Week 5 Prompt Response - Reviews

 A library’s collection is likely to be impacted by reviews; the degree to which they impact a given library’s collection development likely depends on the library, however. I will consider my experience with collection development at my public library as a case in point. I purchase both young adult fiction and nonfiction for my library, and I read a lot of reviews. Our vendor, Baker & Taylor, streamlines the purchase process for us. Each month, they send us “carts” containing the most popular new materials. For most books I purchase, I read at least a few of the reviews. Most of the books that are in our carts have been professionally reviewed, and I admit that I usually do not purchase books that have no reviews. In the case of my library, the reviews really do drive our purchases and influence our perception of materials. From my own experience in collection development, if a book has not been formally reviewed, I usually don’t see it, and so I will not buy it. Professional reviews make materials more visible and often justify library’s purchases.

Regarding the two reviews of the e-romance novel, while their “reliability” might be questionable, they are nonetheless honest and amusing! When compared to the professional reviews, these lack a professional tone, do not follow any set standard, and are highly personal. Add a few direct quotes from the book and discussion of why or why not this book might appeal to a reader, and you might have a more “reliable” review. That is not to say, however, that these reviews completely lack value. I like reading these in fact (sometimes better than the formatted and predictable professional reviews). As far as purchasing this title for my library, I would be hesitant. The library has a very limited budget for e-books (although it continues to grow). While some readers might enjoy this title, it would probably not be “fiscally responsible” to purchase it. I reviewed similar digital titles, and there are enough alternative read-a-likes available to satisfy reader demand for this type of book.  

The reviews of “Angela’s Ashes” really hit it out of the park for me. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never read this book, but I’m adding it to my reading list. The reviews successfully draw potential readers into the excruciating reality of the story while still offering hope, so the reader will not be left feeling troubled after reading it. The book has received a phenomenal number of reviews, which would absolutely influence my decision to purchase it for my library’s collection. The reviews are professional and reliable, and there is resounding agreement among reviewers as to the book’s value.

I have mixed feelings regarding how fair I think it is that some books are reviewed to death while others get little to no coverage. I think it’s fair to say that some books are just better quality than others and therefore earn the attention they receive among reviewers. The “dime a dozen” novels (like e-romances, perhaps) can be quickly produced without much effort. Writers adopt a well-used trope and are not always particularly creative. Publishing companies have a good idea about which types of books are going to sell, and I suspect that they push reviewers to review these titles. That would certainly be unfair to an author that has written something worthwhile in a less lucrative genre. I have also noticed something else that might influence the types of books that are currently getting reviewed. There has been a huge boom in “diverse” books as of late. Books that check off a certain number of “diversity” boxes are no doubt making their way into the top of reviewers’ “to-read” lists. The industry appears to be prioritizing books and authors that incorporate the myriad of diverse themes, characters, and subjects into their novels. While some might argue that this is necessary due to the lack of diverse representation in our collections, it might unfairly prevent a less diverse (although equally qualified) book from garnering the attention it might merit.

I think review sources really should print negative content (thanks Kirkus!)—at least some. Negative opinions about a work might be just that—opinions, but a purchasing librarian should be privy to both the good and the bad about a particular material and wise enough to sift out ill-appropriated negativity from reliable criticism. If reviewers could include negative content, I think I might have more robust book carts! And that would be a good thing!

I rely heavily on professional reviews to guide my purchasing (see first paragraph above); however, when it comes to my own personal reading, I rarely depend on a professional review. I prefer impromptu reviews from coworkers and friends, and I also really do enjoy the highly personalized and unencumbered musings of some Amazon on Goodreads reviews. While I can’t rely solely on them to justify a purchase for the library’s collection, I appreciate reviews like those for The Billionaire’s First Christmas” to guide my own personal reading choices. These reviews are often relatable, amusing, and fun.

Kirkus Style Review

 

Kirkus - Style Review – “My Darling Girl” by Jennifer McMahon

Allison O'Conner is living an idyllic life in small town Vermont until her carefully cultivated and well-ordered existence is undermined by the arrival of her ailing mother.

