Week Seven prompt

Somehow, I have only ever read one James Patterson book.  The Angel Experiment, the first Maximum Ride novel, back when it first came out in 2005.  This seems mathematically amazing, considering how much I read and the fact that he's published at least 147 books.  (I got this number from Wikipedia, so I added "at least" since I can't tell when it was last updated.  Patterson's official website does not seem to give a grand total either.)

Since I have only read the one, I don't have any strong opinion on Patterson.  I don't avoid his books, I just...never seem to come in contact with one, except passing the latest back and forth half a hundred times with patrons.  Yet I was fascinated by "The James Patterson Business."

I'd heard some snide comments before about how "Patterson hasn't written any of his own books in the last ten years!"  It is hard to judge how involved he is in the process of co-authorship, since everyone seems to be under a legal agreement not to discuss it.  I'll agree it's an incredibly commercial process that seem to leave the concept of "writing as art" behind.  That may be unfair to say about the co-author, but they do have to adjust their personal style to Patterson's, which is (in)famous for being short and to-the-point.  But I have to say, I respect the business sense Patterson brought from his advertising career to his writing career.

Before I got a library job and enrolled here at IUPUI, I was a sales representative and the company was undergoing a re-branding.  So I'm somewhat familiar with the practices Patterson and his agents discuss in the article.  The article is 14 years old, so we have the benefit of reading this but then looking to our shelves and seeing the impact Patterson has had on how authors are marketed.  How many New books have covers where the author's name is in larger font than the title?  I've also noticed more than once how blurbs on the cover are authors talking about other authors, rather than the specific work.  I almost found the interview with his cover designer interesting.  Patterson knew from his time as an advertising exec the power of the visual, and he's clearly applied it to his books.  The stories of his interactions with stores and fans at signings (especially when juxtaposed with those rumors his behavior towards negative critics) put me in mind of customer service as well.

It's easy to drag Patterson through the mud on this.  Call him lazy, put down his books as works that coast by on name instead of merit.  Yet by using co-authors, he is giving beginning or less-known authors a chance to practice their story-telling and to get their name out there.  His constant best-sellers are boosting his publishing house and reflecting well on his agent.  According to his website, he gives a ton of money away to charities and scholarships.  And he gives the reading masses what they want--entertainment.  I can't fault anyone for finding his books enjoyable.  I mean, when I go to the movie theater, it's usually in the summer for all those action blockbusters with shallow but fast plots.  There are plenty of talented authors on our shelves who raise up the art of writing.  We can point a more discerning reader in their direction.

Patterson has been incredibly successful in turning his writing into a lucrative business.  Regardless of how you feel about the "art vs. commercial" controversy of his process, it's hard to argue with that kind of money.  And with those circ stats we see on his books!

Resources

• Zaleski, J. (2002). The James Patterson Business. Publishers Weekly, 249(44), 43.

Mystery Annotation

Career of Evil
by Robert Galbraith

Publication date: October 20, 2015

Number of Pages: 497

Series information: Cormoran Strike novels, #3

Geographical setting: London, surrounding area

Time period: contemporary

Subject headings: Private Investigators, man-woman relationships, England--London

Plot summary: When a severed leg is delivered to Robin Ellacott, her boss Cormoran Strike knows it’s a message directed to him.  During a career in the military police, in which he lost his own leg, Strike put away three men.  Each who had their life destroyed by that arrest, each dangerous, and each now released.  With the police chasing a red herring, Strike takes the investigation into his own hands with Robin joining him in the field, eager to become a detective into her own right.  But as her personal life begins to crumble and by throwing herself into work, is she setting herself in the stalker’s path?

Librarian's opinion: The mystery revolves around violence against women, which may be considered by some a tired trend in the thriller and mystery genres. The stalker’s chapters may be disturbing and the violence may be off-putting, but other readers may love the suspense. The biggest appeal for readers will most likely be found in the characters of Strike and Robin, as the author devotes many pages into giving them a realistic working and personal relationship.

Elements of the Book

Slow build-up

The pacing is deliberate and given the size of the book, that may not be acceptable to some readers.  Pages on pages may be devoted to exposition, either on the plot (clues and suspects) or on the character’s history.  However, there are chase and fight scenes to break up these sections, and no matter what, the characters are always moving towards the conclusion.  Suspense cooks the longer the investigation goes on, and with each new chapter from the stalker’s perspective as he hunts Robin.

