The Readers' Advisory Matrix

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbot

Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
     This book is a mixture of narrative and fact-based prose.

What is the subject of the book?
     The book is about four women spies during the Civil War.

What type of book is it?
     A narrative based on historic events.

What is the pacing of the book?
     The book reads quickly and keeps the reader's interested by switching the story of each woman while describing events in chronological order.

Describe the characters of the book.
     Emma Boyd is a brazen flirt who does not hide the fact she is a Confederate sympathizer.  She is able to use her charms to gain sensitive information.
     Rose O'Neal Greenow is a widow who seduces her many male followers to gain and pass along information vital to the Confederate cause.
     Emma Edmondson (a.k.a. Frank Thompson) disguises herself as a young man and joins the Union army where she plays a vital role in reconnaissance for the Yankee forces.
    Elizabeth Van Lew is an outcast in Richmond society due to her abolitionist views.  She is responsible for running a union spy ring under the noises of her greatest critics.

How does the story feel?
     The story is dark, suspenseful with plenty of excitement.

What is the intent of the author?
     The intent of the author is to showcase the commitment, strength, intellect and determination that women possessed during the Civil War.  Instead of sitting on the sideline to witness the devastation and hardships that men endured, these four women rallied to their cause and supported their side in constructive and important ways.

What is the focus of the story? 
     The focus is the strength and cunning women used to gain an advantage over their adversaries.

Does the language matter?
    Yes, the intricacies of dialect is indicated to convey the background of each woman and is important to draw the subtleties of each region represented.

Is the setting important and well described?
     The author is very descriptive of the setting, conveying the details and seriousness of the war.

Are there details, and, if so, of what?
      The author provided details of the battles and the strategic planning involved.  The author describes every nuance of battle and the surrounding area with the use of descriptive terms that utilizes the five senses.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials?  Are they useful and clear?
     There are 39 black and white photos and 3 maps that are clear outlines the the battles of the Civil War.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
     The book relayed information and facts about the Civil War and its major players in a way that the reader will automatically absorb information in a natural, logical, and interesting way.

Why would a reader enjoy this book?
      For knowledge, details, insight.





     

Week 11 Prompt

Ebooks and audiobooks are a part of our landscape. 

What does the change in medium mean for appeal factors? Many people prefer alternative formats for a number of reasons. Audio books might appeal to readers who spend much of their time commuting, running errands, or doing choirs.  The convenience of a talking books allows for multitasking and to endure routine tasks.  Ebooks are convenient when traveling or to work around health issues, such as physical limitations.  An e-reader can store hundreds of books within a lightweight device.  E-readers are a great alternative for people needing the option for text or lighting adjustments for vision issues or the ease of turning a page and operating a device for anyone with limited hand motion.  Sounds and graphics could be adjusted to the readers' personal comfort.

If you can't hold a book and feel the physical weight of it in your hands, how does that affect your knowledge of the genre? I am not sure if the physical feel of a book influences my knowledge of a genre.  I do prefer physical books for the comfort of hearing the rustling of the pages and the smell of the printed pages but an ebook is acceptable when a physical book is not readily available.  Once I delve into a story, I ignore my surroundings.

How about readers being able to change the font, line spacing, and color of text - how does that affect pacing and tone? Larger print and line spacing seems to slow down the pace of the story.  Our eyes instinctively takes in more words and sentence structure than we normally perceive.  This provides a sense of where we are going and our route to get there.  Larger print and line spacing tend to limit the eye's ability to gather a complete picture of the dimensions and texts of a book.  The human eye is most comfortable and conditioned to view black text on a white background.  Color text and backgrounds distract from the reading experience.  But in the end, it is all about personal preference.

How about audiobooks? There are some books that I am not interested in sitting down to read, but I would be willing to listen to the book in audio format.  I tend to listen to books from unfamiliar authors to get a feel for their writing style.  I also prefer to listen to books that deal with dry subjects such as history or science.

Track length, narrator choice, is there music?  It is nice to see the track length when listening to an audiobook to judge the remaining time in a particular chapter or section.  The speed of the narrator could be adjusted to hurry or slow down the story, depending on the reader's preference.  When I listen to a book, it is great to know the length ahead of time so I could juggle my tasks or listening time accordingly.  Usually I am not too picky with the narrator, but if the author is narrating the story then I it is a bonus.  Authors know the dynamics and nuances of the character and storyline better than anyone and they add certain dimensions to a story than other readers. 

It is great to listen to a book when music is added to compliment the tone of the story.  I listened to a book last year about music and sounds that would have been lost if I read the book.  Music and subtle sounds can add to a story when words are not enough.