Christmas festivities are afoot in the O’Conner household when Allison receives an unexpected phone call from her mother’s dutiful assistant, Paul. She learns that her estranged mother, Mavis, has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. On a quick visit to the New York hospital where Mavis is convalescing, Allison’s mother humbly expresses her desire to live out her last days with her only daughter. Allison is hesitant to entertain her mother’s wishes, as she fears her presence might reignite the terrible feelings of trauma she experienced as a child. Allison is a likeable and relatable protagonist, and readers will sympathize with her as she wrestles with excruciating childhood memories while painstakingly endeavoring to create a happy childhood for her two daughters, 6-year-old Olivia and teenage Izzy. Allison agrees to take her mother in but maintains a guarded optimism. McMahon paints a claustrophobic and menacing picture in her vividly dark descriptions of the supernatural events that begin to occur regularly in the home upon Mavis’ arrival; from the appearance of unseasonal swaths of invading flies, “the flies readjusted, crawling over each other, the fingers on the hand stretching out” to the appearance of a grotesque rat in her daughter’s room, “Its fur was dark gray, nearly black, and shiny as an oil slick. It moved like oil too—viscous and flowing…” Allison suspects the demonic, but neither her husband, Mark, nor her best friend, Penny, believes her. Mark’s reluctance to support Allison, and instead suggesting a brief stint in a mental asylum, will frustrate some readers, especially as it flies in the face of his often-saccharine overtures of affection toward her (Mark has a PhD in Literature and quotes Emily Dickinson in his wedding vows). Things go from bad to worse as Allison is forced to live out a nightmare in isolation and singlehandedly battle against a grave evil.

While readers might wonder why Allison never thinks to employ the assistance of a priest (which would be the obvious course of action in many readers’ minds), and despite the sometimes-frustrating secondary characters, McMahon has nonetheless created a dark and claustrophobic page-turner that will maintain readers engagement up until the untidy and very uneasy conclusion.

Secret Shopper Summary

For this assignment, I chose a library located just one town over from my hometown. I visit this library only occasionally to study. When I first entered, I saw that no one was at the reference desk, so I headed to circulation. I waited for a short time before the clerk realized I was there. She was very friendly and asked how she could help me. I told her that I was looking for a book recommendation. I could tell she was a little nervous (and boy, did I empathize!). She asked, “Ok, what kind?” I told her that I was trying to expand my reading repertoire and try out genres I’ve never or rarely read before. I asked for a fantasy recommendation. She immediately directed me to the genre bookmarks located on a rotating organizer on the desk. She seemed relieved to have those ready-made go-to genre lists (as am I when someone asks me an RA question!). I got the feeling that this might be the extent of our conversation about fantasy, so I sat down with my bookmark and thought for awhile. I couldn't let it end like this (!), so I headed over to the reference desk. The librarians were now seated there. I asked them if they could help me narrow down the bookmark list. They were friendly and approachable. I was in luck too because one of the librarians, Sarah (she told me her name), was a huge fantasy reader! 

Sarah didn’t need any database or searching tools. She had enough insight and information stored in her brain. She walked with me into the stacks, asking questions as we perused. She asked me what I like to read and what books I’ve read lately. I mentioned the two books I read for class. She then asked me what I liked about these books. She provided me with two recommendations. The first, “Gideon The Ninth,” which she described as a bit darker and “weird.” The author, Tamsyn Muir, also writes horror. I assume my mention of horror and the suspense component of this book might have led her to believe that this might be a good match!  Her second recommendation was “A Deadly Education” by Naomi Novik. She was excited about this book and prioritized it as first among her recommendations. She told me that it was a total page-turner and that when she read it, she couldn’t put it down. Before she returned to her desk, she asked me to follow up with her. She was eager to find out what I thought about these books.

In my opinion, the librarian who helped me find my books did an excellent job! I would not recommend she do anything differently. She asked the right questions, showed interest and enthusiasm in helping me, provided two solid recommendations based on the information I provided her, and she got me (kind of) excited about fantasy!

Week Three Prompt Response

I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next!

The fourth book in that series is called "The Lunatic Cafe." We can find that title by doing an "author" search in Novelist and scrolling down to the "series" tab. "Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter" series is listed first!

What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.

Great! Let's see if we can find some read-alikes that might be a bit faster-paced. Let's browse Novelist using "appeal" terms. We will search for books that are lyrical and descriptive like "Prodigal Summer" but a bit more fast-paced. Here are a few suggestions that come up:

"The Year of the Flood" by Margaret Atwood (in fact, this reader might really like any Margaret Atwood)

"Prophet Song" by Paul Lynch - this is "dystopian" but it captures what appeals to this reader: lyrical and descriptive language with a fast pacing

"Straw Dogs of the Universe" by Ye Chun - this title is compelling, descriptive, and lyrical, but also fast-paced and intricately plotted 

I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there!

