Thankfully, I wasn't working at a library during the Oprah years, although I was a faithful patron. I didn't watch her show either, but many of my neighbors and friends did and were sucked into the frenzy of the book club books. I have only read a few on her "list" but when my friends would tell me how one made them cry throughout the entire book, all I could think was, Why would I want to be depressed, too? The Frey book fiasco didn't really affect me. I didn't read it so I wasn't emotionally invested (or financially as I didn't buy it), and the only thing I wondered about was if he had plagiarized - which he apparently hadn't. He was just a dishonest jerk in a different way.
In regards to Patterson, it boggles my mind that people still put in requests for his books, then after they return them, tell me the book wasn't good. Especially if it was "written" with another author. This happens constantly, and I'll ask them if they want to find another author, or another series, and they just say no. Then they'll put in another request. Wash, rinse, repeat. Patterson's books and his "empire" reminds me of Tom Clancy's. His Net Force series - which bears his name in huge letters, is written by Steve Perry and the latter's name is in very small print, which isn't lying, just seems sneaky.
There are always going to controversies about books and authors. Here is one that happened a few days ago and is still being talked about.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lynn-shepherd/jk-rowling-should-stop-writing_b_4829648.html
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Monday, February 24, 2014
Science Fiction novel
The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith
eBook
Publisher: A Red Hot Romance Erotic Novel (September 12, 2013)
1929 KB (1500+ pages?)
*Edit: I was criticized by a friend (kindly) for the length of this review - scroll to bottom for short version.
This book is like nothing I have ever read. It was so compelling I stayed up until 5am before having to go to work. It took me three days to finish it, and that is unusual. It is a long novel. Epic long. But even now, a few weeks after reading it, I still think about it often. I am not sure why it's published by an erotic publisher because it is not an erotic romance.
The story begins on a futuristic Earth, when resources are scarce and Amber Bierce doesn't have many options to survive. Her life has been pretty awful on Earth. After her drug-addict mother dies, she signs up to travel on a spaceship that is being sent to an earth-like planet for colonization and forces her younger sister along. None of the would-be colonists are prepared when the ship crashes on an unknown planet, the majority of them die, and then try to determine who will be in charge and how to survive.
The first character in the dual storyline is that of the human heroine Amber. She is stubborn, strong, loyal, practical and is quite fierce, and these qualities alienate most of the surviving humans against her, including her useless sister who blames Amber for dragging her to this "awful" planet. The other main character is the hero Uyane Meoraq, who is from a noble house and is an important priest/warrior/judge in his society. He is a zealot, can be a self-righteous jerk but also protective and caring and is thoughtful in his interpretations from his god. He is one of the best heroes I have ever read about. The author introduces these characters to the reader before they meet, so you feel you have a good grasp of their personalities.
Meoraq is on a pilgrimage to a holy shrine, delaying his responsibility to take over as the head of his house and having to get married, when he comes across the humans. He is more than shocked to find these creatures, but believes god has put them in his path for a reason and decides to take them with him on his quest. Meoraq sees the humans as unintelligent, selfish and ugly. The humans view him as a dumb primitive and think he should help them because they are human and he is a lizardman. Yes, a 6 foot tall lizardman. Amber is the only one that realizes he is intelligent and that he refuses to learn their language because of his religion. Plus, it's hard because he has a snout. She alone tries to figure out how to communicate with him and slowly learns his language.
Over time, Meoraq begins to respect Amber and her determination and willingness to adapt, unlike the other humans. She is opinionated and never gives up, and is nothing like the meek, silent women he knows. Amber respects him and his knowledge, and is thankful he is willing to show her how to take care of herself and her sister on this hostile planet. After a lot of prayer and meditating, the arrogant Meoraq comes to believe that god has sent Amber to him to be his wife. Amber isn't so sure, as she is an atheist, and their arguments about faith are amusing. The love story between them unfolds very slowly, as they are initially tentative allies, then friends. The transition is completely believable, humorous and is filled with a lot of reluctance - he still thinks she's ugly and she can hardly forget that he's a lizardman - but they fall for each other anyway. The trials they face on their journey are many and some are brutal - awful things happen, mainly with Amber - but even in the bleakest moments, they still have absolute faith in each other. Many of the secondary characters are annoying, mostly the humans as they are poorly drawn out, or just so whiny or cruel I was irritated that Amber kept caring about them. I found myself hoping a few would be killed off.