Historical Fiction

 

Title: Year of Wonders

Author: Geraldine Brooks

Paperback: 308 pages

Publisher: Penguin Books, 2002

Language: English

Genre: Historical Fiction

Time Period:  1665-1666 A.D.

Summary

Anne Frith grew up in a simple dwelling with her abusive father and aloof step-mother.  When the occasion presented itself for Anne to marry a local coal miner and begin her own life, she embraced the opportunity.  Hardship soon followed as her husband perished in a mining accident leaving her to raise her two children alone.  To earn extra money to help with the upkeep of the cottage and to feed her young children, Anne decides to take in a boarder.  George Remington is a cloth merchant who has traveled all over England selling his goods and services. Unbeknownst to George, his cloth contains the elements of the disease that will eventually claim his life and the lives of over two thirds of the villagers within a year's time.  Since Anne chose to take George in as a boarder, she is the first to encounter the deadly disease as she watches George succumb to the illness.  She next has to endure the agony of losing her children to the plague.  Withdrawn and barely taking care of herself, she is pushed back into reality as the needs of the dying require her assistance for care and comfort. 

Death and despondency quickly runs throughout the village and anyone not inflicted with the curse must care for the infirmed or dying.  Anne befriends the new church rector and his wife as they tirelessly battle the disease.  Not knowing what is causing the spread of the disease, the villagers lose faith in the church and begin to embrace superstition to protect them from getting the disease.  Through fear and ignorance, the villagers set upon the local healers and accuse them of witchcraft and kill them to eradicate the curse upon the village.  For a full year the villagers endure incredible loss and hardships and when the disease begins to run its course, it takes the life of the rector's wife leaving the rector to question his faith. Now the village must come together to heal and find comfort in order to rebuild and begin a new chapter in their lives.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Death, hardship, and superstition intertwine throughout the novel as the destruction of the bubonic plague ravages a remote village in Derbyshire, England.  The book is based on a true story of sacrifice as the village chose the selfless act of closing its boarders to minimize the spread of the deadly pestilence. The author carefully guides the readers to the evolution of fear and superstition as the villagers grasp at anything to stop the pain and destruction. The ordinary life and customs of the village is described in depth, from coal miners, midwives, and healers.  The author's research delves into the intricacies of life in a rural village and the social interactions that are dependent on survival.  The story is well crafted with such details that the reader is whisked to a dark period in time where comfort and security is scarce.

The book unfolds at a moderate pace.  The mood is rather dark and smacks of desperation as the villagers cope with the devastation of the plague. The author uses her writing skills to keep the reader interested in the storyline through the use of interesting characters and events, despite the dark tone of the book.  She also uses modern language, instead of local dialect, to keep the story flowing all the way to the conclusion.  The expectation of "the light at the end of the tunnel" feeling is what keeps the reader moving forward.  

Historical Fiction

The Maid: A Novel of Joan of Arc by Kimberly Cutter

The War of the Roses: Through the Lives of Five Men and Women of the Fifteenth Century by        Desmond Seward 

Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith

Historical Nonfiction

The Time Travelers' Guide to Medievel England by Ian Mortimer

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara W. Tuchman

In Search of the Dark Ages by Michael Wood

Book Club Discussion

I chose a book club at a library close to home.   The book club goes by the name "The Contemporary Book Club" and featured the book  The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell and, luckily, I was able to read it before joining the book club. I enjoyed the book and I was anxious to participate in the discussion. The discussion was held in the juvenile programming room off to the side of the center of the library.  The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and joy with the anticipation of meeting each other again.  The room was large with plenty of windows to allow the sunlight to peek in and set the mood for the lively discussion that was about to take place.  The table where we sat was big enough to seat everyone comfortably with room to spare.  The chairs were hard and uncomfortable, but I hardly noticed once the discussion began.  There were no snacks or drinks provided so everyone brought their own water.

The branch librarian was responsible for leading the discussion.  There were seven people in the group, including myself and everyone seemed to know each other quiet well.  I was told the group could be anywhere from 5 - 10 people, depending on the time of year and the book that was featured.  After the introductions were made (for my benefit), one particular woman explained that they were all retired teachers and they meet up for the book discussion each month.  They were a lively, intelligent group of women who had me laughing throughout the discussion.  I don't think I have ever enjoyed a book discussion more than this one.  The librarian quietly sat down which was a cue to settle down and redirect our attention to the discussion.  The librarian asked everyone if we finished the book and what did we think about it.  Two women began talking at once but one of the women respectfully let the other speak first.  The conversation flowed nicely without any one member demanding the spot light.  We were all able to share our ideas without talking over each other.

