The First Rule of Book Club

Our first book club meeting, March 2019. Photo by Darcie Morris

Just over two years ago, a few of my neighbors mentioned that they'd be interested in starting a book club and asked me to join. As I was just starting my new career as a librarian, I was excited at the prospect and agreed to join in. After a lot of group texts to decide our first read, we set a date to meet up and discuss Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. We've met every month since, with a few exceptions due to holidays or the ongoing pandemic of a certain infectious respiratory virus. 

I've heard tales of book clubs that, despite their best intentions, degrade into (or sometimes even begin as) a designated hour for small talk, socializing, and snacks. In this context, you can imagine my surprise and glee when our first meeting -- and in fact, all subsequent meetings to date -- actually focused on intelligent and thought-provoking discussion of the assigned book. We try to cover a broad range of books, including titles like Pride and Prejudice, The Martian, They Called Us Enemy, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Light between Oceans. And yes, snacks usually make an appearance. 

Our most recent meeting was a few weeks ago on Friday, February 26, where we discussed The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. As we met in the home of one of our group members, it was stimulating to contemplate the open-ended questions prepared by the discussion leader, diving into the implications and ethics of the characters' actions and dissecting our perceptions of the author's intent. Group members were given ample time to consider and respond meaningfully to the questions posed, and everyone had an opportunity to share their insights. No one stole the show, and no one felt strong-armed into speaking against their will. I learned a lot from my fellow book-clubbers, and I engaged with the text in new ways I hadn't considered before.

Truth be told, this book club is what high school English class should have been: rather than stress-inducing timed essays and cramming SparkNotes the night before a quiz, we have created a place where all are welcome to share their ideas and learn from one another. (Maybe it only works now that we're all out of our teens.)

As the conversation continued, I was able to identify key aspects of the work, like its nonlinear storyline, atmospheric tone, and lush writing style. Interestingly, while these elements were integral to the pleasant experience of some of our group's members, others felt that they had to struggle to enjoy the work despite them.

This experience has helped me realize that our tastes as readers vary: what some relish, others despise. Further exposure to a wide gamut of literature will help me develop my skills as a readers' advisor. There is no one "best book" to recommend because each reader has a different definition of what a "good book" entails. A good readers' advisor will identify more elements than just genre to gauge a reader's interests.

Also, that night we realized that only one of us has ever been to a circus in real-life. My bucket list grew by one. Big top, here I come.

Fandoms in Publishing and Readers’ Advisory

Fandoms in Publishing and Readers’ Advisory

Having renewed the Roman Catholic Church with “a new Pentecost,” Pope John XXIII was named Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” for 1962, the first pope to receive the title (Time, 1963). Decades later, Pope John Paul II attributed John XXIII with saying, “What unites us is much greater than what divides us” (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001). These words ring true even today, when our nation is fraught with turmoil and unrest. 

What are the things that unite us? For centuries, groups of people have been drawn together by common interest and activities. Derived from fanatic, the word “fan” has been used since the late 19th century to refer to “the devoted observers of, or participants in, a sport” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). However, this term has since expanded to include any “ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit)” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Wikipedia (Fandom, 2021) defines a fandom as “a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest.” 

Kratos cosplayer at New York Comic Con in 2018.
Photo by Rhododentrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

The word “fandoms” may bring to mind the television series Star Trek and its avid viewers who dress up as Spock and Kirk, attend conventions to meet the creators and actors, or write letters in a campaign to extend the franchise. However, the concept extends backwards in time to those who devoured Sherlock Holmes mysteries over a hundred years ago (Brown, 2009), or those who once fawned over the musical talents of Frank Sinatra, Elvis, the Beatles, or even Romantic musician Franz Liszt (American Library Association, 2015).

The advent of the Internet cannot be ignored as a catalyst for the formation and promulgation of various fandoms, be it through blogs, fan forums, archives, online communities, or other formats (Romano, 2012). Reid (2018) reports that over 250,000 fans purchased tickets to attend the New York Comic Con in 2018, most of which tickets were purchased online. 

The extensive power of fandoms to unite people bled over from the general zeitgeist of the 21st century into mainstream literature. This essay will discuss the impact of fandoms in recent publishing trends and how this impacts readers’ advisory. It also provides a list of fandom-inspired reading suggestions to help introduce a librarian to the trend, as well as new and future publications to keep an eye out for.

Recent Publishing Trends

While the concept of fandoms extends several decades and even centuries into our past, the influence of fandoms on mainstream publishing is particularly evident in the past decade. In 2013, the publisher St. Martin’s Griffin released Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, in which a girl named Cath navigates not only her transition from high school to college but also her obsession with a fictional character (Rowell, 2013). This depiction of fandom in the real world spawned a number of similar works, particularly in young adult and middle grade fiction.

In 2019, the Marvel Cinematic Universe – which supports a very large fan base – concluded its third phase of motion picture debuts with Avengers: Endgame and Spiderman: Far from Home (Ford & Kit, 2014). The hype has translated into literature with the publication of works that features superheroes in everyday situations; Infinity Son by Adam Silvera and The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune both feature superpowered individuals on alternate Earths where Internet-based fans are suddenly pulled into the action (BookPage, 2020).

Fandoms have the power to connect individuals who otherwise never would have met, and personal information – such as names – is often kept confidential amid online interactions (BookPage, 2020). In her recent work I Kissed Alice, Anna Birch utilizes these aspects of fandoms in the story of two prep school rivals who unknowingly collaborate on an “Alice in Wonderland” webcomic and fall in love (Birch, 2020). There has also been a recent surge of work that feature fans engaging in fandom activities in the real world, such as This Is How We Fly by Anna Meriano. This work stars a “muggle Quidditch team,” which consists of “no flying, no magic, just a bunch of scrappy players holding PVC pipe between their legs and throwing dodgeballs” in imitation of the wizarding sport from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series (Meriano, 2020).

It goes without saying that a readers’ advisory librarian should keep abreast of recent publication trends. It is only through a familiarity with new literature that a librarian can keep themselves relevant and informed. A knowledge of recent publishing trends will help both new and existing patrons to develop and deepen their trust in librarians. It can also help reluctant patrons be engaged with new literature and programs that relate to topics they care about. 

Reading Suggestions

A librarian who desires to further understand this trend should read the aforementioned Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. This coming-of-age story which heavily features fanfiction was largely without precedent, and it served to kickstart the trend into overdrive. The remainder of the reading suggestions have not been previously named in this essay.

