Promoting the Fiction Collection - Final Prompt

I am not involved in any promotional activities at the IUN library since I only work circulation. Yet, I do pay attention when I go to my local public library. So, as I picked these three promotional and marketing ideas I was thinking of that library. My three ideas are:

1. Bookmarks and annotated lists in person and online in a blog
2. “Bowl of Inspiration” in person and online with a randomizer 
3. A cart display near front entrance

Each of my choices are to promote the fiction collection in a way that is most likely going to catch people’s attention. In person and online options are to catch people who spend a lot of time online, which is many patrons. Plus, in person pieces would ideally be placed as close to the entrance as possible to immediately catch patrons.

First, the bookmarks and annotated lists can be printed in person and placed in displays around the library. My local public library already has holders for papers and flyers right at the front doors. They usually promote library activities, but bookmarks and lists could easily be added. Then I liked what Bill Carroll had in the PDF slideshow about putting these bookmarks and lists on a library blog. That way the bookmarks and lists could be quickly and easily shared on all social media sites where they would likely get a lot of attention.

Second, I also liked Carroll’s “Bowl of Inspiration.” This bowl is a great way to create an interactive promotion. It can also really help patrons who do not know what they want to read or want to try something new. Yet, as I thought about this great idea, I wondered if it could be online too. So many use online services like Overdrive, Libby, and Hoopla, that they may be stuck about what to checkout on there. That is when I thought it could be cool to have a randomizer on the library website. That way anyone visiting the website could click the randomizer and get a reading suggestion without even leaving their house. 

Lastly, I loved Sarick’s “Good Books You May Have Missed” cart. While having a display on a table or in a case can be nice, it would be really useful to have a cart right near the front that could easily be rearranged or moved if needed. My local public library does have a unique tree-like shelf display that they use to feature a specific theme of books, usually whatever holiday is nearest. Yet, it is somewhat obnoxious, even though its large size quickly draws attention to it and the books displayed. I think it could work even better to have a colorful cart near the circulation desk. The book drop off is also right when you come in, so it could be placed right there. They could even have two carts, the other one being by the reference desk which is right in the middle of all the patron computers and near the nonfiction section. This could draw people over to the carts from various points in the library. To make sure these displays are known by as many people as possible, pictures of them could be posted on the library website and social media. 

Overall, whichever promotional and marketing ideas, tools, and services a library employs, I believe it is important to think of in person and online. 

References:

Carrol, Bill. (n.d.) Don’t Talk to Me: Passive Readers’ Advisory. Retrieved from https://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/c-d/continuing-ed/iloc/copy_of_iloc-2016/handouts/dont-talk-to-me/donttalktome.pdf

Saricks, J. (2005) Promoting and marketing readers’ advisory collections and services. Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library. Chicago: ALA. 136-160.

LGBTQ and Urban Fiction: To Separate or Not To Separate? - Week Fourteen Prompt

Three reasons to not separate LGBTQ and Urban Fiction books are that if separation is done patrons’ privacy will be partially lost, patrons may be discouraged from accessing information, and division between patrons could occur. These reasons stem from well-known library documents: The Library Bill of Rights, the Code of Ethics, and the Freedom to Read Statement. 

The seventh point of the Library Bill of Rights states, “All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.” If LGBTQ and Urban Fiction have their own sections, a bit of privacy is lost because people would be able to see someone specifically going to one of those sections. Patrons who are judgmental of others are unlikely to resist showing their judgment in their body or verbal language. 

Leading off of that point, patrons seeking such material may be discouraged from searching for it because of potential judgment. Yet, the Code of Ethics states that libraries should provide usefully organized resources and equitable access. The first point is specifically written as “We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests.” The most important words here are “usefully organized resources.” On one hand, separating LGBTQ and Urban Fiction books could help users who specifically want those titles. Yet, on the other hand, separating these titles could discourage users from entering the section. Librarians cannot allow some patrons to search and access materials in peace while another group feels like they may be judged for their selections and thus avoid the information all together. 

This potential judgment is blatantly mentioned in the Freedom to Read Statement. The fifth point reads, “It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept the prejudgment of a label characterizing any expression or its author as subversive or dangerous.” Labels can cause division. The more labeling there is, the more division. It is one thing to display these kinds of books for temporary labeling, but to be permanently separated can cause great division. As was discussed last week about Young Adult, New Adult, and Graphic Novels, the labels on these books can discourage adults from checking them out because there is a stigma surrounding them. This kind of judgment is tenfold regarding LGBTQ books. Even Urban Fiction will have stigma of being all about drugs and sex. Yet, while this may be present, Urban Fiction may be the only way a patron will be able to understand the specific difficulties of someone different from themselves. 

