Readers' Advisory Matrix for Nonfiction

 

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum? This title is a mix of highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose. The author inserts stories of his own experiences and the experiences of others while answering questions posed to him with fact-based answers.

2. What is the subject of the book? The author attempts to guide readers toward peace of mind by emphasizing the importance of the present moment. He guides readers to an understanding of how to remain present despite the daily struggles of living. Borrowing from Eastern meditative practices, he offers readers habits to help them stay focused in the present moment and therefore achieve a peaceful mind.

3. What type of book is it? This book is spiritually-based, self-help/motivational, book

4. Articulate appeal

    What is the pacing of the book? The pacing is deliberately slow, leisurely, and purposeful

    Describe the characters of the book? The author is one of the few characters in the book. Tolle includes anecdotes of his own spiritual experiences as examples of how to achieve success with the practices he puts forward in the book. The reader might also be considered a character in this piece, as he uses second person often. 

    How does the story feel? Calming, purposeful, and reflective

    What is the intent of the author? In this book, the author attempts to gift readers with a peaceful, unencumbered, mental state by encouraging them to focus on the present moment. The author intends to teach, instruct, and inspire.

    What is the focus of the story?  In this book, the author carefully lays out his strategies for being aware of the present moment. The book is set-up like an interview and presents the authors' answers to a variety of questions posited to him over the course of him being a spiritual counselor. 

    Does the language matter? Definitely. The author uses repetitious language to gently instill in the reader the points he is attempting to make. His language is meant to be meditative and thoughtful. There are symbols on every page that encourage readers to stop and think about or reread what they have previously read. The language is also largely accessible to any reader (hence the popularity of the book!).

    Is the setting important and well described? There is no traditional setting in this book, save for the spiritual state of peace which the author works to achieve (and successfully so!) throughout the book.

    Are there details and, if so, of what? The details in this book are centered around spiritual experiences and mindset. Thoughts, pain, fear, the ego, the concept of time, etc. are all considered.

    Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? There are none in this book.

    Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, and experience? This book stresses all three, including learning about the root of our unhappiness and strategies to overcome the interference of our thoughts, understanding spirituality and the concept of "true peace", and hopefully utilizing this learning and understanding to experience "The Power of Now" or a peaceful mind.

5. Appeal ranking

    1. Learning/experience

    2. Tone/Feel

    3. Pace

Nonfiction Annotation

Author: Jeannette Wills

Title: The Glass Castle

Genre/Type: Autobiography, Memoir

Publication Date: March, 2005

Number of Pages: 288

Geographical Setting: Various locations throughout the United States, including the Southwest desert states, Welch, WV, and NYC

Time Period: 1960s and 1970s, 2005

Series (If applicable): N/A

Plot Summary: Walls’ memoir depicts events in her life – some tragic, others triumphant – amidst an extremely unstable family life in the 1960s and ‘70s. Walls’ alcoholic father and eccentric artist mother possess both dysfunctional and redeeming traits that result in their children experiencing both exciting adventures and heart-wrenching struggles. Readers journey with Jeannette and her siblings, Lori, Brian, and Maureen and watch as they grow into young adulthood. The author ultimately triumphs in the face of unspeakable odds. This is a highly readable and extremely engaging narrative.

Subject Headings:

Walls, Jeannette

Children of alcoholics-United States-Biography

Children of alcoholics-West Virginia-Biography

Problem families-United States-Case studies

Problem families-West Virginia-Welch-Case studies

Poor-West Virginia-Welch-Biography

Homeless persons-New York (State)-New York-Family relationships

Appeal:

Pacing – This memoir reads at a leisurely pace. The reader wanders with the author for the first two-thirds of the novel and there is no rushed conclusion (Wyatt, 2007). Eventually, the novel picks up speed once the author reaches adulthood. There is minimal dialog, and the author pays great attention to details of events in her childhood and describing the various settings.

Characterization – The subject of this memoir is characterized in such a way that the reader feels a deep connection with her. Readers will connect with the character and develop a keen interest in her story. We watch the main character grow and develop through her myriad descriptions of personal hardships and a few magnificent triumphs, as well as through her descriptions of events, characters, and settings. The secondary characters are thoughtfully developed and add to the interest and richness of the story (2007).

