We Week 5 Assignment 3
When I saw
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Thursday, May 19, 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Week 5 Assignment 2
Combing through all those great new and recommended lists!
At a glance, The New York Times Bestseller list is a cornucopia of wonderful ideas and choices.
At Woodlawn, many of our patrons enjoy new releases by James Patterson, David Baldacci and Danielle Steel and these are presented with a brief summary of the storyline. There is an Overview on the left side that lists choices in Print/Ebook, HC, Paperback, E Books and Children. This is a good quick reference.
Also, several of our patrons will mention the Oprah Magazine edition that has recommended "Beach Reads,' and I personally as well as professionally check this every year. There are always new authors to explore.
I also explored the People Magazine Book page and found it to be a good resource too. They list their choices for summer like this:
"10 New Books Everyone Should Read This Summer"
"15 Beach Reads to Bask in This Summer."
"The Best June Books for Kids of All Ages."
"10 Books to Read Lying on the Beach...Or If You Wish You Were."
When I see headings like that.....I immediately look over the lists for that perfect beach or porch sitting summer read!
Combing through all those great new and recommended lists!
At a glance, The New York Times Bestseller list is a cornucopia of wonderful ideas and choices.
At Woodlawn, many of our patrons enjoy new releases by James Patterson, David Baldacci and Danielle Steel and these are presented with a brief summary of the storyline. There is an Overview on the left side that lists choices in Print/Ebook, HC, Paperback, E Books and Children. This is a good quick reference.
Also, several of our patrons will mention the Oprah Magazine edition that has recommended "Beach Reads,' and I personally as well as professionally check this every year. There are always new authors to explore.
I also explored the People Magazine Book page and found it to be a good resource too. They list their choices for summer like this:
"10 New Books Everyone Should Read This Summer"
"15 Beach Reads to Bask in This Summer."
"The Best June Books for Kids of All Ages."
"10 Books to Read Lying on the Beach...Or If You Wish You Were."
When I see headings like that.....I immediately look over the lists for that perfect beach or porch sitting summer read!
Monday, May 16, 2016
Week 5 Assignment 1
Checking in with EarlyWord!
One of the many pleasures of looking forward to the coming warm days are the lists of books to read in the summer and I found several interesting ones on EarlyWord.
Welcome to Our Senses by Odie Lindsay
I am always on the lookout for short story collections by authors I am not familiar with and this book by Odie Lindsay caught my eye. One of the quotes said it is "compulsively readable," so my attention was held.
It appears some of the collected stories "explore the lives of veterans returning to their home in the South." I seem drawn to stories of the south-must be a Midwestern thing! Does anybody out there in blogland know of this author?
Miss Jane by Brad Watson
The brief description reveals a "moving and contemplative novel about a woman with a birth defect finding her own way in the rural south before and after the Great Depression. "Calmly, quietly, with deceptive simplicity...." The notion of calm that is evoked in the description sounds perfect on those hot afternoons.!
Checking in with EarlyWord!
One of the many pleasures of looking forward to the coming warm days are the lists of books to read in the summer and I found several interesting ones on EarlyWord.
Welcome to Our Senses by Odie Lindsay
I am always on the lookout for short story collections by authors I am not familiar with and this book by Odie Lindsay caught my eye. One of the quotes said it is "compulsively readable," so my attention was held.
It appears some of the collected stories "explore the lives of veterans returning to their home in the South." I seem drawn to stories of the south-must be a Midwestern thing! Does anybody out there in blogland know of this author?
Miss Jane by Brad Watson
The brief description reveals a "moving and contemplative novel about a woman with a birth defect finding her own way in the rural south before and after the Great Depression. "Calmly, quietly, with deceptive simplicity...." The notion of calm that is evoked in the description sounds perfect on those hot afternoons.!
Friday, May 13, 2016
Good Reads and Recommends.
Week 4 GoodReads and Recommendations
I enjoyed the GoodReads sight very much. I saw books that I have been wanting to read for awhile, discovered books that sound really interesting and loved the selections that some of my colleagues choose to read.
For my friend Kelsey, who's shelf of books to read include several about different historical times, I recommended "Unbroken"by Laura Hillenbrand. It is based on the life of Louis Zamperini whose plane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean during WWII and survived several weeks on a rubber raft, was captured and sent to a Japanese POW camp. An amazing and inspiring story!
For my friend Andrea, I noticed a book on her list "Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society" by A Barrows and thought she might like to read "The Book of Ebenzer LePage by G B Edwards. The story also takes place on the Guernsey Islands and chronicles the life of Mr. LePage as he recalls the characters, island life and the changes that the war brought to this small island. Wonderful and quirky story!
