Prompt #9: Promoting Fiction Collections

Public libraries have a duty to our community members to provide books and other resources for their entertainment and education. We have dedicated librarians whose job is to build up our collections, always researching new titles, authors, trends, etc. After all of the research, purchasing, and cataloging has been completed, how do we get the word out to our patrons about these great collections we have developed with them in mind? There are a number of marketing tools that public libraries can use to make their patrons aware of the library’s collections including, but not limited to, displays, flyers, social media posts, and programs. Utilizing these tools can help bring more patrons into our library to discover books that can help inspire a love of reading.

One of the most popular ways that librarians can promote their fiction collections is using displays and bulletin boards. This technique is so popular because it works. Patrons come into the library and a fun display can catch their eye and draw them into checking out some titles that they might not have considered, or even known existed, before. These displays can adhere to appeals that many readers enjoy, such as mysteries, love stories, or humorous titles. They can also correlate to the season, holiday, or other event that readers may enjoy. Some libraries have done what I call “secret” displays to entice readers to try a new genre such as Blind Date with a Book where the book/title is covered and the reader can choose a book based on a small summary or a list of appeals. This approach creates intrigue and patrons enjoy the interactive nature. When creating displays, the most important thing to keep in mind is quality. Saricks (2005) reminds librarians that “readers grow to trust the quality of the books we put on display, so we make a point of selecting them carefully (p. 142).” We must be careful to suggest quality books (whether it be ones that we have personally read or that come recommended from a credible source) so that readers can have faith that our suggestions are good. If we pull any title off the shelf that has similar appeals and they do not meet reader expectations, the displays will lose their credibility and ultimately not promote the fiction collection in the best way possible.

Many librarians also utilize programming such as book talks and book discussions/clubs to promote the fiction section. Book talks are primarily targeted for children or tweens, but there is merit in promoting adult fiction collections through this tool. Baker (2011) writes, “Story-rich programs and book talks for adults provide the same kind of entertainment, mental stretching, and learning experience for adults (p. 234).” Adults can learn about new (at least to them) titles that the library’s fiction collection has. In addition, hosting book discussions/clubs encourages readers to read new titles and discuss them with fellow community members. I attended one book club where a participant indicated that she was not excited to read that month’s selection because it didn’t sound like one that would keep her interest, but ended up loving the title and asked for more by the same author. Programs like book talks and book discussion groups/clubs are a valuable resource for librarians when trying to promote their collections because it allows readers a chance to get acquainted with titles they may not have known existed.

In this time of social distancing and beyond, librarians will need to promote their adult fiction collections virtually, through the use of their websites and social media. Many libraries have begun to post daily or weekly about the new titles added to their collection. Right now, as libraries are shut down, many of the posts feature new e-books that the library has purchased, but after the pandemic and libraries are once again inviting patrons into our buildings, this practice of promoting the collection via social media. Dankowksi (2013) writes about the social media presence that the New York Public Library has implemented and indicated that “...[social media] serve as a point of entry for customer service.” These posts allow patrons to view the collection remotely and entice them to come into the library to check out a title that they saw online or browse the fiction section for more suggestions. Today, more people are interacting with businesses virtually and librarians can take advantage of this trend by promoting their collections online both via their website and social media. This tool may bring patrons into the library and its fiction collection that otherwise wouldn’t have entered the library just to browse. It can serve as an outreach to non-users of the library within the community.

Reading has started to take a backseat in people’s busy lives, so librarians must think outside of the box to promote their fiction collection. They can utilize tools, resources, and techniques such as displays, programs, handouts, and an online presence to bring readers into the collection. While all of these choices have merit, what is most important for librarians to remember as they are promoting their collections is that they have to show enthusiasm themselves for the material, provide quality suggestions, and have a working knowledge of their collection in order to have a successful promotion campaign.

Resources:

Baker, J. (2011). Booktalking for adult audiences. Reference & user services quarterly, 49(3): 234-238.

Dankowski, T. (2013). How libraries are using social media. Retrieved from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2013/07/16/how-libraries-are-using-social-media/

Saricks, J. (2005). Promoting and marketing readers’ advisory collections and services. Readers’ advisory service in the public library. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Prompt #8: To Separate or Not To Separate?

As librarians, we have a mission to expose our community to a variety of books, authors, and subject matter. If we were to separate subject matter, specifically Urban Fiction and GBLTQ books, then we would be doing a disservice to our community. This separation would insinuate that those reading these subjects are “other” and do not fit in with the general fiction. It may also keep new readers of these genres from discovering the great titles. The library should work to serve all the community and therefore, should include all genres within the general fiction section of the library alphabetically, by author last name. Genres may be denoted by a sticker on the spine, but otherwise included with the other genres and subject matter.

Separating books by subject matter, especially Urban Fiction and GLBTQ titles, creates a sense of “otherness” for those who may want to read these titles and identify with the characters. The physical separation shows readers that “we’re saying you can be here, but you can’t be there (Yorio & Ishizuka, 2018).” By separating the genres, we are showing our patrons that the characters and story lines that they identify with are different than the majority of people and that they don’t belong with everyone else. In addition, this “otherness” created by the separation may cause some readers to avoid the genres with which they identify. Yorio and Ishizuka (2018) write,

                           
                               Concerns about students not wanting to be seen going
                               to the special section, being judged, or revealing something
                               about themselves they aren’t ready to, can keep a librarian
                               from separating books with certain characters and themes.

Librarians need to be concerned about how the physical locations of their books can cause some readers to avoid a topic that they are interested in. Since the librarian strives to meet their community needs, by creating this sense of “otherness”, librarians are in fact doing the opposite. To avoid ostracizing some patrons, librarians should include these genres within the general fiction collection.

