The Culture and Future of Reading

Twenty Years Ago

April 28, 2001 – I just turned 7. One of my main griefs with life is that every first-grader gets a sticker on their chart when they lose a tooth, but none of mine have fallen out yet. (I would lose a few that summer, but most of them would wait until second grade.) I love reading almost as I love dolphins, which is a lot. I like to read during recess, but I usually have to do it outside until the bell rings. That's why I take a book with me to lunch. Some grown-ups say reading makes you smart, but I just do it for fun.

For some reason, my parents always dragged me along to Parent-Teacher Conferences, where my teachers would give glowing reviews of my academic performance. Several teachers recognized early on how "gifted" I was, particularly in mathematics and language arts. When my teacher asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied that I would like to be an author and a chef, stirring my soup as I write my next book. Despite the fact that I would ultimately pursue neither of these options, the love of reading was clearly instilled in me from a young age.

Looking at the personal reading habits of my childhood, I was a voracious, insatiable reader. I read anything and everything I could get my hands on. I read high above my grade level, skipping most early chapter books like Junie B. Jones altogether in favor of middle-grade/YA chapter books like Hatchet by Brian Paulsen and Harry Potter while still in elementary school.

I read everything from mysteries to action to sci-fi to fantasy to sports to westerns. (I remember reading Louis L'Amour in fourth or fifth grade. Not sure if it was appropriate content, but what's done is done.) I would read for hours after finishing my homework, sprawled out on the couch while my parents fixed dinner. I would also frequently read late into the night after my parents definitely thought I had gone to bed. Man, did I fool them. What a bad boy I was.

But life gets more complicated for everyone as they enter middle school, high school, higher education, and the workforce. There seems to be less time for reading, or rather, more things competing for our scarce leisure time. This led me to be more selective with what I read, and in certain seasons of my life, there was little to no reading whatsoever. 

As a child, I never tired from reading. As an adult, I find myself needing to vary what I read. While I have my favorites, I need to read diversely to avoid burnout. I can't read 20 thrillers in a row (not with this anxiety of mine.) Nor can I read 20 Westerns in a row. (I would literally burst into tears and/or flames.) This never seemed to be a problem as a child (see: me, age 9, reading the first 25 Animorphs books back-to-back-to-back-to...)

Twenty Years from Now

April 28, 2041 – A week after my 47th birthday, I revel in the luxury of a quiet Sunday. After church, my partner and I go off to visit my brother and his family for low-key festivities with close family. As much as we enjoy being with our loved ones, we don't stay too late: I've got to get to my job at the library in the morning, and I'm hoping to make some headway into the latest fantasy novel I checked out last week before turning in for the night. Opening the hardcover and smelling the fresh paper, I'm ready to begin this masterpiece of elemental magics that I've heard so much about....

Some are concerned for the longevity of the printed book, calling it a relic of a bygone era soon to be replaced with digital advances. However, I don't think that's something we need to worry about. Printed books have been around for quite some time, and they've been widespread since the Printing Revolution of the early 15th Century.

Of all the amazing things books are – an escape, a mirror, kindling for new thoughts, positively magical – one thing they aren't is fleeting. Books are here to stay, and there will always be those who prefer physical books to digital formats.

Some may argue that physical books will become a niche rarity, as we have seen with the formats of the vinyl record, the 8-track tape, the cassette tape, and the CD in the field of music. However, it is worth noting that each of these formats requires specialized equipment to be enjoyed, and this equipment can be worn down or broken, with increasing difficulty involved with finding replacements or repair services. This contrasts sharply with the printed book, which only requires "light, a human eye, and a human mind" (Le Guin, 2008, p. 37). And there's just something about holding a physical book that can't be replaced by a digital format, at least not in the next 20 years.

No one knows what the future holds, and who say if society will be reading more or less in 20 years. As literature forms an important piece of my livelihood, I will doubtless continue reading until my eyes or my mind no longer allow me to do so. While not everyone reads now and not everyone will read in the future, it's safe to say that books will always find a refuge and be welcome in my home.