Story Line – This memoir details the experiences in the life of the author and, for the most part, is organized chronologically. The narrative takes us to the different places where the author lives and what she experiences in each place as she grows into adulthood. Regarding the narrative continuum, this book is highly narrative.

Setting/Frame (Detail) – This appeal element is integral to the memoir. The author takes us on her childhood journey, and she describes the various settings in such detail that the reader feels as if he/she is on the journey with her. The book is adequately saturated with details of a nomadic life of poverty and instability.

Language – Walls utilizes prosaic language in an elegant way. Her style is witty, sharp, and stays true to the dialect of the people and times about which she writes.

Tone – The heart-wrenching and reflective tone of this memoir is integral to its appeal. The author elicits strong emotions from the reader throughout.

3 terms that best describe this book: heart-wrenching, reflective, bleak

Similar Authors and Works:

Nonfiction:

Both titles are memoirs that follow the childhoods of girls beholden to their parents’ extreme views and dysfunction. The books share a reflective tone.

This memoir by Sherman Alexie details his difficult childhood on an Indian Reservation. Like Walls, Alexie’s parents are also alcoholics. His writing is witty and engaging and his tone is reflective.

 

This is a moving memoir that tells the author’s story of survival and success despite being reared in a highly dysfunctional and unconventional family. Her parents were survivalists and held beliefs about medicine and child rearing that were ultimately extremely damaging. Both stories are heart-wrenching and candid.

 

Fiction

This title details the life of a young girl with a drug-addicted father who must use her wits to get by. The story shares the gritty writing style and the heart-wrenching tone of “The Glass Castle.” The protagonist shares a lot in common with Walls as she depicts herself in her memoir.

Both books examine a young girl's life with parents who raise them in unusual and psychologically damaging ways.

This fiction title portrays the childhood of a young boy living in poverty with an alcoholic mother during the 1980s and incorporates his inner musings and personal reflections. The tone is heart-wrenching, haunting, and bleak, with a leisurely pace.

 

References

Wyatt, Neal. (2007). The readers’ advisory guide to nonfiction. American Library Association.

Prompt Response Week 11

Whether or not the change in medium from physical to digital or audio formats has affected appeal factors depends on who you ask. According to Dunneback, "the digitization of books and stories on appeal factors is most prominently felt with pacing" (2011, p. 328). Without a physical copy, the reader can lose track of how much he/she has read or has left to read. Pacing is also tied to how much text is visible on a given page and the way it appears. Is there a lot of dialog or white space (an indication of a quick pace) or are there full paragraphs, small font, and little white space (indicating a slower-pace)? E-books, depending on the font size being utilized and the size of the e-reader's screen, do not always provide the visual indications of pace (Dunneback, 2011). 

One person I chatted with about this topic, however, indicated that the e-book format has had no affect on the books' appeal factors, at least in her experience. Further, she notes, "I think font, line spacing, and the color of the text, as well as the color of the pages, are just personal visual preferences when reading an e-book...in my experience, these do not affect the pacing or tone of the book." 

From my own experience, however, I struggle reading digital formats. I love the feel and smell of the physical book and the sense of accomplishment when I insert my bookmark and see how much I've read (and how much more I have left!). I can much more easily engage with a physical format than a digital one (in fact, I print out most of the readings  for class because I don't like reading on the screen). The opposite rings true for others, however, as one of my interviewee's noted, "Who wants to carry a heavy book or books around when you can carry one lightweight device with thousands of books?" I get that too! The degree to which a physical copy of a book affects one's reading experience and knowledge of what he/she is reading often depends on the reader.

E-audio, however, due to the presence of narration, narrative styles, and sound elements has an extra layer of appeal considerations that are non-factors when it comes to e-books or physical books.