Separating genres, especially in the case of Urban Fiction, minimizes the amount of exposure that title will have because people have to seek out these works, they can’t just stumble upon it. One of the beautiful things about exploring the general fiction section in a library is that there is a variety of titles, authors, genres, and subject matter to choose from. I have on many occasions gone into the library looking for one things, browsed the stacks, and came home with books that I had not even considered before seeing them. If we separate the books by genre, especially controversial ones, then we are not encouraging our patrons to discover new books, as well as treating those who already read these titles as “other” as discussed earlier. Author N. K. Jemisin expresses in a blog post that she does NOT want her books on the African American shelf... she views this as an insult to her and her readers as this practice indicates that the practice of separating is an insult to her ability as a writer and the readers ability to enjoy and appreciate diverse books (2010).

Finally, the act of separating these genres would be an extensive increase in library staff’s workload. Not just the act of physically moving the books (which won’t take long), but the need to identify whether a book is truly Urban Fiction, GLBTQ, or another genre would be extremely difficult. This is mainly since many books today cross genres and cannot be labeled as one thing. Wyatt and Saricks (2019) write, “Genre blend and overlap, making strict divisions difficult to delineate (p. xvi).” Since genre is such as flowing classification, librarians would have to make the decisions as to which section of the library that the book belongs. If the librarian chooses a genre that is separated, then only reader of those genres will enjoy the book, and if they choose the general collection, those who seek only the separated genres will miss out. By including all of the fiction titles in the same collection, librarians are eliminating subjective cataloging and exposing more library patrons to a variety of titles. As Readers Advisors, the librarians should have some working knowledge of the different genres to better help those who seek out a specific genre, but they do not need to be the ones making the decisions about which titles patrons are exposed to.

Resources:

Jemisin, N.K. (2010). Don’t put my book in the African American section. Retrieved from   http://nkjemisin.com/2010/05/dont-put-my-book-in-the-african-american-section/

Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction: Third edition. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.

Yorio, K. & Ishizuka, K. (2018), Shelving debate: To separate or integrate? Retrieved from https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=shelving-debate-separate-or-integrate

African American Lit Annotation: In West Mills

Title: In West Mills
Author: De’Shawn Charles Winslow

Genre: Historical Fiction, African American Fiction
Publication Date: June 2019
ISBN: 9781635573404
Number of Pages: 272
Geographical Setting: North Carolina
Time Period: mid-20th century; spans 40+ years






PLOT SUMMARY

Azalea “Knot” Centre is determined to live life her own way without caring about what the residents of West Mills, North Carolina think of the alcoholic and promiscuous former schoolteacher. When Knot is cut off from her family and friends as a result of her life choices, Knot is destined to live a life of solitude, except for the companionship of her kind-hearted neighbor, Otis, and his wife Pep. Knot relies on their friendship to make life more bearable and must learn that there is more to life than moonshine, books, and men.

 Otis Loving is always trying to fix everyone’s problems which is why he runs to the rescue of his neighbor, Knot, every time she has a problem. But when family secrets come to light, Otis must decide if he can fix those that need it the most... himself and his family.

 A sweeping story of a rural African American community in the mid-20th century South, In West Mills tells the life story of its residents and their path to love, friendship, forgiveness, and redemption.

CHARACTERISTICS/APPEAL OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE:

Story Line
According to The New World Encyclopedia (n.d.), in addition to the “genre” needing to be written by an African American author, “African American literature has generally focused on themes of particular interest to Black people in the United States, such as the role of African Americans within the larger American society...”. In West Mills has a sweeping story line that spans the lives of the cast of African American characters as they navigate life during the mid-20th century. It portrays the personal experiences of these characters and identifies what this community views as important experiences to their lives.

Frame/Setting 
The frame and setting are an important appeal to African American fiction because it provides an accurate description and details about life in the target community. In West Mills depicts a rural, African American community and includes details of the African American experience during the mid-20th century, such as having separate benches labeled by race and treated unequally to white characters throughout the story.

Characterization
 In West Mills features a large cast of characters that readers will love to hate. Knot, the antiheroine, is unlikeable, flawed, and complex. The author develops main characters who the readers becomes attached to and want to see succeed but can become frustrated when they don’t make the choices one would expect. This complex approach to the main characters causes the reader to become deeply engaged with the story and connect with the characters through their flaws. The author is also able to create authentic characters that fit the personalities and actions of the African American community during the civil rights era. They want to live their life freely without interference from others and are willing to stand their ground to have their freedoms recognized.

FICTION READ ALIKES

Sula- Toni Morrison
The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat: Edward Kelsey Moore
 Queen Sugar- Natalie Baszile

BLOGGERS OPINION

In West Mills was a quick read, but because the story line spanned 40 plus years, it felt like you had time to connect with the characters. I did have a really hard time liking the characters, which was how they were created to be. I haven’t read a lot of books where there was an antiheroine that you loved to hate, so this was a new experience for me. I was invested in the characters, so it was frustrating to see them make choices that were (to me) obviously a bad route, but they did it anyways. However, I think this is a major part of the charm of this novel. The characters are all flawed so it truly depicted real, authentic people. Some books never show a character’s flaws so that they seem perfect, but this book does the opposite. I also liked that the experiences of the characters matched the time period. As the characters got older or times changed within the country (as much of it was during the Civil Rights-era), the scenes changed as well. I think that this book would be a good introduction to African American literature for those readers that do not have a lot of experience with this sub-genre.

