WEEK 9  # 3
Great exercise, especially for librarians like me, that Readers Advisory it is one of most favorite part of my job.
I did use some sites that, other way, I will never go to. I do use Goodreads for years, NPR books, and Salon-books, Stop you're killing me, also, but for the purpose of the assignments, I start to visit new ones like Heroes and Heartbreakers, Street fiction that otherwise, probably I will never look, and I did find it very useful.

One other aspect of the blog that was refreshing, is getting to know what, other colleagues in the BCPL like to read.
I look almost daily to Between the covers, so I know that team very well by now, I know what my colleagues in the branch like or not...so after the creation of this blog I discovered more kindred spirits in our system.
Thank you,

Week 9
Well. Yes I did watch some of the trailers :NolaRoccoAuthor, Mary Karr, the Glass Castle, Hitch-22, etc.
Some of them are addictive, the more you watch...the more you want to hear about new books. I like the most, the trailers with authors interviews, especially the more articulated authors!!

I would recommend a great site for interviews and talks  TEDTALKS, it is very good, not only authors but a big variety of subjects.

I totally agree with the statistics of  the Teenreads.com, I can see the teens spending hours in YouTube, and coming to ask for a book. I did guide them myself sometimes,
to this site ,when they are looking for some recommendation (other then mine). The teens love the book related blogs, and trailers.

Week 8
Ass. 1
I read the articles. Interesting. Thank you.
Ass.2
Watched the video.
Ass. 3
I am choosing :
Art
"The hare with amber eyes: a hidden inheritance" by Edmund de Waal  736.68 D
Food
"My french Kitchen: a book of 120 treasured recipes" by Joanne Harris  641.5944 H
Biography
"Zelda Fitzgerald: the tragic, meticulously research biography of the jazz age's high priestess" by Sally Cline     BIOGRAPHY
The 944.68 area of France
"A year in Provence" by Peter Male      944.68 M

Ass.4
"The Hare with amber eyes: a hidden inheritance" by Edmund de Wall
264 Japanese ivory and wood carvings, a famous netsuke collection, was inherited by Edmund de Wall. Himself an artist, de Wall starts on an amazing journey of his family history from Odessa, Paris, Vienna to Tokyo, art history, war story, beautiful pictures of art.
The work has a great story and it is also a treat for the visual art connoisseur.
I will recommend to customers interested in art, history and interests about other cultures.
From fiction I would recommend  "Art Forger" by Shapiro, B.A.

"My French kitchen:a book of 120 treasured recipes" by Joanne Harris
Bestselling author Joanne Harris shares her Family recipes, like in her fiction books, the recipes are passed down from generation to generation.
From classic French foods and desserts and a beautiful presentation, the book is a pleasure to explore.
I will recommend to customers that have the courage to cook great french food, also interested in the beautiful  french country side.
Also her fiction books can go with like "Five quarters of Orange"
Biography
"Zelda Fitzgerald:the tragic, meticulously research biography of the jazz age's high priestess" by Cline Sally
An informative biography of Zelda based on hundreds authentic letters from family and friends, the book brings in new evidence that her insanity was less of a clinical condition than the wrong treatment she endured.
Well written, the biography is a moving portrait of Zelda Fitzgerald.
I will recommend the biography to customers interested in Fitzgeralds, the area of jazz,
people interested on mental illness.
Fiction books based in real facts "Call me Zelda"  by Robuck Erika, or "Z: a novel of Zelda Fitzgerald" by Fowler Theresa and all Scott Fitzgerald books, and Especially Zelda Fitzgerald books.
 "A year in Provence" by Peter Male
Peter Male a British journalist buys an old farmhouse in Luberon, France and moves in with his wife and two big dogs.
Little by little he finds ways to win the locals to trust them and become friends, in the process he discovers the secrets of the little town.
The pleasures of Provencal life and the delights of the amazing French cuisine will make you want a nice dinner and a good glass of red wine, and ....a vacation on the French country side.
Great read for any one interested in travel, food, remodeling an old farmhouse...and listening to a fun story.
Hid fiction books are also, good reads " A good year" will be an example.

