Week 16 Prompt

Reading and books have changed in the genres that I read. I read books and e-books. When I was younger I read more juvenile books. As I got older that switched to adult fiction in 5th or 6th grade. I still read juvenile books, but I read more adult fiction. Now I mainly read adult fiction and young adult fiction. I used to read a little more non-fiction, but I don't much at all these days. E-books weren't around when I was growing up. So other than e-books becoming an option, and my taste in books changing a little books and reading haven't changed that much for me over the years. I still read more physical books, than e-books because I prefer to hold the book in my hand. But e-books have made it easier for me to find different titles that I want to read. It is also quicker to get a book, because I can decide I want to read something and download it to my device in minutes.

I see books becoming easier to self publish; but publishers will always be around because some people will always prefer holding a book. Books will be easier to find through e-books, so printing might become more limited, but not anytime soon. I think books will stay much the same with different genres and writing styles appearing, but I don't see books themselves changing. 

I think people will still find time to read. It is a relaxing activity so people will always make time for what they enjoy. Books can become more interactive through the internet and e-devices. I have seen authors make up websites that show the characters, maps of towns in books, and interactive activities that go along with stories. I think that will only expand as time goes on. 

Publishing may become a smaller business, but we will always want choices and options. So I don't see publishing go anywhere in the next 20 or 30 years. Maybe in the far future there might come a time when people stop with actual books, but not any time soon. There are too many people who don't have access to electronic devices for paper books to disappear any time soon. Books should always play a role. Books are important in knowing the size of the book, seeing the print, looking at the cover, flipping through the pages, and just enjoying reading a book.

Week 15 Prompt

Bookmarks are a great way to promote different types of fiction. For the book club I help run we have bookmarks for what we are reading each month. The library also has different bookmarks that promote different types of literature or suggestion books that are certain types. Bookmarks that have mystery authors, Christian fiction, vampire romance, or books on Indiana are some of the times of bookmarks that were made up to use at the library. This is a great way for patrons to find similar books or authors to what they like to read.

Book displays geared toward a certain topic help show patrons what the library has to offer. Currently it is poetry month, so we have a poetry display up at the library to interest patrons in the different poetry books we have to offer. For Valentine's Day in February we had a display of books that include flower arranging, books on chocolates, how to make cards, and romance books. Using book displays is a great way to suggest books to patron so that they can see what the library has to offer. This way they can look in the sections those books are from and find other books to read.

Programs are another way to promote fiction. A couple of different program types would be book discussions or a program specific to a book or author. A program specific to a book or author might be more of a children's or teen's program, but could be geared towards adult as well; such as a Harry Potter themed program. A book discussion promotes different fiction genres and author by reading different kinds of literature depending on the book club. I am part of a book club that reads young adult literature, but other books club could be poetry, non-fiction, science fiction, western, or any type of literature. Different types of book clubs at the library can help promote the different types of the literature the library has available.

Week 14 Prompt

This is a topic that I can see both sides of the discussion and reasons for both. But I think I fall on the side of separating genres just so they are easier to find and get more notice. If categories are all mixed together it can be harder for readers to find what they are looking for or they don't know that the library has it. At the library I work at mysteries, graphic novels, and paperbacks are separated out from the rest of the fiction collection; and each genre has their own section. It is important for patrons to know they can find what they are looking for. This also lets patrons that don't want to try something new be able to avoid something they don't want to read. The library sometimes put genre stickers on the book spine which helps the patrons know if the book is romance or horror, for example. Putting the books in different sections is just another way of highlighting this is what this book is. African American fiction and GBLTQ fiction are two more genres that people might not realize are genres. By separating these two types of fiction into their own sections it let people know these genres exist and we have them available in the library. All types of literature should be available to the public, but the public has to know it is available to be able to access it. I had never thought about these genres before. I know they exist, but how do you know that's what this book is if it isn't shown in some way. Fiction is labeled as is non-fiction to show you if what you are reading to a true story or fiction. So why not have genre sections so you can find the type of book you are looking for?