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson (2014): Teenager Kamala Khan dreams of joining the Avengers, but when dream comes true and she’s suddenly empowered with superhuman gifts, she struggles with her identity and her legacy as she tries to help her community. This graphic novel portrays the challenges that arise when a fan is drawn into the world they adore, as well as touching on topics like diversity, culture, and family relationships.

The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash (2016): Graham plans to use the upcoming comic book convention to get his lifelong best friend Roxy to fall in love with him, but he soon learns that real-life can be more complicated than fiction. The use of the comic con as a setting and plot device clearly demonstrates the cultural impact that fandoms have had on modern society.

Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky (2016): When four friends sneak into a Manhattan hotel to catch a glimpse of The Ruperts, their favorite boy band, things take a turn for the worse when one of them kidnaps and ties up one of the band members. And when Rupert is killed, things get even worse. Rife with dark, sadistic humor, this book shows the effect of fandoms through the extreme (and here, comically exaggerated) actions of fans.

All the Feels by Danika Stone (2016): When superfan Liv’s favorite character Spartan is killed off in the latest movie installment of Starveil, she launches a campaign to bring him back from the dead. This work offers a view into the inner world of fans, particularly the online venues in which they thrive. It also showcases the influence fans can have on real-life entities like movie producers and writers.

New and Future Publications

What I Like about You by Marisa Kanter (April 2020): After achieving popularity and becoming a couple with web comic author Nash via her Twitter pseudonym, Halle moves to her grandfather’s small town and is shocked to meet Nash in person. She struggles as to when and how to reveal her secret identity to the boy who may have already fallen in love with her alter ego.

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston (August 2020): This retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” stars a teenage heartthrob who evades a tabloid scandal by fleeing to a small town where he meets a bookish girl in mourning over her mother’s death. 

Spoiler Alert: A Novel by Olivia Dade (October 2020): Despite studio rules, Marcus, the star of a fantasy TV series, writes clandestine fanfiction about his character. When geologist April’s plus-sized cosplay goes viral on social media, Marcus asks her out and soon realizes that she is the fellow fanfiction writer he has befriended online. But how can he reveal the truth to her, and can their online romance survive in the real world?

Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala (January 2021): Winning the upcoming cosplay competition could secure Raffy an admission to art school, not to mention drum up respect for his talent. But things get complicated when he’s paired with his main competitor, ex-boyfriend Luca.

Down with This Ship by Katie Kingman (expected June 2021): Kole tries to keep her superb writing skills anonymous, but when she wins a major contest for her fanfiction and her identity is revealed, she’s thrown into heated ship wars, as well as social drama at school.

Conclusion

For centuries, humans have gravitated towards those who share their common interests. In today’s digital world, our potential to connect with each other has increased exponentially. Fans of almost any topic can find spaces to connect, create, and share with fellow fans. The power of fandoms has impacted mainstream publishing, resulting in several recent publishing trends. A readers’ advisory librarian should keep themselves current with new publications to establish trust with their patrons. An understanding of fandom-inspired literature could also help a library reach new patrons who otherwise may not have interest in library services. For example, a library could further leverage existent interest in science fiction fandoms to host “tournaments or other face-to-face social activities” in pursuit of their goals to be “centers of community and engagement” (American Library Association, 2015).

 

References

American Library Association. (2015, September 25). Fandom. Retrieved March 11, 2021, from http://www.ala.org/tools/future/trends/fandom

Birch, A. (2020). I kissed Alice. Macmillan.

BookPage. (2020, April 21). 9 publishing trends we’re loving right now. https://bookpage.com/features/25093-9-publishing-trends-were-loving-right-now

Brown, S. (2009, April 20). Scott Brown on Sherlock Holmes, obsessed nerds, and fan fiction. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2009/04/pl-brown-6/

Fandom. (2021, February 18). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fandom&oldid=1007484580

Ford, R. & Kit, B. (2014, October 28). Marvel reveals complete Phase 3 plans, dates ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Inhumans,’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvel-reveals-complete-phase-3-plans-dates-black-panther-inhumans-avengers-infinity-war-744455

Libreria Editrice Vaticana. (2001, February 9). Address of John Paul II to the catholic bishops of the Russian Federation on their "Ad Limina" visit. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/2001/february/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20010209_russia-ad-limina.html

Meriano, A. (2020). This is how we fly. Philomel Books.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Fan. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved March 10, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fan

Reid, C. (2018, October 10). A record 250,000 fans mob New York Comic Con 2018. Publishers Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/78281-a-record-250-000-fans-mob-new-york-comic-con-2018.html

Romano, A. (2012, August 7). A beginner’s guide to fandom. Daily Dot. Retrieved March 11, 2021, from https://www.dailydot.com/culture/beginners-guide-fandom-fanworks/

Rowell, R. (2013). Fangirl. St. Martin’s Griffin.

Time. (1963, January 4). Man of the Year. 81(1), 58-62

Sea Rose Lane

Sea Rose Lane
by Irene Hannon

Revell, 2016. 362 pages. Gentle Romance

Book #2 in the "Hope Harbor" series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

Settings: Hope Harbor, Oregon (fictional seaside town)

Plot Summary: When high-profile attorney Eric Nash is laid off, he returns to his hometown of Hope Harbor, Oregon, where he finds his father has hired BJ Stevens to help renovate Eric's childhood home into a bed-and-breakfast. BJ's previous relationships have left a sour taste in her mouth, but when the pair team up on a project to benefit the senior citizens of the community, they both end up finding love and hope for the future as they come closer to each other and to God. 

Subject Headings: Christian life, lawyers, architects, men/women relations, homecomings, bed-and-breakfast.

Content Warnings: Suicide attempt, depression. 

Elements of Gentle Reads:

The textbook by Wyatt and Saricks (2019) mentions very little about Gentle Reads. They are mentioned in a list of "types of novels [that] do not constitute genres in and of themselves because they are too amorphous" (p. 194). They are also mentioned specifically as a class of books "that draw from so many genres [that] they cannot be defined as even a subgenre of fiction" (p. xxiv). Therefore, the elements of Gentle Reads listed below are compiled from other sources, as cited. 

• Little or no sex, violence, or offensive language (April S., 2020?; E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021; Redwing Public Library, n.d.).
  
  This work is ultra-sweet*. The Romance elements are so mild that they wouldn't make even the most old-fashioned, strait-laced, or sensitive reader blush; the characters never advance beyond hugs and kisses. I also counted just one mild expletive throughout the entire work.
  