Reference

Le Guin, U.K. (2008). Staying awake: Notes on the alleged decline of reading. Harper's Magazine, 316(1893), 33-37.

Marketing Fiction

The word "marketing" can carry with it several professional business connotations, as shown in this word cloud. While marketing certainly is crucial in a public library's operation, it can be counterproductive to throw these terms at patrons, as this can be antithetical to the warm, welcoming atmosphere that is sought in a public library.

Tom Fishburne, the founder and CEO of Marketoonist, once said, "The best marketing doesn't feel like marketing" (Swincoe, 2017). In light of this idea, below are three ways in which a public library could market their adult fiction collection without cramming the marketing aspect down the patrons' throats.

Book Displays

An example of a permanent library display.

Selecting a small group of books with a descriptive sign can be a very effective marketing tool for public libraries. Of course, librarians should frequently monitor these displays and replace items that have been removed by patrons for checkout. These displays should "capitalize on the elements of books that appeal to readers" (Saricks, 2005, p. 142), such as pacing, mood, or subject matter. Saricks (2005) also promotes the idea of a permanent display for "Good Books You May Have Missed"; this display provides patrons with "a small group of suggested titles from which to choose" (p. 140) from a variety of genres and vetted by a variety of readers' advisory staff. Having the display populated by various staff members will ensure that personal reading preference or bias does not heavily sway the titles that are chosen for display.

Annotated Book Lists

A locally-produced book list that lists titles (that the library owns!) and a brief comment or annotation can be printed as a trifold brochure. Book lists should be curated to address areas of patron interest, such as Romantic Suspense or Sports Fiction. The process of creating a bookmark can also promote professional development, as it "exposes a novice bibliographer to the process of choosing a theme and selecting books related to patrons' interests and to the rigors of proofreading" (Saricks, 2005, p. 145).

Saricks (2005) remarks on the effectiveness of staff-made book lists: "We all know that many patrons like to browse for their leisure reading on their own, and they are pleased to find a selection of book lists on a wide range to topics; they can choose one or more and simply take them into the stacks with them as a guide to reading suggestions" (p. 143). In addition to being displayed in checkout or service areas, these can also be featured on appropriate book displays.

Book Discussion Groups

Excluding times of pandemic, the public library should be a gathering place for the community to come together. Book discussion groups are a great way to promote this aspect of a library's purpose and simultaneously advertise the adult fiction collection. Saricks (2005) remarks on the ever increasing availability of resources for book discussion groups: "[S]ometimes discussion questions are even offered by publishers in the book themselves" (p. 157).

Regardless of whether or not a library offers staff-led book discussions, it should always "offer assistance to [book discussion group] leaders in finding information on organizing and running a group and locating materials, including suggesting titles that make good discussions, biographical information about the author, reviews and other printed material about the book, and published questions if available" (Saricks, 2005, p. 157). 

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These are just a few ways in which public libraries can help advertise their adult fiction collections. If patrons don't know what resources are available to them, they're much less likely to use the resources. They all rely on the expertise and skill of readers' advisory staff. However, as Saricks (2005) mentions, "it is important to remember that we are marketing and promoting a service as well as materials" (p. 157).  These ways to market the adult fiction collection also help the community view the library as a resource in meeting the leisure and informational needs of its patrons.

References

Saricks, J. (2005) Promoting and marketing readers’ advisory collections and services. Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library. ALA. 136-160.

Swincoe, A. (Host). (2017, October 23). PunkCX [Audio podcast]. RARE Business. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/blogpodcasts/TomFishburneMarketoonist250917.mp3

LGBTQ and Street Lit

Me with my partner at the Christus in Salt Lake City.

I'm a gay, religious person of color, but you might not know it looking at my face. My queerness and my faith-based beliefs are not physically manifest in my outward appearance (no matter how good you think your "gay-dar" is). Due to my mixed racial heritage, my ethnicity is also not immediately discernible in certain situations. In short, I can pass as a member of the majority in many circumstances. As a cis male, I often am a member of the majority in certain aspects.