Cahill and Moore (2017) note the important role of of narration in audio formats: "...decisions about tone, voice, and emphasis can be the determining factor in a listener becoming engrossed in or disengaged from the listening experience" (p.24).  Both of my interview subjects commented on this point. "If I don't like a narrator's voice or find them hard to understand, I will stop listening. Similarly, if I feel that the narrator's voice does not represent my idea of how a character should sound, I will likely stop listening." The sound elements incorporated into audio formats are often positively received. A narrative style with a full caste of characters and music, says Interviewee #1, creates an immersive experience and can really contribute to setting the tone. On the downside, she admits, such additions can limit the use of one's own imagination, in much the same that a screenplay minimizes the imaginative roles of viewers. Interviewee #2 described the audio format's ability to bring the story to life in an otherwise complicated and difficult-to-understand text. She compared the e-book version of "Dune" (which she could not understand at all) with the audio version: "The audiobook is so much better in my opinion. Music, sound effects, and a cast of different narrators help to differentiate between characters, plots, sub-plots, and different sections of the novel." 

I'm going to include this last paragraph of miscellaneous points I learned from my two interviewees - things I found rather interesting. Kelli is a neurodivergent e-audio consumer. She notes that this format is extremely appealing to her because it allows her to occupy her mind and body with two different activities simultaneously. She calls this "paired action." While she struggles concentrating on physical texts, audio formats allow her to remain physically active which helps her brain engage with the story she is listening to. Further, the fact that she doesn't have to stop and put a book down keeps her reading despite her deficits with attention. With audio, she doesn't have to set a book down and disengage from it. She can continue to listen while going about her daily tasks, and this has helped her tremendously. Juliana, by contrast, while she does enjoy e-audio, says that sometimes her mind wanders when listening to a story. "I do feel that, with fiction audiobooks, it can sometimes be more difficult to stay focused when listening. Personally, I find non-fiction audiobooks much easier to comprehend. To me, it's like listening to a podcast. Sometimes, with fiction audiobooks, if I'm not paying close attention, my mind drifts and I have to hit rewind." For some readers, fiction and non-fiction play out differently in audio formats.

It would seem that the variety of formats available to our patrons is a good thing. Digital materials appeal to certain people for various reasons, while they might be off-putting to others. The most important thing is that readers' advisors be aware of the appeal factors, benefits, and drawbacks of these e-formats as they apply to individual readers' needs and interests. 

Resources

Cahill, M., & Moore, J. (2017). A sound history. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 15(1), 22–29. 

Dunneback, K., & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and readers' advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(4), 325-9.

Historical Fiction Annotation

 

Author: Ann Leary

Title: The Foundling

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publication Date: May 31, 2022

Number of Pages: 320

Geographical Setting: Scranton, Pennsylvania and rural Pennsylvania

Time Period: Spring, 1927-Summer, 1928

Series (If applicable): N/A

Plot Summary: Mary Engle grew up a half-orphan at St. Catherine’s Orphanage in Scranton, Pennsylvania. At age 12, she left the orphanage to live with her aunt. Fast forward to the “present” day. At barely eighteen years old, Mary secures an enviable position at the Nettleton State Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age. She becomes secretary and sometimes confidant to the institution’s elegant and enchanting superintendent, Dr. Agnes Vogel. At first Mary is so taken with the doctor that she ignores and defends the poor treatment of many of the institution's inmates. When she recognizes one of the young residents as a former orphan from St. Catherine’s, she realizes that the institution which is supposed to house “feebleminded” women might also be housing secrets, lies, and abuse, and her beloved Dr. Vogel just might be the worst of the offenders. Mary eventually sheds her naivete and goes to heroic measures to help her friend. In the process, she reveals the horrors hidden within the village and allows readers a glimpse into a dark period of American history.

Subject Headings:

Asylums – Fiction

Female Friendship – Fiction

Mentally ill women – Fiction

Appeal:

Frame/Setting – The setting of this story is integral to its appeal. Set in 1920s rural Pennsylvania, the author’s worldbuilding paints an authentic picture of the past. She uses a variety of cultural, social, and historical references (attire, smoking, Prohibition, Greta Garbo) throughout to create a historically accurate setting. To authenticate framing detail, the author offers vivid descriptions of rural Pennsylvania and describes “landscape, milieu, and locale” (Saricks, 2018, p. 172) in detail.

Tone – Leary creates an atmospheric and suspenseful mood throughout. Readers experience a certain heaviness and discomfort as they read.