  *A quick aside: I like to use the terms "sweet" and "spicy" when describing the sexual content of a work with patrons because it removes any potential judgment that might come from a term like "clean" (with its implied partner "dirty"). Just as we all prefer different kinds of food without one being inherently "better" than another, we can all have different tastes in romantic content without assigning value. Patrons shouldn't feel bashful or shameful when consulting a librarian, and this helps to reduce those negative feelings.
  
  
• Upbeat, sometimes humorous or inspirational (April S., 2020?; E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021; League of Extraordinary Librarians, n.d.).
  
  This book features a heartwarming, uplifting tone. It's sprinkled with humor throughout, but not so much to detract from the storyline. The flawed characters find ways to strengthen their relationships with God and each other. They don't call it Hope Harbor for nothing.
  
  
• Happy ending (E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021).
  
  Without spoiling the ending, all characters arrive at a happy ending, including one that doesn't involve a romantic relationship. In fact, I would say that the primary focus of the novel is how the main characters eventually arrive at their "happily ever after."
  
  
• Typically small-town setting (April S., 2020?).
  
  Eric's move from the big city stands in contrast to the coziness of small-town life. While the exact population of Hope Harbor isn't mentioned, the tight-knit community lends charm and a sense of place to the work.
  
  
• Often contain Christian elements (E. Cataldi, personal communication, March 5, 2021; Redwing Public Library, n.d.).
  
  This book contains extensive references to a Christian life and spiritual content, featuring God, prayer, miracles, and Bible scriptures in virtually every mental debate and discussion.

Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009) 

1. Leisurely pace. This work features several passages of introspection and contemplation, as well as extensive internal monologues. Like real-life small towns, Hope Harbor is a relatively quiet place, and this work is wholly devoid of intense action sequences.
2. Heartwarming tone. Being an inspirational book, the tone lends itself to the hope that can be found through a relationship with deity. While there are bleak moments and problems to be solved, the overall tone is upbeat, optimistic, and atmospheric.
3. Christian and spiritual elements. The book centers on the religious experiences and lifestyles of the characters and how they incorporate God into their relationships and lives.

Similar Works (Read-alikes): 

• Love without End by Robin Lee Hatcher
  The first work in a series of Christian Gentle Reads. Both Hatcher's and Hannon's heartwarming works feature likable, flawed characters finding fulfilling, religious lives and relationships in small towns with a strong sense of place.
• The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber
  Both of these Gentle Read works feature a bed-and-breakfast in the Pacific Northwest. Further, they both have a heartwarming tone and a leisurely pace as characters process grief from past events, unexpectedly find love, and learn the power of optimism and hope.
• The Wanderer by Robyn Carr
  These contemporary Christian romances include themes of returning to a hometown and finding small-town love. While both books share a heartwarming tone and the setting of coastal Oregon towns you'd love to move to, Carr's work is significantly spicier than Hannon's ultra-chaste Romance.
• Elephant Speak: A Devoted Keeper's Life among the Herd by Melissa Crandall
  A heartwarming story that also takes place in Oregon, this time at the Oregon Zoo. Both works feature a positive, uplifting message.
• Stay: Lessons My Dog Taught Me about Life, Loss, and Grace by Dave Burchett
  These heartwarming stories both feature Christian and spiritual elements throughout, pointing the reader to the importance of faith in everyday life.
• Crescendo: The Story of a Musical Genius who Forever Changed a Southern Town by Allen Cheney
  These two works tell heartwarming tales about life in small American towns. While Cheney doesn't write about romantic relationships, he does focus on the uplifting and inspiring power of family relationships. 
  

April S. (2020?). 7 charming gentle reads. The Blog of Toledo Lucas County Public Library. https://www.toledolibrary.org/blog/7-charming-gentle-reads

League of Extraordinary Librarians. (n.d.). Gentle reads. https://leagueofextraordinarylibrarians.weebly.com/gentle-reads.html

Redwing Public Library. (n.d.). Gentle reads. https://redwing.lib.mn.us/gentle-reads/

Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions.

Book Controversies

Photo credit: Steven Senne, Associated Press

"Six Dr. Seuss books — including And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Zoo — will stop being published because of racist and insensitive imagery," reports the Associated Press. Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the organization that owns the rights to all of Geisel's works, told the AP that "[t]hese books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong," and "[c]easing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises' catalog represents and supports all communities and families."

The AP also reports, "Dr. Seuss is adored by millions around the world for the positive values in many of his works, including environmentalism and tolerance, but criticism has grown in recent years over the way Blacks, Asians and others are drawn in some of his most beloved children’s books."

The following titles are being discontinued: And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, If I Ran the Zoo, McElligot’s Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and The Cat’s Quizzer. These works portray racial minorities as crude caricatures and offensive stereotypes, as well as using derogatory language to describe them.

As we all are, Theodor Geisel was a product of his time, and the books in question were published between 1930 and 1960. In a culture that is all too happy to "cancel" an individual and let their mistakes define their legacy, Dr. Seuss Enterprises has very astutely recognized the problematic nature of some of these books and discontinued their publication without waiting for a huge public outcry. This responsible action helps the organization ensure that their products are enjoyable for all kinds of families, and their decision to consider criticism and adjust accordingly should be applauded.

In addition to well-beloved classics, libraries provide patrons exposure to new and differing points of view, such as authors and illustrators of color. Perhaps this way, families with children can be exposed to wide treasure trove of books written in the 70 years since Dr. Seuss's controversial and problematic works debuted. Despite the fact that I was raised with Dr. Seuss books, I recognize the need to create a library atmosphere that welcomes and respects everyone.

(Also, check out Stephen Colbert's praise of Dr. Seuss Enterprises's decision.)

Cold Storage

Cold Storage
by David Koepp

Harper, 2019. 308 pages. Sci-Fi

Settings: Kiwirrkurra, Australia in December 1987; Eastern Kansas in March 2019 (near the Missouri River, probably circa Kansas City)

Plot Summary: In 1987, Pentagram operative Roberto Diaz was dispatched to rural Australia to investigate a suspected act of biological terrorism. However, what he discovered was Cordyceps novus, a highly mutative, sentient fungus that seeks out humans for nourishment and breeding grounds. This threat to all lifeforms on the planet was safely contained and placed in a cold storage unit beneath a former military repository in Kansas. That is, until things started warming up some 30 years later. Pulled out of retirement to handle this emergency, Diaz must team up with two unsuspecting security guards to stop this contagion from destroying all life on Earth.