The world building is amazing! The author does a great job of showing us the world, as opposed to telling us about it. As the reader sees this world from both Amber and Meoraq's perspectives - Amber thinks it's barbaric and can't shake the feeling there is something "off" about the planet. Meoraq only knows this world, so for him, it's normal. The reader is completely immersed in the alien world. You can easily visualize the animals, plants, landscapes, and colors, what the cities look like, how the alien society functions and it's religion, and even the slightest physical gestures by the lizard people is understood. The reader is reminded they are in fact lizard people, but that becomes unimportant, the alien aspect of their features becomes familiar. Some themes touched on in the book are technological, biological and environmental disasters, faith, love, familial bonds, society, and compassion. The ending of the novel ties the recurring themes together, and leaves the reader full of hope.
This book is hard to categorize. It is very intense and not an easy read. People either love this book, or they hate it. It definitely is not for everyone. It deals with many issues that the squeamish may want to avoid - violence, rape and torture. I do not consider those aspects to be gratuitous or titillating in the least. These actions seem plausible in the context of the book and did, in fact, propel the plot along. Romance readers may shy away from the violence and the scifi elements, and hardcore scifi readers may be put off by the romance aspect, but to me, they are missing out on an amazing book if they let those prejudices get in the way. The author described this novel as a "scifi/horror" story. I would only partially agree. It's much more than that. I would say it is also a book about strength, faith and love. It just happens in a completely different society, 6000 light years away from Earth, on an alien planet, and yes, with lizard people. While it has it's flaws, I loved this book and will be rereading it soon. Rating: It is intended for mature audiences as it contains graphic violence, strong sexual content and explicit language.
* Since said friend told me this review is epic (and she did read book and loved it), here is the short version. Human woman leaves Earth and spaceship crashes. On alien planet she meets a lizardman and he helps her survive. World building is awesome. They go on a quest. They fight, become friends, fall in love, and yes, have sex. And no, it's not gross. Read it to believe it. Good things happen. She gets kidnapped, bad things happen, she saves herself. They save each other, the end is crazy and ties things up. There are other characters in the book. It's intense. Loved the book. I can't come up with any read-a-likes because I don't know of any. Dark scifi/romance perhaps? End of mini-review.
Mystery annotation
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Genre: Mystery
Published: First Paperback Edition edition (April 1, 2007)
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Number of pages: 175
Phyrne Fisher is wealthy, fashionable and smart. She is also bored of London society and when an acquaintance asks her to travel to Australia to check on his daughter, Phyrne acquiesces to go back to the place of her birth.
Taking place during the late 1920s, Phyrne (pronounced Fry-knee) settles in at Melbourne's posh Windsor Hotel, meets her colorful and recurring band of cohorts, Mac, Dot, Bert, Cec, and Inspector Robinson and quickly is immersed in dealing with a poisoning, a cocaine ring, a back-alley abortion racket, corrupt cops and communist cabbie sympathizers. She solves her mysteries with aplomb, all while dressing fabulous, finding an exotic lover, and having a true empathy for the working class, as she was once one of their members. Phyrne is sometimes called a "female James Bond" and that comparison is apt as she can do most anything, and look good while doing it. Cocaine Blues is the first of twenty mysteries featuring Phyrne. These books have been turned into a TV series. Rating: PG13.
Appeals:
- fast-paced
- unique setting
- satisfying cozy mystery
- Lord Peter Wimsey mystery series by Dorothy L. Sayers - set during the 1930s, initially focuses only on Lord Peter but later the series incorporates his love interest, Harriet Vane. The first in the series is Whose Body? Several of these novels have been adapted into radio and a TV series.
- Lady Georgiana Rannoch in the Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen, set in the 1930s amongst England's aristocrats, the first is Her Royal Spyness.