With my tremendous amount of privilege, it is my responsibility to inform myself and advocate for minorities, which includes confronting racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, and religious discrimination. As a librarian, the venue where I use my privilege is quite often the public library. A public library exists to serve the public, and the public is diverse. All members of a community deserve to be represented and valued in the library. 

LGBTQ literature should not be separated from the general collection, and neither should it be identified with spine labels. What message does a library send when it separates out certain groups of books into their own "special places"? In my experience, there are three main results that stem from such a policy: 1) the pigeonholing of these works and the restriction of their limits, 2) the ostracism of these items and their readers, and 3) a lack of anonymity for patrons who choose to consult these items.

1. Pigeonholing

Pigeonholing is "a process that attempts to classify disparate entities into a limited number of categories" (Pigeonholing in Wikipedia, 2021). When we label a book as "LGBT literature," we assign it to a category. The National Coalition Against Censorship (n.d.) highlights the downfalls of this categorization, stating, "Calling a book 'gay-themed' or even 'LGBTQ-themed' doesn’t tell you much about it. In fact, it creates an artificial category....  [Books] under the label 'LGBTQ-themed' are really just books about everyday life. While they may have gay characters or address homophobia, those themes are often not central to the plot." When we pigeonhole a work, we reduce it to only one of its many aspects, to the detriment of its literary richness.

Discussing her decision as to the location of LGBT literature in her school library, library media specialist Vanessa Perez (2019) asked for input from her patrons: "While students wanted the books to be visible, they didn’t want the books segregated in a separate section or stickered with a rainbow. LGBTQ is not a genre. There are not queer romances, there are romances with queer main characters. There are not lesbian mysteries, there are mystery books with lesbian detectives. Trans students are not the only students who can or should read books with trans heroes." Just as a person is more than their sexuality, we do works of literature a disservice when we limit them to the sexuality of their characters or creators.  

2. Ostracism

Have you ever felt different? I certainly have. I’m going out a limb here to say that I think most of us, if not all of us, have felt different at some point in our lives. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. They say that variety is the spice of life, and I firmly believe that can be true. But sometimes being different is hard.

Imagine your difference from the norm resulted in insults and mean, unkind language. The society you live in teaches that your differences from everyone else are bad: shameful, unnatural, even disgusting. People will ask you to hide who you are so they don’t feel uncomfortable. Even if your family accepts you with your differences, there will almost certainly be relatives who don’t. You hear horrifying stories of people like you who have been physically attacked or even killed because of who they are.

How would you react? You might try to hide your differences, or wish them away. Your life could quite easily be filled with shame and fear. There are countless LGBT people who could tell our life stories. Many of us have learned pride and hope in the face of strife, and we have found a community that loves and accepts us. While our stories are certainly not all the same, most LGBT people share (at least in some degree) a legacy of shame in who we are, as a product of the society we live in.

Many of us have learned pride and hope. 

Speaking of her school library, Perez (2019) points out that "[d]eclaring a book with LGBTQ characters inappropriate for school is the same as declaring LGBTQ students and families inappropriate for school. It sends the message, 'You don’t belong here. We’ll remove this book and we’ll try to remove you, too.'" She goes on to discuss how educators and librarians can make a difference; "[T]hey can defend and protect students through acceptance: 'You belong here with us. We see you and your life matters.'"

Only marginally better than banning it outright, separating LGBT literature from other fiction works creates a sense of otherness and alienation. It also implies that LGBT people should be separated from other people and denies us our humanity. Regarding the separation of LGBT children's materials to a "special location" away from the general collection, former librarian Kelly Jensen (2016) argues that this "sends the message that queer people aren't people. They're an issue."  Jensen continues that this policy "tell[s] queer children and families, as well as those from families that aren’t, that they’re an issue that needs to be dealt with separately. That they’re not part of their own community." 

By the same token, integrating the fiction collection can help all members of our community feel welcome and accepted. Hearing those stories enrich us all -- whether we are LGBT or not -- on our journey to finding who we are and embracing the rich diversity of our world.

3. Lack of Anonymity

How would you feel if everyone knew what books you were reading? What if everyone could see that you checked out a book on how to file for divorce, or how to leave an abusive relationship, or how to improve your sex life?