Resources: 
New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.) African american literature. Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/African_American_literature

Prompt #7: YA and Graphic Novels for Adults

A library stands to serve all patrons of the community and to provide them with the resources that they desire. This includes those adults that find entertainment within the pages of Young Adult literature or graphic novels. Reading ,regardless of genre or target age group, is still reading and if patrons enjoy these “genres”, then they are legitimate literary choices. The library must ensure that patrons understand that their preferences are of importance to the library and do so by promoting and providing these materials.

First and foremost, the library has a responsibility to provide resources that reflect community needs and wants, as well as unbiased responses to these desires. The American Library Association’s (ALA) Code of Ethics states, “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 (2008).” The library strives to provide appropriate resources for its patrons. If adult patrons desire Young Adult or graphic fiction novels, then it the library’s duty to do so in order to continue to provide the highest level of service. If the library chooses to not spend their budget on these “genres”, then they are not truly meeting the needs of the community.

The only way that the library can provide the resources that the community desires is by assessing the community on what they want. Informally interview your patrons, mail out surveys, run quantitative tests to see what collections are being checked out; do a variety of assessments to develop a real understanding of your community.  If asked, many adults may admit that they prefer Young Adult novels and can give insight into what sub-genres they prefer which can help the library build up the collection. After the collection is built, then staff can start to promote it.

Library staff can also combat the biased opinions regarding adult enjoyment of Young Adult and graphic novels by taking the time to promote the materials to adult audiences. If the library shows that they feel this is a legitimate literary choices, then patrons too will feel comfortable engaging with these materials. Dunneback & Towner (2010) write, “Your patrons want to read these books. What do they think if we consider romance unimportant and not worthy of our effort (p. 223).” Replace the word romance with Young Adult and graphic novels and the message remains the same: don’t denigrate your patrons reading choices, rather embrace them. Cataldi (2015) suggests that displays, book lists, and bookmarks can all help to promote collections within the library. Taking time to make these displays/tools can show patrons that you feel like there is literary value in Young Adult and graphic novels to adults and increase the positive opinions to the public.

Resources:

American Library Association. (2008). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/tools/ethics

Cataldi, E. (2015). Betwixt and Between: New Adult Fiction. The library journal. Retrieved from https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=betwixt-and-between-new-adult-fiction-collection-development-september-1-2015

Dunneback, K. & Towner, M.W. (2010). Everything romance. Integrated advisory services. Denver, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Prompt #6: Nonfiction Readers' Advisory Matrix

Title: Get Out of Your Own Way: A Skeptics Guide to Growth and Fulfillment
Author: Dave Hollis
Publishing Date: March 10, 2020
ISBN: 978-1400215423

   1.  Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

____ Highly narrative (reads like fiction)

_X_ a mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose

____ highly fact based (has few or no narrative moments)

   2. What is the subject of the book?

Personal Growth

·       The book is about how the author overcame the lies he told himself that were keeping him from reaching his full potential and offers tools and resources for how to overcome your own personal lies in your journey for personal growth.

   3. What type of book is it?

A self-help book written in expository form with narrative insights

4. Articulate Appeal

What is the pacing of the book?

This book is leisurely paced, but the short chapters make for quick reading

Describe the characters of the book.

This story features the author (Dave Hollis) as the main character as he tells personal stories to reiterate a point, as well as the author’s wife (Rachel Hollis) who serves as a mentor and influencer in his personal growth journey. His four children and colleagues are mentioned throughout the book but do not serve as main characters to the story.

How does the story feel?

The story is inspirational, hopeful, impassioned, and thought-provoking

What is the intent of the author?

The author’s intent is to share his experience with personal growth and motivate/inspire others to partake on their personal growth journeys.

What is the focus of the story?

The story is focused on a set of lies that the author told himself to keep him from reaching his full potential and goals in life and how he overcame those.

Does the language matter?

Yes- the language is friendly and everyday words so that readers can cannot the author’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

Is the setting important and well-described?

The setting is described but is not important to the focus of the story. The events can take place anywhere and still have the same inspirational effect on the readers.

Are there details, and if so, of what?

There are some details that are mainly focused on the author’s personal experiences. The details given help to enhance the connection between the experience and what the author is trying to teach the reader.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?

There are no charts or graphic materials used in this book.

Does the book stress moment of learning, understanding, or experience?

The entire book focuses on moments of learning and experiences of the author as he goes on his journey for personal growth. These experiences and learning moments help to enhance the point of each chapter and the book as a whole.

5.  Why would a reader enjoy this book? (rank appeal)

1. Learning/experiencing

2. Tone

3. Pacing

Hollis, D. (2020). Get out of your own way: A skeptics guide to growth and fulfillment. Nashville, TN: HarperCollins Leadership

Prompt #5: E-books and Audio Books

E-books and audiobooks are changing the way that librarians look at collection development and how they are meeting the needs of their community members. Some patrons thrive on electronic resources due to their busy schedules or physical limitations while others still desire the feel of a physical book in their hands. All types of medium are important to the modern-day library, but the new emphasis on electronic formats causes librarians to think about the appeal factors of stories in a different way as it applies to e-books and audio books.

For e-books, many of the appeal factors remain similar such as the story line, characterization, and writing style. Since the reader is reading the same words as in the physical books, these appeal factors generally remain steadfast. Where the difference lies within e-books is that of pacing and tone. With e-books, readers can adjust the size of the text, which is a great addition for those with poor eyesight who need larger print. However, according to Dunneback & Trott (2011), “Pacing is also affected by how much text is visible on the screen, so the larger the text, the less there is to indicate how quickly the story is moving (p. 328).” The authors indicate that richly detailed stories will have larger chunks of text, while quick-witted dialogue will appear shorter on the page. This same tool of adjusting the text size can affect the tone as well. When a novel is gripping and a scene creates a specific tone, the tone can be diminished due to the large number of times that a reader has to pause to turn the page. It may seem minute, but if a scene takes 5 pages in a physical book to get to the climax but takes 10-12 pages in an e-reader due to text size, the brief pauses can decrease the impact of that climactic moment.