I enjoyed the GoodReads sight very much. I saw books that I have been wanting to read for awhile, discovered books that sound really interesting and loved the selections that some of my colleagues choose to read.
For my friend Kelsey, who's shelf of books to read include several about different historical times, I recommended "Unbroken"by Laura Hillenbrand. It is based on the life of Louis Zamperini whose plane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean during WWII and survived several weeks on a rubber raft, was captured and sent to a Japanese POW camp. An amazing and inspiring story!
For my friend Andrea, I noticed a book on her list "Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society" by A Barrows and thought she might like to read "The Book of Ebenzer LePage by G B Edwards. The story also takes place on the Guernsey Islands and chronicles the life of Mr. LePage as he recalls the characters, island life and the changes that the war brought to this small island. Wonderful and quirky story!
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Week 3 Readers' Services Conversation
Conversation 1
For the customer who really enjoyed the travel and personal story in the novel "Eat, Pray, Love," I would suggest "Under the Tuscan Sky" by Francis Mayes. It is a perfect blend of travel adventure and personal reflections in a beautiful setting. The author moves to Tuscany, buys an abandoned villa and while renovating it, delves into the history and cuisine of this area.
When a customer comes in and tells me about a book they have enjoyed, I sometimes go to the Amazon paget and look up that title and other recommended books similar in theme. I find it helpful to read the customer reviews and will frequently show that page to the patron. Often, it is a good starting point for recommending other authors and books.
Conversation 2
This customer is looking for a book with the "Twilight" intrique without the personal angst and I would recommend "Wilder" part of the Guardian Series by G.K. DeRosa. I have not read the Twilight Series so I asked my daughter what she would recommend and she suggested this series. Reviews of this book on the Amazon sight say it is"a new twist on the Vampire/Supernatural genre.series, so that description would seem to align with the customer's interests.
Conversation 3
I went to the Early Word page to find something new to recommend in this situation. From the conversation, it appears the patron likes a true story with a historical and dramatic context.
I would recommend the newly released book"Five Presidents," by Clint Hill. Mr Hill was a former secret service agent and served Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford. His memoir offers "anecdotes and reflections on his time working with five Presidents and the history and personal moments he witnessed." He was assigned to Mrs. Kennedy and "threw his body across the President's on the day of the assassination." He also offers glimpses into Nixon's meeting with Elvis and his friendship with the Kennedy's children.
Once I recommend it to our customer, I may have to pick it up and read it too!
Conversation 2
This customer is looking for a book with the "Twilight" intrique without the personal angst and I would recommend "Wilder" part of the Guardian Series by G.K. DeRosa. I have not read the Twilight Series so I asked my daughter what she would recommend and she suggested this series. Reviews of this book on the Amazon sight say it is"a new twist on the Vampire/Supernatural genre.series, so that description would seem to align with the customer's interests.
Conversation 3
I went to the Early Word page to find something new to recommend in this situation. From the conversation, it appears the patron likes a true story with a historical and dramatic context.
I would recommend the newly released book"Five Presidents," by Clint Hill. Mr Hill was a former secret service agent and served Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford. His memoir offers "anecdotes and reflections on his time working with five Presidents and the history and personal moments he witnessed." He was assigned to Mrs. Kennedy and "threw his body across the President's on the day of the assassination." He also offers glimpses into Nixon's meeting with Elvis and his friendship with the Kennedy's children.
Once I recommend it to our customer, I may have to pick it up and read it too!
Monday, May 2, 2016
Week 2 Assignment 2 Appeal Factors
Three of my favorite novels.
Unvanquished William Faulkner
At some point, I think everyone must read a Faulkner novel. It will plant you firmly in the South where the Civil War is always present and past.
"Unvanquished" takes place in Mississippi, near Jackson in the years 1867-1873. Vicksburg has just fallen, the Civil War is coming to an end. In its' wake, Yankee soldiers are heading north and Confederate soldiers are returning to their towns, their burned and empty plantation homes and a way of life almost unrecognizable. Four main characters dominant this story: Colonel John Sartoris, decorated Confederate soldier, his son Bayard, Ringo, Bayard's childhood friend and slave, and Granny, John's mother.
This story has all the elements of a Faulkner novel-a southern family dynasty holding on to whatever is left(in this case, the family honor and silver and a few horses). Add in a confrontation with a Yankee over horse thieving (but in a southern mannerly way) and a duel at the end involving the Colonel's son and a "carpetbagger", to restore honor to the family name( while wearing a sprig of Verbena tucked into his suit coat pocket) !