Week 7
Ass. 2
" The next big thing: adults reading teen literature"  from YALSA
I did observe for sometimes adults reading YA books. I agree with a lot of the reasons presented in the article:
parents that want to explore what their teen is reading
the vampire books made lots of Moms come to the libraries to read the Twillight series, True Blood, etc.
TV influence, also is a factor, and the movies made from the teen books brought lots of interest.

"Who's buying teen books? Lots and Lots of adults"
The article brings good points, why adults are interested on buying YA books: gifts for the younger generation, good read from very well known writers, like Margaret Atwood, Barbara Kingsolver, etc.
I do not agree with one of the reasons state by the article that the YA books are "written in a less complicated Fashion" provides a relaxing read for an adult, I do believe that the YA books are very well written and they are YA just because the protagonists are teen age.

Week 7
Ass. 4
I keep on following this 3 :
Macmillan publishers : shows a clear interest on action packed dystopian, political - government conspiracy, and still Twilight meets romantic Gothic.

looking at Harper teen, not surprising some of the same interests as the other, but still lots of "Pretty Little liars" on site.

Harlequin  site, sweet had lots of books with contemporary influence on heavy paranormal romance.

Week 7
Ass. 3
I looked up for some time "TEENREADS"  totally for teens.
The site has good short book reviews, books to movies, adult books recommended for teens, and a well done reading list section.
I like the site and show it to some of our teens and they "admit" they like it.

STACKED   Librarians reviews mayhem.
Was an interesting site to navigate. I find it a bit provocative, but has good book reviews. I would recommend to the "older" teen.

Week 7
Assignment 1
" What to read next"  good site for readalikes. I do like better the local Flamingnet Teen book reviews.

Assignment 2
"The next big thing: adults reading teen literature" from YALSA
I did observe for sometimes adults reading YA books and I do agree with a lot of the reasons presented in the article:
parents that want to know what their teen is reading. The vampire books made lots of Moms come to the library looking for the Twilight series, True blood, and more.
The TV series based on the teens book are very popular, so the books.
The movies made after the books brought lots of interest.

"Who's buying teen books ?Lots and Lots of adults"
The article brings good points, why are interested on buying YA books : gifts for the younger generation, good reads from very well known writers, like Margaret Atwood, Barbara Kingsolver, etc.
I do not agree with one of the reasons that the YA books are "written in a less complicated fashion" and provides a relaxing read for and adult. I think that most of the teens books are very well written and very interesting subjects, and they are YA because the protagonists are teen age.

I did post comments on Patti D, and Katie M

Week 6
Assignment 1
I looked up the "Street Fiction" genre link. Since is not one of my favorite area, and I do not read a lot of this books, the site was helpful.
I realized that is dealing with lots of violence, sex, drugs, etc. Got some good titles for customers.
More interesting was the Urban Christian part, again very helpful.

Assignment 2
Prezl looks interesting, but I need to explore it more, it is not a fast and easy site. I spend about an hour on it.

Assignment 3
"Heroes & Heartbreakers"  a romance and historical fiction combined with paranormal,
Black Dagger Brotherhood, Downton Abbey, Passion crime and contemporay.
S.U. Pacat "Captive prince" romance and fantasy.
Diana Gabaldon  can combine or be in Historical, romance and paranormal fiction.
Christen Ashley "Fire inside" a chaos series, contemporary.

"Locus" not very impressed : poorly written reviwes.
Cornell Paul "London Falling" Thriller DNA and horror.
Hill Joe "NOS4A2" horror and historical, also religious.
Harris Charlaine  "Dead ever after" mystery and supernatural.

"U.S.A. Today" I like this one a lot: good interviews with authors, new books reviews.
Altogether smart looking and well written.
Catamack Cora "Faking it" contemporary, romance.
Gorman Michele  "Bella Sumer takes a chance" British chick lit, romantic comedy.
Mead Richelle   "Gameboard of the Gods"  spernatural, science fiction, political, religious.

Week 5

Assignment 1:

My Favorite site is Goodreads, I got to know to navigate it pretty good and is helpful on many levels:
personally being able to have a log of the books I read .
helping customers , keeping up to date with what my friends are reading.