It is up to libraries to provide equal discovery and access of information. Separating only one or two types of books from the general collection encourages segregation, division, and judgement while also infringing patrons’ privacy. Collections that are organized by authors’ last name allow patrons to have more anonymity with their material selections. It makes sure only the library staff really sees what the patron is accessing, and then it is the responsibility of the staff to keep that information private. The overall end point is that the separation of LGBTQ and Urban fiction will only cause more harm to patrons’ freedom to access information.

A Kind of Freedom - African American Literature Annotation

Title: A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
Published: 2017
Number of pages: 256 pages (Kindle edition)
Sub-genre: Literary fiction

Plot summary: 
Follow three generations of a New Orleans African American family in this novel about love and life through the decades. Sections alternate between Evelyn in 1944, Jackie in 1986, and T.C. in 2010. Evelyn is a twenty-two year old studying to be a nurse when she meets handsome and shy Renard who begins to change her dreams. Evelyn's daughter, Jackie, is a new mother struggling with the disappearance of her crack addicted husband who suddenly reappears. Jackie’s son, T.C., was just released from jail where he had spent four months for a weed possession, but is getting out with renewed purpose because of the approaching birth of his son. A Kind of Freedom shows the connections between family members who stay by each other which brings hope during heart wrenching events.

African American Literature Elements:
Characterization: The characters in A Kind of Freedom are all very realistic. Each character has certain dreams for their lives, but as life goes, those plans change from circumstances out of their control and from some of their own poor choices. This is how real life goes. We have ideas for how our lives will turn out, but they rarely go exactly as planned. 
Storyline: Since so much time is spent on making the characters realistic, the storyline becomes very character driven. It is much more about the way the characters think and dream based on circumstances rather than the circumstances and events themselves.
Tone: While African American literature could be very depressing and dark, A Kind of Freedom also has a lot of hope. There are difficult topics discussed such as war, racial inequality, and drug abuse. Yet, through it all, the characters have each other and the connections they have help each one push through the difficult situations they face.
Writing Style: Since there is less focus on the setting and a detailed plot, there is a lot of dialogue and inner thought. This helps keep an engaging writing style for A Kind of Freedom. The dialogue for the characters flows naturally which helps the story move along quickly. 

Read-Alikes:
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
A Shout in the Ruins by Kevin Powers
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Personal Thoughts:
While I did not love this book, I also did not hate it. I appreciated the well-developed and realistically flawed characters, but the plot was very bland and a bit predictable to me. I prefer a bit more excitement and action in what I read. Yet, like I said I did not hate it. It was a good change for me. It also helped that it was a very quick read. 
Now, I  have to give a warning, since this is realistic, Sexton did not spare the reader the gritty details of sex and the culture surrounding weed dealers. Specifically T.C.’s sections have a lot of detail about his sexual thoughts and actions as well as many uses of the “N” word and m*****f*****. For this reason I struggled with most of T.C.’s section. While this is abundant in T.C’s section, it is scarcer in Evelyn’s section, which was part of the reason why she was my favorite to read. I honestly think if her piece had not been in it, I might have really disliked this book.

Let Them Read YA - Week Thirteen Prompt

All librarians should definitely be making sure every patron is allowed to read what they want to read. This is part of intellectual freedom. Specifically in the fourth point of the Freedom to Read Statement it says, “There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.” Thus, the reverse must also be true. Adults should not be barred from reading material classified for adolescents. Artistic expression and dealing with life issues can be eloquently discussed in Adult, Young Adult, and New Adult. It does not matter. Therefore, if someone wishes to read about life at any stage they should be allowed and encouraged to seek out all genres and areas of literature.

Speaking of life, in the article “What’s New About New Adult?,” the authors mention that both YA and NA deal with “coming of age” stories. They write, “In short, coming of age is a process that takes place over many years, so it makes sense to stretch it out across both YA and NA” (Brookover, Burns, & Jensen, 2014, p.43). The process of becoming a mature adult is a long process. Internet culture has a plethora of memes about how those in their early twenties are considered adults, but they still struggle to do basic things for themselves like cooking, shopping, cleaning, etc. Shockingly, in some YA books teens are more capable of these things. On top of it sometimes they have to do the extraordinary like battle controlling regimes or evil wizards. The point is that learning and growing is something that can happen at any age. The title of Adult, Young Adult, and New Adult does not matter. If any patron wants a book about coming of age or dealing with the struggles of new responsibilities, they must be given the assistance finding such a book. 