That sounds interesting! Let's do a keyword search in Novelist: Historical Japan. Then we'll filter for genre - "historical fiction" and writing style - "descriptive" and "richly detailed." Here are some suggestions:

"The Teahouse Fire" by Avery Ellis

"The Final Storm: A Novel of World War II in the Pacific" by Jeff Shaara

"Pachinko" by Min Lin Lee

I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any suggestions?

John Sandford writes thrillers that contain violence and are often darkly humorous. Elizabeth George writes in quite a different style, so that's probably where your issue lies. You're probably looking for a true mystery that is leisurely paced but still intricately-plotted. Let's check on Novelist and see what authors read like Elizabeth George.

"The Searcher" by Tana French

"A World of Curiosities" by Louise Penny

"The Knowledge" by Martha Grimes

My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?

Do you know that "The Walking Dead" is also available in graphic novel format and as a television series? If he is looking for novels, let's check Novelist and see if there are any read-a-likes. 

"The Zombie Autopsies: Secret Notebooks from the Apocalypse" by Steven Schlozman

"The Passage" by Justin Cronin

"Zombies: A Brief History of Decay" by Olivier Peru

I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.

Novelist has a great way to search for just this! Under "Quick Links" you can go to "Page to Screen" and find lots of search results. Here are some:

"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: a Hunger Games Novel" by Suzanne Collins was just released as a movie last November

A new film version of "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker was just released in theatres last month.

"Eileen" by Ottessa Moshfegh was released in theatres last month.

 I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.

"A Distant Shore" by Karen Kingsbury combines romance with a "dangerous mission." It is categorized as "Christian Fiction."

"Mission Compromised" by Oliver North is a Christian suspense novel described as action-packed and fast-paced

"The record Keeper: A Murphy Shepherd Novel" by Charles Martin is a Christian suspense, intricately-plotted, and fast-paced.

How do I find books to read:

I am surrounded with coworkers who LOVE to read, and they are always full of great suggestions. My coworkers are really my go-to because among them, their interests span across genres. After completing this assignment, however, I can really see the value in Novelist, and I will certainly be using it. Finally, since this class started and we've been assigned books to read, I joined goodreads! I'm thrilled to see all of the suggestions there as well. 

Thriller Annotation

 

Author: Liv Constantine

Title: "The Last Mrs. Parrish"

Genre: Thriller, Psychological Suspense

Publication Date: 2017

Number of Pages: 393

Geographical Setting: Bishops Harbor, CT (coast of Long Island Sound); New York City

Time Period: Present day

Series: follow-up “The Next Mrs. Parrish” to be released in June, 2024

 

Plot Summary: Amber Patterson has never had the “good things” in life, but she wants them, and she wants them desperately. In fact, she will do anything necessary to achieve her self-serving and self-aggrandizing goals. Ingratiating herself into the life of likeable and beautiful New England socialite Daphne Parrish, Amber manipulates their friendship and takes full advantage of Daphne’s kindness and vulnerability.  Amber spares no one, and Daphne’s entire family, including her two beautiful daughters and husband, the gorgeous and charming Jackson Parrish, are among Amber’s targets.

The story follows Amber’s manipulative plotting and point of view and is peppered with references to a shady, mysterious, past which drives her ruthless determination. Later, readers are treated to a not-so-naïve perspective from Daphne, which turns the story excitingly upside-down.

 

Subject Headings:

Rich people

Manipulation by women

Socialites

Female friendship

Jealousy

Married men

Deception

Secrets

 

Appeal:

Pacing – Measured and purposeful; short chapters and minimalist language and style propel the storyline continuously ahead toward an unpredictable and cathartic finale (Wyatt and Saricks, 2018, p. 38)

Tone – Suspenseful and ominous, sometimes edgy, with most of the action taking place in the characters’ minds (p. 36)

Story line – Twisting plot details with intertwining points of view; includes a final shocking revelation and an ending that is hard to guess in advance (p. 36)

Characterization – Amber’s story is told in the third person, and we get to know her complex and self-aggrandizing inner-workings by following her character’s vitriolic and sometimes maniacal thoughts against her very calculated and purposeful actions. At times, the author hints at certain self-redeeming qualities of the protagonist, but these are quickly eschewed so that readers could not possibly sympathize with her.