Subject Headings: Epidemics, mycology, mutation (biology), biological terrorism, government investigations, microbiology, retired individuals.

Elements of Science Fiction: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 94)

• Explores ethical, moral, philosophical, or other question in a setting outside everyday reality. This work ventures beyond the confines of our typical life experiences by introducing a sentient fungus on track to eliminate all human life. While a real-life fungus probably cannot exhibit motivation, complex analysis, and abstract thought, perhaps this serves as an analogy to discuss the idea of something out there that is lurking and lying in wait for us.
• Setting evokes the otherness of time, place, and reality. The location of the storage unit deep underground and in a former military installation imparts a sense of otherness and unfamiliarity to the work. Also, the otherness of the reality in which the story occurs is revealing to its purpose as a work, and it helps transport the reader to another setting as they read.
  
• Style and language suit the storyline and reinforce the intellectual nature of the genre. The descriptions of the origin, adaptation, and proliferation of the fungus use a jargon specific to mycology and microbiology. This helps the reader feel immersed in the intellectual tone of the book.  
• Wide range of tones to disorient readers and highlight issues. The use of darkly humorous dialogue (such as Roberto's commentary of the physical limitations that prevent him from being a hero at age 68) and chilling, dark tones (such as the description of the mutant rat found in the underground storage unit, or the various scenes where human chest cavities erupt to spread fungal spores) provide contrast and help to emphasize the message of the work, forcing the reader to "grapple... with the responsibilities and consequences of exploration" (p. 94).
• Characters underscore issues and atmosphere; creatures emphasize otherness. The development of Roberto, Teacake, and Naomi takes a backseat to the general feeling of the book, as well as the issues that are discussed. The depictions of the fungus's mechanical, utilitarian thoughts sharply contrast the emotional, often vulgar outbursts of the human characters.
• Focus drives the pacing. Since this work is focused more on adventure elements and physical action than on ideas and philosophies, the work unfolds at a rapid pace. However, passages that explore the psychological or biological processes at work in the fungus do provide a somewhat more leisurely pace.

It's worth noting here that Cold Storage also contains several elements from other genres, such as Horror and Thriller. However, it primarily revolves around science fiction elements, and it holds the genre characteristics of Science Fiction. 

Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009) 

1. Fast pace. Born from the work's focus on adventure elements and non-stop action, the pace of the book is quite fast, with a slowdown during somewhat jargon-laden passages that discuss the scientific side of what's going on.
2. Suspenseful tone. The psychological unease that comes from knowing what the characters don't blossoms into a very suspenseful story. This is broken up at times with mild humor, but the overall tone is suspenseful.
3. Compelling writing style. The reader feels drawn into the rich, textured story, and it's a hard book to put down.

Similar Works (Read-alikes): 

• The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
  Both of these suspenseful sci-fi works by American author-screenwriters focus on a microorganism that endangers the human race and threatens a pandemic apocalypse. These fast-paced and plot-driven works use this scenario to explore the social concerns of their time.
• Red Hands by Christopher Golden
  In both of these action-packed sci-fi stories of suspense, a retired expert is asked to assist the government in its battle against a mysterious contagion on American soil. Red Hands features a bioweapon that has renders its victim unable to touch anyone without killing them instantly.
• Frozen Solid by James M. Tabor
  These suspenseful, plot-driven works focus on the prevention of mass annihilation and a pandemic apocalypse while creating a sense of suspense. Whereas Koepp's contagion is a mutated fungus, Tabor's work features a group of scientists who plot to release a virus to end overpopulation.
• The Next Pandemic: On the Front Lines against Humankind's Gravest Dangers by Ali S. Khan
  Khan, a former director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) uses a fast-paced and somewhat disturbing tone to discuss his thoughts on the where, when, and how of Earth's next major disease outbreak in this richly detailed work. (Published in 2016, its foreshadowing of the Covid-19 pandemic is haunting in its accuracy.) 
• Mr. Bloomfield's Orchard: The Mysterious World of Mushrooms, Molds, and Mycologists by Nicholas P. Money
  For the reader compelled by Koepp's antagonist and the passages that explore their biology and physiology, Money reveals secrets and mysteries about real-life fungi (including brewer's yeast, Penicillium, and the poisonous death cap) and how they have shaped the history of the world.
• The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas J. Preston
  While the subject matter of these works may vary, fans of Koepp's action-packed storyline and suspenseful tone may also enjoy Preston's high-octane chronicle of his real-life expedition in search of a fabled lost city deep in the Honduran jungle.
  

Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Science Fiction. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 93-118).

Romance Display

As Wyatt and Saricks observe, "Romances contribute greatly to [our] library's circulation and... Romance readers are a significant part of [our library's] patron base" (2019, p. 215). Therefore, I propose this display to promote our library's Romance collection.

Our display will feature Romance items from various collections: adult fiction, nonfiction, DVDs, large print, books on CD, graphic novels, etc. A large sign will display the words: "All you need is love", with the third work struck through and replaced with the word "read" in a different color, as shown below:

ALL YOU
READ NEED IS          
LOVE

Example of origami heart bookmark.

This display will also incorporate a passive program where patrons can create their own heart-shaped origami bookmark. On a table adjacent to the display, the library will provide origami paper squares (approx. 6" x 6") in a variety of colors, as well as post step-by-step instructions (AliveOrigami, 2013).

As we prepare and populate this display, it is important for our staff to "integrat[e] all aspect [sic] of modern library collections: fiction books, nonfiction books, movies (entertainment and documentaries), videogames [sic], graphic novels, manga, [and] magazines... to help library patrons find the best match" (Dunneback & Towner, 2010, p. xi-xii). This genre deserves attention beyond just a Valentine's-themed display in February; we ought to do our part to change the cultural perceptions and value of "a genre largely written and read by women" (Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 215).

References

AliveOrigami. (2013, March 24). Valentine's Origami Bookmark (Heart) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQqOR1rK67I

Dunneback, K. & Towner, M. W. (2010). Introduction: integrated advisory. Integrated Advisory Service. Denver: Libraries Unlimited, pp. xi-xvi. 

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction. ALA Editions.

It Takes Two to Tumble

It Takes Two to Tumble

by Cat Sebastian
Avon Impulse, 2018. 286 pages. Romance

Book #1 in the "Seducing the Sedgwicks" series

Setting: Rural England, 1817 (Regency era).