In my personal experience, I mostly enjoy reading YA novels for some of the reasons listed above. Even though I am twenty-five years old, I still find myself relating more to the teens in YA than the mature (sometimes very mature) adults in Adult fiction. Also, my mother and some other adults I know really enjoy YA as well. Some of them, like my mother, prefer Adult fiction, but still like some of the very intriguing and unique stories in YA. I only know all of this because we talk about it. I believe that is the first step to making Young Adult, New Adult, and graphic novels accepted. The more a topic is discussed, the more the stigma goes away.

One specific example occurred around the time the first Hunger Games movie was coming out. I had purchased the whole trilogy to read in preparation. A few months later, closer to when the movie was going to be released, my dad was talking to a couple of his friends from church. At the time, both men were nearing middle age. When my dad told them about the books and how much I enjoyed them, they expressed interest. I ended up letting both borrow all three books and both liked them; one a bit more than the other. I remember this actually shocked me a bit that full grown men were so interested in a story about teenagers. Yet, that was the moment I realized it did not matter what someone likes to read. If they enjoy it, they enjoy it. 

References:

ALA. (2006). Freedom to Read Statement. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement 

Brookeover, S., Burns, E., and Jensent, K. (2014). What’s New About New Adult? Horn Book Magazine, 90(1), 41-45.

Warcross - Young Adult Annotation

Title: Warcross by Marie Lu
Published: 2017
Number of Pages: 353 pages
Sub-genre: Science Fiction

Plot Summary:
Ever since inheriting her father’s large gambling debt when he died, Emika Chen has been struggling to get out of it by being a bounty hunter. In a desperate attempt to gain quick cash, Emika hacks into the world famous virtual game, Warcross. As Emika waits to be reprimanded, she is surprised to find her world turned upside down when the creator of Warcross, Hideo Tanaka, hires her to help with a major security issue. The story follows Emika as she goes undercover and discovers a chilling secret surrounding Warcross. 

Young Adult Elements:
Pace: Like many YA novels, Warcross is very fast paced. The chapters quickly go through Emika’s investigation into the security issues and her interactions with other Warcross players.
Storyline: The storyline is very action packed which goes with the fast pace. This action is mostly shown through the many detailed, suspenseful Warcross Championships Scenes. 
Writing Style: As YA novels are often fast paced and action packed, they usually have a compelling or engaging writing style to keep the reader’s attention. Warcross is compelling and engaging as Marie Lu writes about Emika’s quick investigation and makes sure to not add too many extensive details. The only descriptive scenes are when Emika is travelling or a new Warcross world is introduced.
Characterization: YA novels have been including more and more diverse characters within them. Warcross is no different. First, the story starts in New York then it shifts to Tokyo. Secondly, the players of the Warcross Championships are from around the world. Both of these pieces allow the reader insight into different cultures. Lastly, there is even some representation of disability as one of the Warcross team captains is a wheelchair user. 

Read-Alikes:
The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
Otherworld by Jason Segel
Bluescreen by Dan Wells
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 

Personal Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. It was so action packed and suspenseful. This included a major twist at the end that I thought I was catching on to, but got distracted and then blindsided. Yet, this is the kind of YA novel I love. I want to be shocked and surprised. 
I also like Sci-Fi in YA novels and there is a lot in this. The concept of Warcross and the NeuroLink are very intriguing. Although, I should note for people who are not familiar with Sci-Fi, Warcross and the NeuroLink are a major part of this story and are involved with every piece of it. So, it could become a bit overwhelming for someone not used to something like this.
Lastly, I want to comment on the common theme of romance in YA novels. This did have some, but it was not the main part of the story. Although it did play an important part in the plot, it was not the focus. While there was a bit more romance than I was expecting, I do not feel it was too much. 

The Reader's Advisory Matrix - Week Twelve Prompt

The Reader’s Advisory Matrix for The American Civil War: A Hands-on History by Christopher J. Olsen

Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

A mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose) 
*It is actually more fact-based with occasional narrative moments

What is the subject of the book? 
The subject of this book is the American Civil War.

What type of book is it? 
This is a history book.

