Be More Bookish - Final Thoughts

Now that I'm done the Be More Bookish training, I do feel a little more well versed in doing Readers Advisory. It helped provide some additional tools I could use and a wider knowledge of the many genres out there and the tiny differences that may set one sub-genre apart from another.
I do think some of the links could use an update. The information/"new" books they talk about are now rather out of date. I was also already friends with a lot of other fellow BCPL-ers on Goodreads.
Overall though, its been a good few months!

Week 9 Book Trailers - The Final Week!

Assignment 2
Book trailers.  To be honest, I have always found book trailers to be pretty sad.  I have to agree with the article in the Chicago Tribune by Nina Metz that they are usually just a failure.  I think I've only seen 1 on TV once ever and can't think of any instances online, unless I was deliberately looking for them.  I think a lot of them out there are so low budget and vague that you can't really tell what it is an ad for until they suddenly show a book cover at the end.  All in all though, I don't see them as being particularly useful for doing readers advisory.  They can be very hit or miss.

Digging around YouTube I found a few choice examples...
The good?
This one is actually decent and makes you interested in the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWrNyVhSJUU
I think they do an excellent job of portraying the air of mystery the book gives, leaving you wanting to know more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYiw5vkQFPw&list=PLl_PJIosbtT4OV1P0eg2l5e0QkqzGkIfO&index=6
Creative use of illustration!
The bad?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0TnH3GEieE&list=PLl_PJIosbtT4OV1P0eg2l5e0QkqzGkIfO
Terrible acting, terrible green screening, wardrobe (that clear eye thing really pasted on her face, really?), and lost my interest quickly.  I was kind of interested in reading this book sometime, but now I'm afraid I'll just keep picturing the really bad campfire scene and kissing with bad fight scenes inserted.

Need a laugh?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jZVE5uF24Q

Week 8: Nonfiction

Assignment 3
4 Types of Nonfiction Genres:
Memoirs Call # BIO
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
Travel/Adventure Call # 912-920
I combined these genres only because I think a lot of the books I have read in Travel can also be called Adventure.  Two examples include A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and Wild by Cheryl Strayed.
Food Call # 640-641
Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson
Disaster/Survival Call # 796
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
All of the above titles I would recommend myself.  I have found that I actually enjoy narrative nonfiction and it can be a nice break between fiction titles.
Assignment 4
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
I have a huge soft spot for hiking non-fiction and A Walk in the Woods is always a staple I like to put on our Staff Recommends display.  Funny and engaging yet adventurous, there is something in here for everyone.  It'll have you laughing from the first page as Bill Bryson and his totally ill-prepared buddy take on the daunting task of hiking the Appalachian trail.
Anyone who enjoys humor, travel, and the outdoors will enjoy this book!  Just recently, it was also made in a movie starring Robert Redford, which spiked some popularity in the book.  If you do enjoy this book, you can then move onto reading Bryson's other books, which are also excellent.

You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
This is a very new book and I just finished listening to the audio myself.  I've been a fan of Felicia's work for years and picked this audiobook up on a whim.  I love that she narrated it herself and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I initially thought I would.  While somewhat of an internet sensation/celebrity in the nerd world, Felicia Day very humbly relates her climb to success and comes off as someone very down to earth and relatable.  While relating her very quirky childhood, Felicia became someone I could see a lot of myself in.
I'd give this to any fellow nerd girls out there, or if you have a reader who enjoys books such as those by Ernest Cline of the Ready Player One fame.  I actually did recommend this just the other day to a girl of around my age who came to the desk looking for recommendations.  She seemed really excited about it!

Week 7
Assignment #1
Cool flowchart on "What to Read Next"...
http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/2012/10/still-hungry-for-more-books-like-the-hunger-games/

Assignment #2
Don't get me wrong, I love YA.  A great majority of what I read is in the YA genre.  I don't know if it is the "old news" nature of these articles or what, but they just didn't do anything for me.
http://blogs.bcpl.net/bookish/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/61428302.pdf
Quite old in the references to new books it makes, but still relevant information at its core.  Its listing of "crossover authors" is still a good, solid list for those who may be new to the genre and looking for suggestions.  I particularly like the quote from Libba Bray where she says she does not worry about who the audience will be for whom she is writing.  I really don't like the misconception that YA books are only for teens, or that adults will not get anything at all out of them.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publishing-and-marketing/article/55164-new-adult-needless-marketing-speak-or-valued-subgenre.html
I don't really know how I feel about this one... At the bottom a bookseller talks about a display with John Green and the 50 Shades books together - what?!  I find it interesting that while this article is now 3 years old, the term of "new adult" that it talks about still really isn't a thing.  I'm honestly not surprised it didn't catch on. 
Why can't we all just read what we like and call it that and be done with it?!
Assignment #3
http://fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com/
I have looked at John Green's tumblr periodically from when I went into a big John Green phase and read all his books a while back.  At the time, I had no idea he was somewhat of a YouTube phenomenon and went through some of his videos.  I enjoy his relatability and how accessible he seems to his audience.  Lately, I've seen him popping up on the internet in defending the lead actress of his latest book to movie, Paper Towns, which I can admire.
http://foreveryoungadult.com/
I just love the title of this page!  I'll start looking through this one...
I do find it hilarious that one of the first articles I found when I started looking through was about "Hot Videogame Boyfriends".  This website will have to get some more exploration...haha!
Assignment #4
Trends in the YA world:
http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/
I enjoy the layout and name of this one!  The New Releases at the top were all new to me...which is also good!  I signed up for some of the newsletters as well.
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/teens/
I also chose this because it has a very attractive way of organizing the page.
The dystopia YA theme is still going strong as authors try all different ways of putting a new spin on the genre.  I've also noticed a resurgence of classic fairy tales with a twist.  I think the Cress series series has really helped push this along.  Some older books, such as The Maze Runner series are seeing a resurgence in popularity as the movies are released.