- Other classic cozies are those written by Dame Agatha Christie. One series stars the English amateur sleuth Miss Marple and another with the Belgian private detective Hercule Poirot. Most of the novels take place between the two world wars. These books have adapted into radio programs, TV series, movies, comic books and video games.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Baker Response
It would be great if a speaker had read the books he/she is going to talk about, however, it's impractical. While I have read the medieval mysteries I discussed and would be very enthusiastic, it's not a genre everyone likes. If I felt a group would prefer something like The Kite Runner I don't think I should have to read it. I would do some research and read some reviews to be able to tell a group about it, and stir up some enthusiasm. I don't even have time to read the books on my to-read list, much less one for a random group. I would only feel it necessary to read one if it were for an actual book club discussion.
Booktalk
If I were to do a Booktalk, I would make sure to have a copy of any book (and any extra copies my library had) I discussed with me, and if I were to link a book to a TV series, I would make sure to bring those as well. I would make one book the focus of my talk, but bring others that are of the same genre for variety. For this talk, I would probably wear my "Bring out yer dead" Monty Python t-shirt, but that would depend on the particular group.
Hi. I would like to tell you about some fabulous books that create a great combination of medieval history and mysteries! If you aren't a history fan, these books are a good way to find out interesting facts without feeling as though you are in a high school history class. If you are a fan, then you will appreciate the author's attention to those details. The first historical mystery I brought today is by an author who writes in several different genres, including romance and fantasy, and who lives in LaFayette, Indiana! Her name is Roberta Gellis and the book is called A Mortal Bane.
<hold up book>
This book is about a woman who works in the oldest profession. Yep, she's a prostitute. It's also based in twelfth century London and Magdalene la Bâtarde chose this path because it was the only one available to her to survive. Unwed women did not have many choices available to them at that time. So when a client is found dead, she and her women are blamed and Magdalene must find out who murdered the dead man or she may hang. Sir Bellamy is the investigator sent to determine "whodunit" and finds himself respecting Magdalene - perhaps he even feels a bit more?
Magdalene is an engaging character, she is practical and also kind. Her profession does not deter the reader from liking her and wanting to know more, especially from the hints about her secretive past. Bellamy is the love interest, but that is secondary to the mystery and is not fully developed until later. The details of London and how society works is very interesting, but those details are integrated into the story so well, the reader doesn't even realize how much information they are getting as they are just absorbed in the story. There are three other titles in this series and through each book the characters grow and change.
<pass book around and hold up next book>
Another title in the medieval era is Candace M. Robb's The Apothecary's Rose. This is the first in a series of ten books about a retired Welsh archer, aptly named Owen Archer. The time is 1363 and the setting is York, England. Owen is sent to investigate the murder of a highborn noble. Once he solves this mystery, he is begun to be seen as an "investigator" and is called upon to solve more. Robb gives Owen an interesting and recurring secondary cast of characters that are important to him and his work. She also describes the time period well, and the places Owen must venture to in the course of his investigations.
<pass book around and hold up next book and DVD series>
Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) is probably the most famous of these medieval authors, as she wrote the Brother Cadfael series set during the 1100s. You may have seen the TV series starring Derek Jacobi. The Welsh born Cadfael turned to the cloister when he was in his forties, and had previously been a soldier and sailor. His worldly experience helps him solve mysteries, although it also gets him in to a bit of trouble as he has a sense of justice that others may not appreciate. One recurring theme in the books is that of star-crossed lovers. Brother Cadfael always solves the mystery and helps the lovers unite. The first in this series is A Morbid Taste for Bones.
<pass book and first (or more) season of the DVD series around, hold up final book>
The last book I am suggesting for Medieval Mystery Madness? Last but definitely not least, The Queen's Man by Sharon Kay Penman. She won an Edgar award for this mystery, is a fantastic author, and this book is the first of four. They are about Justin de Quincy who is Queen Elinor of Aquitaine's "man" and she sends him to solve serious issues that affect the crown. The time period is the late 1100s and takes place in different areas of England. Penman also has other fabulous historical titles if all these books have whet your interest.
<pass book around>
I love all of these books, and have read all of Gellis', Robb's and Penman's books, their mysteries as well as their other titles. I am a slacker and have only read 4 of Ellis', but they are great reads. These books are definitely a great way to delve into the past but with the conveniences of modern plumbing. Happy reading!