Articulate appeal
What is the pacing of the book? 
The pacing is relatively slow and leisurely. Although there is a lot of information that is sometimes told quickly, the thorough details slow it down.
Describe the characters of the book. 
The characters include every major person involved with the events that led to the war, those who lived through the war, and those who had to deal with the aftermath of the war. One of the characters that is mentioned the most is, of course, President Lincoln. 
How does the story feel? 
The story is factual and informative with a neutral tone.
What is the intent of the author? 
Olsen’s intent is to inform the reader about the American Civil War.
What is the focus of the story? 
The focus of the story is to tell the details about the events leading up to, during, and after the Civil War.
Does the language matter? 
Yes. Olsen mostly uses blatant facts to move the story along.
Is the setting important and well described? 
The settings of battles are the best described scenes in the book. While there is not a focus on the actual landscape, Olsen thoroughly describes the formation and intention of the soldiers. 
Are there details and, if so, of what? 
There are many details about several major events as well as some of the characters. The details about characters are important because they are often used to explain why that person leaned one way or another in a major decision about the war.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? 
This book has a lot of useful charts as well as primary sources after each chapter. The primary material includes excerpts from letters and speeches. This material really helps the reader understand the story being told. 
Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? 
The thorough details and primary sources included in the book encourage the reader to look closely at the book to discover all that can be learned from it.

Why would a reader enjoy this book? (rank appeal)
1. Subject 2. Learning 3. Detail

Audiobook and EBook Appeals - Week Eleven Prompt

I first became familiar with ebooks back in 2010 when my aunt got me an Amazon Kindle for my 16th birthday (see the picture to the left). My Kindle was a very useful tool for me during high school and college. I often read classics in my English classes and was able to get them for free on the Kindle. Even though  I would receive a physical copy in high school, I could not make notes in it, so I would make the notes on my Kindle. I could also “bookmark” pages. This was the way I would combat what Dunneback and Trott (2011) say about e-readers having page number indications, but it not being the same as a physical book (p. 328). While there can be indications of your placement in the book, ebooks are more difficult to “flip” through. Yet, if you own an e-reader, you can become used to its features like highlighting  and bookmarking sections. At least that is what has happened in my experience. 

I have only been getting into audiobooks the past couple of years. I agree with Mediatore (2003) who writes that “Narration changes and intensifies every element of a book’s appeal” (p. 319). My favorite audiobooks are ones where the narrator had an excellent voice. Specifically in The Raven Boys series, Will Patton’s ability to create diverse voices for the characters brings them to life. This experience is why I also agree with Mediatore’s (2003) statement that “characterization can be one of the most important elements of an audiobook” (p. 319). Regardless of whether I read a print book or an ebook, if I don’t feel anything for the characters, I don’t like the book. Thus, the narration is a very important appeal that readers’ advisors must be aware of.

While doing readers’ advisory for ebooks and audiobooks can seem daunting, I do not think it needs to be so difficult. After reading this week’s articles, I realized that readers’ advisory for these formats is very similar to print books, just with a few added elements. It is like in mathematics when you learn the basic equations and then they start giving you more complicated equations. As long as you know the basic equation, you can build on it. So, as long as you know pacing, setting, characterization, and tone, adding narration and font size can be natural additions. This is because factors like narration and length for an audiobook and font size for ebooks directly affect appeal factors such as pacing and tone. Since these formats for reading are only going to become more commonplace, these appeal factors should be regularly integrated into readers’ advisory.

References:

Dunneback, K., & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(4), 325-329. 

Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers' Advisory and Audio Books. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 42(4), 318-323.

Blue Asylum - Historical Fiction Annotation

Title: Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall
Published: 2012
Number of Pages: 288 pages

Plot Summary: It is the middle of 1864 when Iris Dunleavy is wrongfully convicted of madness and sent to an esteemed asylum on a Florida island. Iris tries to convince the stubborn Dr. Henry Cowell of her innocence, but he refuses to believe her “loving” husband is the real criminal. The only ones who understand she is sane are the doctor’s son, Wendell, and the handsome, but deeply troubled Confederate soldier, Ambrose Weller. Since she knows she does not belong at the asylum, Iris is determined to escape, but she must enlist some assistance. The story becomes more complex as the reader is able to see the asylum not just through Iris’ eyes, but from Ambrose, Wendell, and Dr. Cowell’s perspectives. Blue Asylum looks into the inner workings of an asylum during the Civil War and how that significant event in history had great effects on so many people’s lives.  

