Not an assignment, but a good idea

While reading one of my favorite craft blogs, I came across a website called CraftLit. It encourages crafters to listen to an audio book while doing their favorite hand-craft.  I love their slogan Stick a book in your ear? Sure, because you might want to use your hands for other things!

They even have audio books on their site that you can listen to.  What a cool idea!

Week 6: Assignment 3

One of the subgenres I chose was Urban Christian Fiction.  I get asked for books in this genre occassionally.  Good news, I found several blogs covering this genre.  Unfortunately, they have not been updated in quite a while - over a year.  Several Urban Christian Fiction authors have blogs, but they are mainly to discuss their own books and not the entire genre.

I did find a link that is active http://christianfictionblogalliance.blogspot.com/  It does not appear to cover Urban Christian though.

For this assignment I'm going to go with http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/.  It is a blog by Christian Romance writer Cecelia Dowdy.  This is the closest I could find.  She looks like she is referring to Christian books other than her own.  Dowdy talks a lot about new Christian Romances, but she does list the nominess for the Christy Awards which include a lot of Christian Fiction.  I did not see any Urban Christian Fiction in the nominee list.

Three authors that write Urban Christian are: (thank you NoveList)
E.L. Joy
Victoria Christopher Murry
Nikita Lynette Nichols

Urban Christian has a lot of high drama  and is character driven, but has a Christian element in it.  They usually feature a relationship between two African Americans.

Domestic Fiction seems to be the "mash-up" for this genre.   Domestic Fiction tends to be character driven and contains high drama.

Week 6: Assignment 2

So I just explored the Prezi, which is like launching into space and exploring the stars around the planets.  I had no idea that there were so many different subgenres of Urban Fiction!

Week 6: Assignment 1

I have subscribed to the Stop You're Killing Me newsletter.  I like it, however it covers some books that are not available in this country and that is frustrating.  The newsletter is nice because it shows me what is new or coming out.

On the site, I had been looking mainly at the home page which lets you search by awards.  Recently I found a link to search by author and I found a link for reviews.  These seem more useful to me than the list of awards.

My second blog that I have been following is Early Word. I've been good about reading it consistently.  I enjoy reading what is coming out in the movies or being made into a movie. The ads on the right are kind of cool too since they catch your attention and are usually worth clicking to find out more about the book.

Week 5: Assignment 3

I came across Dave Barry's Insane City in the Early Word Preview section (even thought it came out back in January).  In reading the synopsis which indicated that it was fast paced, contained dark, off beat humor and was intricately plotted, I immediately thought if might be similar to the author Carl Hiaasen.  Hiassen writes a lot of environmental themed books that also contain off beat humor and are fast paced.  Hiassen's tend to be more in the mystery genre.

Novelist indicated a Read-a-like for both Barry and Hiaasen is Donna Andrews.  Her animal themed books are also humorous, mysterious, offbeat and fast paced.

        

Early Word does not really say why they think this book will be a hit, they just say that is one book to look forward to in 2013.

Week 5 Assignment 2

We keep a copy of the NY Times Best Seller List at our Information Desk and I subscribe to the BCPL newletter that delivers the list to my inbox each week.

I checked out the People Magazine online list of book reviews.  When I can get my hands on a copy I often read the reviews in the printed copy of the magazine.

The Publisher's Weekly On Sale Calendar I looked at, but was disappointed that there were no book cover graphics.  Being a visual person, I need those to associate what I read about the book and what the cover looks like. So then started clicking on links that led to places like movie tie-in's and the Best Books for Summer 2013 (which includes the cover art). I gotta tell you after looking at these, my brain gets to a point where everything looks the same.

I've been using Early Word off and on for a while now, so nothing new to report there.

Week 5: Assignment 1

I signed up for the "Stop You are Killing Me" newsletter. I have gotten a few so far. Some of the titles are from overseas, so I don't find it useful.  I enjoy reading the newsletter, but I start to find it overwhelming keeping all these titles in my head.

I've been reading Early Word.  I find myself drawn more towards reading about the books being made into movies.  Not sure why when I don't watch that many movies.  Maybe so I can have the books on my radar because they are bound to become hot titles once word gets out that a movie is coming.  I also liked the section where I can look at movie tie-ins that are being released.  These are usually very popular.

Week 4: Assignement 1

I've been using Good Reads for years. I have 448 titles listed and have created shelves according to the genre I'm reading.  Currently there are 27 titles on my "to-read" list.  This list I use to keep track of what I want to read or need to read for upcoming trainings.

In exploring Good Reads, I discovered a link for a monthly newsletter. In the May issue, there is a link for a new feature for recommending books:

 

Find a Book You Love—Who Should Read It Next?

We've added a new feature to make recommending books easier! Click "Recommend it" on the book page and select from your friends list. Start a reading bonanza!

I think this might be a useful tool for recommending to the folks I've friended on Good Reads.

There were also some good links and book recommendations in the monthly newsletter.

I just discovered that if I choose, I could join a book club via Goodreads... for Australia.  Could be fun, but challenging to find the books here in the U.S.

Currently I have friended 11 people on Good Reads.  I have put requests through the last couple of days.

For my co-worker Jeannie, I recommended Au Revoir Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber


"Hi Jeannie
I thought you might enjoy this book since I know you are a fan of YA books. This books takes place in NY and is incredibly fast paced. While hosting what they believe is a quiet foreign exchange student, a family quickly finds out on the night of the prom that she is anything but. I'm only part way through the book, but there has been a car chase, a murder, an escape from the police and an outfit change. So far this book has been a fun read.