I'd give them a list of the books I have talked about plus other medieval mystery authors with the first title in their series (if there is one):
Margaret Frazer
P.C. Doherty
Michael Jecks
Umberto Eco
Hi. I would like to tell you about some fabulous books that create a great combination of medieval history and mysteries! If you aren't a history fan, these books are a good way to find out interesting facts without feeling as though you are in a high school history class. If you are a fan, then you will appreciate the author's attention to those details. The first historical mystery I brought today is by an author who writes in several different genres, including romance and fantasy, and who lives in LaFayette, Indiana! Her name is Roberta Gellis and the book is called A Mortal Bane.
<hold up book>
This book is about a woman who works in the oldest profession. Yep, she's a prostitute. It's also based in twelfth century London and Magdalene la Bâtarde chose this path because it was the only one available to her to survive. Unwed women did not have many choices available to them at that time. So when a client is found dead, she and her women are blamed and Magdalene must find out who murdered the dead man or she may hang. Sir Bellamy is the investigator sent to determine "whodunit" and finds himself respecting Magdalene - perhaps he even feels a bit more?
Magdalene is an engaging character, she is practical and also kind. Her profession does not deter the reader from liking her and wanting to know more, especially from the hints about her secretive past. Bellamy is the love interest, but that is secondary to the mystery and is not fully developed until later. The details of London and how society works is very interesting, but those details are integrated into the story so well, the reader doesn't even realize how much information they are getting as they are just absorbed in the story. There are three other titles in this series and through each book the characters grow and change.
<pass book around and hold up next book>
Another title in the medieval era is Candace M. Robb's The Apothecary's Rose. This is the first in a series of ten books about a retired Welsh archer, aptly named Owen Archer. The time is 1363 and the setting is York, England. Owen is sent to investigate the murder of a highborn noble. Once he solves this mystery, he is begun to be seen as an "investigator" and is called upon to solve more. Robb gives Owen an interesting and recurring secondary cast of characters that are important to him and his work. She also describes the time period well, and the places Owen must venture to in the course of his investigations.
<pass book around and hold up next book and DVD series>
Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) is probably the most famous of these medieval authors, as she wrote the Brother Cadfael series set during the 1100s. You may have seen the TV series starring Derek Jacobi. The Welsh born Cadfael turned to the cloister when he was in his forties, and had previously been a soldier and sailor. His worldly experience helps him solve mysteries, although it also gets him in to a bit of trouble as he has a sense of justice that others may not appreciate. One recurring theme in the books is that of star-crossed lovers. Brother Cadfael always solves the mystery and helps the lovers unite. The first in this series is A Morbid Taste for Bones.
<pass book and first (or more) season of the DVD series around, hold up final book>
The last book I am suggesting for Medieval Mystery Madness? Last but definitely not least, The Queen's Man by Sharon Kay Penman. She won an Edgar award for this mystery, is a fantastic author, and this book is the first of four. They are about Justin de Quincy who is Queen Elinor of Aquitaine's "man" and she sends him to solve serious issues that affect the crown. The time period is the late 1100s and takes place in different areas of England. Penman also has other fabulous historical titles if all these books have whet your interest.
<pass book around>
I love all of these books, and have read all of Gellis', Robb's and Penman's books, their mysteries as well as their other titles. I am a slacker and have only read 4 of Ellis', but they are great reads. These books are definitely a great way to delve into the past but with the conveniences of modern plumbing. Happy reading!
I'd give them a list of the books I have talked about plus other medieval mystery authors with the first title in their series (if there is one):
Margaret Frazer
P.C. Doherty
Michael Jecks
Umberto Eco
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Inspirational Romance annotation
A Heart Most Worthy by Siri Mitchell
Three young Italian immigrant women in America are trying to determine how they fit in with their new country in this historical romance set during 1918 with WWI and the Spanish influenza epidemic raging in the background, while they also try to balance the obligations of family and faith with their own desires.