Week 13 Prompt

YA and graphic novels are great ways to promote reading. Graphic novels get people who don't like to read interested, because they have pictures or are about superheroes. I see graphic novels circulate at the library, but the big interest is in The Walking Dead, Captain America, Avengers, Spider-Man, and any stories of that type in graphic novel form. Right now big movies are about superheroes, so that makes these types of stories popular at the libraries. Many patrons at the library I work at are interesting in reading YA literature. A co-worker and I have a monthly book club that is for adults that read YA literature. YA books have many themes that are popular with adult readers. YA books can be just as or more appealing to readers that adult fiction. Promoting YA books for adults is nice, because when we first started promoting the book club a lot of adults were interested, but thought they were alone in reading YA. It is nice to see how many adults enjoy YA literature. Using movies that are based on graphic novels or YA literature is a great way to promote both types. The movies will get people interest in the book it came from or the book will interest people in the movies. It is a good way for people to try different formats of reading.

Young Adult Annotation

The Novice by Taran Matharu

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Series: Summoner Trilogy
Pages:384

Summary:

The Novice starts the story of Fletcher, an orphan, who accidentally summons a demon and must flee the only home he has ever known. Fletcher and the fire demon are discovered by a mage, who sends him to the academy for battle mages. At the academy Fletcher makes allies, enemies, and those in between in his first year of learning. As a commoner Fletcher stands out at the school of noble born students, but he isn't alone as for the first time a dwarf and a elf have been admitted as well. Othello, the dwarf becomes best friends with Fletcher, while Sylva, the elf, who is at the academy to make alliances takes time to realize that friends make the best allies. As Fletcher learns to uses his abilities he must deal with the prejudice against dwarves and elves from townspeople, the possibility of a dwarf rebellion, and the war with the orcs. Because with the end of his first year is the battles to see who will earn a spot on the council. And if one of their enemies wins the spot their lives might not be the only ones in danger.

Characteristics of Young Adult Fantasy

Frame/Setting- The setting of The Novice is a world with demons, mages, dwarves, elves, and orcs. The setting shows the fantasy elements of the story.

Story Line- The fantasy story line has good beating evil. This story has elements of that, but since it is the first in a trilogy it doesn't completely have good overcoming evil. Fletcher wins the tournament at the end of the story, beating out the plotters and villains, but is then arrested for events that happened in his hometown. Which leaves the story line with a cliffhanger for the next book in the trilogy.

Characterization- The young adult aspect is shown in the main characters. Fletcher, Othello, and Sylva are all teenagers. The story focuses mostly on their group and how they help or intervene in the plans of the adults. The reader gets to see these three characters and the people around them grow up as the book and series progresses.

Pacing- Fantasy pacing starts slow and then gains speed. The Novice follows that example with the start of the story introducing the characters and then the action picking up until the tournament at the end of the story.


Read-a-likes from NoveList:

The Iron Trial by Holly Black
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan


Author read-a-likes from NoveList:

John Flanagan
Alison Goodman
Anne Osterlund
J.K. Rowling
D.J. MacHale


Series read-a-likes from NoveList:

Magisterium by Holly Black
Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini
Faerie Wars chronicles by Herbie Brennan
Prophecy novels by Ellen Oh
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Saricks, J. (2009). The Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Week 12 Prompt

Author: Mark Weinberg
Title: Movie Nights with the Reagans
Publication Date: February 27, 2018
Number of Pages: 261
Geographic Setting: Camp David, Washington, D.C., California
Time Period: 1981- 2016
Subject Headings:
Reagan, Ronald
Reagan, Nancy, 1921-2016
Presidents>United States
Presidents' spouses>United States

Type: Memoir
Series Notes: No series
Book Summary:
Movie Nights with the Reagans is a non-fiction memoir about films the Reagans watched with staff while at Camp David. The movies talked about include 9 to 5, Oh, God! Book II, Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Chariots of Fire, E.T., Return of the Jedi, War Games, Curse of the Pink Panther, Bedtime for Bonzo, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Rocky IV, Reds, Red Dawn, Top Gun, Knute Rockne All American, The Untouchables, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Hellcats of the Navy. The author has stories about what was going on in the world and the Reagans' lives at the time they watched the movies, why they picked the movies, and how the movies affected them. The book about who the Reagans were as people beyond the fame and presidency.

Reading Elements: Characterization, Tone, Detail, Learning/Experiencing, Pace, Setting

1-3 Annotation:
This memoir is about the Reagans in their down time. The author talks about movies they shared with staffers, and how those movies played into the everyday of their lives. It is a way of sharing something the Reagans shared with their staffers with readers.