It turned out that I was the only one at the discussion who really enjoyed the book.  The other members thought the story line dragged and the main character was too confusing.  They did not like the ambiguity of the ending. The facilitator let the group pick up the discussion as we twirled around ideas, viewpoints and perspectives.  The book was a good choice for this group because there was plenty of material to cover and everyone had a different take on parts of the book.  The facilitator waited for the discussion to die down before she asked questions that we did not cover initially.  The questions mainly covered the nuances of the story or the subtle innuendos that did not carry through the major topics.  She covered the plot, summary, characters, and the motivations behind their actions.  She did not ask any yes or no questions, and even if she did, this group would not stop at just a yes or no answer.

The discussion was lively due to the unconventional book being discussed.  The story had many layers and each layer could have a different interpretation depending on the reader's perception of events.  Everyone was well represented in the discussion.  I was the only person who really liked the book due to its unconventional nature and unpredictable ending.  I was treated with respect for my viewpoints and walked away feeling I provided a different perspective to the story.  There wasn't anyone who really stole the spotlight.  There might have been a couple of women who were more animated in their interpretation of the book and a few women who were naturally more subdued.  The group worked well as a whole because of the personal dynamics represented, with a mix of extroverts and introverts.  The conversation flowed effortlessly and jumped from one topic to another in a logical order.  The discussion did not veer off into different directions or jump backward then forward.  The discussion would have been easy to follow even if I did not read the book.

The books usually discussed at the book club are mainly mysteries with a female as the main character and the time period is set in the early 1900's.  Other books chosen for the discussion include: Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewal and Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear.

I enjoyed my time at the book discussion and would like to continue to participate as time will allow.  The group was warm and personable and the type of books chosen are appealing.  The facilitator lead the group with subtle guidance but mainly let the group explore the nuances of the book initially. When the discussion lapsed, she would bring up a topic not already covered. The discussion was not forced or ran into awkward silence.

Special Topic: Readers' Advisory and Self-Published Authors

Recent indie hits (think Andy Weir, Kristen Proby, and E.L. James) have created a demand in the self-publishing market and libraries are beginning to take notice.The truth is the majority of self-published books found in a library's collection are written by local authors and are specific to local areas. These books are usually found in the genealogy or local history collection.  More scrutiny is often given to self-published, non-fiction books before they are added to the collection and are dependent on the strong credentials of the subject matter and the author. However, there is an emerging trend in the fiction self-publish market. 

                Many authors became frustrated and disillusioned with the difficulty of getting their work

published. Propelled by the huge demand for romance, science fiction and adventure novels,

many authors searched for alternative avenues to bring their books directly to the reader. To fill

this void in the publishing industry, companies such as Smashwords, Amazon and other self-

publishing organizations make available for authors to self-publish their books directly to the

public via e-readers. Savvy authors are learning to market and distribute their own books by

using algorithms used for online book recommendations.  Authors who go the self-publishing

route have more freedom over their work, have access to vast area of readers and keep a larger

share of royalties.  E-books are not the only format used by self-published authors, they are also

expanding into print and audio-books. According to the article Self-Publishing in 2017 "self-

publishing continues to expand, with ISBN registrations jumping 21% from 2014 to

2015 (the most recent data available), according to the bibliographic solutions company

Bowker" (Daniel, 2017). This does not include the 30% of self-publishers who do not register for ISBN

numbers. With the expanding self-published market, libraries need to recognize alternative

inclusion of materials outside of the traditional collection policies in order to provide a wider

variety of materials to library users.

Challenges

                Self-published books face several challenges in becoming recognized as legitimate

contenders for a spot in the library's collection, let alone included as part of readers' advisory. 

Libraries are not yet embracing the self-published trend despite the increase in self-published

material. Librarians generally think self-published books as lesser quality that do not go through

the same rigors of vetting as traditional published works.  They believe that self-published books

lack formatting and editing appeal, such as spacing, typesetting flaws, spelling and grammatical

errors. They also reject self-published books for lacking peer review. In order to establish a

reputation within the self-published industry, many authors are producing quality products by

using  freelancer services.

                Librarians currently rely on a well established practices to acquire material for the library. 

Independent authors work outside the parameters of the establishment, so it makes inclusion a

little more costly and time-consuming. Librarians must determine how to locate, review, select

and incorporate self-published books while holding them to the standard collection development

policy requirements. Since authors work outside of vendors, they may not have the business

skills needed for the invoicing process if their book is chosen.  Once chosen, technical services

will need to perform original cataloging to generate bibliographic records. 

                Librarians realize that the self-published collection are generally small compared to the

regular collection, so staff time will be minimum. Libraries are taking a variety of approaches to

add local and general self-published authors to their collection through the use of e-book

platforms such as Overdrive. It would be helpful if authors manage to get their books into vendor

catalogs or on genre websites that list upcoming books.  

