Week 9 Assignment 3

Summarize your thoughts about this program in a blog post. What have you learned that was helpful? 

                                                               Done, done--done at last!


God bless the makers of this blog--for their time, their skill, their knowledge, their passion, and their determination! 
So many excellent things to learn and explore! So sorry that for me, blogging is like pulling teeth -- all that English major emphasis on good writing--sigh.


I've learned about blogging!  How to open a blog, find a blog, write a blog entry, edit a blog entry, even how to link to other blogs.
I've learned more about genres and subgenres--most I knew, some I didn't, some I knew that weren't even on the list.
I've learned about genre websites--useful, useful.
I've learned about Early Word--now there's a site I'm glad to have as a permanent weekly email summary.
I've learned more about teen books.  And have been dellighted to find that I'm not the only one who loves narrative nonfiction (that it even has a name :).
I've added to the reader's advisory skills we use here at Pikesville every day. (In fact, an additional option for bloggers who want to hone their skills would be to work at the Pikesville information desk for one or two days.)

The discipline of blogging has helped me to put into words what I knew and what I was learning.  It would be fun now to go back and read other blogs to connect to other librarians.  And even without typing, these assignments have given us opportunities and vocabulary to talk each other here at the branch.


Thank you, committee, for all your work and your encouraging nudging!
Karen

Week 9: Book Trailers--assignment 2

Rate some book trailers


One and Only Ivan -- short, but hits the nail on the head

Sense and Sensibility and the Sea Monsters -- what a hoot! Still won't read the book, but can certainly see what they added to the story.  :)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children --  the movie trailer is so much better!  Why, oh, why did the book trailer use a young girl's voice?--the story is told by a boy!  And the girl's introduction is so meandering. . .  \
The book trailer was dreadful; the movie trailer inspired me to read the book.

Mr. Wuffles -- an example of the author explaining the origin of his book--David Wiesner pulls it off--the cat Cricket helped.  I want to read this book. :)

True Meaning of Smekday -- funny!  Even if it doesn't say much about the book, it will attract the readers who will love it.

Packing for Mars -- social comment and science.  No desire to read this book!

Devotion -- "gauzy" is the right word for it.  But a pretty lady with serious thoughts.  Might look at it.

Inherent Vice--so that's the iconic voice of Pynchon.:)  Perfect photography to match!  Not my type of book, but I can see it, taste it, hear it from this trailer.

Super Sad True Love Story -- one satiric spoof.  Does it make people want to read his book??  No. Doesn't describe the book at all.

My Life Undecided -- teen trailer--I think it worked perfectly.

The Glass Castle -- fair.  I think it would actually appeal more to those who have already read her book--to see the main characters in person.

Book Launch 2.0 -- clever description of author online obligations!  Could hear the voice at the other end of  line perfectly.  But no interest in reading his book!

Middle Place  --  loved this essay!  I can see why the publisher sold so many pb copies of it.

Chronicles of the Red King --  short but exciting!  Awesome music!  I want to read!
____________

I will be looking for book trailers in the future. I think successful ones will connect to both the possble readers and the books.
I think the children's book trailers are fun and successful.  The adult ones try too hard to be satirical and clever and don't even usually mention the book involved.
I don't plan to use book trailers at the info desk much.  Children would rather see the books; adults wouldn't learn much about the titles they're interested in (IF we could even find a suitable trailer).

Week 9: Book Trailers--assignment 1

Read two articles

"The Author Takes a Star Turn"--Pamela Paul

Authors have a new role in promoting their book through book trailers.  Once famous for just writing books, not being photogenic actors, authors today have mixed success on screen.  Some do it well, bringing their own personae to their readers; some don't.  But even getting thousands of hits on YouTube won't guarantee huge book sales.
Older readers don't depend much on book trailers, but the younger generation does--up to 46 percent watching online trailers, and 45 percent then actually buying highlighted books!



"Super Sad Book Trailers:  the Conundrum of Online Book Advertisements--and Why They Usually Fail" -- Nina Metz

"Most book trailers are terrible."  True.
"Book trailers are made on the cheap--and they look it."  True.
"And good luck finding them...."  True.

A thoughtful summary of  book trailer history, and suggestions to make them better.  (A possible new term--"bideo" is a bit much.)
And she notes, with examples, that a great book trailer may or may not actually increase book sales.