Certainly there are topics that should be allowed the dignity of privacy, and sexuality is certainly one of them. The right to privacy is a fundamental building block of public libraries, and isolating or labelling LGBT materials can cause a breach of privacy. Amanda Wilk, a branch manager at Kitchener Public Library, notes that "identifying books with LGBTQ+ labels may prevent library users from accessing them for fear of being outed" (Open Shelf, 2018). 

The toolkit "Open to All" by the American Library Association Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (n.d.) states, "In any community, there are GLBT persons who are not ready to be recognized as such.... People who are 'in the closet' or questioning often need information resources the most, so it is essential to provide safe and anonymous access, without judgment" (p. 2). It continues, "Interfiling GLBT materials can be a positive move for libraries; when these materials are placed alongside other books and materials, GLBT users feel welcomed" (p. 6).

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These same principles apply to several other groups of books, such as works by or about individuals with disabilities, of particular races or ethnicities, belonging to religious or political groups, etc. That is to say, given the inappropriateness of creating a separate LGBT section, it would be equally inappropriate to separate out a "Disabled People" section, a "Asians" section, a "Muslims" section, or a "Republicans" section.

However, the issue becomes somewhat more complicated when it comes to street lit. Librarian Rollie Welch (2011) asserts that "distinctions between street lit and mainstream fiction are evident. Street lit is a subgenre of fiction, similar to romance and western novels" (p. 266). He also argues against the grouping of street lit in a section of "African American fiction" or "black fiction," calling up the hypothetical of separating out works by Danielle Steel and Louis L'Amour into a section based on the author's race.

A library may separate or label its fiction collection according to genre if its intent is to "facilitate access by making it easier for users to locate resources" (American Library Association, 2015). However, the American Library Association (2015) warns against "[p]rejudicial labels [that] are designed to restrict access, based on a value judgment that the content, language, or themes of the resource, or the background or views of the creator(s) of the resource, render it inappropriate or offensive for all or certain groups of users" (2015). A label or a separate shelving location may be appropriate based on genre, including street lit, but the utmost care should be taken to prevent this labeling from relying on a value judgment about the content of the work or the background of the creator.

References

American Library Association. (2015, July 13). "Labeling systems: An interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights". Retrieved April 13, 2021, from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretation/labeling-systems Document ID: 211cf21a-4164-b9e4-658b-35ef709f3e22

American Library Association Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table. (n.d.). "Open to all: Serving the GLBT community in your library." Retrieved April 13, 2021, from http://www.ala.org/rt/sites/ala.org.rt/files/content/professionaltools/160309-glbtrt-open-to-all-toolkit-online.pdf

Jensen, K. (2018, October 13). "Queer phobia and the public library." Book Riot. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://bookriot.com/public-libraries-you-owe-your-queer-patrons-better/

National Coalition Against Censorship. (n.d.). "LGBTQ right to read resource guide." Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://ncac.org/resource/krrp-lgbtq-content-right-to-read-resource

Open Shelf. (2018, April 3). "Respecting anonymity through collection development." Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://open-shelf.ca/180403-respecting-anonymity-through-collection-development/

Perez, V. (2019, February 28). "Libraries can be LGBTQ-affirming spaces on school campuses." National Council of Teachers of English. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://ncte.org/blog/2019/02/libraries-can-be-lgbtq-affirming-spaces-on-school-campuses/

Pigeonholing. (2021, February 18). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pigeonholing&oldid=1007536700

Welch, R. (2011). Everything street literature. Libraries Unlimited.

*Portions of this blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library blog.*

Young Adult and Graphic Novels

I have a big secret to share: my favorite flavor of ice cream is vanilla.

I can definitely be happy with a big bowl of strawberry or mint chocolate chip or butter pecan ice cream. And I've had pleasant times with blackberry, butterscotch, and even banana ice creams. But if we're talking favorites, it's hard to beat vanilla. And that's pure, unadulterated vanilla, without chocolate syrup or chopped nuts or anything. Just that creamy and delicious, classic taste really hits the spot for me any time of year.