Week 6!

I think I accidentally answered this in my last post... so see below for my discoveries on Locus Mag! :)

Assignment #3, Three Sub-Genres I am Unfamiliar With

Occult Horror
- Deborah Harkness, The All Souls Trilogy
Huh.  I guess I should have guessed this...  I have read this entire trilogy, but I honestly never really figured this would fit into this sub-genre (at least according to Amazon).  It does have a "ending of the world as we know it" theme and involves witchcraft.  I would have pegged this for a more romance-y type genre.

- Stephen King
-  Anne Rice

Hip Hop Urban Fiction
- K'wan
- Tupac Shakur
- Sapphire
These books would appeal to the urban fiction reader, especially if they enjoy reading about music or famous song artists. 

Pet Investigators Mystery
- Rita Mae Brown
- Lilian Jackson Braun
- Fran Stewart
I almost see these "pet mysteries" in the same category as a cozy mystery.  They are a little lighter and similar to those mysteries that might include recipes inside (you know what I mean!).

Some books that could cross over into multiple sub-genres include The Selection by Kiera Cass and the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.  The Selection, while Young Adult, has a "Hunger Games style" competition in an alternate reality United States.  While not as violent as Hunger Games, and rather than outright killing each other, the contestants are thrown (for the most part willingly) into a competition to win the hand of the Prince Maxon.  While it does take dystopian characteristics, it also has a "chick lit" and romance streak that is very popular right now among teenage girls.

Outlander has many different genres to offer.  It is historical fiction from multiple time periods as it involves time travel, romance, and adventure in one long, epic story.  I think when books are so involved like this, and they do it well, do they appeal to a much greater audience.  The success of Diana Gabaldon is a testament to this.

I know I'm a tiny bit late on this one...OF COURSE I remembered when I was at home that I totally forgot to finish and post this before I had left for my long weekend off.  My only excuse is that I just got totally caught up in the end of SRC and was running around all week getting that wrapped up.
Anyway, here it is:

Week 5
Assignment 1:  I've been receiving the EarlyWord weekly newsletter for some time now and look forward to reading it each Friday.  I've requested lots of items based on what I have read from it, and it almost always has information that interests me.  I love that it includes book to movie adaptation information as well and things like trailers as soon as they come out!  It is always very current and I've learned a lot of things simply from taking a look through their weekly newsletter.  When I have some extra time, sometimes I will go through the website a little more in-depth, but usually the newsletter really hits the highlights that I'm interested in.
The second source I've been taking a look at here and there is http://www.locusmag.com/ .  To be quite honest, I haven't found this one has interesting or user friendly as EarlyWord.  I think one of the reasons is because at first glance, the entire website is quite wordy and it can be a little difficult deciding where to start reading.  A lot of the information that I have seen on this website are things I already learned from the EarlyWord newsletter.  For example, Locus Mag did a little bit on The Martian and Armada.  Both titles have already been mentioned multiple times on EarlyWord in a more easily accessible format.

Assignment 2:  Working here at Cockeysville, we have very diverse readers who like to read a LOT.  We are asked frequently for recommendations for all ages.  I do find it helpful in that one of my jobs is the Information Desk Coordinator.  One of the responsibilities under that job includes getting both the newest New York Times Bestseller List posted out in the branch as well as the Hot Titles list for each upcoming month.  Doing this is a great reminder to myself to take a look at it whenever I put the new lists out.  We very often have customers who ask where the lists are, or if they already know, they will carry it over to you to have you order multiple books for them.

EarlyWord's website can be fairly helpful in assisting customers.  I especially like that they have going down the right hand side lists of award winners.  A lot of times you will have kids come in who are doing school assignments requiring them to read a book that has won a certain award and they have no idea where to start.  Other links that I have discovered and know I will continue to use are the links to Amazon's Top Sellers. 

Assignment 3:  Looking at Amazon's Coming Soon/Best of the Month lists, a title that caught my eye is Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell.  Being under the Young Adult section and having an appealing cover are the factors that caught my eye.  The summary also appealed to me, as a different type of re-telling of Cinderella with a Steampunk flair.  I think this could appeal to a lot of teen girls, as fairy tales are always popular and it reminds me of another series that has been popular for some time now: Cinder by Marissa Meyer.  I would give this to a younger teen who wants what sounds to be a stronger female lead with a touch of magic and fantasy.

Week 4


Goodreads time!  I love using Goodreads. 
I actually just went in to update my profile and saw that I've been a member since 2011, wow!  I had no idea it had been that long.  I primarily use it to keep track of my books that I'd like to read and have read.  I think we can all relate to walking through the stacks and finding more and more cool looking books to read until we have a mountain...that I can never quite get through.  I love adding books to my "To Read" list so I can remember them all rather than checking them all out!


I also think Goodreads is great using out on the desk when customers ask questions like "What is next in this series?"  or "When does this come out?"  The ability to look up any title and then click the series name next to it and have an entire series list is awesome.  It also does a pretty good job of telling you the expected publication date.


Another feature I enjoy is Listopia and the Giveaways.  Listopia is pretty cool to sift through to find what is upcoming and popular.  I actually won a book once through the Giveaways!  The author sent me a nice note too hoping I enjoyed their book.  You never know what'll happen, so it doesn't hurt to enter a bunch!


I don't ever seem to have luck with the Recommendations feature.  None of them have every interested me before...


Now to see if I can find some additional people also doing this Be More Bookish to friend - I know I'm already friended to a bunch of BCPL'ers! :)


Find me here on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/shimmerwing