Historical Fiction Elements:
Setting: Saricks writes that the authors of Historical Fiction will add details of “landscape, milieu, and locale to the story and thereby increase the feeling of verisimilitude” (p. 172). Hepinstall adds many landscape details such as those about the asylum’s beach, the surrounding jungle, the various rooms of the asylum, and the doctor’s house. In addition, she includes various details in flashbacks about Iris’ role as a plantation owner’s wife and Ambrose’s life as a Confederate soldier.
Tone: Since this novel takes place in the middle of the Civil War and is focused on an asylum, the tone is dark and grim. Saricks mentions that tones vary across different Historical Fiction works (p. 172). This one is definitely on the melancholy side, even though there is a slightly hopeful tone in the last few pages. 
Style: Blue Asylum seems to fit what Saricks says makes up Literary Historical Fiction. It has “lyrical language, crystalline prose, and deft construction” (Saricks, p. 174). As Hepinstall details each scene, she writes in a soft, flowing manner. Even when she discusses distressing events, there are long, complex sentences that make the suspense end with a melancholy tone.
Pacing: Although Blue Asylum is not a long book like Saricks says most Historical Fiction works are, it is still slow-paced. The first half of the book is more focused on showing how the asylum functions along with brief mentions of Iris and Ambrose’s pasts. Yet, the circumstances that caused them to come to the asylum do not start to be fully revealed until almost halfway through the book.

3 Read-Alikes:
Woman 99 by Greer Macallister
The Yankee Widow by Linda Lael Miller
My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliveira

Personal Thoughts: 
While I enjoy reading about the time period of the Civil War, this book was a little too dark for me at times, especially with what is going on in the world right now. When I am feeling a bit down I prefer more uplifting and positive books. Although, the ending was a little better and slightly lighter than I was expecting, which helped some. I would still make sure that readers know this is definitely a melancholy book.
I also might need to note that this book had many mentions of sex and masturbation, even if it was replaced by different names: lovemaking and private-fondling. While I can handle a small bit of that, it started to get too much for me at times and might be a problem for other readers.
Overall, I did think the story was interesting. I just do not think this was the best time for me to read it.

Book Club Experience

For my book club experience I went to a nearby public library. The book club’s name is the South Haven Bookends. The club is led by Sarah, the branch manager. There were a total of ten people, eight attendees, me observing, and Sarah leading.

The meeting began at 7 PM, yet it took a moment for Sarah to reign everyone in from the conversations they were having. The first piece of business she took care of was informing them of their next book. Once that was settled, she handed out the discussion questions for their current book, Beloved by Toni Morrison.

Even before the meeting started, most of the ladies confessed to not finishing or not even starting the book. It seemed like only two to three people actually finished the book, one of whom was the woman who had read it before and requested it as one of the group’s reads. The biggest complaint from people was that it was too all over the place and very confusing. Even for those who finished the book, they did not understand what it meant. 

Once everyone had voiced their frustrations, Sarah began going through the discussion questions. They were mostly open ended questions. If anything was a yes or no question, it was followed by another question. Since I kept the paper, here are a couple of the questions:

• “Is Beloved a ghost? Is she a dead person come back to life? Or is she a random girl who’s been possessed by the spirit of Beloved?”
• “What would this story be like if Sethe and her kids weren’t African American? Could the story even exist?”

Sarah usually did not answer the questions, especially not first. There were a couple of ladies who consistently started off answering. One of them was the woman who had chosen the book and another was the woman on my left. Although these two would usually start, the others almost always joined in. There were only a couple of ladies who did not say much. And I did not say anything because I was observing, even though I kind of wanted to say something a couple of times. 

Overall, the atmosphere of this book club was very friendly. Everyone seemed to be having a great time hating on the book together. There were several times they got sidetracked on other topics and Sarah had to bring them back to the questions. I had been warned of this possibility by the woman to my right. She had begun talking to me before the meeting and told me a bit about the way the club usually goes. She also told me how this book club compared to the one she went to when she lived in Illinois. That one had been in a home, yet still organized by the library. She was surprised when she moved to Indiana and found that this one was actually at the library.

Since the book club was quite enjoyable, even though I had not read the book and was only observing, I would really like to return someday and actually participate. One of the ladies was talking to me after the club and let me know they do a variety of books. I feel this would be a great opportunity for me to read new books and step out of my comfort zone. It helps that this group of ladies were so friendly and welcoming. So, even though I get nervous in group settings, I feel I could get comfortable with this one. And then we would all be discussing books! What fun!