Gritty tone

With chapters told from the stalker’s disturbing perspective, along with the subject matter of violence against women, it is a dark story.  The investigators often interact with criminals and are occasionally required to visit some seedy places.  The author’s choice of language, sometimes profane, also adds to this gritty world.

Cerebral

Clues are gathered through conversation and observation.  Characters then discuss these clues and their implications, or else mull them over in their minds.  The mystery is solved with these careful methods and logic, rather than by force and action like in a thriller.  Readers and characters know what has happened and why, they must solve only the who.

Character personalities

A large draw of this book are the main characters.  Cormoran Strike is a veteran who’s devoted himself to solving crimes, largely in response to all that he witnessed in his childhood.  Robin Ellacott comes across as the everyday, normal woman who craves a bit more excitement to her life.  In this volume, however we learn of her past and what trials she has gone through, why she is so interesting in criminal justice.  The interaction between these two, with the simmering romantic subtext, draws the reader in and makes them feel invested in their relationship.

Violence

While sex is talked about, and not always in a healthy way, it is violence that stands out in this book.  The main characters receive severed limbs in the mail and learn about crime scenes.  But the reader becomes acquainted with the crime scenes must more intimately through chapters set in the point-of-view of the villain.  There are fist fights between characters that may also set the reader on the edge of their chair.  Abuse and neglect are also discussed, along with the motivations and consequences of all these forms of violence.

Similar Reads

• Left for Dead by J.A. Jance--If you enjoyed the female perspective of Robin, you may enjoy this book.  Ali Reynolds helps Jose Reyes, a sheriff she owes a professional debt to, in investigating a Mexican drug cartel that is spreading across the border.  Although the setting is in Arizona, it deals heavily with Mexican social issues, which may give the reader a taste of a unique locale.
• Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson--Also set in Europe, the beginning volume of the Millennium series also heavily features man-woman relationships.  Investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist is joined by Lisbeth Salander in a classic "closed island" mystery, where they work to solve a decades-old murder case.  These are also series characters, as are Robin and Strike.
• The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith--The first Comoran Strike novel.  If the reader begins with and enjoys Career of Evil, the natural suggestion would be to point them in this direction.  The elements persist throughout the series, and they can see how this unlikely duo first came about.

Week Six prompt

The patrons at our library love romance and gentle reads!  But the horror readers are a limited demographic.  How to promote these books, maybe get some people to read outside their comfort zone?

Non-horror readers seem more likely to branch out to something spooky around Halloween.  Because of course, what better time of year to get into this genre?  To the left is a picture of a display I created (and totally ripped off Pinterest) for our Teen area last year.  While all the books on display contained Horror elements, many crossed genres with mystery, humor, and romance.  I added a couple graphic novels as well to cover that market.

It went over fairly well.  It was eye-catching to teens and adults, and even the littlest patrons liked the bats I had hanging from the ceiling (you can only see two, but there were seven or eight over the whole section).  I feel a display was the best idea, so patrons could look over the options and find a book that fit their mood, without feeling like I or any other librarian was pressuring them to read outside their comfort zone.  Horror's a tough one to recommend, since it can very easily be too much for an individual, so an alluring display is a good bet.

It might be fun this year to create such a display, but for adults.  Even non-horror readers might get into the spirit of Halloween if they saw titles by well-known authors like Stephen King and Dean Koontz available.  (I've noticed that the Odd Thomas books are popular among some of our patrons who normally never touch anything near horror.)  I'd also like to make it an integrated display.  Our horror movies go out like crazy, so why not try to lure the movie-watchers into becoming horror readers as well?  I could either set adaptions next to each other, or create a "if you like this <movie>, you'll love this <book>!" or vice versa.  We have audio books for King and Koontz as well that I could add.  (Our library's policy is currently no graphic novels above a teen rating, but as they prove popular still with younger adults anyway, I could probably still find some to add.)