Julietta comes from a loving family, yet longs for excitement, but will her choices lead her into trouble? Annamaria is the eldest girl in her family and is beginning to chafe at the expectations of giving up her dreams of marriage and children to take care of her parents - will this quiet good girl get what she longs for? Luciana has a secret, one that has followed her from Italy and keeps her in constant fear, will she be able to put the past to behind her and find happiness in her new country? These girls meet while finding employment in a dress shop, and as they become friends and their lives intersect, they make mistakes but learn from them to create hopeful futures for themselves. Rating: G
- strong community/family ties
- religion/beliefs
- sweet story
- Misunderstandings between the couples
- Secondary characters mainly hinder progression of romance, or may help
- Historical setting determines the gender roles
- HEA, happily ever after
Author Read-a-likes from NoveList using keywords Christian historical fiction:
- Siri Mitchell - She Walks in Beauty
- Judith Pella - Written on the Wind
- Maureen Lang - The Oak Leaves
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
eBooks info
I had emailed someone at work to find out the cost of eBooks for our library system. I told her that a student in this class had mentioned the cost being around $85 per 24 check outs for one title. I received an answer from the woman - she was nice enough to get back to me quickly - who deals with and orders titles from our eBook vendor, Overdrive.
So many publishers, so many lending models is all I can say here. A few year back, HarperCollins took a ton of flack for saying that you were only buying their e-books for 26 circs and then you would have to buy them again. Libraries protested and refused to buy them. Sadly, Harper's model seems pretty good now. Their prices are cheap (about $10 for many titles) and if a book is circing well, I wouldn't mind the nominal fee to keep it. (But that's just me!) Then, Random House announced they would be increasing their prices. A Bestseller like "Takedown Twenty" by Evanovich costs $84. JK Rowling entered the game and announced her Harry Potter e-books would be good for 5 years. It's a brave new world and everyone is still trying to figure out the mechanics of it all.
I asked if an author wasn't with a publishing house, could they work out a deal with Overdrive?
OverDrive will work with self-published authors. They use aggregators like Smashwords and CreateSpace. It looks like they typically won't carry an author unless the author has written at least 5 books. You can email pubinfo@overdrive.com for the specifics.
Lastly, I asked - Is it possible to actually get eBooks through a library that isn't connected to Overdrive? Or will purchasing or finding freebies be their (our) only option?
Jamie LaRue of Douglas County is the one to Google here. He was the "big player" when it came to trying to do his own thing with e-books. He set up servers, etc. and wanted to carry local and indie authors without going through OverDrive. http://douglascountylibraries.org/content/ebooks-and-DCL There are others. Some library systems in California have followed his lead. Our own Director was interested in the feasibility of this. After looking into it, what you would save by avoiding price gouging, etc. you would be spending on tech skills and support. Also, the content would not be what many patrons would be looking for. The patrons want the things they have heard about--Bestseller list books.
Just thought it was good to know. Thanks again Anna for the heads up on the cost.
So many publishers, so many lending models is all I can say here. A few year back, HarperCollins took a ton of flack for saying that you were only buying their e-books for 26 circs and then you would have to buy them again. Libraries protested and refused to buy them. Sadly, Harper's model seems pretty good now. Their prices are cheap (about $10 for many titles) and if a book is circing well, I wouldn't mind the nominal fee to keep it. (But that's just me!) Then, Random House announced they would be increasing their prices. A Bestseller like "Takedown Twenty" by Evanovich costs $84. JK Rowling entered the game and announced her Harry Potter e-books would be good for 5 years. It's a brave new world and everyone is still trying to figure out the mechanics of it all.
I asked if an author wasn't with a publishing house, could they work out a deal with Overdrive?
OverDrive will work with self-published authors. They use aggregators like Smashwords and CreateSpace. It looks like they typically won't carry an author unless the author has written at least 5 books. You can email pubinfo@overdrive.com for the specifics.
Lastly, I asked - Is it possible to actually get eBooks through a library that isn't connected to Overdrive? Or will purchasing or finding freebies be their (our) only option?
Jamie LaRue of Douglas County is the one to Google here. He was the "big player" when it came to trying to do his own thing with e-books. He set up servers, etc. and wanted to carry local and indie authors without going through OverDrive. http://douglascountylibraries.org/content/ebooks-and-DCL There are others. Some library systems in California have followed his lead. Our own Director was interested in the feasibility of this. After looking into it, what you would save by avoiding price gouging, etc. you would be spending on tech skills and support. Also, the content would not be what many patrons would be looking for. The patrons want the things they have heard about--Bestseller list books.
