Week 5

Assignment #1 - I have been following NPR books. The page setup makes it easy to browse. By following this site, I received information on new books, new authors, books turning into movies, and deaths of authors. This is a useful tool because it also highlights what is discussed on NPR. Many customers listen to NPR and request books that were mentioned. I enjoyed listening to many of the podcasts that were also uploaded to this site.


Assignment #2- The customers at my branch ask for many genres of books, but I feel the majority of the time I am helping customers find popular fiction authors, children's books, or DVD's. Early Word is a fantastic resource for keeping me updated on new items in each of these categories. I signed up for the newsletter and it is emailed to me often. This works well for me. Sometimes I can spend a lot of time reading the updates and other times I may look at it on my phone. Even if I am looking at it on my phone, I am able to see the covers of the new books and that is better than nothing! :) The Early Word Kids site is also very helpful to me. I am a mom and a preschool teacher as well as being a librarian, so I use this source a lot!!


Assignment #3- The Last Pilot by Benjamin Johncock is a fictional book that focuses on the Space Race of the 1950's. It is a story that has action, adventure, and love. By reading the synopsis, it reminded me of the new TV show The Astronauts Wives Club. Also, the movie The Martian is set to come out in October and the trailers have been shown at many recent movies. The Last Pilot sounds that it would have a similar fan base as The Martian. I just added this book to my list of want to read books! Thanks Early Word! :)

Week 4: GoodReads

I have had the GoodReads app on my phone for about 3 years. I used it mainly as a tool for myself so I could remember what books I have read. I never really set up the shelves and organized the books I was reading. Because of this assignment, I spent more time really looking at all of the options this app and website offer. It is an extremely useful tool. I have used my account many times while helping customers with reader's advisory questions. I read so many books that usually once I am finished a book, I forget what it is about. With GoodReads I am able to see the books I read, how I rated them, and a little synopsis of the book. This usually jogs my memory so I am able to use my prior reading selections to help customers select a book.


Friend #1 - She enjoys reading chick-lit, Young adult, and biographies about women. I suggested that she read Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. This book is about first love and really tugs at the reader's heart strings. Based on her list of read books, I think this book is the perfect choice for her.


Friend #2- This friend enjoys reading fictional crime, mysteries, and psychological thrillers. I suggested she read In the Blood by Lisa Unger. This book is a bit of all of the above characteristics, especially a psychological thriller! This book kept me on the edge of my seat and based on my friend's previous reads, I know this book would do the same for her.

Week 3

Conversation 1:  A book similar to Eat, Pray, Love


A book that has a similar feel to Eat, Pray, Love is The Pelee Project: One Woman's Escape from Urban Madness. This book is about a overworked single mother who finds herself exhausted; physically and mentally from her life. She always dreamed of having a simple life, but all of her responsibilities lend her to quite the opposite. After being in a horrific car accident, she quits her job, sells her home, and moves to Pelee Island. Just like in Eat, Pray, Love the author shares her inner thoughts and the reader connects with her on a personal level.










Conversation 2: Fledgling by Octavia Butler
A vampire novel that is nothing like Twilight is Fledgling by Octavia Butler. This well written vampire tale tells the story of a young amnesiac girl who comes to the realization that she is in fact a 53 year old genetically modified vampire. This book is a riveting story that has the reader discover and question their own self and does not include teen vampire love.




Conversation 3: A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry
A fast-based true story similar to The River of Doubt is A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry. This book tells the true story of an American pilot in World War II who finds himself flying over Germany with a crew that is mostly dead and injured. On his tail is a German pilot that can easily destroy the American plane. Their story is said to be "the most incredible encounter between enemies in World War II.” Similar to The River of Doubt, this story pulls the reader in and tells a true story that defies imagination.