You wouldn't believe how contentious this preference has been.

Upon learning my secret, several people have told me, to my face, that vanilla ice cream is:

• Plain
• Default
• Boring
• Bland
• Nasty
• Needs more flavors to be worth consuming

Now you see why I keep it a secret. But guess what all that vanilla hate has done to change my preferences? Absolutely nothing. At the end of the day, I still like what I like.

Like our misunderstood friend vanilla ice cream, young adult (YA) literature and graphic novels often come under fire; for some, these groups of books don't qualify as "quality literature for adults," whatever that means. Below I present some tips for how librarians can ensure that we are able to serve adults who enjoy YA literature or graphic novels with the help of some parallels to frozen dairy treats: the library is the ice cream parlor, YA lit and graphic novels are the delicious vanilla ice cream, and you, dear librarian reader, are the terribly overqualified employee behind the counter in a brightly colored (albeit uncomfortable) uniform. Let's dig in.

Tip #1: Have YA literature and graphic novels in your collection.

This might seem obvious, but how can I possibly order a double scoop of vanilla ice cream when there simply isn't any vanilla ice cream in the building? Just as the parlor's choice to buy vanilla ice cream communicates to the haters know that it's still a dessert worth buying (like I said, Dad), the decision to incorporate these materials into a library's collection legitimizes these works as "real" books and worth checking out. There is power in how a library decides to allocate its budget, and in how it decides to utilize the funds in that budget. Libraries send the message that they value YA literature and graphic novels by adding them to the collection. 

Tip #2: Be familiar with these items.

Suppose you were one of these sad, anti-vanilla individuals as an ice cream server. How would you feel when an individual with great taste orders vanilla? Do you think your feelings might change if you tried a sample of the French Vanilla or Vanilla Bean ice creams that the parlor sells? You still might not like it, but you may be able to relate to vanilla aficionados a little bit more.

This is not to suggest that any librarian need read every book in their collection; such a lofty goal is unrealistic and unfeasible. (However, if I worked in an ice cream parlor, you better believe that I would try every single flavor. But I digress.) As we read broadly as librarians—dipping our toes into various genres, age groups, and formats—we are better able to understand the appeal of certain groups of books and make recommendations to our patrons. If you personally look down on a group of books, whether it be YA literature, graphic novels, or a specific genre like Romance or Hard Sci-Fi, try reading a work or two from the group. To take it a step further, discuss the works with a colleague who loves the literature in question and ask them what aspects draw them in. You may or may not discover a new favorite, but you'll surely discover empathy, the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

Tip #3: Include these materials in reader's advisory.

The bright-eyed child who is nearly overwhelmed with options may have a difficult time deciding which flavor to get after their Little League victory. Suppose this particularly indecisive youngster is entirely beset by the number of options behind the window. What do you think would happen if the clerk suggested Bubblegum Blast? What if they suggest Orange Mango Tango? What if they suggest Prune and Black Walnut? (Okay, that last one may be more popular among those with a more mature palate, but my point still stands.)

Library patrons are often at least somewhat impressionable to the recommendations that librarians make. What's more, the works we recommend are given an air of legitimacy by sheer virtue of the fact that we recommended them. "Surely," the patron thinks, "this professional would not offer me anything less than the literary crème de la crème." 

Please note that this concept also applies to passive readers' advisory interactions, such as displays and book lists. When we include YA literature and graphic novels in our readers' advisory interactions, we legitimize them as we encourage our patrons to expand their horizons and read the whole collection.

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These three tips can help librarians ensure that we can serve all of our patrons who enjoy YA literature or graphic novels, regardless of their age or any other status. And to everyone who doesn't like YA literature, graphic novels, or vanilla ice cream, I say: that's fine. Just don't rain on the parade of those who have tastes different from yours. Everyone should be free to read the books they like, and to eat the ice cream they like, and heck, even to do both at the same time.

