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. 

Secret Shopper

For my secret shopper assignment I went to my local library. I chose this library because on the occasional trips I take there, they are brief. Therefore, I knew even if they did recognize me, they do not know me.

When I arrived I immediately headed for the reference desk. I went to a woman sitting at a computer, said hello, and asked if she could help me find a good book that was historical fiction. She replied by asking if there was a specific area I was thinking. I answered that I usually like stuff about wars. As she was looking on the computer another librarian came behind the desk. The woman I had been talking to asked the new librarian how to narrow down the results she was getting because there were too many. The new librarian said that it needed to be narrowed down to a specific war like the Civil War or Vietnam War. The first librarian turned to me and I replied that the Civil War was good. 

In the end I was recommended one book. The librarian had offered to help me find it, but since she had written down information for the book on a sticky note I said that I could find it on my own. I was feeling nervous during the conversation and kind of wanted to just get it over with. While I am okay when a patron initiates a conversation with me at work, I still get nervous being the initiator. Yet, this does help me understand my patrons’ feelings when they see me at the circulation desk.

Overall, I did think it was a pretty smooth interaction. The librarian was kind to me and I appreciated her offer to help me find the book. Yet, I do not know what she was using to help me. I suspect it was the catalog, but they do have access to Novelist. Whatever was used the librarian was struggling with it. I think the interaction could have been improved by explaining to me what was going on, offering me more than one option, and maybe even showing me how to find books with the catalog or Novelist. Novelist is a great tool and more people should know about it. If a library has access to it, they should promote it.

Using Novelist - Week Three Prompt Response

1. I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next!
The fourth book in the Anita Blake series is The Lunatic Cafe. I found this by putting Laurell K. Hamilton’s name in the search and then clicking the “series” tab. The Anita Blake series was the first result. I clicked that and easily found the fourth book.

2. What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.
My first choice for this request would be House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus. I chose this one after looking into Prodigal Summer and noticing it had a lyrical writing style. So, I went and searched in “Appeal” and put in “fast paced” for pace and “lyrical” for writing style. Then I narrowed it down by selecting Adult, Fiction, and Literary Fiction.
A second option for this request would be The Overstory by Richard Powers. This was one of the read-alikes for Prodigal Summer. I thought The Overstory seemed like a subject and plot that transitioned well from Prodigal Summer. Unfortunately, it did not state if it was fast-paced or not, but the plot sounded like it would move quickly.

3. I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there!
My two choices for this are The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. The only thing with these two is that they start somewhere else and then move to Japan. The Samurai’s Garden goes from Hong Kong to Japan and is set in the 1930s. I thought this was an interesting time period and it starts in China, the country the patron just read about. Pachinko starts in Korea and goes to Japan and is set in the early 1900s. This one really seems like the main portion is set in Japan like the patron is asking for. I found both of these by searching for “Japan” and then setting the limiters of Adult, Fiction, and Historical Fiction.

4. I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any suggestions?
Both of my choices for this request are from the read-alikes column Well-Schooled in Murder. The first is Still Life by Penny Louise. This a mystery set in a small town and the cover has bright colors which sends a message that is a less violent and creepy mystery. The second book I found is The Missing File by Dror Mishani. This one does not seem as calm as the first one, but it still seems quite similar to Well-Schooled in Murder. Plus, it has complex diverse characters, suspenseful tone, and richly-detailed writing style.

5. My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?
To find suggestions for this request, I searched for zombies and zombie apocalypse in addition to looking at the read-alikes for The Walking Dead and World War Z. My first suggestion would be some books by George A. Romero, the creator of the Night of the Living Dead film series. Two specific titles I would recommend from Novelist are Dawn of the Dead and Nights of the Undead: An Anthology. Another series would recommend is the Black Tide Rising series by John Ringo. There are several books in the series with the first one being Under the Graveyard Sky.

6. I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.
Conveniently, the homepage of Novelist had a header about finding book to movie adaptations coming in 2020. The closest released adult book from that list was Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson which came out in 2014. After looking at that list I searched for other book to movie suggestions. My main suggestion from that search is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt published in 2013 and the movie came out in 2019.

7. I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.
This was the most difficult request to look up. There is nothing to narrow down in Novelist for “clean” books. I just have to avoid anything that states it is violent or sensual. That can be very time consuming. So, pressed for time, I searched for Christian thrillers because I knew that would ensure it was clean. Yet, because this request does not ask for that I tried to find a Christian author that did not make their religion very prominent.
One author I found was actually someone I read before, Ted Dekker. I read one of his teen fantasy series and remembered how it was not until I looked him up that I found out he was a Christian author. So, my first suggestion with this request is the Outlaw Chronicles because it is suspenseful and fast paced. The first title in the trilogy is Eyes Wide Open. As I looked for one more suggestion, I found the author Joel Rosenberg. He is the author of a political thriller series, The Last Jihad. So, my second suggestion is to start with the first book, The Last Jihad.

Where do I find books?
My first way of discovering books was to just browse the stacks in my local public library or school library. I also often get book recommendations from friends. Sometimes I see a movie trailer for a book to movie adaptation and decide to go read the book before watching the movie. More recently I have mostly been using Goodreads to discover new books. Since Goodreads provides summaries and ratings, I am able to decide well enough if I really want to read a certain book. To pick books for the annotations we need to do for this class I have actually been using Novelist a bit. I really like being able to narrow down genres and appeals.