Pacing is also affected by the fact that readers do not have a visual way of seeing how close to the end they are. Many e-book software will give a page number or percentage completed, but it does not inspire faster pacing compared to physically seeing the small number of pages remaining in a text. In my own experience, I have noticed that when I read e-books, it takes me longer to finish a book than when reading a physical book of the same genre/author because I subconsciously look at the amount of pages left in a book or chapter and feel that I continue. Whereas when reading an e-book, the percentage complete indicator doesn’t inspire the same zest for finishing the story.

Audiobooks, even more so than e-books, can change the appeal factors of a novel. The appeal factors of characterization, tone, pacing, and frame are all affected through the implementation of a fifth appeal that is specific for audiobooks: audible presentation. According to Mediatore (2003), “The most significant element of appeal for a recorded book- audible presentation- takes into account how all of the above appeal factors blend together when narrated for a recorded book (p. 319).” The way a narrator interprets and presents the story can either increase or decrease pacing or lighten and darken tone, as well as developing believable characters. If the narrator interprets the authors intentions in a different manner, readers may experience the appeals in a completely different way than if they were reading the physical book. Choosing the right narrator is always an important step with working with audio books.

In addition to how the narrator drives the appeals, pacing can be slowed because of how the tracks are set up. I have had patrons in the past who wanted to listen to a novel but saw how long the entire thing lasts (usually around 7-10 hours) and choose to go another route, sometimes even checking out the physical book instead. While both the physical book and audiobook will usually take the same amount of time, the blatant length of time on the audiobook can deter people from choosing this format or, if they do choose this medium, it may seem like the pacing is slower than if they were physically reading the story.

Electronic resources, such as e-books and audiobooks, are becoming a staple in library collections. More people are living busy lives and want novels that are portable to take with them, which both e-books and audiobooks can accomplish. Therefore, it is important for librarians to develop an understanding of the way appeals are represented in these mediums and what appeals, such as audible presentation, are important to the mediums individually.

Resources:

Dunneback, K. & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and readers’ advisory. Reference and user services quarterly, 

          50(4):325-329.

Mediatore, K. (2002). Reading with your ears: Readers’ advisory and audio books. Reference and user services 

          quarterly, 42(4): 318-323.

Historical Fiction Annotation: The Lost Girls of Paris

BASIC INFORMATION

Title: The Lost Girls of Paris 
Author: Pam Jenoff 
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Publication Date: January 2019 
ISBN: 978-1-4328-5877-3 
Number of Pages: 384 
Geographical Setting: France, England, and the USA
Time Period: Alternates during/after WWII (1943 & 1946)




PLOT SUMMARY: 
One morning, in 1946, Grace Healey is re-routed through Grand Central Station due to an accident. While there, she finds an abandoned suitcase which holds mysterious photographs of twelve women. Grace discovers that the suitcase belongs to a British woman named Eleanor Trigg and sets out to find out the truth about Eleanor and the women in the photographs. 

 Eleanor Trigg is a leader of a women’s unit for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret missions team sent into Occupied Europe during the Nazi regime to help aid in wartime efforts. She has put her loyalty and trust in this group of young women so when twelve of her unit go missing, Eleanor must discover the truth behind their disappearance and learn that you never know who you can trust. 

 Marie Roux is a single mother trying to survive during the war. When she is recruited as an agent into the SOE, she must find it within herself to use her training to save her own life, and the lives of those closest to her. The stories of these three women collide to create an impactful story of friendship, strength, trust, and betrayal that will leave readers answering the questions: Who can you trust? And how far are you willing to go for your loved ones? 

CHARACTERISTICS OF HISTORICAL FICTION:
Frame/Setting: The frame and setting are the most important aspect of Historical Fiction because they provide readers with an accurate historical context of which to place the events and characters. The Lost Girls of Paris features rich details when describing the time period (World War II) and the locations (Occupied Europe, post-war United States and Europe) that puts readers into these places. 

Characterization: Wyatt & Saricks (2019), write that in Historical Fiction, “characters may be real or fictional, but they are portrayed in such a way that they fit the times. The historical setting shapes their lives and actions (p. 170).” The author is able to create believable, authentic, and complex characters whose actions and choices are formed by their setting of wartime and post-war. The characters of Grace, Eleanor, and Marie are all women who come to life on the pages and cause the reader to walk alongside them in the trenches of Occupied Europe and the streets of New York City. 

Story Line: “Historical fiction can focus on a concentrated set of events, explaining them in detail and using specific actions as a way to offer a broader understanding of history (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 173).” The Lost Girls of Paris focuses on World War II and the lives of the women who served during wartime, conducting espionage missions for the Allies. This is a section of history that is not extremely popular, so this character-driven and non-linear story of their work is one that opens insight into a lesser-known event during World War II. 

FICTION READ-ALIKES  
The Alice Network: Kate Quinn 
Lilac Girls- Martha Kelley Hall 
All the Ways We Said Goodbye- Beatriz Williams 

NONFICTION READ-ALIKES 
Code Name Lise: The True Story of World War II’s Most Highly Decorated Spy 
– Larry Loftis 
A Cool and Lonely Courage: The Untold Story of Sister Spies in Occupied France
– Susan Ottaway 
The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville 
– Clare Mulley 

BLOGGERS OPINION: 
It took me a while to get into The Lost Girls of Paris, but I ended up liking it. I liked how the story alternated between Grace (the New Yorker trying to figure out what the SOE is), Eleanor (the leader of the SOE women’s division), and Marie (an SOE agent). It gave me a lot of insight into what the characters were feeling and what drove their actions. Since there are so many historical facts that needed to be included in order to drive the story, it took a while to get to the meat of the story, but once the setting/frame was established, I was able to enjoy it. I don’t tend to gravitate towards books set during wars, so it was hard for me to absolutely love since this isn’t my era of choice. The book didn’t “wow” me, but it is one that I would still recommend to those who enjoy WWII-era historical fiction and I am glad that I read it.