Plot Summary: Captain Phillip Dacre can't wait to get back to his ship, but since his wife's death, his three unruly children have driven away a number of tutors and governesses, so it falls to Phillip to set things right at home. The cheerful vicar Benedict Sedgwick has looked after them in Phillip's absence, and the two men soon feel drawn to one another in ways that could change their entire lives. Is their budding romance is worth risking the lives they've worked so hard to secure?

Subject Headings: Men/men relationships, naval captains, clergy, single fathers, sexual attraction, marriages of convenience.

Elements of Romance: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019)

• Focus on a developing relationship (with reader's vicarious participation): evocative, emotional tone. "Romance appeals... to the emotions" (p. 217), and this work is no exception. The story of Phillip's family and Ben's interactions with them -- in addition to the attraction between the two men -- helps readers "feel the power of love at all levels" (p. 217), including the love each man has for the Dacre children, and Ben's feelings for Alice and Hartley.
• Satisfaction and fulfillment in its emotionally resonant conclusion. "[A]ll Romances deliver an emotionally satisfying ending" (p. 217). Readers won't be dissatisfied by the "requisite happy ending" (p. 217), which goes all around the table to encompass not only Phillip and Ben, but also Alice, Mrs. Winston, and Alton. By the end of the work, "the romantic future for the characters looks bright" (p. 218).
• Vivid characters. The characters in this novel, particularly the protagonists, "come to understand themselves and each other in revealing, intimate ways" and ultimately "relinquish preconceptions about themselves" (p. 217), which in this case include an awareness of their sexualities and mutual attraction, as well as grief. Below is a passage that describes the aftermath from the passing of Phillip's lieutenant and lover:
  
  Neat categories of valid relationships that everyone understood, phrases of belonging that could be etched concisely onto tombstones: beloved son, devoted wife. There were even rules for how to grieve people in each category, how many months to wear a black armband and whether one could dance. Captain Dacre didn’t have any of that, and Ben felt his heart twist in his chest at what that must cost him. (p. 49)
  
  The development of Hartley without a resolution segues into the second novel of the series with Hartley as the protagonist, a common practice for Romance series.
• Misunderstanding or external separating force with satisfactory resolution. The primary separating force in this novel is a sense of obligation: Ben's obligations to God, his parish, and Alice's family; Phillip's obligations to his wife and his previous male lover (both deceased); and the societal pressures condemning the union of two men. Together, the men work to overcome these obstacles and provide a satisfying conclusion to the work.
• Engages with time and place. Set in Regency England, this work "provid[es] vivid and authentic glimpses into the time period" (p. 219), which in particular engages with the topic of religion and sexuality at a time when same-sex relationships were not only taboo but illegal and punishable by death under the Buggery Act 1533. As is common in Historical Romances, "the time period is romanticized.... [T]hat world is veiled to allow readers to focus on the romance of the era" (p. 221).
• Fast-paced. This novel is certainly a short read, clocking in at just over 275 pages. As with most Romance works, this book "rel[ies] more on dialogue than description" (p. 219), particularly "witty and sexy conversations" (p. 220).   
• Recognizable language and style. The use of descriptive adjectives, "lush and expressive language" (p. 219), and the way in which the characters "flirt with outrageous charm" (p. 219) denote this work as a Romance. Consider this passage and its "adroit use of language" (p. 219):
  
  Phillip knew he could spend the rest of his life memorizing the ways Ben responded to his touch, charting the ways his strong frame went supple when Phillip pushed close. Now, pressed against the wall, he seemed to almost melt against Phillip's body. (p. 224)

Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009) 

1. Fast pace. As with many Romance books, the rapid pacing of the book is driven by dialogue and moves towards the clearly projected outcome.
2. Steamy and atmospheric (Regency England). The reader gets a feel for the time period and location, engaging with the cultural and societal pressures of the day. Also, the steamy details of the work leave very little to the imagination.
3. LGBTQ+ diverse. Starring a relationship between two adult men and the decisions they make about how they will live the rest of their lives. (This should be obvious from the cover.)

Similar Works (Read-alikes): 

• A Fashionable Indulgence by K.J. Charles
  The first of a trilogy, this novel features a fast-pace romance between two Regency-era gentlemen, punctuated by witty banter and steamy scenes. Whereas Sebastian's protagonists are a local clergyman and a middle-class captain, Charles' leading men belong to the upper-crust of society.
• The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
  In this witty Regency romance, unruly children guide their caretakers to unconventional relationships. These intricately plotted, steamy Romances both address challenging issues and create situations that readers can resonate with.
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
  This engaging and witty novel describes the steamy romance between two men in the present day. While McQuiston includes greater cultural diversity than Sebastian, both novels keep the reader engaged through well-crafted dialogue and explicit sexual encounters.
• An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser
  This steamy autobiography gives readers a strong sense of place as it recounts Fraser's long-term love affair that followed the breakup of her marriage.
• I Can't Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I've Put My Faith in Beyoncé by Michael Arceneaux
  A set of witty essays that discusses the reconciliation of sexuality and religious beliefs.
• Mad and Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency by Bea Koch
  The engaging life stories of real Regency-era women (including queer identities) who broke societal norms and made their own decisions about how to live.

Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Romance. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 215-234).

Reviews

While it may be true that all is fair in love and war, John Lyly didn't say anything about book reviews. 

A book will receive different reviews based on its genre, format, and author. As mentioned in class, eBook-only titles are reviewed relatively infrequently in professional publications. This creates a problem for collection development, since many collection developers rely on professional reviews to help them decide which items to purchase, myself included. In fact, I rarely purchase an item without first checking both professional and amateur reviews. Granted, this is not the only tool they rely on, but it creates a significant disadvantage for one book to be reviewed prolifically while another is largely ignored.

The pattern that emerges is a confirmation bias: books that are heavily reviewed are more likely to be purchased by libraries, which leads libraries to only seek out similar books for future consideration. Works that may be a "perfect fit" for a collection are easily overlooked simply because they are not reviewed by professional sources that librarians consult.

Let's look at an example to understand this more clearly. The holiday romance novel The Billionaire's First Christmas by Holly Rayner has not been widely reviewed by professional sources. It has, however, been reviewed on Amazon and a personal blog. 

Both of these reviews have dubious reliability: the Amazon review contains several run-on sentences and comma splices. It doesn't tell me much about the book beyond a vague plot summary and that the reviewer enjoyed it enough to give it four stars.