I loved the language, the description of place and people, the ways and customs of this time. While reading the way Faulkner writes, describes and narrates, I felt in the company of a grand storyteller.
100 Years of the Best American Short Stories Edited by Lorrie Moore
This collection is so full of such great writers! It is organized by decade so you also get a sense of the cultural and historical themes of the time as well. The short story is also a really good way to discover writers that you may have heard of but haven't read.
The collection begins with the first published story by Ernest Hemingway. I love his minimalist, descriptive style. Flannery O'Connor's contribution is "Everything that Rises Must Converge," In her style, you get completely involved with the characters and their prejudices and then she ends it with a real jaw dropper. So Satisfying! I had never heard of Nancy Hale and her story centers on the reverberations of the Holocaust and of the scars that still linger within the tranquil country of upstate New York. James Baldwin's "Sonnys Blues" is here too. I have never read(but wanted to) anything by him and this story about the emotional bonds of brothers and the redemption that can come through in music, stayed with me long after reading.
This is just a small description of a really marvelous collection!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith
Betty Smith wrote this beautiful and harsh coming of age novel in 1943. The story centers on a young girl, Francie Nolan, growing up in Brooklyn, New York at the beginning of the 19th century. She lives with her father, mother and brother and her family is first generation Irish American. She remembers a home full of warmth and love but frequently in need. Her father, while loving and affectionate, drinks too much and can't hold a job. Her mother works several jobs but there always seems to be a struggle to make ends meet.. Francie cherishes her trips to the library every Saturday. She understands that reading books and going to school will be her way out of this desperate life.
The descriptions of her neighborhood are rich in personal characters and day to day activity. This novel places you in a part of the city, at a time when many immigrants were settling into America for the first time.
Three of my favorite novels.
Unvanquished William Faulkner
At some point, I think everyone must read a Faulkner novel. It will plant you firmly in the South where the Civil War is always present and past.
"Unvanquished" takes place in Mississippi, near Jackson in the years 1867-1873. Vicksburg has just fallen, the Civil War is coming to an end. In its' wake, Yankee soldiers are heading north and Confederate soldiers are returning to their towns, their burned and empty plantation homes and a way of life almost unrecognizable. Four main characters dominant this story: Colonel John Sartoris, decorated Confederate soldier, his son Bayard, Ringo, Bayard's childhood friend and slave, and Granny, John's mother.
This story has all the elements of a Faulkner novel-a southern family dynasty holding on to whatever is left(in this case, the family honor and silver and a few horses). Add in a confrontation with a Yankee over horse thieving (but in a southern mannerly way) and a duel at the end involving the Colonel's son and a "carpetbagger", to restore honor to the family name( while wearing a sprig of Verbena tucked into his suit coat pocket) !
I loved the language, the description of place and people, the ways and customs of this time. While reading the way Faulkner writes, describes and narrates, I felt in the company of a grand storyteller.
100 Years of the Best American Short Stories Edited by Lorrie Moore
This collection is so full of such great writers! It is organized by decade so you also get a sense of the cultural and historical themes of the time as well. The short story is also a really good way to discover writers that you may have heard of but haven't read.
The collection begins with the first published story by Ernest Hemingway. I love his minimalist, descriptive style. Flannery O'Connor's contribution is "Everything that Rises Must Converge," In her style, you get completely involved with the characters and their prejudices and then she ends it with a real jaw dropper. So Satisfying! I had never heard of Nancy Hale and her story centers on the reverberations of the Holocaust and of the scars that still linger within the tranquil country of upstate New York. James Baldwin's "Sonnys Blues" is here too. I have never read(but wanted to) anything by him and this story about the emotional bonds of brothers and the redemption that can come through in music, stayed with me long after reading.
This is just a small description of a really marvelous collection!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith
Betty Smith wrote this beautiful and harsh coming of age novel in 1943. The story centers on a young girl, Francie Nolan, growing up in Brooklyn, New York at the beginning of the 19th century. She lives with her father, mother and brother and her family is first generation Irish American. She remembers a home full of warmth and love but frequently in need. Her father, while loving and affectionate, drinks too much and can't hold a job. Her mother works several jobs but there always seems to be a struggle to make ends meet.. Francie cherishes her trips to the library every Saturday. She understands that reading books and going to school will be her way out of this desperate life.
The descriptions of her neighborhood are rich in personal characters and day to day activity. This novel places you in a part of the city, at a time when many immigrants were settling into America for the first time.
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