Resources: 
Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction: Third edition. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions. 

Book Club Experience

This week, I attended a book club sponsored by a local church (East Union Christian Church) that was housed in the church’s fellowship hall. The members discussed the book Spring Brides, which is a collection of novellas that feature wedding stories based in three different months of the year: March, April, and May. The three novellas were written by Rachel Hauck, Meg Moseley, and Lenora Worth. This collection is a part of a larger series called A Year of Weddings that has a novella for each month of the year written by a variety of authors. I had read these novellas a year or so ago, so I was able to actively participate in the discussion. All the participants had read the book, although some needed refreshing on a few details since they read it at the beginning of the month.

Upon entering the fellowship hall, I observed that it was a relaxed atmosphere, with chairs circling a round table. Including the leader, there were 10 women in attendance. Men from the congregation are invited to attend but have not chosen to at this time. Snacks and drinks were available, and participants spent the first ten minutes or so chatting and eating. I am a member of this church, but an unable to attend regularly due to distance, so I explained why I was attending, and participants were excited to be a part of this assignment. They welcomed me immediately and tried to include me in the discussion. I was the only new attendee, but from observations, can infer that new participants would be welcomed with open arms into this group.

For this month, the collection was Christian Fiction. They do not always do Christian-based novels but tend to gravitate towards clean reads. Novels in the past months have included The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and next month will be The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. The books chosen are from a variety of genres that appeal to the participants. Since, thus far, participants have been women, the book choices appeal more to women than men, but the group is open to other gender-neutral options as well. Normally, the leader chooses the book of the month, but is open to suggestions. Before beginning discussion of the book, the leader asked participants what some of their favorite books/genres were and wrote down suggestions for future options. This showed me that the leader is not trying to dictate what participants read, but instead wants to choose books that the participants will enjoy.

During the discussion, the leader was the one to ask the questions. This novel included Book Club Discussion Questions, so she referred to these, but the books do not always have questions included. When there are no questions included, the leader will plan questions in advance. The discussion portion started out with a vague question about what insights did participants get during reading. A participant asked if anyone else noticed the brides being forced to do something they didn’t want to do. Others didn’t observe this, and some didn’t agree at all, but the discussion was non-judgmental. Those who disagreed with this insight refuted the point in a kind manner, showing that the group has developed a respect for one another and their opinions.

After asking a question, the leader gave an appropriate amount of time for participants to answer. She only answered when others asked her opinion or there had been a large amount of silence. This showed me that she wanted others to participate and not make herself the star of the show.  Most of the questions were open-ended, but there were a few personal connection questions that required a one-word answer, such as when if your anniversary (to determine any connections to Spring weddings as in the story). The questions in the Discussion Guide ranged from deep, spiritual questions such as “how can we be more like Jesus” to more surface level like “how did you and your spouse meet?”. Participants were less forthcoming on the deeper questions so only a few participated during those, but all participants were willing to share on questions regarding their personal connections to the story. The Discussion Guide has the deeper questions at the beginning, and this is the order that the leader asked them. However, it may have been beneficial to the group to start with the surface level questions to get everyone acclimated and more comfortable so that discussion could have increased during the deeper, spiritual portion.

The group did get sidetracked a lot during the discussion, but the leader (or other participants) were always able to relate the conversation back to the stories. Kirchoff (n.d.) reminds leaders, “If you notice that it seems stilted or has veered off topic, ask a gentle, pointed question or two to shut down the side chatter that crops up whenever a conversation goes off the rails.” The leader of this book club was able to veer the conversation back to the book. This showed me that, first, the leader has a solid grasp of the featured book and how to lead a book discussion, as well as showing that the participants are comfortable with one another to have conversations outside of the actual book. Since the side conversations didn’t overtake the overall discussion, I did not view this as a negative aspect. I felt that it was helpful in building rapport and relationships among members. I have been to a book club before that only answered questions about the book with no personal interactions outside of the discussion questions, and it would often have a good amount of uncomfortable silence. This was not an issue with this close-knit group. It is important to include both kinds of questions, as well as encouraging outside interactions among participants, so that they feel more comfortable discussing deeper issues.

Overall, I enjoyed participating in this book club. The participants were welcoming and friendly. The atmosphere of the group was fun and lighthearted. By not focusing too much on trying to have deep, philosophical discussions, participants were able to feel comfortable with one another and newcomers could come into the fold without fear of judgment or inadequacy. The books chosen had appeals and characteristics that would appeal to a variety of readers and all participants were able to find some connections to the stories. The leader was able to guide the discussion so that everyone had a chance to participate if they chose, and all participants were respectful of other’s opinions.

Resources:

Kirchoff, L. (n.d.) Lead a book club. Retrieved from http://ilovelibraries.org/booklovers/bookclub/lead-book-club

Special Interests Paper: Romance and Relationship Fiction in the Library

Relationship Fiction and Romance are two of the sub-genres that exist under the umbrella of the Emotions Genres. These novels strive to evoke emotions through their intricate use of story line, tone, and characterization. The emotions that these novels evoke can range from heart-stopping fear to heartfelt love and everything in between. Unfortunately, many literary professionals push these genres to the side and treat them as "fluff" that does not have merit or deserve their time and attention. However, these genres have an importance to the library and its patrons and must be treated with the respect it deserves. Librarians can promote the value of these genres through the implementation of innovative programming, displays, reader's advisory lists, and treating the collection with as much respect as they do for other genres. 