Readers' Advisory History - Special Topics Paper Summary

For my special topics paper I looked at the history of readers’ advisory (RA). 

In “Rediscovering the History of Readers Advisory Service,” Bill Crowley discusses the RA’s development through the twentieth century. He believes that RA has always been around, but it began to get its name in 1876, the year the American Library Association (ALA) was formed and the Library Journal began its publication. Both Crowley and Joyce Saricks agree that some of the biggest developments in RA occurred between 1920 and 1940. The biggest difference in RA from then to now is that nonfiction was the focus whereas fiction is now. Adult education was very much the reason for RA during the early to mid-1900s. Yet, this seems to be why patrons’ reading lists were very didactic and librarians seemed to quickly pass moral judgments on readers. 

By the time World War II came along there was a lot less time for leisure reading. Thus, RA began to die away until its revival near the end of the century. Crowley points to 1984 as the revival year because of organizations such as the Adult Reading Round Table (ARRT) forming and librarians writing more about RA services. One of those librarians was Joyce Saricks. Saricks is most known for her concept of appeal. 

A more recent article by Keren Dali challenges Saricks definition of appeal. Dali argues for reading appeal over book appeal. She believes that it is more important to discover each reader’s personal interests rather than digging into what parts of a book they like. Challenges like this show that RA is still evolving and will continue to develop. Looking at this history shows how far RA has come while also inspiring future RA librarians.

Trouble with Book Advances - Week Seven Prompt

The one piece from all the readings that surprised me the most was actually just a small part of one article. That piece was when Richard Z. Santos stated that Jeaninne Cummins received a seven-figure advance for American Dirt. I am not as intrigued about the controversy surrounding this book, even though it is important to think about and discuss the topic of authors writing about matters they may not fully understand versus those who do. I am more shocked that a seven-figure, that means a million or more, was given for a book that was not even written yet. To be really honest I do not know much of anything about publishing a book, so I did not even know a book advance was a thing. From going to not even knowing an advance existed to learning someone got one that was so much, I am perplexed. 

I began thinking more about it after reading Alexia Underwood’s article on Vox. The whole discussion about sexual harassment in the publishing industry made think about Cummins’ advance again. I thought about the men in the publishing industry, including authors, who are accused of sexual assault but have been given large sums of money as salary or advances for books. Such money gives these men power. This aligns with Underwood’s (2018) statement that “Several of the women didn’t report the behavior because it was often their word against those of the harassers, who tended to be popular, powerful men.” The money makes powerful men and then those powerful men deter accusations against them. They act invincible and everyone believes them meaning people either cover for them or are too afraid to reveal the truth.

It is all a tricky situation that needs serious change. In terms of book advances I have begun to wonder if there could be a way to not give them to authors without checking to make sure they will use it appropriately. I know it would be extremely difficult, but I think advances such as the one Cummins received could get to a person’s head. At least in Cummins’ case she is a woman. A man receiving the same treatment could perpetuate the harassment issues in the publishing industry that Underwood discusses. 

References:

Santos, R.Z. (2020). The Real Problem With ‘American Dirt’. Retrieved from https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/american-dirt-book-controversy/

Underwood, A. (2018) The #metoo Movement Hit the Literary World Hard This Week. It's Not the First Time. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/2018/5/10/17323642/metoo-junot-diaz-allegations-nobel-literature-prize

If I Run - Mystery Annotation

Title: If I Run by Terri Blackstock 

Published: 2016

Audiobook: Narrated by Nan Gurley 

Length: 6 hours and 42 minutes; 6 discs

Plot Summary:

In the first book of the If I Run series, Casey Cox is suspect number one in her best friend’s murder. Although she is innocent, her mistrust of the police leads her to go on the run. She methodically plans out how to stay one step ahead of the detectives, specifically Criminal Investigator Dylan Roberts. Yet, Dylan has his own issues as he has recently been discharged from the army because of his PTSD and Brent, the murder victim, was also his friend. The search for truth and evidence in Brent’s murder is explored through the alternating chapters between Casey and Dylan. Nan Gurley narrates this complex and dangerous mystery that leaves the reader questioning whether justice will be served or not.

Mystery Elements:

Tone: Saricks says that tone varies for each mystery (p. 56). If I Run is more of a calm read. There is some heightened suspense near the end. Most of the story is more methodical about detailing Casey’s past and where she is going.

Frame: According to Saricks, frame refers to details and side subjects (p. 55). If I Run includes many details about the towns Casey stops and stays in. There are also side subjects such as mental health and kidnapping. 

