Week 7

Assignment 2
I left a comment on Karin's and Doug's blog.

I read Who's Buying Teen Books and The Next Big Thing.
I was not surprised that adults are the major readers of teen fiction. Who's Buying Teen Books makes a great argument; teen novels are a literary escape. Adult readers of teen fiction seek simpler plots and interesting characters that will lead to be a quick and entertaining read. Adult books with similar themes are highly literary and can be too complex to follow.

Assignment 3
Cassandra Clare Tumblr
I really enjoyed scrolling through this Tumblr. Besides the Sea of Monsters, City of Bones is a movie that I am waiting in anticipation to see. I may even be brave and go to the theater alone! *gasp*

Clare does a great job engaging the young audience. Though the target audience of this blog are teens, adults, like me, find the page entertaining. I'd say the target audiences are the young-ish crowds; teens, new adults, and (cough) 30-somethings.

Forever Young Adult
I recently learned about the Forever Young Adult Book Club through a friend on Goodreads. We have officially created a Baltimore Chapter of FYA. Our first meeting is in a few weeks!

FYA is for adults who read young adult literature. The FYA page is monitored and authored by the creators of FYA. The content of the page is definitely targeted to adults.

Assignment 4
Little, Brown Book for Teens
Two titles in James Patterson's Maximum Ride series will be the trend for the summer; Nevermore and Angel a Maximum Ride novel. Other titles featured on the site include a variety of themes. Most popular are fantasy and action, though realistic teen fiction is well represented.

Teens/Penguin Young Readers
My initial reaction to the Penguin site, "This is beautiful." The layout is simple and attractive enough to draw both teen and adult readers. Just as Little, Brown, Penguin focuses on novels within the fantasy and action genre.

Week 6

Assignment 1


I followed Early Word and Locus. Both sites presented a great amount of information for new titles and news within the book and entertainment industry. I visited Early Word quite often to find out what titles will be featured in film and television. I'm super excited about the Sea of Monsters to hit theaters in August. Watch a clip here. I also learned that Phillipa Gregory's Cousins' War series will be adapted into a TV series by the BBC/Starz network. I had the opportunity to mention the site and this news to a customer and she was very pleased to learn about the book series and the possibility of a show. Early Word features a Best Books Spreadsheet for each year categorized by genre. Though a little confusing, the spreadsheets are downloadable allowing for quick and easy access. 
Locus is a print magazine. As the creators describe it, the page is "the website of the magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy." Locus does a great job sharing the latest news in the Science Fiction and Fantasy world. This site doesn't just feature the latest titles within the genre, but all other news; like Cory Doctorow's hint at writing a prequel for Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. Locus also features reviews of SciFi and fantasy TV series and films. 

Assignment 3

www.sciencefiction.com 

ScienceFiction.com is a fan site that features the latest news in Scifi books. There is a great emphasis on TV series and movies, and super hero comics. 
http://www.cozy-mystery.com/
The Cozy Mystery site offers lists of mystery novels according to the latest titles, themes, movies and TV, and general recommendations by the site's author. 
http://allthingsuf.com/
All Things Urban Fantasy covers urban fantasy, paranormal romance, teen fantasy, and speculative fantasy titles. 

I was able to find these sites with a simple Google search of the particular genre. Among the sites there was a lot of buzz about titles that have been adapted to TV and film. 

Cassandra Clare classifies her novels as Urban Fantasy for teens. Her fantasy series Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices are told in urban settings. Alexander McCall Smith No.1 Ladies Detective series is identifiable as a cozy mystery. The stories are a lite read that excludes the heavy violence of a mystery novel. Cory Doctorow's Big Brother series is SciFi cyberpunk. These stories involve advanced technology to overrun a dictatorship. 

The Golem and the Jinni is a mystical novel merging Jewish mythology and Arab mythology. Though this is the premise, the novel's tone is realistic and reads more like a historical retelling of immigration and the difficulties involved with adapting to a new culture. 

Assumption is a murder mystery that quickly turns into a psychological suspense story when we find out that the lead character, Ogden Walker, is not the man we think he is. 

Week 5

Assignment 1

I spent time viewing Early Word. I found that this site offered the most comprehensive information on the latest books and publishing industry news. However, I was most pleased with Early Word's reporting on books that have been, or will be adapted to TV series and film. I was pleased to learn that Philippa Gregory's The White Queen has been picked up by BBC/Starz for a 10 part series. A feature that I really like about Early Word are the clips from the series/movie being featured. Watch two clips from The White Queen here.