Before deciding how librarians can promote Romance and Relationship Fiction novels, it is important to consider their literary worth. First and foremost, these novels are loved by readers and librarians need to recognize the benefits of leisure reading to our patrons. Leisure reading can help to build literacy, connect patrons socially, and excite the imagination. The publishing industry recognizes reader’s love of Romance and Relationship Fiction and continue to publish works in these genres to appease readers. In 2016, the Romance genre made up approximately 23% of the overall U.S. market, coming second behind General Fiction and approximately 9 billion books in these genres are sold every year. The sheer volume of Romance and Relationship Fiction novels that are sold in the U.S. and globally indicates that this genre is important to patrons and that we, as librarians, should respond accordingly.

So how do librarians work to promote these genres? The most important action that librarians take is to give titles in the Romance and Relationship Fiction genres full cataloging. Too often, libraries don’t take the time to fully catalog these titles and, instead, treat them as an “honor collection” or giveaways. If librarians aren’t taking the time to catalog these titles, it is showing patrons that their preferences aren’t important and undervalues the collection. Librarians can also create subtle programming and non-traditional displays to promote titles in these genres. Taking the time to draw reader attention to the collection and building connections to current preferences through integrated advisory can entice new readers to the Romance and Relationship Fiction genres, while showing current readers of these genres that the collection is worth the library’s time and attention, giving more value to the collection.

Women's Lives and Relationship Annotation: A Girl's Guide to Moving On

BASIC INFORMATION

Author: Debbie Macomber

Title: A Girl’s Guide to Moving On

Series: New Beginnings (#2)

Genre: Women’s Lives and Relationships

Publication Date: February 2016

ISBN: 978-0553391923

Number of Pages: 352

Geographical Setting: United States of America

Time Period: Present

PLOT SUMMARY

Nichole thought she lived a perfect life with her husband, Jake, and their little boy, Owen. When Nichole learns that her husband isn’t faithful, her world comes crashing down. Leanne, Nichole's mother-in-law, has been married to Jake’s dad for 35 years and has been the victim of his constant cheating.  When Nichole files for divorce, Leanne too decides that enough is enough. The two women bond together through their divorces and figuring out life on their own. To help them move on, the women create a list of steps to help them and begin seeking new adventures. 

Just as life is starting to get into a rhythm, new men come into Nichole and Leanne’s lives. Rocco is everything that Jake isn’t, and Nichole is falling head over heels. He’s a bit rough around the edges but shows Leanne how a woman should be treated. But... when her relationship with her son is at stake, will she take a chance on love?

Leanne has found a new passion for teaching English as a Second language to adults in her community. One of her students is Nikolai, an energetic widower who has a love for baking bread and his new country. Sparks fly as Nikolai shows Leanne the love she has been missing. But when a tragedy strikes, Leanne must decide where her commitments lie.

A story of life, love, and hope, the journey that Nichole and Leanne take will teach readers to believe in the power of love and perseverance.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RELATIONSHIP FICTION

Tone: Tone is one of the most prominent appeals that define this genre. Wyatt & Saricks (2019) write that “these are comfortable, supportive, sympathetic novels that have a gentleness about them (p. 196).” This novel did leave a sense of comfort in the reader and the tone emoted feel-good, heartwarming, and sweet emotions.

Story Lines: Relationship Fiction novels “relate stories of overcoming obstacles, getting second chances, finding one’s self, and starting anew (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 196).” A Girl’s Guide to Moving On has all these elements because it tells the story of the protagonists overcoming their difficult divorces, getting a second chance at love, and finding out who they really are. This novel also leaves readers satisfied with the ending, which is characteristically accurate for this genre.

Characterization: The characters of Nichole and Leanne are ones that readers can relate to and see aspects of themselves in their actions and feelings. They are portrayed as real women with real-life problems that many people are facing in the world. This character duo is authentic, relatable, and likeable.  

FICTION READ-ALIKES
*Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts- Lucy Dillon
*The One and Only- Emily Giffin
*Monarch Beach- Anita Hughes

NON-FICTION READ-ALIKES
*The Breakup Bible: The Smart Woman's Guide to Healing from a Breakup or Divorce- Rachel Sussman
*When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times - Pema Chodron* How to Sleep Alone in a King-Size Bed: A Memoir of Starting Over - Theo Pauline Nestor

BLOGGER'S OPINION:

I really enjoy Debbie Macomber novels, so I was excited to get into this one! A Girls Guide to Moving On was not what I expected from this author at all. Usually, her novels are clean with no inappropriate language or sexual innuendos, but this book had both. Not an incredible amount, but enough that I questioned if this was truly written by Debbie Macomber since it isn’t on brand for her. That being said, I did enjoy this book. I felt that the characters were ones that were relatable, and I was able to feel sympathy for their heartache and cheer for their happiness. This was the second book in the series, but you absolutely don’t have the read the first one to follow this story. Other than the existence of the sisters from the first story, there was no references so readers could start with this one and not feel like they are missing anything. I felt that this novel fit the characteristics of the genre perfectly and would be enjoyed by many readers!  