Just thought it was good to know. Thanks again Anna for the heads up on the cost.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Week 5 Prompt
Since many eBooks are self-published, that can make it challenging for authors and a library's collection. Unless a book has gotten a lot of buzz, most of these books are overlooked, even by many bloggers. The authors just don't have the marketing skills, or money, to get their book or name known. However, the publishing industry as a whole would not want reviews done of indie eBook authors. It cuts them out of their money. However, for us in our industry, a reason why eBooks should be reviewed is because they are cheaper and easy to deal with. Reviews should be done by authors publishing by a house or not. If libraries are worried about lowering costs, this should be something seriously considered. So many people now read on devices, and while I don't think books will go out of print any time soon, reading eBooks will become more prevalent in the near future.
The first review of the romantic suspense wasn't a review, it was a summary. The second gave the potential reader a glimpse into the book - the personal conflicts the characters are dealing with, what type of paranormal issue, the speed of the book, the style and whether the reviewer liked it. If I were to use either review, it definitely would be based on the second. Depending on what library I was working in, I might buy it.
After reading the review of Angela's Ashes, I would buy it for my library. This reviewer gave comparisons to show the differences, and of why and what makes memoirs compelling. To me, this was that the "happy" ending needs to balance out or surpass the misery that the person endured (at least in these). Since this type of memoir can be very heavy, or depressing, the fact that McCourt uses humor in his work is a positive factor. So is the fact that he won a Pulitzer. However, I would have given up on reading this review if it weren't for class.
No, I do not think that it's fair at all that one book or specific authors get a ton of reviews and others don't. Whenever I see a book reviewed by several professional publications, and it's turned into a bestseller with neon lights, it makes me not want to read it. Usually I won't (I still haven't seen The Titanic because I was so sick of hearing about it that I was completely turned off). The whole process reminds me of herding cattle.
I have daily, weekly and monthly scoop emailed to me, mostly blogs but some newsletters - Tor, Orbit, Angry Robot (all three scifi and/or fantasy), Early Word, Goodreads, and Topping and Company (a bookstore in Bath, England I visited, mostly literary) for upcoming books, and Smart Bitches Trashy Books (my favorite, and mainly romance with random stuff thrown in), Dear Author (all types of romance, from inspirational to paranormal, but I've seen scifi, too), cuddlebuggery (YA and thanks for that one!), and occasionally I will check out Locus (scifi) for reviews. I have recently signed up for an ALA membership, and transferred my books from Goodreads to Library Thing. I don't read many amazon reviews, there are too many, "OMG, I love this book!" crazy fan reviews to filter through. Goodreads is a bit better, and now that I have been using Library Thing I will consult that more often. I also read whatever magazine that has reviews that may float by me at work. It's hard to keep up.
The first review of the romantic suspense wasn't a review, it was a summary. The second gave the potential reader a glimpse into the book - the personal conflicts the characters are dealing with, what type of paranormal issue, the speed of the book, the style and whether the reviewer liked it. If I were to use either review, it definitely would be based on the second. Depending on what library I was working in, I might buy it.
After reading the review of Angela's Ashes, I would buy it for my library. This reviewer gave comparisons to show the differences, and of why and what makes memoirs compelling. To me, this was that the "happy" ending needs to balance out or surpass the misery that the person endured (at least in these). Since this type of memoir can be very heavy, or depressing, the fact that McCourt uses humor in his work is a positive factor. So is the fact that he won a Pulitzer. However, I would have given up on reading this review if it weren't for class.
No, I do not think that it's fair at all that one book or specific authors get a ton of reviews and others don't. Whenever I see a book reviewed by several professional publications, and it's turned into a bestseller with neon lights, it makes me not want to read it. Usually I won't (I still haven't seen The Titanic because I was so sick of hearing about it that I was completely turned off). The whole process reminds me of herding cattle.