Story Line – The story is based on true events and successfully contextualizes those events for readers. Set during the 1920s, the book highlights the practice of eugenics and draws readers’ attention to the desperate conditions in state-run asylums and institutions during that time.

Characterization – The author creates rich characterizations that are in line with the times and accurately reveal the historical period of the 1920’s. From the main character, Mary, with her traditional naivete and inexperience, to the rural folk employed at the asylum, the characters successfully reveal history in this novel.

Language/Style – Leary employs language common to the era in reference to individuals with mental illnesses and minorities. Some readers might find the language “jolting and offensive” (p. 174), but Leary accounts for her use of language in a thoughtful author’s note. Her style is literary and compelling.

 3 terms that best describe this book: suspenseful, somber, disquieting

Similar Authors and Works:

Fiction:

This title treats a similar subject matter as "The Foundling" – historically atrocious treatment of women in asylums - and the books share the same compelling and detailed writing style.

This title shares the same detailed writing style, intricate plot, and story line as “The Foundling.”

This is a suspenseful and intricately plotted historical novel that depicts women desperate to escape mental institutions.

 

Non-Fiction

This nonfiction title will appeal to readers interested in learning more about the unjust practices in mental health facilities throughout history and the issue of misdiagnosed mental illnesses.

 

This is a contemporary expose of the realities of mental health institutions of the 19^th century. A study of life in Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell Island, it shines a light on the horrors of mental health treatment during that time.

This title details the decline of the 18^th and early 19^th century campuses that housed the mentally ill for over a century. Those interested in the architecture, landscape, and real-life atmosphere of historical American mental institutions will enjoy this picturesque read.

 

References

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

               American Library Association.

Book Club Experience

I observed the Three Rivers Book Club which meets monthly at the Arrowhead Community Center in Channahon, IL. The park district and library work together to make this book club possible (http://www.trpld.org/library-book-clubs-2392). If you can believe it, this was my first experience participating in a book club, and I really enjoyed it! 

Members gathered in the community room 15 minutes before the facilitator arrived. The room was covered in windows on two walls and relatively spacious. I introduced myself to one of the members who told me her name was Cricket. She was exceptionally friendly and welcoming and answered a few of my initial questions. There were no tables, only chairs, and they were arranged in a large circle that expanded the entire room. The participants were all regulars (I was the only newbie!), mostly retirees, but there was one young mother in the group. In total, there were 18 participants, including 3 men. There was no food or drinks, although a member jokingly expressed an interest in incorporating wine into the evening (that would have been ok with me!). The facilitator arrived a bit after 7pm, apologized for being late, and greeted me enthusiastically. She humbly told me that she is not the best facilitator, so this might not be the ideal book club to observe. I knew I was going to love it anyway because the group was so lively and friendly.

The facilitator of this club, Lori, is a librarian at the Three Rivers PL, and she did a very good job (in my opinion) of moderating the session. The group was discussing "The Bandit Queens" by Parini Shroff. Lori asked the questions, but she allowed free discussion and encouraged organic flow of conversation. Once participants had exhausted a topic, she would go on to the next question, which she read from a sheet. Questions were open-ended and discussion based, including:

"How does the setting play a role in the story?"

"Discuss the role of the caste system to the story."

"Are you familiar with any other caste systems from around the world? How do they differ from the system highlighted in the story?

"Discuss the ending."

 Lori also read a quote from the book and asked members to discuss it. 

The conversation was lively, and club members seemed to take deep interest in the characters, themes, and social issues that the book presented. While there were a few dominant voices, each member showed respect to others (one member politely said to another, "Those are very good points you make."), and everyone had an opportunity to speak. Only a few members remained quiet, but not for lack of opportunity. They appeared to enjoy just listening, they were engaged, and often nodded their heads in agreement and acknowledgement. Lori participated in the conversation and summarized points made after everyone spoke. I noticed that there were storytellers in the group. It is so interesting to observe how stories in books resonate with peoples' lives and experiences (certainly what drives so many to read in the first place!). Several members brought in anecdotes and personal experiences that informed their understanding and interpretation of the book. 