Prompt #4: Celebrity Book Clubs

When I first read the article by Angela Liao (2017), I immediately thought of the celebrity book clubs that I personally follow on social media that are run by Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush Hager, and Emma Watson.  As a reader, I chose to begin following these accounts because there are different aspects of the celebrities’ lives that I find interesting and I was curious about the types of books they read, which is more than likely why millions of other readers are following their accounts as well. I have read quite a few of the recommendations from these celebrity book clubs, some I liked and some I didn’t, but all have stayed true to the endorsing celebrities’ brand. People are often drawn to celebrities because of their personalities (or brands). Armitstead (as quoted in Liao, 2017), states, “... if someone wants to project themselves as a fun person, they are going to choose fun books.” Readers can get an idea of the types of books that a celebrity recommends based on their personas. If you find someone to be boring or dull, you are probably not going to run to the bookstore to find their recommendations.

While many critics discredit the merit of these book clubs, one thing is an obvious benefit: people are reading. Some skeptics assume that celebrities are only promoting books to increase their popularity or make money, but what matters is that more people are being exposed to new literature and are taking an interest in the literary world. Liao (2017) writes, “...what [celebrities] bring is their brand. There are so many books in the world that any kind of ‘sorting hat’, to use a Harry Potter term, is a good thing for reading.” Celebrity book clubs allow readers to get recommendations on new books in their preferred genres which increases the exposure to literature and benefits the publishing industry.

Another aspect of celebrity book clubs that was brought to my attention was the amount of time that these book clubs can last. This appears to be the result of two main factors: popularity and celebrity interest. Liao (2017) stated in her article that “they have a shelf life and people like Emma Watson will get bored and start looking for the next new thing.”  Celebrities may lose interest in their book clubs or move on to a new ideology that drives their recommendations and can make the club lose steam. In addition, celebrities are not always celebrities forever and their popularity may wane. The article regarding Oprah’s Book Club by Butler, et.al (2005) found that book club picks from her early years were more popular than those in the later years “indicated Oprah lost some of her clout with consumers as the book club matured (p. 23).” As her popularity diminished, as did the success of her book club.

Although some individual celebrity book clubs may diminish in popularity for several reasons, their benefits are still high because it leads people to finding a renewed interest in reading. Seeing as these book clubs have been around for many years, the existence of the concept has longevity. Even if the popular clubs of today are gone, more will be in line ready to promote a new generation of great authors to their followers. With the existence of social media, it is easier than ever before to reach millions of followers to promote the love of reading.  

Resources:

Liao, A. (2017). Celebrity book clubs create virtual reading community. Retrieved from           https://bookstr.com/article/celebrity-book-clubs-create-virtual-reading-community/

Butler, R., Cowan, B., & Nilsson, S. (2005). From obscurity to bestseller: Examining the impact of
          oprah’s book club selections. Publishing research quarterly, 20(4): 23-34.

Prompt #3: Promoting Romance

Dear Boss,

I’ve been noticing recently that our romance collection doesn’t get the attention it deserves and was thinking that it's time we promote this great collection. I’ve been brainstorming how to promote the romance genre and have a great idea. I would love to do a display on romance items in the adult fiction section of the library. The featured items would be wrapped in bright colors with the first lines written on the front so that you cannot see the cover of the book. The label of the display would say “Intrigued by the First Line? Check Out the Rest!”. The display would include a mixture of physical fiction and nonfiction books, audio books, movies, and television shows. Often the first lines of stories are the ones that reel you in, so this would be a great way to draw patrons to the romance collection. A colorful, exciting display will also catch their attention and the mystery of what the title of the book is would intrigue them. I also think that too often, romance books are judged by the covers, so by hiding the fronts, patrons can get to know the text first. We could use this display for a variety of genres/themes in the future after we see how it increases the appreciation/circulation of the romance collection.

Kirkus-style Review: The Other Woman

Title: The Other Woman
Author: Sandie Jones

Publishing Date: August 2018
ISBN: 978-1-250-19198-4
Page Count: 304
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Psychological Suspense

A woman falls in love with a handsome man, but when she meets his mother, her dream romance starts to into a nightmare.

Emily Havistock eyes handsome, charming, and successful Adam Banks from across the room at a company event and it’s love at first sight. A previous failed relationship left Emily fearing love, but she is willing to take a chance on this stranger. Their love blossoms quickly, so when Adam asks Emily to meet his mother, Pammie, it seemed like the logical next step. To Adam, Pammie is a kind-hearted, wonderful mother whom he adores and is abnormally close to. To Emily, Pammie is insufferable, angry, and overbearing. Can their love overcome this other woman? Emily is head over heels in love and is determined to make it work, no matter what. What follows is a continuous stream of horrible actions from Pammie that show her trying her best to ruin this relationship. Since Adam keeps his mother on such a high pedestal, Emily fears showing him her true feelings. “Perhaps it was all part of that in-built defense mechanism that women seem to be born with, that bogs us down and keeps us from saying the things we really want to say.” Emily feels like the only people she can talk to about the problem is her friends Pippa and Seb, and Adam’s gorgeous younger brother James. While confiding in James, Emily starts to feel an attraction that she doesn’t understand. It all culminates in a terrifying and unexpected twist that shows Adam may not be who he appears to be. Told from Emily’s point of view, readers with develop a love/hate relationship with her. One minute, you feel sympathy for her situation and another you want to yell at her to just put them in their place. Emotions will be all over the place in this fast-paced, emotionally intense, and suspenseful debut of author Sandie Jones.

A thrilling novel with high tension throughout and an ending that leaves readers in complete shock.

