Week 9: Book Trailers & Training Wrap Up

Both articles discuss book trailers as if they are the ugly stepsisters of the media world. According to the authors, many are "unwatchable" and some are "embarrassing". I didn't realize there was so much distaste for book trailers in the literary world. Personally, the only book trailers that I've encountered were books that catered to tween/teenage readers. I assumed that this was a tactic used to reach younger readers, given their captivation with all things media based. Even now, it seems as though more time and money is spent on creating quality book trailers for YA books rather than adult titles. If more of an effort was made to grab the attention of all readers rather than just the youth, then I think that book trailers could succeed in marketing titles. I think that readers' advisory can cross different mediums, whether it's the traditional way (using a librarian) or through social media. I feel as though we do a disservice to readers when we fail to consider other ways to exchange information. For our visual learners, book trailers may be a great way to pique their interests.


Final Thoughts:

If I'm being honest...when we initially started this training, I thought that it would be like those tedious online classes that I took in grad school. I expected it to be tolerable, but not entirely enjoyable. I am happy to report that this training was a lot better than I anticipated. I loved the idea of using a creative blog to share thoughts and opinions. We were able to show our individuality in our blog designs as well as our book recommendations. I've added a few new titles to my "to-read" shelf as a result of this training.

The information being shared through this training was also helpful. Our recent training on narrative nonfiction was most helpful, because suggesting alternative genres to readers can be intimidating and sometimes difficult. Be More Bookish has also exposed me to new reader advisory resources, such as Early Word and Stop You're Killing Me. I do wish that some of the articles referenced in the modules were more up to date; however, the information they provided is still valid for everyday customer interaction. All in all, I'd say that this training was a success.

Week 8: Nonfiction

I'm fairly new to the world of narrative nonfiction. Growing up I always associated nonfiction books with research projects, and therefore, considered them to be less intriguing then their fiction counterparts. I really only picked up a nonfiction book when I needed to learn more about something. My relationship with nonfiction was strictly fact based, until a couple of years ago when I became obsessed with reading memoirs. There were also times that I'd find myself needing to know more about a real life event referenced in a fiction book. Currently, more than half of the items that I have checked out are narrative nonfiction.

The E-Learning video mentioned several genres of nonfiction that are popular among customers. The following genres are ones I find myself most attached to:        

• Memoir-Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes (found in the 800s)
• Contemporary Issues-There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz (early 300s)
• Crime-In Cold Blood by Truman Capote(300s)
• History-Come Hell or High Water by Michael Dyson (900s)

All of the titles listed above would serve as good recommendations; however, my favorite titles were Year of Yes and There Are No Children Here. 

Year of Yes is part memoir and part self-help, though I'm not sure if that was Ms. Rhimes intention! Shonda Rhimes shares how one year of opening herself up to new experiences, ultimately changed her life. This book is perfect for readers who want an inspirational story with witty banter and honest experiences. The author includes personal photos and transcripts that make the book feel more conversational rather than preachy like other motivational books. This transformative reading will leave readers feeling energized and inspired.

There Are No Children Here is a compelling work that explores the major effects that poverty can have on a community and ultimately family structure. Readers get a front row seat into the lives of the Rivers family, who are struggling to survive in public housing complex in Chicago. The book focuses primarily on the stories of the two younger brothers, Lafeyette and Pharoah. The novel's fast pace and exploration of themes related to crime and violence within the urban community may pique the interest of urban fiction readers. Readers with interest in the realm of human rights may also be attracted to the books investigation of the Chicago Housing Authority. There Are No Children Here uses the art of compassionate story telling to bring attention to serious issues affecting urban communities.

Week 7: Not Just for Teens

Assignment 1:

After reviewing the "What to Read Next" flowchart from the Lawrence Public Library, I must admit that I was impressed. The flowchart provided an option for nearly every type of reader. I myself am not a huge dystopian fan. I have read the Hunger Games series, but outside of that I haven't really had an interest in reading any other dystopian novels. That is until I took a look at this flowchart! Particularly the classics listed at the end caught my attention. A few of them I had already read, but titles like The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley really stood out to me. These titles have now been added to my ever growing "to-read" bookshelf on Goodreads.

Assignment 2:

The first article that piqued my interest was A Not So Young Audience for Young Adult Books by Meg Wolitzer. Wolitzer kindly addresses critics who deem that young adult novels should not be read by adults. Wolitzer challenges this ideology by examining the ways in which adults are able to connect with young adult stories. I agree with the author when she mentions that reading YA titles "serves as a continuation of [her] education." In my opinion, reading is all about gaining new experiences and perspectives through the eyes of the characters. I feel as though when I read a title that I loved as teen as an adult, I'm looking at the story with new eyes. There may have been components to the story that completely went over my head when I was a teen. But now that I've gotten more life experience as an adult, those coming of age stories mean more to me. I sympathize with some of the characters a little more.

The second article that I read was YA Comes of Age by Sue Corbett. Corbett explores how the face of YA is changing to accommodate the current population of young people. She made a good point when she mentioned how this current group of young people have never known a time when the country was not at war. So it's not surprising that current literature reflects these real life events. I think that's part of the reason why it's so easy for adults to connect with some YA novels. These novels are addressing heavier topics and are no longer written in a way that is solely for teens.