She lists conflicting ideas that have worked--
Thomas Pynchon's voice reading passages from his book (perhaps only effective because of his reclusive voice).
Robin Sloan just standing up, recommending books that he's read and found wonderful.  He suggests other celebrities would be successful doing the same thing (but they would have to have honest, charismatic enthusiasm!)
Filmmaker Nick Davis who disagrees, insisting on making "wow" videos that go viral, spending more money to make attractive moving book jackets.






It will be interesting to see how book trailers fare in the future.

Week 8: Nonfiction--assignment 4

Two recommended narrative non-fiction books

 
A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of  the Ocean - Tori McClure

Feisty Tori McClure narrates her memoir in flashbacks as she rows singlehandedly across the ocean.  She has fought her way through life, achieving entrance into distinguished schools, looking out for and battling for her developmentally disabled brother, determing to be the first woman to row solo east across the Atlantic.  Trained, provisioned, and ready, she rows halfway across the ocean only to be stopped in her tracks by a rogue hurricane that pummels her small craft twice, leaving her for dead, battered and bruised under the deck.  After being providentially rescued by a freighter, she determines to try again, only to be lashed by another hurricane.  In the midst of the maelstorm she finally realizes that it's "our brokeness, our helplessness, which makes us human. "


This is a special book for special readers--an exciting adventure of endurance, but also a thoughtful memoir. Readers will be gripped as Hurricane Danielle's waves swamp Tori's boat, but also thoughtful as she reviews her life.








The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating - Elisabeth Bailey

Elisabeth Bailey is struck down by an unusual virus which leaves her barely able to move.  During her months of convalescence a friend brings her a pot of violets with a wild snail. Totally limited physically, Elisabeth is drawn into the details of her small visitor's life--and finds meaning in her own. "Watching another creature go about its life. . .somehow gave me, the watcher, purpose too." 

This quiet book will appeal to readers who appreciate slowing down in life, those who like scientific observation, and those who like to read about overcoming adversity.  The small hand-sized hardback is even perfect for reading lying down. :)

Week 8: Nonfiction--assignment 3

4 nonfiction genres

biographies, memoirs--Biography Section

•  Invisible Wall  - Bernstein - Bio Bernstein (Jewish childhood in England)
•  Man in the White Sharkskin Suit - Lagnado-- Bio Lagnado--Jewish family in Nassar's Egypt

overcoming adversity--Biography, 900's, 500s, 600s. . . .

• Pearl in the Storm - McClure - Bio McClure (woman rowing across the Atlantic)
• Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption - Hillenbrand - Bio Zamperini - surviving shipwreck and Japanese prison-of-war camp
• Sound of a Wild Snail Eating - Bailey - 594.3B - noticing small details while recovering from a serious illness

contemporary social issues--Biography, 300's,  other Dewey sections

• The Other Wes Moore: the Story of One Name and Two Fates - Moore - Bio Moore (two boys with the same name,  two vastly different life stories
• The Pact:  Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream - Davis - 610.92D - three boys from inner city make a pact to survive and become doctors

travel--Biography or 900's

• Incontinent on the Continent:  My Mother, Her Walker and Our Grand Tour of Italy - Christmas - 914.5C - just like it says :)
• Year in Provence--Mayle - 944.9M - buying a house in France?!

I love having a narrative nonfiction display table at the front of the library!  These are some of my favorite books; it's easy to fill the display cart. :)

Week 8: Nonfiction-- assignment 2

E-learning video from the Maryland State Library Resource Center


Good narrative non-fiction has many characteristics of fiction--
tells a good story
develops characters
sets a scene
creates suspense
is written in an engaging style


I liked the included list of topics of narrative nonfiction:
biographies
memoirs
history
contemporary social/issues
science
essays
sports
travel
food
crime
faith
overcoming adversity
medical
political  (really had trouble thinking of an example of this one till Melissa suggested Game Change)

Week 8--Nonfiction--assignment 1

Read two articles


Borderlands: Crossing betwen Fiction and Nonfiction in Reader's Advisory--Jennifer Brannen

A well-thought out discussion of the similarities between fiction and narrative nonfiction with many examples in many genres.  But I was bemused that the main thrust of her RA suggestions listed fiction titles.  Most librarians get the idea of great fiction recommendatons.  I could have used more examples of nonfiction.



Reading Nonfiction for Pleasure:  What Motivates Readers?--Catherine Sheldrick Ross

Many customers enjoy reading fiction and nonfiction. The author lists basic suggestions for reader's advisory.
I enjoyed the reminder to include both fiction and nonfiction books in topical displays--e.g. combining true crime books with mysteries; books by an author with book about an author.
The reader's advisory interview is key--in fiction or nonfiction.