Pacing: Although pacing is not as important for mysteries, dialogue determines the pace (Saricks, p. 57). If I Run does have a fair amount of dialogue which does help speed the story up sometimes. Yet, there are also a lot of details that slow it down. Saricks also says that pacing is not as important because readers go to mysteries for investigative details and the characters’ investment in justice (p. 57). Seeking justice is very important for Dylan. While Casey wishes the truth could come out, she does not know how to make it happen, so she just runs. Yet, the second half of the book begins to show Casey has more of a desire for justice than what was portrayed in the beginning.

Characterization: The investigator and their sense of justice are main components of mysteries (Saricks, p. 53). This is the role Dylan fills. Yet, Saricks also says that secondary characters are important in mysteries (p. 54). This is true for Miss Lucy Daley, an older woman Casey befriends while she is on the run. Readers quickly learn Miss Lucy plays an integral role in Casey’s character development and the story’s plot.

3 Read-Alikes:

Vanished by Irene Hannon

Last Words by Michael Koryta

Close Your Eyes by Iris Johansen

Personal Thoughts:

While I feel this was a nice mystery for someone who does not read mysteries, I also had some personal issues with some of the things the characters did. I did not think everything was always logical and well-thought out. Something to note about this book is that it is by a Christian author and there are many points when God is brought up. I somewhat wondered if that was more important to the author than making sure everything made sense.

Also, since this was an audiobook, I was paying attention to the narrator. While Nan Gurley has a nice calming voice, she did not vary her voice much from character to character. When I listen to audiobooks I prefer the narrator to be able to make unique voices for each character.

Promoting Horror - Week Six Prompt Response

To: Sam Morgan

From: Rachel Siska

Subject: Promoting Horror 

The following is my initial plan to promote horror by engaging with our patrons in celebration of Halloween. 

We would begin by planning out activities that would take place throughout the month of October. There could be at least one activity or event per week. These could include craft projects, movie nights, storytimes, book discussions, bingo, etc. It would end with a party for all ages the week of Halloween. We would begin prepping patrons for these activities through social media in the late summer, but we would continue with physical displays in the fall. 

On October 1st we would put up displays in each section of the library; adult fiction and nonfiction, young adult, children, and video. We would creatively display the horror titles in each area and include flyers and brochures that patrons could take with them. These flyers and brochures would include lists of the material displayed as well as the upcoming events and activities planned. 

By combining activities with displays of material, we can engage our patrons and open up a discussion about library material. Halloween allows us the opportunity to specifically promote the genre of horror. Hopefully we can take this format and apply it to other genres and holidays in the future. 

Thank you for your time.

The Winter People - Horror Annotation

Title: The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

Published: 2014

Number of Pages: 317 pages

Plot Summary: This story alternates between 1908 and the present day in West Hall, Vermont. In 1908, Sara Harrison Shea is struggling with the death of her young daughter, Gertie. Her husband, Martin, is worried about her mental state. Yet, his worry comes to a peak when she begins saying Gertie is back from the dead. But the dead don’t come back to life, right? Meanwhile in the present day Ruthie is troubled with the abrupt disappearance of her mother and Katherine is trying to cope with the loss of her husband. When both women find Sara Harrison Shea’s diary that recounts the days between Gertie’s death and her own, the pieces begin to fall into place to show how everything is connected. 

Horror Elements:

Tone: Saricks states that horror has a feeling of foreboding and fear (p. 238). That is definitely present in The Winter People as each section builds up then cuts off. It leaves the reader fearing a certain outcome, but it will not be revealed until the character’s next section.

Setting: The setting for The Winter People is also in tune with typical horror novels as it is set in the winter, specifically January, and in a very spooky woods.

Pacing: The pacing in The Winter People is erratic with its alternating time periods and abrupt ends of chapters and sections.

Characterization: Most characters in horror are haunted, shattered individuals who are vulnerable and lacking control (Saricks, p. 243). These are true for each character in The Winter People, but especially Sara. Sara has gone through several traumatic experiences her whole life starting with her mother who died giving birth to her, then having several miscarriages, and finally losing her daughter. This makes Sara the perfect character to have at the center of a horror novel. She is desperate and unpredictable which adds to the feeling of foreboding.