The blog review fares a little better, but not much: it provides a plot summary, which I suspect may have been provided by a publisher. The reviewer comments on how brief the book is and that it seems run-of-the-mill, giving it three stars. 

Based on these rather lackluster reviews, I would be unlikely to buy this book for my collection. There doesn't seem to be much to set this short work apart from others of its kind. Considering the fact that it is holiday themed, and therefore likely to see less circulation year-round, I would choose buy other titles for my collection over this one (unless I received patron requests for this title in particular).

Contrast the reviews of this book with Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, a popular memoir first published in 1996. It has been reviewed by virtually all of the major professional publications: Kirkus, Library Journal, Booklist, New York Review of Books, London Review of Books, School Library Journal, New York Times Review of Books, Publishers Weekly - in fine, I couldn't find a professional book review that didn't have an article on this title.

The sheer volume of professional reviews (most of which are positive, by the way) strongly encourages me to purchase this title. Combined with its 1997 Pulitzer Prize, its status as a #1 New York Times Bestseller, its movie adaptation, and its literary and cultural significance, it seems almost impossible not to include this title in my collection.

Now, certainly this isn't fair. Who could say which of the two is a better book? Who could say what it even means for one book to be "better" than another? Regardless of which book is "better," it is clear that the amount of reviews tends to skew a library's collection to favor the over-reviewed and slight the under-reviewed. Now, this sometimes makes sense: a poorly written book is unlikely to receive overwhelming numbers of reviews, regardless of its format. But how do we as collection developers correct for very well-written books that are skipped over by professional reviewers? 

Perhaps we must adopt a more "biblical" approach: "I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks" (New International Version, Jer. 16.16). Librarians must be these "hunters," searching for quality literature out of the "crevices of the rocks," so to speak. (I am 100% certain this is exactly what the prophet Jeremiah was referring to when he penned this phrase.) A library's collection should offer a wide variety of options for its patrons, and this may require a collection developer to stray from the beaten path from time to time. Delving into genre-specific publications, for example, can help to flesh out the diamonds in the rough.

I'd like to drop in a note here about negative reviews: quite often, I find that knowing why someone didn't like a book is as important as knowing why someone else liked it. Often, a negative review can help inform me about a potential purchase. 

That said, professional publishers should take care to avoid becoming cynical and derogatory; I can understand why some review sources adopt the philosophy that Thumper's father taught him in Disney's Bambi: 

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all.

Kirkus-Style Review

What It's Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing — What Birds Are Doing, and Why
by David Allen Sibley • Release Date: Apr. 14, 2020

Expert ornithologist Sibley (The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2000, etc.) reveals the inner world of North American birds, pairing the answers to common questions with stunning full-color, full-page illustrations. 

Covering more than 200 species in over 330 illustrations (including 87 "roughly life-size" paintings of familiar species), the short essays in this book discuss several aspects of avian biology, including migration, feeding, behavior, physiology, reproduction, evolution, and adaptation to recent environmental changes, and helpful indices break it down by topic and by species. Sibley notes in his introduction that this book "is not designed to be read straight through; it is designed to be browsed casually, so that different topics will spark connections and perhaps even a sense of discovery." While there are still many unknowns about birds and several of the topics in this work "are still being actively studied and debated by experts," the nontechnical language of these short essays is concise and accessible for adults to enjoy irrespective of prior knowledge. However, despite the title, there is not much on how birds think and feel: perhaps a better title would have been What It's Like to Love Birds. If you're looking for a deeper delve into the mind of birds, you may be interested in The Bird Way (2020, ISBN 978-0-7352-2301-1) by Jennifer Ackerman.

Rich with details and gorgeous illustrations, this compendium of facts about our feathered friends may be better suited to a coffee table than the field. Sure to delight casual learners and avian fanatics alike.

Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group | Page Count: 240 | ISBN: 978-0-3079-5789-4

Secret Shopper

Using a public library where you are not known or a librarian who does not know you, ask for a good book to read. Discuss what happens: What questions were you asked? What tools if any did the librarian use to help you? Did the librarian successfully find a “good book” for you to read? If yes, how so? If no, why not? 

For this assignment, I decided it was finally time to get my own library card and hit up my local public library. I had never met any of the library staff before, and I was sure they wouldn’t know me from Adam. I was right. 

I approached a blue-haired librarian who seemed to be in her twenties or maybe early thirties, typing furiously into her computer. I felt a fair amount of trepidation asking for help; the librarians looked like they were really busy, and I could probably find something on my own if I had to. Undeterred, I asked for help anyway. Interrupting her computer work, I told her I was new to the library and asked her if she could recommend a book for me to read. Elated that she would be “happy to help,” I embarked on a readers’ advisory interaction, but this time from the patron side of the counter. It was nothing like what I was expecting, as I will now describe.

She asked me what I liked to read. I told her that I did not usually read science fiction, but I was looking for a good sci-fi title to branch out a little bit (planning ahead to my science fiction annotation due in a few weeks). Admitting that sci-fi was not her forte, she said she would give it her best shot and asked me what kind of sci-fi I liked. This question seemed like a dubious choice: having already mentioned that I was unfamiliar with the genre, I was tempted to say I didn’t know that sci-fi had any “kinds”. Opting instead for the truth, I told her that I had studied chemistry in college and therefore was partial to sci-fi with credible, plausible science, and I was less interested in fantasy-esque sci-fi. (Although that is a secret love of mine, I was looking for a pure sci-fi for my annotation.) 

She thought about it for a minute and returned to typing on her computer. It was certainly a little off-putting and disconcerting as a patron: what was she looking up? Was she checking to see if a title that had come to mind was checked in? Did I say a word she had not understood? Had she given up on helping me and returned to her previous task?

Several minutes ticked by as I awkwardly looked around the library and pretended to be interested in the nearby display on Valentine’s Day picture books. Daring to break the silence, I mentioned something about being interested in LGBTQ characters if possible, but it was by no means a dealbreaker. This was met with silence and more casual perusal of tasteful children’s displays. 

I wonder if this librarian had knowledge of appeal factors, NoveList (n.d.) defines as “the elements of a story that make a book attractive and interesting to a reader” (p. 1). This might have helped her identify items that I would have enjoyed beyond just subgenre. I thought she might be looking them up, but I realized she never asked me if I had already read any books in the genre, much less why I had liked them. The soft answers I had given about preferring LGBTQ characters were completely ignored, from what I could tell.