After an hour of spirited discussion, Lori wrapped things up (somewhat to my disappointment...I was really enjoying this!). She had copies of next month's read available for checkout - "In the Upper Country" by Kai Thomas. The club had previously read "The Woman They Could Not Silence" by Kate Moore. Members vote on books to read each month, and selections include both fiction and nonfiction titles.

I came away from this book club experience with a newfound interest in discussing books. My previous experience had been limited to classroom discussions about books assigned to me (and that I may or may not have really liked). The library book club offers a casual and fun environment to share interpretations, ideas, and experiences with a wide variety of people where your opinion is respected (hopefully) and you are encouraged to grow in your attachments to reading.

Special Topics Paper - Readers Advisory to Teens

        I chose to write about the topic of Readers Advisory to Teens for my Special Topics paper. I work with teens a lot in my current job, and because of this, many of my coworkers turn to me when a teen requests help finding a book to read, whether it be for an assignment or for enjoyment. Learning about this topic has empowered me as a readers advisor to the teens that visit my library, and I'm eager (if not a bit nervous) to put what I  have learned into practice. I will include some highlights from my paper below.

        First, it is worthwhile to mention that the young adult book industry is currently booming and that young adult literature is growing and expanding. This puts a bit of a burden on readers advisors to teens. Not only do they have to keep up with the literature trends, but they also have to understand the unique nature, worldview, and attitudes of teens and tweak traditional RA methods accordingly. How we approach teens is essential to a successful conversation about books. “The watchword in readers advisory for young adults is approachability” (Booth, 2005, p. 36). Teens vary widely in their reading levels, purposes for reading, and attitudes toward books, and librarians need to gather this information from teen readers, often indirectly and quickly during the RA interview. The questions we ask teens are often quite different from what we ask adults because we have to assess their attitudes and reading levels. With adults, this is less important.

        How we talk about appeal factors with teens is markedly different than our approach with adults. Asking a teen what he/she is in the mood to read, a common question posed to adult readers, will not get us very far with teens. Young readers are much more interested in plot description and details about the characters in a book than any other appeal factor. We should talk to teens about the characters in a book and what they do. Booktalking to tickle a teen’s ear looks something like this:

“It is a (genre) book about a (character) who (plot).” (Booth, 2007, p. 68)                                                              

I also included a brief discussion of a few important and effective readers advisory tools that can be used by librarians serving teens. These include booktalking, book bundles, and the use of TikTok. Younker, in her article “Talking it Up” argues that story time for teens should become just as ubiquitous as it is for children. The effectiveness of this practice has been proven in her own experience: “I’ve seen our circulation statistics for 11–18-year-olds increase 600 percent following one of my many classroom visits” (2006, p. 39). Book bundles have become a popular form of readers advisory in many public libraries. Book bundles offer readers several titles in one that share a common theme. Yang and Segraves argue that teens often prefer these to a long list of suggestions written on paper or a bookmark and that “book bundles make sampling books irresistible and fun” (2010, p. 132). Finally, to combat the traditional apathy many teens possess toward the library, many librarians are inserting themselves into teens' TikTok feeds and posting quality and engaging videos to get them excited about books and reading.

References

Bogan, K. (2023). Leveraging TikTok videos for outreach, engagement, and advocacy. Computers in  Libraries, 43(1), 30–32.

Booth, H. (2005). RA for YA: Tailoring the readers advisory interview to the needs of young adult patrons. Public Libraries, 44(1), 33-36.

Booth, H. (2007). Serving teens through readers' advisory. Chicago: American Library Association.

Tuccillo, D. (1992). Leading them to books--for life. Publishing Research Quarterly, 8(1), 14-22. https://doi:10.1007/BF02680517.

Yang, G., & Segraves, E. (2010). Book bundles: Reader’s advisory in a package. Voice of Youth Advocates, 33(2), 132–134.

Younker, J. M. (2006). Talking it up. School Library Journal, 52(4), 39.

 

 

Prompt 7 Response - Book Controversies

Menand's article, "Literary Hoaxes and the Ethics of Authorship" is both enlightening and frustrating - enlightening inasmuch as it highlights the myriad of hoaxes and scandals in the publishing industry but frustrating to the degree that it fails to actually establish one clear ethical course for his readers. Upon reading the article, I still hold no clear stance regarding whose side I would take in the the controversy of literary hoaxes, at least not completely. I might skew to one side, but still empathize with the other.

