Week 5: Assignment 1 What I've learned from Early Word

Early Word is a neat resource--what new books are coming and what book-based movies are coming out  (e.g. One Crazy Summer has a new sequel--P.S. Be Eleven, and the second Percy Jackson movie, Sea of Monsters will be in theaters on August 7.  It's even more fun to use this site with Polaris open--you can reserve all the books that look wonderful.
It's a bit much to go to this resource every day; I appreciated the tip to sign up for their Friday catch-up newletter.  I think it will make the information more manageable.

Week 4: Goodreads

I've been a member of Goodreads for years and have found it limitedly useful.
It's fun to add books I've read. But I have never had time to add even a quarter of them!
I have lots of friends in Goodreads, but again, there is no time to even note all the books they're reading.

I enjoyed playing with the extra pieces of Goodreads for this assignment, but I found it stiff and awkward.  For example, when looking through my list of 370 books to put them on "shelves," as I worked my way down the list, the computer just kept jerking the list back to the beginning.

Listopia seemed too arbitrary to be of actual use for reader's advisory.  I hesitate to recommend a book I don't know (or don't know who listed it.)

I did have fun recommending some books to friends.  I recommended a papercrafting book, Stash & Smash by Cindy Shepard, in reply to Miriam's recommendation to me of The Paper Book. 
I  found my best friend from middle school on Goodreads last night. :)  I told her to run, not walk, to find Book of Suns by Nancy Springer (possibly the most perfect fantasy book I've ever read)--Patty and I have been fellow mytheopaths since sixth grade.

I'm glad this assignment reminded me of what Goodreads is and does, but I don't think I will be using it on a regular basis.  It's too time consuming for my personal use, and too arbitrary to use at the library.

Week 3: Assignment 3 -- Hearing RA Clues

Customer #1: The last book I read was Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Everyone is reading it so I had to pick it up. It was lovely. She is such an interesting woman and so brave. I enjoyed the descriptions of the countries she went to and what she did while she was there, of course, but I think what I liked most was how she shared her inner thoughts — so reflective but funny too. I thought it might be just light fluff or all me, me, me, me, but it was so much more than that. I read all the Oprah books and just love them. Anyway I wanted to ask you for a few suggestions for my book group. It’s my turn to pick the title.
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This customer likes learning and hearing an author's thoughts. She liked the exotic setting, the author's comfortable tone, and the chance to learn from Gilbert's experiences. (I love that kind of book too.)  And I think she'd like a book her group could discuss.
I think she might like Peter Mayle's humorous books about setting up home in Provence, and Pearl in the Storm by Tori McClure (a bit more exciting--rowing singlehandedly across the Atlantic-- but a wonderful memoir of the author's inner thoughts).

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Librarian: Let me see how I can help you. What don’t you like about Twilight?
Customer #2: Everything, but especially that teen love story – way too much angst! And way too slow.  Have you read any good vampire stories lately? 

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This customer loves paranormal and a fast pace, maybe romance with a little less angst.

Me: "No I haven't, but I can share some titles other readers have enjoyed.  One of our staff members who loves vampires really recommends Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris.  And try the books by Tanya Huff--action vampire mysteries with only a little romance."
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Customer #3: I just read this great book The River of Doubt.  It was about Teddy Roosevelt and this ill fated expedition to chart an uncharted river in the Amazon.  They lost almost all their provisions, the president was injured, and it turns out one of their crew was a murderer since there was a murder.  And the most amazing thing was that it was true.  It was fascinating and really fast paced.  Do you have anything to recommend that is like that?

Me: "Have you read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand?!  This amazing true story follows a young man through shipwreck at sea during World War II, drifting in a lifeboat for weeks, and surviving a Japanese prisoner of war camp----amazing!"

Week 2: Assignment 3 -- Recommendations :)

I recommended Philip Pullman's Ruby in the Smoke, Shadow in the North, and Tiger in the Well series  and Laurie King's Beekeeper's Apprentice series to Rachel Kinsler.
I recommended Simple Abundance by Sarah Breathnach and The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Bailey to Roxane Gnau.

Week 2: Assignment 2 -- So Appealing

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency -- Alexander McCall Smith (first in series)
Wise, comfortable and "traditionally built" Mma. Ramotswe, the first lady detective in Botswana, solves mysteries mundane and serious, with solid sleuthing and country wisdom.  The characters, her traditional values, and her country are presented lovingly and realistically. 



Beekeeper's Apprentice --Laurie King
When orphaned teenage Mary Russell roams the English countryside to escape her loathed guardian aunt, she meets and outwits a beekeeper sitting in the heather.  Retired Sherlock Holmes has met his match--in more ways than one.  A fast paced, but thoughtful mystery series that continues characters you already love--imagine Mary and Holmes searching for long-lost Kim (Kipling's Kim!).