                Independent authors who work only in electronic format are now represented on

Overdrive thanks to a deal made with Smashwords. It is now possible to have books available

that are equally represented by genre, instead of a separate category listing for self-published

material. Self-published authors are also gaining in the book market thanks to review sites such

as Self-Publishing Review (www.selfpublishingreview.com), Publisher's Weekly's Book Life

(www.booklife.com), and Goodreads (www.goodreads.com).

                The value of offering library users a diverse and fresh collection overrides all the

challenges faced with the inclusion of self-published material.  Libraries should keep in mind 

that "books need to find their readers to achieve their full value, and libraries offering self-

published titles are keeping the readers in mind as well as the authors" (Landgraf, 2015). This

goes with fulfilling the library's obligation to offer an outlet for self-published books, particularly

local authors, by making material available for users of all ages, genres, orientations, and ethnic

backgrounds. By doing so, libraries would be supporting the mission to include all phases of the

creative process.

                With the inclusion of self-published book in the library collection, librarians have a wider

variety of materials to add to readers' advisory.  Supporting the promotion of the collection

provides a greater connection with the community in general and the local writer's community in

particular.  Libraries could feature a readers' advisory which would include traditional and

independent authors on special bookmarks, book displays, end caps and finding aids. Classes and

workshops create a great opportunity where self-publishing authors could learn, network and

promote their books. Other options could include book lists, reviews, annotations and read alike

ideas.  Interactive forms could provide the public a way to share and comment on their favorite

self-published author or book. Book trailers adds a nice visual element to the promotion of

materials.

                Library catalogs provide a powerful promotional tool through the inclusion of tags and

reviews attached to item records.  Tagging is used by many in the commercial industry to

provide more useful and honest assessment of reading materials.  Many cataloging systems

search for materials through a series of subject headings and neutral descriptors that are ideal for

searching non-fiction materials.  Many users search for fiction titles through the use of emotions

and reading experience and traditional cataloguing fails to connect with fiction readers which

requires a more personal approach. Catalog use of tagging would allow user-generated reviews

to share the same interests with like-minded readers. User-generated content would complement

traditional cataloguing features to enhance user's search options by connecting the right book to

the right reader.

                For those library users who do not often visit the library, an online reader's advisory

presence could be very beneficial.  Working with customers in-person could sometimes be

awkward due to the constraints working at a public desk.  Interviews are sometimes rushed and

inefficient as librarians juggle multiple tasks at once and recommending the right book,

especially self-published, is difficult at best.  An online presence through the library's

website would help provide more personalized readers' advisory interview and alleviate any

potential impediments of an in-person interview.  This will likely appeal to some customers due

to the privacy and convenience it affords.  Many libraries have an Ask-A-Librarian link where

library users could ask a question and will receive a response in a timely manner.  This will

allow the librarian to have a dialog with the user and find material to best serve their needs.  The

challenge with Ask-A-Librarian is the dialog takes place through email and a ready response is

not always possible.  Readers' advisory questions are too numerous and do not support the

slower response of the Ask-A-Librarian feature.  The library website could also provide links to

external websites, event calendar, and other resources that could include published and self-

published material.  The library website should be updated often to keep the content current and

interesting.

                Providing virtual service is not limited to the library's website, social media is strong

marketing tool many libraries are utilizing.  Facebook, Twitter, and blogs are known to draw

many to services that might be overlooked in a physical library setting and would reach out to

different customer types that normally do not access the physical library location.  The increase

in tablets and mobile devices allows users to access library content via the internet remotely from

any location.  Social media is a great way to communicate and promote readers' advisory

services, both published and self-published authors. 

                Social media is a great resource to feature books, authors and specific genres.  Librarians

could easily add selected language to engage readers' interest and create a discussion.  Social

media appeals to many users due to the personalization of having direct communication with

knowledgeable library staff and like minded-readers.  It could include titles and reviews not

found on the library catalog and alert users about upcoming books and displays.  Reading

suggestions and read a-likes could be featured along with links that will direct patrons to website

with further information.  Followers of the library's social media could attract more users as they

share information with family and friends.  Social media will also provide the needed to research

popular and new self-published authors.

                Challenges libraries might face when implement readers' advisory on social media, would

be the need to establish guidelines, staff training and experience with social media tools,  and

sufficient time for staff to implement readers' advisory sources.

                An indirect advantages of the use of social media is the collection of data to provide

statistical summaries from patrons comments and links visited.  This valuable insight could be

used to update services and to guide in the library's long-range goals to further serve the

community.