Similar Works:
The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan
What It Takes by Richard Ben Kramer
The Reagan I Knew by William F. Buckley

Name of Annotator: Lindsay Cory

1. Where is this book on the narrative continuum?
A mix.

2. What is the subject of the book?
The subject of the book is different movies the Reagans watched at Camp David with staff, the effects the movies had, and what was going on in the world at that time.

3. What type of book is it?
A memoir.

4. Articulate Appeal

What is the pacing of the book?
It has a relaxed pace. It moves along smoothly.

Describe the characters of the book.
The characters of the book are former President Ronald Reagan, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, staff that worked for them, and the author Mark Weinberg.

How does the story feel?
The story has a warm-hearted entertaining feel to it with small moments of sadness.

What is the intent of the author?
To share moments of movie nights at Camp David with the Reagans with readers. I think the author wants people to see the Reagans through his eyes.

What is the focus of the story?
Movie nights with the Reagans, how those movies affected them, and what was going on in their lives at the time.

Does the language matter?
Yes

Is the setting important and well described?
Yes, the setting is important as an example of what kind of people the Reagans were. The setting is well described with details about where and how things were and how the people affected the setting.

Are there details, and if so, of what?
Yes, there are details about the movies and the people.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?
Yes, there are pictures of the Reagans and the author that relate to the stories.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
Yes, it has all three. Learning about the Reagans, understanding about the people they were in private and there staff, and experience through the stories of events and comments people made.

Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?
1. Characterization
2. Tone
3. Detail

Non-fiction Annotation

Bill O'Reilly's Legends & Lies: The Real West by David Fisher

Genre: Non-fiction
Series- Legends & Lies book 1
Pages- 285

Summary:

Bill O'Reilly's Legends & Lies: The Real West is a book of real stories about famous historical figures from the Old West. The book was written as a companion to the Fox News Series done by Bill O'Reilly. The book covers the time period of 1734 with the birth of Daniel Boone to 1908 with the death of Butch Cassidy. The list of people talked about includes Daniel Boone, David Crockett, Kit Carson, Black Bart, Wild Bill Hickok, Bass Reeves, George Armstrong Custer, Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Jesse James, Doc Holliday, Billy the Kid, and Butch Cassidy. Each person is covered in a chapter of the book. It explores their life and death, as well as moments that are famous in history. The telling of their stories gives us the various different versions of what might have actually happened or the facts as they are known. With Custer the chapter talks about his famous last battle, but it also talks about his military career and other battles we don't hear about. Custer's last stand is famous in history, and largely what Custer is remembered for, but he did a lot more than lose his final battle. The chapter over Butch Cassidy talks about the famous final shootout when the law tried to arrest Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; but it also talks about how they started out. The theories about how the actually died and if they really did die are discussed as well. The book discusses the major historical moments these figures are known for, but they also look at who the people were and alternate versions of the stories. While telling true stories about famous individuals the book also entertains and keeps the reader's attention.


Characteristics of Non-fiction

Pacing- This is how the story moves. This book moves quickly through facts and details by making things interesting and entertaining.

Characterization- This is the people the book talks about. The characterization tells you about each of these historical figures making you care about what happens to them even though this is history.

Detail- This is the facts and small pieces of information that add together to make the story. The details are what help make this an entertaining book to read. It looks at different people from all angles instead of just one aspect that is well known.

Learning/Experiencing- Sharing knowledge in a relatable way means you learn about history through hearing the pieces shared in an enjoyable way.

Setting- This is where the book is taking place. This book is set in the American West, during the time of expansion and exploration.


Read-a-likes from NoveList

Dreamers and Deceivers by Glenn Beck
Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
The Black West by William Loren Katz
Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
Men to Match My Mountains by Irving Stone
The West by Geoffrey C. Ward
Bad Land by Jonathan Raban
The Notorious Reno Gang by Rachel Dickinson
Mudeater by John D. Pihach


Similar authors from NoveList

Edward Dolnick
Jim Donovan
Howard Blum
Mitch Weiss
Timothy Egan
Orlando Figes
David Laskin
Mary Hamilton
Kim MacQuarrie

Wyatt, N. (2007). The Reader's Advisory Guide to Nonfiction. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.