I am an outsider of the Science Fiction world. I enjoy SciFi themed movies and shows, but I get a little lost with novels. Particularly series! There are so many characters to follow and plots to understand and characters crossover and there's the element of an "otherverse" that requires an understanding of the created language and governance. It is all too much to handle. I thought that following Locus would help to simplify the mystical world of SciFi. But, I still find the whole thing daunting. I did learn about the Cole Wins Compton Crook Awards, the Asimov's Readers, and the Analog AnLab Awards presented within the SciFi genre. The site post each year's recipients along with recipients of other awards.

Assignment 2

In general, Owings Mills customers seek popular titles that appear on the New York Times best seller's list. There is also a trend of customers requesting titles that they have heard in an interview on NPR, and other programs. Most often the customer has forgotten the title and author, but they remember the particular program they were listening to. In this case, I consult the particular site to get more information about the book.

I have had customers who look for books to read before they see the movie; however, most customers have an interest because they have already seen the movie.

Assignment 3

The Huffington Post list Z A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald as one of the best books of 2013. Readers who enjoy romantic stories of the rich, famous, and exotic will be enthralled with this fictionalized love story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Readers of period novels will enjoy the novel's journey through time. Clearly The Great Gatsby is an appropriate read-alike. However, The Collection by Gioia Diliberto a story of young seamstress working for Mademoiselle Chanel entwines all of elements of Z with rich detail of historical Paris, love affairs, and colorful characters.

Week 4

I have post a recommendation to M'Lissa's Goodread page. I hope she will be able to read the titles, if she hasn't already.

"Hey M'Lissa! If you like the Hunger Games you will like Lauren Oliver’s Delirium and Veronica Roth’s Divergent. These titles are both dystopian like the Hunger Games. But more than this, I think these titles are a great representation of teenage rebellion against conformity. The heroes have to overcome their personal insecurities and uncertainties in order to break away from society’s “norms.”   You may also like Cory Doctorow's Little Brother. Set in modern day San Francisco, the main character ignites a cyber-war to combat the oppressive regime of the United States government.

Goodreads recommends books according to the titles that I have read in particular genres. For example, some recommendations according to the classics that I have read are The Real Mother Goose by Blanche Fisher Wright, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe, Stone Soup, and Borderlands by Gloria E. Anzaldua. These titles are a great representation of the multicultural (children and adult) literature that interest me. 

Week 3

 I have read the RA Conversation article and listened to Nancy Pearl's discussion.   

Conversation 1


The customer is looking for an
insightful story about taking personal risk to overcome difficult times. Though setting is appealing to her it seems that she is particularly interested in the author's transparency and honesty with sharing her feelings. Her interest in Oprah's books indicates to me that she is looking for something inspirational, but with a substantial literary element. I would suggests other titles in the travel writing genre; Wanderlust by Elisbeth Eaves, All Over the Map by Laura Fraser, and The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman. These selections are about women who are at a crossroads in their life and are enlightened through their explorations. I would also include Maya Angelou's Mom and Me and Mom. I believe the customer will appreciate and be inspired by Angelou's honesty and growth into womanhood.


Conversation 2


First thought for this customer's query was, "I don't think such a book exists." But there is always "a book for that."  The customer wants the fantasy and other-worldly adventure of a vampire novel without the teenage love angles. Initially I thought of the Casandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. This is an action packed series that dilutes the teenage angst with multiple storylines and the inclusion of other-worldly characters beyond the vampire. I would suggest this to the customer just to give them options. However, my main choices would include adult fiction titles. Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series come to mind.


Conversation 3

 

A fast paced nonfiction mystery is the customer's interest. I would also include titles with a historical element. I would recommend another title by the author; Destiny of the Republic. The customer may also be interested in Robert Caro's series The Years of Lyndon Johnson. This four part series chronicles Lyndon Johnson's progression to power from young adulthood to his political career. Titles within the series include: The Path to Power, The Means of Ascent, Master of the Senate, and The Passage of Power.

Week 2 Suggestions

I've suggested titles to Laura and Kim B.

Week 2

Maya Angelou’s Mom and Me and Mom is a poetic memoir of a daughter learning to love her mother. Angelou recounts her relationship with her mother in a fast paced, but thoughtful story. Readers will be completely absorbed in the story of love, betrayal, and redemption. The colorful characters; mainly Mrs. Baxter, the mom of all moms, are both endearing and frustrating. In Angelou’s storytelling, readers will find a lesson to be learned on love and forgiveness.

Set in urban northwest London, Zadie Smith’s NW presents ordinary life in such a way to make it seem extraordinary. The urban setting in northwest London is presented in vivid details through the character’s daily journeys on their bus rides, or a simple walk through the community. Characters, with their personal dramas, add life to the complex and slow paced storyline.