking at the options, I decided to look at Street Fiction. I've gotten quite a few requests for urban fiction and my knowledge is really limited. I also signed up for Early Word's newsletter. I think it will help me stay on top of what's forthcoming.
I didn't do too badly on the "guess the title" games -- better with the kids books than adults. There were a few covers that I recognized but just couldn't place, and a couple that I didn't know at all. The sub-genre cover game was more challenging. I learned there are a lot of sub-genres that I don't know about.
After looking at the options, I decided to look at Street Fiction. I've gotten quite a few requests for urban fiction and my knowledge is really limited. I also signed up for Early Word's newsletter. I think it will help me stay on top of what's forthcoming.
Monday, April 15, 2013
And so it begins...
The first of my posts on my new (OK, actually just renamed) blog. Let's get started!
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