Amie"

For My co-worker Mary Kay, I recommended Hanging Off Jefferson's Nose by Tina Nochols Coury


"Hi Mary Kay
I thought you might like this book.  It takes place during the construction of Mt. Rushmore.  It is a quick read, but packed with information about the sculptor who designed the monument, how he obtained the land and money and how the monument was eventually completed.
Let me know what you think.
Amie"

While playing around on Good Reads I discovered several ways to recommend a book:
-click on my friends list, pick the person, then recommend a book (this allows you to write a message)
-click on the book title in your list, click on recommend this book and a list of your friends appears and you can select who you want the recommendation to go to (this does not allow for writing a recommendation).

I also discovered that if you click your friend's name, you can see what he/she has been reading and you can click on the "I want to read" button to add to your own to read page.

Week 3 Assignment 3

Conversation 1

You might like The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  It is a great story about a teen who has been in foster care her entire life and is now too old to be in the system.  She tries to make it on her own, but finds it difficult until a florist decides to give her a change at floral arranging.  She finds she has a true gift and uses various flowers and their meanings to communicate the feelings of customers giving the arrangements. The majority of the story focuses on the thoughts and feelings of the main character. 

Another book you might enjoy and that would be great for your book club is Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.  This book will stir up some great conversations within your club.  It takes place in England and follows two main characters - Will, a wealthy man who has it all- high paying job, a beautiful girlfriend and he loves to live on the edge of the seat.  Louisa is the other main character and she's a small town girl who takes on the job of being Will's companion after he's hit by a motorcycle and becomes wheel chair bound.  They each manage to change each other's lives for the better and show the other one that there is it alot to live for... but will it be enough.  This story will stay with you for quite a while after you read it.

Conversation 2

Have you heard of Vampire Beach by Alexa Hayes?  You might enjoy this vampire book.  It takes place in California and is the story of a businesswoman and a family man.  Come to find out the family man is actually a vampire. It is more on an adult relationship level and less of the teen emotions.

You might also like the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.  This is a popular mystery series.  Sookie can read minds of those around her.  When she finally meets a man whose mind she can't read, she finds out that he's a vampire.  It takes place in Louisiana.

Conversation 3

I recently read Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard.  It is about President James Garfield.  He was an incredibly intelligent man who lived during a time of great discovery. The book covers how he became President, who shot him and why and then the technology that was used to try and save his life. It is pretty fast paced and does not read like a political book at all.  You might enjoy this if you like reading about the Presidents of the U.S.

You may also like Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose.  This is a historical adventure story that takes place during the westward expansion of the US.  President Jefferson sends out Lewis and Clark to explore the west all the way to the Pacific Ocean and back.  This books covers their adventures and hardships as they explore.

Week 2: Assignment 3

For this assignment, I posted suggestions to Mary Kay's blog.

Week 2: Appeal Factors Assignment 2

Centered around the voyage of the Titanic and in America following the sinking tragedy, The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott follows the famous dress designer Lady Lucille Duff Gordan and former maid Tess. Lady Lucille is to fashion what Martha Stewart is to home goods. Lady Lucille is famous, incredibly rich and a real pain to work for.  Her staff are terrified of her and she feels quite a sense of entitlement.  She hires Tess just before the Titanic sets sail to be her assistant while on the ship.  Tess, in her desire to show the world her dressmaking skills decides to take the job to leave her old like behind.

The book only briefly focuses on the actual Titanic journey.  The real drama takes places as the ship goes down and Lady Lucille refuses to let the staff allow any more than 25 passengers on the lifeboat designed to hold 50-60.  And going back to pick up survivors in the ocean is not even a thought.

Once in America, the U.S. Senate investigates the sinking and discovers what happened on Lady Lucille's lifeboat and the changing hands of money between her husband and the staff aboard the ship.  Could there have been more survivors had the Gordans let their status and egos go?  Tess begins to question her loyalty to this wealthy snobby family and the reader begins to really contemplate what happened that fateful night in 1912.  Could more passengers been saved?  If you were in that lifeboat, would you have questioned the actions of  one of the richest most influential people of that era?

Week 2 : Appeal Factors Assignment 2

Taking place in England, the very likable Louisa takes the job of companion to Will a quadriplegic in JoJo Moyes' Me Before You.  Will had everything going for him - a beautiful girlfriend, a high power job and he loved to be at the center of adventure. After a terrible accident Will is now wheel-chair bound and extremely depressed. When Louisa takes charges, she refuses to let Will feel sorry for himself and is determined to show him that he can have a life outside of his bedroom.  Will on the other hand has convinced Louisa to try things she'd never dreamed of trying and is teaching her that there is a life outside of her small village.

Beautifully written with characters the reader will quickly attach to and root for. Much like a yo-yo, the relationship between Will and Louisa becomes close, only to suddenly separate again. By the end the story will haunt readers and leave them thinking about loving someone and letting them live or not live the life they feel they are called to.

Cover Art Week 1

This week we looked at cover art. I must say that I really do look at the cover to determine if I want to read a book.  Sometimes I look at the cover just to see if I want to read the back or inside flap to see what the book is about. Cover art really draws a reader in or can be a complete turn off.  It makes a first impression in those first few seconds of looking at a book.  If the first impression is bad, the reader will move on.

The blogs I'm choosing to follow during this project are Early Word (which I used to look at more frequently, but had slacked off on) and Stop You are Killing Me. I chose Early Word because it has a variety of reviews and I chose Stop You are Killing Me because I feel like I get asked for mystery recommendations more than I do graphic novels or romance.