Prompt #2: Review Sources

Reviews assist librarians in determining whether a book would be an asset to the library’s collection. They give us not only the summary of the plot, but also whether the story is told in a quality manner. Unfortunately, reviews are often only published in professional publications when they are “mainstream”. If a librarian relies too heavily on these types of publications for their reviews, it can affect their collection development in a negative way. While I understand that major publications prefer to review books that are considered mainstream or have incredibly popular authors, it seems unfair that those titles are reviewed over and over again by a multitude of sources while others, like E-book only titles, are never reviewed. Books that are “E-book only” or from lesser known authors may offer a new perspective or level of diversity to the collection that the popular books may not offer. The librarians may not be fully providing patrons with the types of books that they want. They are not purposefully omitting books in their collection that patrons may enjoy, but by not being aware of what all is out there in the publishing world, they may miss some incredible titles. In addition, their collections may be biased towards one genre/type of book or another if they rely on either mainstream and popular reviews or genre heavy publications.  

Looking at the reviews provided for The Billionaire’s First Christmas, I am not enticed to add this title to my collection. The reviews are not of professional quality with misspellings, incomplete sentences, and the use of non-professional slang (such as “lol”) included in the review. I personally was so caught up in the writing errors, that it was difficult to determine what the book was about. I do think there is some merit to reading customer reviews on websites, such as Amazon, and personal blogs as it increases a librarian’s exposure to new titles that may diversify their collection and meet the wants/needs of the community. These types of reviews allow librarians to see opinions on titles from everyday readers, with similar lifestyles, viewpoints, and preferences as their own patrons. However, it is important to consider the quality of the personal reviews and to look at more than one. If I only read the given reviews, I would not purchase this book, but there may be other reviews online that explain the quality and plot of the title in a clearer and more professional manner that would increase the likelihood of purchasing this title for my collection.

In contrast, the reviews for Angela’s Ashes have intrigued me to add this title to my collection. This title was given positive and descriptive reviews by many prominent professional sources. It is not unusual to have at least one good review on a title, but to have all of the major publications give rave reviews shows that this is a quality book that many would enjoy. In addition, I must consider the fact that Kirkus, in particular, gave it a positive review. Since I know that they are more than willing to give negative reviews, if warranted, then the fact that this title got a positive review shows that there is merit to this novel.

I appreciate Kirkus for their honest reviews, both positive and negative. By including negative reviews within their publication, they are giving readers a real look at the titles available, instead of simply sugar coating it. They want readers to truly understand the novels plot (both solid and weak), as well as the quality of writing. I think that those publications who do not include negative reviews are setting themselves up for the disappointment and distrust of their readers. Many who read book reviews are trying to determine if a novel is worth their time and money. If they are not getting both the positive AND negative aspects, then they can’t really trust that a book is worth it.

I do not currently buy for my library. However, as  reader, I mainly rely on the reviews of friends, family, and local librarians when determining if a book is worth my time. I also look at reviews by my favorite authors and those celebrities with book clubs that I follow on social media as they have similar taste in literature as I do. In addition, before buying a book, I always look at the Amazon and Goodreads reviews because it allows me to see what everyday people with similar reading preferences are saying about a title.

Romantic Suspense Annotation: Come Sundown

BASIC INFORMATION: 

Title: Come Sundown 

Author: Nora Roberts

Genre: Romantic Suspense 

Publication Date: 

June 2017 ISBN: 9781250123077

Number of Pages: 466 

Geographical Setting: Western Montana 

Time Period: Present Day; Flashbacks to the 1990’s mixed in

PLOT SUMMARY: Come Sundown is a standalone romantic suspense novel set on the Bodine Ranch in Western Montana. The Bodine family runs a working ranch and resort, with Bodine Longbow overseeing it all. When new hire, Callen Skinner, comes back to town, Bodine is swept off her feet by his cowboy ways and must decide if he can have her heart...and her trust. Meanwhile, terrible events are happening in their resort town: people are missing, hurt, and murdered. It is up to the Bodine family to put everyone at ease through these trying times. 

Unknown to Bodine and family, only a few miles away lives the aunt who ran away twenty plus years ago without a trace. Alice Bodine is living her own reality, one that is twisted, dangerous, and much different than the life she left behind. When their worlds collide, Bodine must face the dangerous world in which her aunt lived and decide if her love for her home, her family, and Callen Skinner are enough to help her overcome her enemies. 

CHARACTERISTICS/APPEAL OF ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: 

Intricate Plot: Most romantic suspense novels have plots that are similar to those found in Adrenaline and Mystery’s with unexpected twists and exciting endings. Come Sundown has an action-packed story line with many twists and turns and is nonlinear, as it shifts between time periods. It is also character-driven because the story line moves forward through the characters thoughts, growth, and action. Wyatt & Saricks (2019) write "the courtship and relationship aspects of the Romance remain primary, but the novel further revolves around elements of danger (p. 221).”

Tone: The tone of a novel is the emotion it evokes. Come Sundown has a bittersweet tone because it causes mixed emotions. The relationships (familial, romantic, and community) make the novel feel heartwarming, romantic, and homespun. However, the dangerous aspects set the tone as scary, menacing, and suspenseful. 

Pace: Most Adrenaline novels are fast-paced and the twists keep the story moving. In this novel, the story moves in an intensifying manner because it starts slow with the building of relationships in the beginning of the novel, and then speeds up as more suspenseful, action-packed events take place. 

READ-ALIKES: 

Come Home: Lisa Scottoline 

Blood Trails: Sharon Sala 

Night Diver: Elizabeth Lowell 

BLOGGER'S REVIEW: 

I really enjoyed Come Sundown by Nora Roberts! This book had a lot of the appeals that I personally enjoy. It was thrilling and suspenseful, but also had a few well-developed love stories weaved throughout the novel. It did start out a little slow, to the point that I was wondering if it would be considered a romantic suspense, but it eventually picked up and I couldn’t stop reading until I found out what happened next. The violent scenes got the point across without including too many gory details. This would be a great book for those interested in romantic suspense without having scenes that were too grotesque.

Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction: Third edition. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions.