Week 9

Having read both articles, I find the idea of book trailers intriguing, but it just seems weird!  Movie type trailers for the written word?  I don't know....

But then I looked at some of the Book Trailers from the BMB link and they are interesting, and I could begin to see their appeal especially in this Internet driven era.  Then I looked at book trailers for my very favorite author, Susanna Kearsley.  She had a link from her website, and those book trailers were stunning!   http://www.youtube.com/user/SusannaKearsley?feature=watch
Of course being a huge fan, and having read the books, helped alot, but the book trailers were so good that I wanted to read the books again!

So, in conclusion...book trailerss, when done well are great, but I myself, wouldn't necessarily go on Youtube to find them.  I still like to read book reviews; however, I would have no qualms directing a customer to a book trailer.  I think they're great advertising, and a wonderful way to draw readers, especially reluctant readers, into a good book!

Week 8 Assignment 3

I selected the following 4 Genres:
Memoirs  Dewey - Biography
Food  Dewey- 641
Travel  Dewey - 910
American History -973

 Memoirs 
"Marbles : mania, depression, Michelangelo, & me : a graphic memoir"
by Ellen Forney
Dewey:  Graphic Novel Bio FORNEY

Food
"Animal, Vegetable, Miracle : A Year of Food Life"
By Barbara Kingsolver
Dewey  : 641.0973 K

Travel
"To Timbuktu"
By Casey Scieszka
Dewey : Teen 910.4 S

History (American)
"Founding mothers : the women who raised our nation"
By Cokie Roberts
Dewey 973.3 R

Week 8 Assignment 4

The first book I selected is  "  Marbles : Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & me : a graphic memoir" by Ellen Forney.  I loved this book!  The characterization is very powerful, you are drawn into the author's struggle to gain control over her Mania and Depression.  The pacing is not slow, but not fast either....moderate but just the right speed to keep the reader wanting to find out what happens.  The language is sparse but quite effective.  Given that it is a Graphic Novel, the drawings add another dimension to the appeal factors.  Forney is a Cartoonist, so her drawings are evocative, some even more powerful than written language.

I would recommend this book to a customer who enjoys fiction with strong character appeal, someone who enjoys reading about personal struggles, as well as someone interested in women's fiction.  The only challenge for this book would be the Graphic Novel aspect...some readers will need persuasion!

My second selection would be "Founding Mothers" by Cokie Roberts.  I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historic fiction.  This reads like a novel, narrating the lives of the women who shaped America.  Not just Martha Washington and Abigail Adams, but the inside gossip on all of the early "Blue Bloods" who married within their "set", socialized with each other, and influenced the men in leadership positions.  Notice that I didn't say men in charge,  because reading this book will reflect just how much influence the women actually had!  The pacing is steady and the characterization is moderate, language reflects the vernacular of the time using letters and other writings, making the book seem more like fiction than non-fiction.

Week 7 Assignment 3 & 4

I've been following "John Green Books"  and "Forever Young Adults".  I think I like them because they appeal to the adult in me!  They don't pretend to be for teens only and I appreciate that.  When I read YA fiction, I'm reading it with an adult perspective, because alledgedly, I am an adult!

I want to read reviews written by adults about YA fiction.  Their perspective is more likely to be closer to mine than you average 15 year old.

And John Green?  So quirky in his podcasts, yet his books are so good....so introspective...so moody!
Who knew this could be the same person!

As far as trends, I looked at Harlequin Teen and Teens at Random.  Both sites reflect that Paranormal is still popular.  Romance is still a major player, as are Dystopian novels and Coming of Age.  Sometimes the Coming of Age includes Romance, sometimes it includes paranormal, sometimes dystopia, history and sometimes none of the above.  YA still seem to me to be quite reflective and introspective whatever the setting.

I posted on Nancy C.'s blog and April F.'s Blog.

Week 7 Assignment 1 &2

I read "The Next Big Thing" and "YA Comes Of Age".   Both articles are timely, because it is true that there are many adults reading YA novels.  However, I also think that may be that YA novels have changed.  As a teen, I remember reading "Forever" by Judy Blume and "Go Ask Alice" by Anonymous.  Both were considered a bit racy at the time (1970's), but quite tame in many respects to YA novels of today.  I find the most popular YA novels nowadays to be far more intense, more violent and a lot more frightening.   Dystopia-the end of the world, Zombies, vampires...wow!  The Hunger Games gave me nightmares....but then I'm kind of a wimp in that respect. 

I enjoy the same genre of YA novels that I enjoy in Adult fiction.  Relationships, historical, mystery, etc.  I loved "The Future of US", and "Iboy" and "Airborn", "Timekeeper", "Etiquette and Espionage", "The Explosionist" and both of the "Viola" books by Adriana Trigiani.  And so many more.

I have many adult customers who enjoy YA fiction, but I think, like me, they enjoy the YA fiction because of the book, because its well written, because it a genre they enjoy...I don't think the fact that its YA fiction matters to them.  All they want is a GOOD BOOK!