She eventually told me that she had looked up a number of titles, but none of them were checked in at this branch. Relieved that she hadn’t abandoned me to readers’ advisory purgatory, I asked if there were any that she had found. She mentioned that Ready Player One by Ernest Cline was a popular sci-fi title, and there was a copy checked in. She also mentioned Michael Crichton, whose works include Jurassic Park. A few moments later, she said that most of Michael Crichton’s books were not shelved in the science fiction section, and so they might not be what I’m looking for.

She then led me over to where Ready Player One was shelved. I told her that I had watched the movie, but as a child born in the mid-90s, I had only understood about half of the 80s pop culture references. (Sorry, Dad.) She said that her experience had been similar, she but reassured me that “the book was better.” I took the book since it seemed awkward not to take it from her outstretched hand. There was no opportunity for me to give feedback, tell her what I did or did not like about this work, or suggest other paths we might take. As Saricks (2015) mentioned, “[I]f we’re not really listening to what readers say, we’re not really meeting their needs” (p. 25). I am still not sure why this book was her recommendation to me, as it did not seem to match any of the scant preferences I had provided. It seemed like a bit of a shame.

On our way back to the reference desk, she happened to spot a Michael Crichton book in the science fiction section, his 2002 novel Prey about a cloud of nanobots that escapes a research lab and begins evolving on its own to hunt humankind. Granted, while it did seem to be a little bit more scientifically plausible than Ready Player One, reading about cutting-edge technological advances from almost 20 years ago was not very appealing. I carried both books back to the counter with me.

I thought that maybe I was being too difficult for this librarian, so I did offer that I had read The Martian by Andy Weir and found it interesting; did she know of any similar works that she could recommend? She sure did: Artemis by Andy Weir. That was the only title she recommended, and as luck would have it, it was checked out. She did help me to get a copy of the eAudiobook on my device, albeit it was a copy in Spanish. (She did check to see if I spoke Spanish, which I do, so no harm there.) I genuinely thanked her for her time and bade her a good evening. While I was not particularly interested in either book, I decided to checkout Prey merely to save face and not walk out of the building without either of her recommendations.

Please understand that I do not wish to criticize the service I received nor shame this library; perhaps the librarian I spoke with had little experience or training with readers’ advisory, or perhaps she was just having an off day. Certainly she was underpaid and overworked. It seemed that she was just suggesting titles off the top of her head, without consulting any sort of online database or advisory tool. However, who really knows what was happening on the other side of the desk during those long stretches of awkward silence? I hoped that I was not causing her any pressure just by standing there doing nothing, but I know I was; O’Dell (2017) relates that a librarian “stand[s] there for hours, waiting for patrons to walk up and ask for help. But [they] have approximately 5 minutes to impress them before they leave. Talk about pressure!” (p. 27).

All things considered, I would return to this librarian and give them another chance. She did her best to provide the two keys to readers’ advisory proposed by Saricks (2005): “commitment to meeting the leisure-reading interests of readers and a responsive attitude toward readers, no matter what they are reading” (p. 11). I felt that she genuinely wanted to help and that she did not see this as a waste of her time. I never felt judged to criticized for my reading preferences.

This assignment was helpful in that it gave me a glimpse into how readers’ advisory interactions feel for the patron. The librarian should always seem available and be willing to help. They should also always tell the patron what they are doing so that the patron doesn’t feel confused or forgotten about. I will apply lessons that I learned here to my future readers’ advisory interactions.

References

NoveList Editorial & St. Louis Public Library Staff (n.d.) The appeal of books. NoveList.

O'Dell, B. (2017). Reader’s advisory: four sites that will help you fake it. Computers in Libraries, 37(6), 27-32.

Saricks, J. (2005). Readers' advisory service in the public library. American Library Association.

Saricks, J. (2015). At leisure with Joyce Saricks. Booklist, 112(7), 25

NoveList

1. I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next!

I'm more than happy to help! Looks like the 4th book in the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton is titled The Lunatic Cafe. That comes next after Circus of the Damned, just to double-check we're talking about the same series.

When I searched for the Anita Blake series in NoveList, I found the title of the fourth work. I verified that GoodReads shows the same result.

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2. What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though.

Oh, I love Barbara Kingsolver! She wrote Poisonwood Bible, right? I haven't had a chance to read much of her work yet, but I know her writing is very lyrical and lush. For a book that has a similar writing style with a quicker pace, have you read anything by Kunal Basu? Yellow Emperor's Cure and The Miniaturist are two of his works that you might find interesting. They are historical fiction, if that's something that agrees with you. Or you might also try Champion of the Scarlet Wolf by Ginn Hale if you'd prefer a fantasy.

From the NoveList page for Prodigal Summer, I selected the attributes that the patron liked -- a descriptive, lush, and lyrical writing style -- and used the "Search for More" function. I then refined results by pace to include only fast-paced works. I then compared a few results to the original work (Prodigal Summer) and chose a few that sounded promising. 

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3. I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there!

For sure! Japan is super fascinating, and lots of books take place in historical Japan. Is there a historical period in particular you're interested in? If you're interested in 11th century Japan, for example, you might enjoy works by I.J. Parker, such as The Fires of the Gods. Or if you'd prefer the World War II era, you might like The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein or December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith.

I searched NoveList for keyword "Japan." I then refined results by tone to include "strong sense of place," as well as to include only fiction works and only works for an adult audience. I then selected a few eras under time period to show specified results, and I gave a few examples.

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4. I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn't finish it! Do you have any suggestions?

Sorry you had a bad experience! Let's see if we can find something you might enjoy a bit more. It seems like the suspense and violence wasn't an issue for you, but the gritty way in which Sandford writes wasn't your cup of tea. I'd recommend Dark River Rising by Roger Johns or The Night Hunter by Caro Ramsey. 

Comparing the NoveList pages for Well-Schooled in Murder and for John Sandford, I looked for differences, reasons why the patron might have disliked Sandford. His gritty writing style was probably unappealing to them, but the compelling and richly detailed appeal factors didn't seem to bother them, and neither did the violent and suspenseful tone.

From the page for Well-Schooled in Murder, I used the "Search for More" function to find additional titles that are in the mysteries and police procedurals genres with a suspenseful and violent tone and a compelling writing style. From the results page, I selected the "Advanced Search" option so that I could use the Boolean operator NOT to exclude any results with "gritty" as an appeal factor. I stayed away from works by the same author since the patron has probably already considered or possibly even read other works by Elizabeth George.