Assignment 2 :

"Popular" as genre at CA I would say Mystery and Fiction.
NPR talk are, also, popular with our customers and very often a source of information.

A good number of our regular customers are just asking for the Best sellers list.

Early Word it is a site I look from time to time, and I am still discovering its potential.
I do use the Awards section as well the Top club picks, Book club selections, Book of the month and Books to Movies.

Most of the customers I do recommend and talk about books, definitely prefer to read the book before the movie, but we also do get a big "help" when a new movie comes out with customers, which otherwise will not pick up that book.

Assignment 3:

"His wife Leaves Him" by Dixon Stephen

Prizewinner author Dixon will come out in June with a new novel: a story of a man and the loss of his wife. A character driven novel, strongly thematic, funny and tender.
A literary writing in contemporary setting.
This book will be popular with customers that liked authors as: Anita Brookner, Sue Miller, O'Nan Stewart.

week 4 "revelation" of GoodReads

I am on GoodReads for years and I love it.
The only problem  "Revelation" I can call it is that every time I am going in I do get out with more books to read and I already have a LOT on the pile by my bed, on my desk and everywhere around me....

Homework for Week 4

2 recommendations in GoodReads

1. "Where'd you go Bernadette" by Semple
A good book for book clubs : fun, fast and many layers of discussion : family issues, motherhood, contemporary life. Compelling and corky characters.

2. "The hare with amber eyes" by de Waal

The mystery of 264 Japanese Netsuke hidden from the Nazis and their amazing discovery,  in this art history nonfiction book. Also a family memoir and a travel log of some sort.

Week 3
May 6,2013

Conversation 1

I would look at Frances Mayes books: she is a fun travel writer, also an excelent cook and she will take you to a great part of Italy in the Tuscan countryside, where she buys and restores an old villa. You'll meet the local people and learn  delicious recipes.
"Under the Tuscan sun : at home in Italy" by Frances Mayes.

Conversation 2

Since the customer does not want YA love, I will recommend "A discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness .
A book of vampires, witches,  passion and  book research : the manuscript found in Oxford, at the Bodleian Library is the pretext for this novel. Interesting characters, including an amazing house...that you would  love to "meet".

Conversation 3

Non fiction it is hard for me, but Erik Larson will please every reader:

"In the garden of beasts: love, terror and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin" historical story with a great atmosphere,
begins with love, intrigue and fun life in Germany in the 1933 and ends on a description of violence and terror of the Hitler's Germany.

May 6. 2013

Week 3
I Read the "RA Conversation" article by Neal Wyatt

It is a good article; reinforce a lot of my personal style and knowledge of RA that I practice daily and actively at our branch.
Also, it is always such a pleasure to hear Nancy talk about books !!!

5/03/13
Comment for Patti D.

The two books I am recommending lately are :

Z - A novel of Zelda  Fitzgerald by Therese Fowler

A fictional biography of Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of Scott Fitzgerald.
Great read, fast moving tour of the Fitzgerlads life from Montgomery, Jazz age of Paris, France, Italy , New York and all the famous people of the time they meet.
A very interesting inside of the process of writing.
The author, also brings  new aspects and a new view of Zelda and Scott life.


Aviator's wife  by Melanie Benjamin

Ann Morrow Lindbergh  fictional autobiography was a fast and very informative read: 1927 to late 1950, the glamorous and very public life of the Lindbergh family, the kidnapping of their baby, the war years and the relation between husband and wife all made a fascinating experience.
I can recommend the book as a biographical and historical fiction.

Week 2
Tuesday 4/30/13

Just read the Appeal Factors, article.
I am always interested on what other people read, because I do definitly like mainly Fiction and if I read a nonfiction it is only if it "reads like Fiction".
I love books that are, just a slice of life, I do not need "fast" and "exiting". For example I can read forever Anita Brookner's books : great language (literary) and great atmosphere.
Most importan for me are the language and the setting, I love books books with atmosphere, one favorite it is for example
"Shadow od the wind" by Ruiz.
Well, now I have to choose the ones I want to review......

I am choosing to follow : Goodreads and Fiction affliction.