Menand dissects Christopher L Miller's book "Imposters: Literary Hoaxes and Cultural Authenticity," in his article. Miller's study examines three types of "literary hoaxes," including, "literary impersonations," "hoaxes designed to insinuate a subversive message through a benign-seeming work...[which he] calls Trojan Horses" and "hoaxes aimed at exposing the poor judgment of editors, critics, or readers (2018, para. 20). Even while these hoaxes dupe and frustrate readers, they are still arguably justifiable to some extent. The first hoax, that of "literary impersonations" is perhaps the most frustrating to the common reader.

In what he refers to as an "intercultural hoax" an author assumes the pseudonym of a cultural minority. Daniel James assumed the Mexican pseudonym of Santiago and detailed the life of a young Chicano growing up in East Los Angeles. The book, "Famous All Over Town" garnered tremendous praise until it was discovered that the author was actually an older white male. While it seems duplicitous that an author would take on an alternative cultural identity, the point might also be argued in James' favor. He simply couldn't get published under his Anglo name. By taking on a a false identity, readership and interest in his novel soared. The literary value of his work speaks for itself, so was it so bad that he used a pseudonym? Arguments can be made for both sides.

One point I will make on a personal level is the issue I take when memoirs are falsified. The above example is a piece of fiction, but a memoir, being nonfiction, should be just that. I have read several autobiographies and memoirs, and I am often struck by the degree to which the author recalls childhood details and reproduces dialog. I often wonder about their accuracy. For example, in the book "Educated" by Tara Westover, the author makes claims that have caused her family (to whom they were directed) deep consternation. They disagreed with several of her recollections, and knowing this makes me questions the authenticity of what she says despite the appeal of her book. I'm currently reading "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls, and I'm often struck by the amount of detail she recalls.  One book I read about a year ago called "My Mother's Keeper" was written by the daughter of the famous actress Bette Davis. I thought it would be great fun to learn about the actress from her daughter's perspective, but after reading about half the book, I had to close it for good. It just wasn't readable, and it was one-sided to the extreme. After researching a bit and reading other peoples' reviews, I learned that they felt the same way, and that the author had ulterior motives for writing the book. Many argue that her representation was completely unfair to her mother. I tend to agree.

As readers and librarians who advise readers, we have to be aware of the agendas of authors and the truthfulness of their words and of who they claim to be. The readings this week taught me this: "Reader Beware," but if you enjoy the book, maybe the "hoaxes" aren't really that big of a deal.

Menand, L. (2020, December 7). Literary hoaxes and the ethics of authorship. New Yorker.

 

Promoting Horror in the Library

If I were asked to promote our horror collection today, I would be inclined to take advantage of the popularity of March Madness! My library is currently in its second year of a March Madness tournament of books, so I could easily use what we already have and just plug in my horror titles. Also, this is a great way to promote our horror collection in an off-season (apart from Halloween). Regarding the integrated advisory, why not pair the book with its movie adaptation in the brackets? The book version would contend with the movie version, a full on battle would ensue, and a glorious winner will take the prize in the end. Will it be a book or a movie that will come out victorious? Here are some details regarding how it will work, followed by the brackets:

Patrons can either download a copy of the blank bracket sheet with the horror titles or pick up a copy at the desk. Voting for individual brackets will take place once a week as competitors are slowly sifted out. Incentives will be awarded to participants. Each time you vote, your name will be entered to win a grand prize (TBD!). Voting will take place via a Google Form available and updated each week on the library's website. Patrons can also submit their votes in person by handing in a bracket sheet.

All ideas for this have been borrowed from my library's March Madness tournament of books program: https://www.newlenoxlibrary.org/marchmadness

Horror Annotation

 

Author: Jennifer McMahon

Title: My Darling Girl

Genre: Horror, Psychological Thriller

Publication Date: 2023

Number of Pages: 308

Geographical Setting: small-town Vermont, New York

Time Period: Present day

Plot Summary:

Christmas festivities are afoot in the O’Conner household when Allison receives an unexpected phone call from her mother’s dutiful assistant, Paul. Her mother, Mavis, has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Upon a quick visit to the New York hospital where Mavis is convalescing, Allison learns that her mother’s last wish is to spend her remaining 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. She agrees, nonetheless, maintaining a guarded optimism.