Romance Annotation

The Last Song
by Nicholas Sparks

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Number of Pages: 390

Geographical Setting: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Time Period: Contemporary

Subject Headings: Teenage girls; divorced parents; North       Carolina; love stories




Plot Summary: Seventeen year-old Ronnie Miller is shocked when her mother insists she and her younger brother Jonah must spend the summer with their father in North Carolina.  Used to the New York club scene, it is culture shock to arrive to the sleepy tourist town and the quiet life her dad leads as a retired pianist, working in his spare time on a stained glass window for a reconstructed church.  Yet when her summer vacation takes a rocky start, Ronnie finds herself getting to know her dad after three years of separation.  And when she meets Will Blakelee while protecting a nest of sea turtle eggs behind her house, her summer definitely doesn't go as expected.  The months in North Carolina seem like the best of her life as she falls in love and rebuilds the relationships with her family, but sometimes the best and worst go hand-in-hand.

Librarian's Opinion: This is a light read for those who want to kick back and relax with a good book.  Sparks hits all the emotional high notes, creating a wholesome story featuring characters who seek to improve themselves throughout.  I particularly enjoyed how the relationships explored in this book were not only limited to romantic ones.

Elements of the Book

Simple, yet mature characters

As in many romances, Sparks' characters fit neatly in their roles--it is easy to tell who is the good and who is the bad.  A few characters are more ambiguous, yet each either face their own challenges or exist to present challenges to others that then causes that character to grow and mature.

Romantic, not steamy

Although some may worry since the main characters are teenagers, there is no sexual content in the books.  In fact, the topic is barely brushed upon at all.  Instead, it is the emotional and thoughtful side of Ronnie and Will's relationship that is explored.

Christian undertones

The story is built on Christian fundamentals, as to be expected early on when Ronnie finds out her father is constructing a stained glass window for a new church.  Later in the book, when the Miller family is at its lowest, there are many discussions revolving around God and the Bible.  Yet the religious aspects are not overwhelming should the reader not be so inclined.

Emotional

The author goes all out to take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride.  The reader may feel angry at Blaze's betrayal of Ronnie, fearful of what Marcus may do next, happy for Ronnie and Will as they fall in love, and sad for the children when Steve reveals his illness.  Sparks does a good job of mixing plot points together to keep the reader feeling one emotion to the next, but ultimately ends his story on a hopeful note.


Similar Reads

• One Summer, by David Baldacci--Known for his political thrillers, this book stands out among Baldacci's works.  In this novel, a father works to rebuild his family after tragedy strikes over the course of a summer.  Like The Last Song, this novel deals with family relationships and grief.
• The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd--An emotional coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who escapes to her mother's hometown to learn about her past.  While the mysteries of her past unfold, she learns about beekeeping from a trio of sisters that befriend her.  Similar to Sparks in characterization and in use of emotion.
• A Walk to Remember, by Nicholas Sparks--From the same author.  Main character Landon Carter reminisces about his high school romance with the minister's daughter.  A romance between young adults with Christian overtones, and an emotional twist at the end, sure to appeal to those who enjoyed The Last Song and want to read another Sparks.

Horror Annotation

The Frenzy Way
by Gregory Lamberson

Publication Date: April 9, 2010

Number of Pages: 356

Series Information: The Frenzy Cycle, vol. 1

Geographical Setting: New York City

Time Period: Contemporary

Subject Headings: murder, police, werewolves



Plot Summary: New York City suddenly sees a rash of brutal murders and captain Tony Mace is called in to investigate.  No stranger to hunting down deranged serial killers, even these crime scenes leave him feeling sick.  Besides the extreme violence, each scene has one thing in common—the perpetrator writes “werewolf” in a variety of languages.  As the murders gain media attention, other groups beside the NYPD begin to hunt for the serial killer.  Those who have spent centuries hiding their existence from humans, afraid of being outed by this rogue wolf, and those who are the reason for that fear, who have spent centuries eradicating the monsters.  Before this case is through, Captain Mace will be forced to make alliances and face nightmares that he could never before thought possible.

Librarian’s Opinion: Gregory Lamberson has directed B-rate horror movies, which explains why I was so strongly reminded of watching one when reading his book.  The Frenzy Way is fast and vicious, and I found myself compulsively turning the pages.  Perfect for a horror fan who wants a quick read, or suspense/thriller fans with strong stomachs who are looking to branch out.

Elements of the Book

Dark Tone, Heightened Suspense

Throughout the story, the tone is dark and foreboding.  Suspense is constantly building through the use of alternating Point-of-Views chapters from heroes and villains.  The urban setting (ex. scenes set in subway tunnels and abandoned buildings) adds an additional ‘gritty’ feel to the story as well.  The tone is occasionally relieved by one-liners and banter between characters.