3 Read-Alikes:

The Women in Black: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Personal Thoughts: This was more creepy than I thought it would be. I thought since it would not have jump scares like TV shows and movies that it would be okay, but there kept being that sense of fear and foreboding. I got to a point where I had to make sure I read it when other people were around even though I usually do not like to be interrupted when reading. Even though it was creepy, it was a very interesting complex story with well-developed characters. These were stated on Novelist and I was glad to find it to be true. I also found it interesting that Saricks stated that horror normally has a lot of sex, violence, and profanity, but The Winter People was actually quite tame in those areas. There were only a handful of instances where “making love” was mentioned and there were only a few pages where profane language was used. The violence was a little more prevalent, but still not as bad as it could have been. Overall, I think this is a great read for those who are reading horror for the first time and are nervous about it.

Book Review Publications - Week Five Prompt Response

The different book review publications have their own way of formatting reviews. How does this affect collection development?

I think the various review publications could greatly benefit collection development because each format can have some pieces of different information that could help deciding books that a librarian is on the fence about getting. It is also best to look at more than one source for book recommendations so that bias can be avoided. If only one review is looked at, the reviewer may be giving a personal rather than professional critique. This can be seen with the examples of reviews on Amazon versus those from Kirkus, Booklist, and Library Journal. 

Do you feel The Billionaire’s First Christmas reviews are both reliable? How likely would you be to buy this book for your library?

I do feel the blog review is a bit more reliable. It seems more professional. The Amazon review also sounded pretty serious, but there was also a tone of just making a review for fun. I am not sure that I would get this book for my library. I would definitely consider it because it seems like a good quick read that people might enjoy. Yet, it also sounds cliche and I would be looking more for unique material to add to my collection.

How do the reviews make you feel about the possibility of adding Angela's Ashes to your collection?

Personally, when I realized it was a review of a Frank McCourt book, I was already feeling biased because I read his book Teacher Man a few years ago and did not like it. Yet, reading the reviews for Angela’s Ashes made his writing sound appealing. While his writing style may not be for me, I do think many people would like to read his stories, so I would add Angela’s Ashes to my collection.

Do you think it's fair that one type of book is reviewed to death and other types of books get little to no coverage? How does this affect a library's collection? And how do you feel about review sources that won't print negative content? Do you think that's appropriate? 

All books should get some reviews. Librarians do need to know what the people are really into at the moment, but they are also responsible for buying material that the community does not know yet that they want. The only way to find that material is if it is reviewed and/or included on various lists. I also think it is necessary to print negative content. Librarians need to read as many sources as possible to learn about the material they are looking to purchase. They will need to see if too many people do not like a book so they will know not buy a book that will likely just collect dust. 

If you buy for your library, how often do you use reviews to make your decisions? If not, how do you feel about reviews for personal reading, and what are some of your favorite review sources?

I do not have a job where I have to buy material for my library, but I do look on Goodreads and sometimes Amazon for reviews on books for my personal reading. I particularly like looking at the ratings on Goodreads. I see how many ratings there have been and what percent were five or four stars. This usually gives me a good idea about whether or not I should give a book a try. The ratings can be better for me because while some reviews on Goodreads are more professional, some have clear bias.

Kirkus Style Review

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (1996) 370 pages

A wild ride of urban fantasy with intriguing and quirky characters, this adventurous novel follows Richard Mayhew as he discovers everything about the London Below.

Richard Mayhew is an average businessman living a humdrum life until he is abruptly pulled into a secret Underworld filled with assassins, bodyguards, angels, and many more magical eccentric creatures. It all starts when he decides to help a bloody stranger who appears in front of him out of nowhere. This begins Richard’s abrupt and initially awkward journey into a strange new world as he decides to help the stranger, Door, find her way back home and discover what happened to her family. Neil Gaiman creates several characters to help move this journey along. Each one has a unique, quirky personality. He also includes flowing details to describe the situations and characters. Those details are enough to create a movie-like scene in the readers’ mind. “They wore black suits, which were slightly greasy, slightly frayed, and even Richard, who counted himself among the sartorially dyslexic, felt there was something odd about the cut of the coats. They were the kind of suits that might have been made by a tailor two hundred years ago who had had a modern suit described to him but had never actually seen one.” For those who have read Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, this is a similar storyline. Neverwhere is fast paced, suspenseful, and mysterious. It is great for those who love fantastical creatures and stories, but may be overwhelming for those who do not like a large cast of characters and/or traveling through strange unknown worlds. 

A wild ride with twists and intriguing characters, Neverwhere can be a wonderful escape into a magical world not too far from the real one.