When Mavis moves into the house, bringing her beloved stone which remains constantly at her bedside, strange and sinister things begin to happen. Allison suspects the demonic, but neither her husband nor her best friend, Penny, believes her. Things go from bad to worse as Allison lives out a nightmare all her own and makes a monumental effort to save her daughters from the nightmare she unknowingly invited into their home.

Subject Headings:

Psychological Fiction

Domestic Fiction

Thrillers - Fiction

Appeal:

Pacing – In one instant, the reader feels calm and safe. Then, something unexpected happens and jolts the reader into frightened attentiveness. The anticipation of the next startling incident keeps readers turning pages. Saricks notes, “By creating such an erratically and unexpectedly changeable pace, authors capture the essence of living in a nightmare” (2018, p. 244).

Tone – A dark, menacing, and claustrophobic tone is maintained throughout, enhanced by the setting, the month of December, the darkest month of the year. The author skillfully employs macabre descriptions of events and places to establish the dark tone that permeates the novel.

Story line – Does not contain the “explicit scenes and themes of sexuality and violence” (p. 239) ubiquitous to many horror novels; features the common horror trope of possession. The surface level horror – the demonic and evil – run alongside the protagonist’s fears and anxieties as she questions the reality of what she is experiencing whilst family and friends question her sanity (her husband encourages her to see a therapist and then to rest at an institution). The novel perfectly illustrates the “incomplete consummation” (p. 241) – there is no neat and fulfilling ending here. The evil continues even after the book ends, and the reader is suspended in uneasiness.

Characterization – Readers experience the villain through the protagonist’s point of view. Allison O’Conner is broken and vulnerable but seems to have her life together before evil enters and calls her stability into question. There is a point in the story where it appears she has overcome the evil, but that is simply an illusion. The villain of the story is believable and elicits fear from the reader, and its appearances are often “jarring and unexpected” (p. 243).

Language/Style – Use of profanity in the novel “transports readers into the emotional heart and eerie setting of the novel” (p. 242) but is not employed in excess. McMahon uses italicized phrases repeatedly throughout on a single line (such as, “That’s not Mavis”) to point to the demonic. The book contains two “chapters” (not labeled as such) which reveal important information to the reader that the protagonist is not privy to but is realized by her little by little as the story unfolds.

 3 terms that best describe this book:

Sinister, claustrophobic, jarring

 Similar Authors and Works:

Fiction Titles

Both books deal with past strained mother-daughter relationships and involve a “haunted” item. The tone of “White Horse” shares the creepy, menacing, and suspenseful qualities of McMahon’s novel.

 

This psychological suspense shares plot details similar to “My Darling Girl.” In both books, a previously abusive mother moves in with her adult daughter which leads to significant problems in the life of the latter.  Both books explore childhood trauma and family secrets and share a creepy, disturbing, and suspenseful tone with intensifying pacing.

 

This horror novel deals with haunting by a demon and a woman’s battle against evil. Themes are similar to McMahon’s and both books share a creepy and menacing tone with a compelling and rich writing style.

Nonfiction Titles:

This nonfiction title might appeal to those readers who are interested in the “demonic” component of McMahon’s horror novel. Allison, the book’s protagonist, spends a lot of time researching demons and possession. This nonfiction title could have been easily among the literature Allison was researching.

 

“My Darling Girl” contains several references to amulets and other ways humans go about protecting themselves from evil spirits. Allison has a brief conversation with Carmen, the owner of the “occult store” in town, who tells her how to “bind” a demon. Her best friend Penny offers her a necklace with a special rock pendant which disquiets the demon. This nonfiction read would appeal to those readers interested in how peoples and cultures have protected themselves from evil spirits throughout history.

This poignant memoir will appeal to those readers who might want to delve deeper into the themes of alcoholic parents and traumatic childhoods.

 

References

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

               American Library Association.

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.