I have daily, weekly and monthly scoop emailed to me, mostly blogs but some newsletters - Tor, Orbit, Angry Robot (all three scifi and/or fantasy), Early Word, Goodreads, and Topping and Company (a bookstore in Bath, England I visited, mostly literary) for upcoming books, and Smart Bitches Trashy Books (my favorite, and mainly romance with random stuff thrown in), Dear Author (all types of romance, from inspirational to paranormal, but I've seen scifi, too), cuddlebuggery (YA and thanks for that one!), and occasionally I will check out Locus (scifi) for reviews. I have recently signed up for an ALA membership, and transferred my books from Goodreads to Library Thing. I don't read many amazon reviews, there are too many, "OMG, I love this book!" crazy fan reviews to filter through. Goodreads is a bit better, and now that I have been using Library Thing I will consult that more often. I also read whatever magazine that has reviews that may float by me at work. It's hard to keep up.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Kirkus Style Review
Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia
Waking up in a hospital after tossing his boss out of a window and finding out monsters are in fact real, scarred and battered Owen Z. Pitt gets a job offer to kill more of them with Monster Hunter International.Surviving the attack by his werewolf boss is the catalyst of Owen's entry into this secret society. He accepts the job to become a monster hunter in a private company that trains and works with others who survived their own attacks. Of course, immediately after he is employed, there is a horrible enemy that appears and Owen and his fellow hunters need to save the world. Unfortunately, readers are continually reminded that the main protagonist is large, ugly, and bald, and although he is not perfect at everything, he's oh-so-close. The fellow hunters are all uninspiring, especially the two female characters who are nothing more than bland clichés; one is a stripper that only wanted to put herself through medical school and the other is the main character's love interest, with whom he fell for at first sight after watching her shoot a gun better than he can. However, the real love story, waxed poetically upon pages and pages, are all things regarding guns and bullets. The premise of this book sounds intriguing: a secret group that may have to save the world as they fight against these real-life monsters. Alas, the result gives readers nothing new, using all the common tropes of the genre, without any satisfying reward at the end of this very lengthy novel.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Secret Shopper
I went to a local library, and had never been there before. I entered the building, which is fairly old and is a bi-level. I thought I saw people moving around upstairs so I went up the steps.
Some libraries have so much information when you walk in the door, signs all over the place, book stands, etc. that is can be overwhelming. This one was a bit more "calm." The way to the desk was clear and no other patrons were there, just three library workers. On the counter there was a flyer for some upcoming events, and some bookmarks but I didn't see anything regarding books themselves. I was met with a pleasant greeting by, let's call her Pleasant Librarian.
Me: Hi. I am looking for a book, please.
Pleasant: Oh. (At this point, the second, or Crabby Librarian, gave a weary sigh and left. I didn't see her again. The third, Neutral Librarian stayed, but hardly looked up.) Ok, um, what type of book are you looking for?
Me: Well, I like fantasy. And I sort of -
Pleasant: Have you read The Narnia Chronicles?
Me: Yes. A long time ago. I also read a book by Joe Abercrombie around Christmas, something with "Cold" in the title? Maybe like that?
Pleasant: Ok. Let me see.
(I had no idea what she's typing in her computer, nor what database or site she's looking at.)
Pleasant: Hmm. We have a couple of his titles here, do you want those? (Obviously, she was looking on their catalog, but didn't check to see if they were part of a series, which a few are and would make me nuts if I got them out of order.)
Me: He's kind of bloody, is there anything less descriptive with the battles and whatnot?
Pleasant: Let me look again. (I was almost lying over the counter to see, she was now looking up amazon.com. Neutral was furiously typing something and then she got involved.)
Neutral to Pleasant: Here, try these (pointing to her computer).
Pleasant: Here's a couple (and proceeded to write them down), The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and The Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan.
Me: Oh, ok, um, looks good, I guess. Thanks. How'd you find those books? (to Neutral, who didn't answer me)
Pleasant: She found them on Goodreads. Fiction is over there (pointing to her left and smiling), if you need help let me know! And we have lots of helpful information on our website, too!