Presence of the Supernatural

From the beginning it is clear that this will be a tale of monsters.  Story relies on reader already having a basic knowledge of the werewolf monster, but does build on that myth by exploring beliefs of historical cultures.  Also featured is the common horror device of a secret society within the Catholic Church that exists to wipe monsters from the face of the Earth.

Breakneck Pace

Something is always happening.  The main characters are either off to the next murder scene, off to the next clue, or meeting with the next informant.  When all the groups become aware of each other, the pace really picks up for a climatic ending.

Violence and Gore

This book is not for the faint of heart.  The crime scenes are bloodbaths with scattered, partially-eaten human remains.  The murders themselves may take pages, as detail is given to each dismemberment, disembowelment, and decapitation.

Graphic Sex

Sexual encounters are also a major part of the book, as the killer normally targets human women.  This predatory aspect adds to the dark, gritty tone.  Certain protagonists also have romantic entanglements.  While not as descriptive as the violent scenes, the sex scenes make up enough of the book to be a consideration in a reader’s decision to read this book.

Use of Language


Lamberson is not prone to flowery description, and prefers to use a writing style that is direct and to the point.  Characters will often use profane language as they are often in intense situations or having to face bizarre things.

Similar Reads

•  Personal Demons, by Gregory Lamberson – Same author, also a story featuring an NYPD detective, but in the new series The Jake Helman Files.  The pacing, action, and suspense are similar, but he takes on a much broader range of terrifying scenarios and monsters than in his werewolf-focused Frenzy Cycle series.
• The Strain, by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan – Del Toro is a director well-known for his dark fantasy films, such as Pan’s Labyrinth.  His book will also put the reader in mind of a movie as he re-creates the vampire myth in his debut novel.
•  Odd Thomas, by Dean Koontz – For the reader who enjoys getting to know and then re-visiting characters.  Lamberson is fond of establishing characters in which to center his horror stories around, and in this instance, so is Koontz.  A suggestion for those new to the genre, as it is not as graphic and is slightly more light-hearted with the easy-going main character of Odd.

Red Rising -- a "Kirkus-style" review

Red Rising

Of the "Red Rising" trilogy, book 1
By Pierce Brown

Available on Amazon

Review

A former slave joins the revolt to bring the solar system's ruling class to its knees in this debut novel from Pierce Brown.

Sixteen year-old Darrow knows no other life than the subterranean mining work he carries out on Mars, work that he and his fellow Reds are told is vital by the ruling Gold class to terraform the planet to save Earth's citizens.  Yet after his wife becomes a martyr, Darrow is taken above ground and shown the truth--that Mars is inhabited and his people have been taken for fools and made into slaves.  Darrow undergoes intensive surgery to pass for a Gold citizen and enrolls in the Institute, where young Golds learn how to conquer.  Immediately faced with trials and moral dilemmas, Darrow must rely on his anger if he wants to survive the Institute's contest and rise in Gold society so that he might tear it down from the inside. Brown creates an engaging character in Darrow, as he wrestles to balance his rage and his humanity.   He keeps the story moving, the pace building up to a climax that any action movie viewer would love.   The world he builds, although set among the planets, retains a feel of the historic, as its characters adhere to Roman philosophy and often speak Latin.  This historic obsession can sometimes feel at odds with the science fiction setting, jarring the reader.  Like the Roman conquerors of old, there is a high level of violence that pervades the Society and that may be jarring to some readers as well.

An engaging science fiction tale that takes its readers on a roller coaster of events.

Week Five prompt

Do you think it's fair that one type of book is reviewed to death and other types of books get little to no coverage? How does this affect a library's collection?  And how do you feel about review sources that won't print negative content? Do you think that's appropriate? If you buy for your library, how often do you use reviews to make your decisions? If not, how do you feel about reviews for personal reading, and what are some of your favorite review sources?

I mean, this started out a self-published ebook.
Need I say more?

It isn't fair that an digital-born book doesn't receive the same coverage as a physical book.  I feel there's a stigma against ebook-only formats, because that often meant self-published.  I don't know if that's the case anymore...in the last year, I've started to receive requests for ebook-only books from big(ger) name authors.  Investigating read-a-likes for this class, I've seen some small publishers that seem to publish only ebooks for new authors.  Ebooks are still a relatively new thing, with a specialized industry only just starting to grow around them (as opposed to being seen as a companion to physical books), so I'm sure we'll eventually see this stigma and inequality in review coverage fade over time.  But for right now, this lack of coverage probably keeps many librarians in the dark about what to purchase for their digital libraries.  Authors may have written something great, but unless a patron specifically requests their work, they miss out on the publicity a library can give them.  And we miss out on adding that something great.