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5. My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?

Absolutely! There are lots of zombie books out there in many formats. Do you know if he was looking for more graphic novels (like The Walking Dead) or more novels (like World War Z)? For graphic novels, I'd recommend The Rage series by Pierre Boisserie; the first volume is titled Zombie Generation. If he'd prefer a novel, he might like the Newsflesh series by Mira Grant; the first one is Feed. He might also like Omega Days by John L. Campbell.

From the NoveList pages for The Walking Dead series and World War Z, I selected the series read-alikes and title read-alikes options, respectively. Since the patron mentioned both graphic novels and novels in their inquiry, I included both in my suggestions.

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6. I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.

Oh, definitely! Plenty of books have been turned into movies. Is there a particular genre you like? You might like The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook. Another option might be The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins or Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Also, Me before You by Jojo Moyes was a good one that left me in tears.

From the NoveList homepage, I selected the "Made into Movies: Fiction A-Z" list from the submenu "Fiction A-Z" of the Recommended Reads List sidebar. I then selected a few titles that seemed more "literary" and made sure their movies were released recently.

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7. I love thrillers but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.

No problem! You might like Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock or The Jerusalem Assassin by Joel C. Rosenberg. Also, keep an eye out for The Water Keeper by Charles Martin; it was published in May 2020, so it might still have a list of people waiting for it.

Since works with a Christian message generally are devoid of explicit language and sexuality, I chose the "Christian Thrillers" list from the submenu "Thrillers and Suspense" of the Recommended Reads List sidebar.

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When I first started working in libraries, I was thrown every time someone asked me for a reading suggestion. Partly, this came from the self-imposed pressure to find a title that perfectly matches 100% of the reader's preferences. Oh, and the clock is ticking, so find it fast!

While my heart rate still swings up just a little bit even now, I've developed tools to rely on to help me find a good read at a moment's notice. When a colleague introduced me to NoveList early in my career, my paradigm shifted completely, and I knew I had an ace up my sleeve. I also use GoodReads and a personal spreadsheet to track and group books I've enjoyed and might want to recommend in the future.

These workhorses typically bear the brunt of my reader's advisory work, but I have also used Amazon to help me classify works into genres or according to audience. Departing from Chelton's list* of reader's advisory tools, I've also relied somewhat on Provo City Library's booklists for genres I'm less familiar with, and on their book order database in determining what book comes next in a series.

As for my personal recommendations, I've been squirreling away recommendations since I began working in libraries, and I have no shortage of books I want to read. While I occasionally peruse trade journals for ideas, most of my recommendations come from colleagues who are excited to share their latest finds. I store my To Be Read list on GoodReads and on the spreadsheet mentioned above. In a way, I hope my TBR never runs dry; I hope there's always something I'm looking forward to reading.

Reference

*Chelton, M.K. (2020, December 7) Readers advisory tools for adult readers: A five-year retrospective selected bibliography, with a few earlier exceptions. Web Junction. 

The Birthday Girl

The Birthday Girl
by Melissa de la Cruz
Dutton, 2019. 352 pages. Thriller

Setting: Palm Springs, California, present day (with flashbacks to Oregon, 24 years ago, or approx. 1995).

Plot Summary: Ellie de Florent-Stinson's luxurious fortieth birthday bash is her opportunity to show off her seemingly perfect life to the social elite. But as invited and uninvited guests show up to the lavish party, the skeletons in her closet from her sixteenth birthday threaten to come to light and tear down the appearances she's so desperate to maintain.

Subject Headings: Birthdays, fashion designers, marital strife, memories, secrets.

Elements of Thrillers/Adrenaline: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019)

• Compelling pace. Each chapter is marked not only with the year, but also with the time. This is common of works in the Adrenaline genre to "emphasize the idea that every minute counts" (p. 5). The story fits within a single day (in both timelines), showcasing the compressed time frames typical of this genre.
• Gripping storyline. The storyline works towards a dangerous central event, a murder which Ellie committed 24 years ago, which is depicted in a rather gruesome passage. There is also a compelling plot twist at the end of the work, which involves the reveal of Ellie's identity as the best friend in the flashbacks, not the protagonist.
• Gritty tone. The book has a satisfactory resolution, but the dark overtones feed on the building suspense. Ellie also deals with a past trauma that is hard to forget. 
• Strong protagonist. Whereas most Adrenaline novels include characters that are "famous enough to be known to those who do not read the genre" (p. 7), such as Indiana Jones, Jack Reacher, and James Bond, this novel is something of an exception. Ellie is not well known, and her likability is moderate at best. Yet Ellie largely works alone, not even relying on her family for aid. This characterization is in keeping with this genre: since most of the focus is on the plot, the work lacks strong characterization of secondary characters.
• Immersive setting. While the setting is not a driving force of the novel, it does play a role in Adrenaline novels, and this is no exception. Although Palm Springs may not be as exotic as other settings found in Adrenaline novels, the lap-of-luxury upper-crust of society is essential to the development of the work.
• Colorful language. Although "the Adrenaline genre is not known for its stress on language" (p. 9), the explicit language of this work underscores the adult situations found in this work, as is common for the genre.

Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009)

1. Intensifying pace. As more unanswered questions arise, the pace moves more and more quickly.
2. Domestic drama. The relationship angst of teenage girls is contrasted with the backstabbing of the glamorous social elite.
3. Nonlinear storyline. The narrative alternates between Ellie's 40th and 16th birthdays.

Similar Works (Read-alikes): 

• The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
  This novel has an intensifying pace with a character whose life seems perfect on the outside, but it is crumbling on the inside. In both works, secrets cause marital strain as chapters alternate viewpoints.
• Silent Night by Danielle Steel
  This gripping novel focuses on a the drama surrounding a woman dealing with past trauma. 
• Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
  Both novels share an intensifying plot and focus on complex, flawed protagonists who are keeping secrets from their spouses.
• Obsessive Creative by Collette Dinnigan
  This autobiography gives readers a glimpse into the glamorous world of high fashion.
• The Fortress by Danielle Trussoni
  A memoir of marital conflict caused by secret-keeping and attempts to recover a failing marriage.
• Death in the City of Light by David King
  A suspenseful true crime book that has an intensifying pace.

Saricks, J. (2009). At leisure: The rule of three. Booklist, 106(3), 25.

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Adrenaline. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 1-29).