Language/Style – incorporates a dueling perspective approach (p. 38)

 

3 terms that best describe this book:

Tense, disquieting, suspenseful

 

Similar Authors and Works:

Fiction Titles:

“Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn

This read by Gillian Flynn shares the dueling perspective style, the unlikeable characters, and the shocking twists and turns that appeal to readers of “The Last Mrs. Parrish”.  Toxic marriage relationships are explored in both, and readers are never quite sure where the truth lies.

“The Girlfriend” by Michelle Frances

The main character in Frances’ suspense thriller shares many of the same characteristics as Amber Patterson. She is a social climber who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Both stories present a sinister character who ingratiates herself into a world of wealth.  The two novels share several appeal elements in common, including dueling perspective, characterization, and intricately plotted suspense.

                                        “The Talented Mr. Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith

The theme of entitlement pervades this novel, and Mr. Ripley is very reminiscent of Amber. Believing himself “due” all the best things, the eponymous main character plots and schemes to work his way up the social ladder. The story takes place in the glamourous world of the very wealthy.

 

Nonfiction Titles:

              “The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless Versus the Rest of Us” by Martha Stout

Readers of the “Last Mrs. Parrish” follow Amber’s thoughts and mindset for much of the story. This nonfiction read explains the personality disorders which drive her actions and propel her ruthlessness while explaining why she has little to no remorse for her horrible actions.

“The Confidence Game: Why We Fall For It... Every Time” by Maria Konnikova

This nonfiction read treats the topic of con artists and the keys to their success. Readers of “The Last Mrs. Parrish” who are intrigued by Amber’s persistence in pretense might be interested in finding out more about how she is so successful in deceit.

“Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight” by M.E. Thomas

This book would appeal to those fiction thriller readers who want to know more about the inner workings of the minds of their amoral and cutthroat protagonists. The author is a diagnosed sociopath, and her memoir might help readers understand what drives Amber Patterson to do the horrible things she does without remorse.

 

References

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2018). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction: Third edition.    

               American Library Association.

My Reading Profile

I'll start off by saying that I do not do much reading for "pleasure." I know I should, especially working at a public library where I'm often confronted with impromptu readers advisory questions. My go to? My coworker or Novelist! When I saw that we had to read 5 books for class, however, I got excited! I finally have the opportunity to read with the added bonus that it's a school assignment; no way around it! I'm hoping I will evolve into a "voracious" (or perhaps semi-voracious reader) as this class progresses. Just because I'm not a pleasure reader, however, doesn't mean I don't read at all. Here are my general habits and go-to's.

I'm a fan of nonfiction, some literary fiction, and poetry. My nonfiction repertoire is grounded largely in biographies. I love reading about people and stepping vicariously into their worlds. Since I'm a fan of classic movies, I love reading about classic movie stars. I've read several, from Bette Davis to Marlene Dietrich, from Rock Hudson to Vivien Leigh! (I want to read a historical fiction piece for one of the annotation assignments. Could anyone recommend a historical fiction that might peak my interest?! Isn't there a book based loosely on the life of Hedy Lammar?). One nonfiction book which I really enjoyed reading was "Educated" by Tara Westover. I also enjoy reading books on spirituality (those books you'd find in the 200s).  I'm often hungry for facts and truth, and these types of books fill that need for me.

Certain books of literary fiction fall under the "best books I ever read" category. Two of my favorite books of all time are "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok and "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles. Literary fiction allows me to delve into a book on a deeper level and wrestle with questions and issues that face societies and cultures. I like books that I can read over and over again and learn something new with each attempt. Finally, I enjoy reading poetry, specifically, poetry that unveils the beauty of nature and that connects nature with spirituality. Robert Frost and Mary Oliver are two of my favorites. I like poets who successfully put words to deep emotions that are difficult to verbalize. 

After reading the "Appeal of Books" document for Module 2, I am much more aware of what drives my reading interests, and I'm all over the place! As I was reading the document, I tried to fit my reading interests into specific "appeal" categories, but I struggled to do so. For example, I enjoy certain character-focused books but not others. Some very fat, literary, books appeal to me greatly, while others do not. Some fast-paced page-turners will garner my interest, but others leave me wanting more. Learning about appeal factors also helped me understand why I don't like certain books (and it's not a bad thing not to like a book, right?). I could never explain why I didn't like "Jane Eyre," but now I can tell you exactly why I didn't like it - language which was overly literary and descriptive, extremely slow-moving plot (little to no action), length, and the lingering, dwelling, pace. Knowing what you don't like can certainly help you determining what you do like!