I'm a big believer in "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it at all."  But when it comes to products we might spend our money on...!  My first thought when I read "review sources that won't print negative content" was well, who paid them not too?  Although when I put some more thought into it, I became more ambivalent about it, especially if it is a publication specifically meant for librarians.  Why waste resources publishing a negative review?  Instead of urging librarians NOT to buy something, publish glowing reviews of things they SHOULD buy.  It is probably just as effective.

I do not buy for my library, but I took a collection development class last semester, so I've become familiar with how our purchasers think.  For a book to 'pass muster,' there need to be at least two positive reviews from authoritative resources (SLJ, Booklist, Kirkus, etc.) or simply a heavy demand.  Negative reviews aren't an 'official' part of the process, but in an interview, a department head admitted that if they came across negative reviews, or even one really vehement one, that could tank a book's chances.

And I'm all for reviews for personal reading.  My 'to-read' stack would be huge otherwise!  (...I say that as it's not already insurmountable...)  My go-to is Goodreads.  The users there are typically big readers themselves, or at least experienced with whatever particular genre, so I'll skim reviews to get a good general impression.  Occasionally I write reviews myself!  If I feel the need for a secondary review source, I'll check Amazon.  Amazon reviews fluctuate in quality and may focus on Amazon's delivery service instead of the book itself, but since it's such a popular site, it's pretty much guaranteed there'll be reviews.  If an obscure title doesn't have a review on Amazon, it probably won't anywhere else.

"Secret Shopper" RA interview

I went to a branch library in a nearby city, early afternoon so that I could hopefully catch the librarians during a slow period.  And except for a couple patrons at the public computers, it was indeed pretty empty.  I took some time to wander the shelves and get familiar with the building.  There were some "new" shelves, some shelving for paperbacks, and then the regular fiction.  Other than some end cap displays of random books, there was an empty wire rack labeled HOT READS.  I found no best-seller signage or read-a-like pamphlets, nor was I approached by any staff.  But working in a branch library myself, I know it can be difficult to leave the desk when there are so few staff available.

I approached the main (and only) desk, where two librarians broke off their conversation to quickly ask if I needed help.  I acted a little embarrassed, as if I were asking a dumb question, but: "That's not a dumb question at all!  This is the fun part of the job."

I had the almost undivided attention (the male librarian got called away once to help with a computer question) of two librarians for my RA interview.  I was asked what was the most recent series I had finished.  I had answered the detective series by J.K. Rowling, so I was asked if I like mysteries.  The other librarian asked what the second-to-last series was that I had read...to which I had to answer was the fantasy trilogy Red Rising by Pierce Brown.  I wanted to avoid saying I liked fantasy, because that is often a niche interest.  But the male librarian perked right up and began asking me about several series, giving me facts about different authors and publishers.  Throughout this, the female librarian was on the computer to "see what we have."  She never shared what she was looking at, nor did either librarian ever consult a print resource.

Both librarians were concerned that I leave with multiple books by multiple authors, as I had originally told them I was leaving on vacation and needing reading material for the plane.  (A white lie--I will need reading material for a plane trip, but not for another six months.)  "We wouldn't want you to get twenty pages in, hate it, and then be stuck with it as your only option."  I felt like they were really concerned with finding me books I could love.  I'm not sure if either were formally trained in Reader's Advisory, as I was never asked about appeal factors.  The recommendations were good ones, but they were based solely on what genres I had said I enjoyed, and the librarian's personal experience of what he had enjoyed.

Overall, I felt the experience was a positive one.  I was reminded of the importance of customer service.  The reason I left feeling good about interview was because of how the two librarians put everything down to help, and the way the one librarian shared the history of the different series he recommended.  The only downside was that I was never introduced to any resources.  Were I a normal patron, the only thing I could do the next time I went to the library would be to approach the desk again.  So I was also reminded of the need to be transparent with my patrons about the process of finding book recommendations.  Not because I don't want patrons to approach me with questions, but because I don't want them to feel helpless whenever their 'to-read' stack hits empty.