Assignment 3:

The two blogs that I decided to follow for this assignment were John Green's Tumblr and Cassandra Clare's Tumblr. Being that I am an occasional Tumblr user, it was pretty easy for me to monitor these two blogs. Though these blogs use the same medium to deliver their information, they are far from similar. It's obvious upon first glance that the intended audience for both of these blogs are young adults. However, John Green's blog feels more personal. Followers are given a glimpse into his everyday life, through shared photos of Green along with his family and friends. My first day monitoring the blog, Green shares a heart warming post honoring a young friend (a cast member in The Fault In Our Stars film) who recently passed away from cancer. The one word I would use to describe Green's Tumblr is community. Several posts remind followers that they are special and not alone. He even has a campaign called "DFTBA: Don't Forget To Be Awesome". Green also hosts a weekly podcast with his brother Hank, entitled "Dear Hank & John", during which they offer advice and interact with fans. Green's Tumblr feels as though its intention is to make adolescence a little less lonely.

Also based on fan interaction, Clare's Tumblr on the other hand seems to be more character driven. There are less posts showcasing Clare's personal life, but many blog posts that explore character traits and flaws. Given the nature of her books, Clare's blog is obviously intended for fantasy readers. She advertises upcoming novels and is big on reblogging fan art. Clare's blog definitely gives off a angsty vibe, the Tumblr feels very dark and mysterious. Though different, I believe that both blogs are successfully connecting with the young adult community.

Assignment 4:

I decided to follow the trends of "Harper Teens" and "Teens at Random" for the week. Harper Teens appears to promote several titles that include some form of character transformation or "coming of age" component. In these titles, the teen is often struggling to navigate through a hardship. They eventually set out for a summer trip/adventure that changes the way in which they see themselves and the world around them. Harper Teens also showcased several fantasy/scifi titles, such as the new Veronica Roth and an interesting book about a teenage psychic government spy.

Teens at Random had a spotlight for author James Dashner. Several of his books were showcased and his new series was being advertised. This site really put the focus on science fantasy/paranormal titles (i.e. Fallen, Maze Runner series). Based on these sites, it appears that fantasy and "coming of age" are the teen summer trend.

Week 6: Building Base Knowledge (Genres)

*In Week 1: Assignment 4, you began following one of the genre links on the right.  Write a blog post about your discoveries.*


During Week 1, I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and monitored a site devoted to monitoring books of the mystery genre. I set out to monitor the site "Stop, You're Killing Me"; if I'm being honest, I chose this site solely because of it's cool name! Similar to Early Word, SYKM is a bit overwhelming at first glance. There are so many index options to choose from and loads of information being shared. However, SYKM delivers this information in a more modest fashion. Lacking the flashy design template, but not holding back on the amount of information it provides. What I love about SYKM is that it provides a monthly update of newly published titles. It is also sub-categorizes each title; for example, there's a list for newly released large print mysteries, cozy mysteries, thrillers, etc. This is especially helpful for those customers who have specific reader advisory inquiries.

*Pick 3 subgenres that you are unfamiliar with. List three authors or titles that are associated with or typify each of these 3 subgenres. What are the hallmarks or appeal factors of each of the subgenres?* 

Cozy Mysteries: The stories typically take place in a small village or town. The characters are usually unofficial detectives (i.e. retired persons or small business owners) with a knack for solving crime. No violence or brutality is detailed, rather it occurs behind the scenes to maintain the novel's lighthearted tone.

• Ms. Marple series by Agatha Christie
• Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton
• Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs

Historical Fiction: The characters in these stories may be fictional, but the way in which they interact with their environment is reminiscent of the historical era. In some cases these characters interact with actual historical figures of that time. They also respond to situations that are realistic for that time period (i.e. segregation, civil wars, the Holocaust, etc.).

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Red Tent by  Anita Diamant
• The Book Thief by  Markus Zusak

Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction: These novels explore how characters respond to a world wide catastrophe. They often start with civilization ending or being endangered in some way. The characters struggle to survive in all the chaos, often contributing to the novel's depressing tone. These stories take place in an imaginative world, yet cause readers to consider their plausibility and question "what if???!".

• The Stand by Stephen King
• Cyber Storm by Matthew Mather
• The Passage by Justin Cronin

*Mashups of subgenres, e.g. steampunk westerns, are becoming increasingly popular. Find two titles, not shown on the flowchart, which could cross over into another subgenre. Describe your rationale.*

Sick Lit is a fairly new term used to describe titles that involve characters who a trying to navigate a traumatic personal situation, which in the case of these titles is terminal illness. In my opinion, these novels are combination of the realistic fiction and romance genres. In each of these stories, the characters are of course fictional, but could easily exist in the real world. They are facing challenges that many readers have either experienced themselves or know of individuals who have faced these challenges. While the characters in these novels are navigating these realistic situations, they are also making interpersonal connections and ultimately finding love with other characters in the book.


Sick Lit Examples:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
• Me Before You by Jojo Moyes