After she pointed in the direction of fiction, she went to work on something and I was dismissed. No one walked me over there to check if the two titles were even in, or the catalog to see if they were in the collection. At least I didn't think they did, I couldn't see their screens without laying on top of the counter. The two titles I had read, so they are less descriptive - a bit - but it was annoying how the one left with a sigh (uh, hello? maybe your job?), then the other, Neutral, didn't even make eye contact with me or deign to speak to me. I would consider it a success in that those were both decent suggestions, but I couldn't tell if it was just picking two off of a list by luck, or Neutral may have been familiar with the genre, or anything. I was hyper aware I was in Secret Shopper Mode, so I am not sure if I was being normal, or stiff, and the whole experience was "off" because I was looking for specific things. I did go in with a positive attitude because a relative of mine is a patron and always tells me how fabulous they all are with her. However, if I were a patron at that library, and it was my first venture there, I would be irked (I am now) because Crabby left and Neutral didn't look up once. Pleasant was nice enough, so the whole visit wasn't awful, but she didn't give me any library literature that had, for example, the library's website address to find "helpful information." Nor did anyone ask if I was a new patron, did I need a card? Anything of that nature. I am hoping for the other patron's sake, and prospective patrons, Crabby and Neutral were having a bad day.
Some libraries have so much information when you walk in the door, signs all over the place, book stands, etc. that is can be overwhelming. This one was a bit more "calm." The way to the desk was clear and no other patrons were there, just three library workers. On the counter there was a flyer for some upcoming events, and some bookmarks but I didn't see anything regarding books themselves. I was met with a pleasant greeting by, let's call her Pleasant Librarian.
Me: Hi. I am looking for a book, please.
Pleasant: Oh. (At this point, the second, or Crabby Librarian, gave a weary sigh and left. I didn't see her again. The third, Neutral Librarian stayed, but hardly looked up.) Ok, um, what type of book are you looking for?
Me: Well, I like fantasy. And I sort of -
Pleasant: Have you read The Narnia Chronicles?
Me: Yes. A long time ago. I also read a book by Joe Abercrombie around Christmas, something with "Cold" in the title? Maybe like that?
Pleasant: Ok. Let me see.
(I had no idea what she's typing in her computer, nor what database or site she's looking at.)
Pleasant: Hmm. We have a couple of his titles here, do you want those? (Obviously, she was looking on their catalog, but didn't check to see if they were part of a series, which a few are and would make me nuts if I got them out of order.)
Me: He's kind of bloody, is there anything less descriptive with the battles and whatnot?
Pleasant: Let me look again. (I was almost lying over the counter to see, she was now looking up amazon.com. Neutral was furiously typing something and then she got involved.)
Neutral to Pleasant: Here, try these (pointing to her computer).
Pleasant: Here's a couple (and proceeded to write them down), The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson and The Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan.
Me: Oh, ok, um, looks good, I guess. Thanks. How'd you find those books? (to Neutral, who didn't answer me)
Pleasant: She found them on Goodreads. Fiction is over there (pointing to her left and smiling), if you need help let me know! And we have lots of helpful information on our website, too!
After she pointed in the direction of fiction, she went to work on something and I was dismissed. No one walked me over there to check if the two titles were even in, or the catalog to see if they were in the collection. At least I didn't think they did, I couldn't see their screens without laying on top of the counter. The two titles I had read, so they are less descriptive - a bit - but it was annoying how the one left with a sigh (uh, hello? maybe your job?), then the other, Neutral, didn't even make eye contact with me or deign to speak to me. I would consider it a success in that those were both decent suggestions, but I couldn't tell if it was just picking two off of a list by luck, or Neutral may have been familiar with the genre, or anything. I was hyper aware I was in Secret Shopper Mode, so I am not sure if I was being normal, or stiff, and the whole experience was "off" because I was looking for specific things. I did go in with a positive attitude because a relative of mine is a patron and always tells me how fabulous they all are with her. However, if I were a patron at that library, and it was my first venture there, I would be irked (I am now) because Crabby left and Neutral didn't look up once. Pleasant was nice enough, so the whole visit wasn't awful, but she didn't give me any library literature that had, for example, the library's website address to find "helpful information." Nor did anyone ask if I was a new patron, did I need a card? Anything of that nature. I am hoping for the other patron's sake, and prospective patrons, Crabby and Neutral were having a bad day.
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