Readers' Advisory Matrix

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
☐ Highly narrative (reads like fiction)
☑ A mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose)
☐ Highly fact based (has few or no narrative moments)

2. What is the subject of the book? Social justice—the book discusses US criminal justice system and a lawyer's pursuit of compassion in American justice.

3. What type of book is it? A memoir in narrative form.

4. Articulate appeal

What is the pacing of the book? A measured pace. It reads quickly without rushing or crowding the storylines.

Describe the characters of the book. The life stories of the various inmates comprise the bulk of the work. The main characters are Walter McMillan, a man sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit, and Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer who defends the wrongly condemned.

How does the story feel? Even in its gruesome description of the conditions imposed on imprisoned individuals, the book keeps its inspiring and uplifting tone. However, it purposely is not warm or comfortable for the reader, disturbing enough to evoke emotion and cause action.

What is the intent of the author? To draw attention to the flaws of the criminal justice system (particularly for people of color) and call for an end to mass incarceration and capital punishment in America.

What is the focus of the story? The wild injustices endured by innocent people in the United States, often related to their class or race.

Does the language matter? No.

Is the setting important and well described? It is critical to the gravity of the work that the stories are set in modern-day America, particularly in the southern United States. Since the book focuses on the lawyer's efforts in courtrooms and prisons, the setting is only described to the degree that it allows the reader to empathize with the characters.

Are there details and, if so, of what? The details included in the work focus on the injustices suffered by innocent characters and the absurdity in the criminal justice system.

Are there sufficient charts or other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? None.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? All three: learning about injustices that the public is largely unaware of, understanding how race still plays an issue in America's criminal justice system today, and experiencing the failings of the system to provide justice and mercy, along with the subsequent frustration and impetus to effect change.

5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?

1. Learning
2. Setting
3. Tone

eBooks and Audiobooks

In one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, Juliet cogitates on the question, "What's in a name?" before producing, "That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet" (Shakespeare, n.d., 2.2.46-47). Some 400 years later, most are in agreement with the young star-crossed lover, accepting that a rose's scent is independent of its name. However, things become more complicated when we turn our attention to literature format: does that which we call a book in any other format still read as sweet?

Even the simplest view into electronic and audiovisual resources in a library setting dredges up myriad concerns: licensing, copyright, whether devices are available to patrons or if they provide their own, the decision whether to have multiple versions of the same title in varying formats, and the ever-advancing march of technology. (Just think of cassette tapes and VHS.) However, I will focus on how format affects the experience of the reader, not the back-of-the-house library structure.

Most avid readers know the smell of an old book: a slightly musty, grassy smell that might have notes of vanilla in it. Scientists have isolated several compounds responsible for this smell (like byproducts of the degradation of woody molecule lignin), as reported by Mental Floss (Soniak, 2012). You can even buy a candle that smells like books -- go ahead, I'll wait here while you search Etsy for "book smell candle". Memory is linked to the sense of smell; Strlič explains, "Our sense of smell is very close to the memory center in the human brain, and therefore we very often associate memories with certain smells very powerfully and very strongly," continuing "smell plays such an important role in how we experience heritage" (as cited in Laliberte, 2020). In addition to smell, the binding of the book can contribute to the reading experience; for instance, the popularity of the mass market paperback format has led to ridicule and derision of the Romance genre over decades.

Besides the physical senses, other aspects of the reading experience are affected by the format of a book. An eBook, for example, doesn't give you that sense of thrill when you only have 50 pages left and the mystery is far from solved, so you stay up reading late into the night. (For those wondering, that was my experience with And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie in 5th or 6th grade.) As illustrated in this example, the pacing of a work is partially driven by the physical medium, as well as how much text is present on a page. Both of these factors transfer poorly to electronic media, and the pace is left to narrative drive alone. The physical layout of a page can also give hints to the work's tone: consider seeing a large block of text versus several short lines of dialogue. Without these visual cues, the reader may "tire of the story more quickly" (Dunneback & Trott, 2011, p. 4). Also, an electronic format makes it more difficult to skim back and re-read a passage, particularly if you aren't sure exactly where it was, which may result frustrating for readers of richly detailed works.

Selecting an audiobook also means sacrificing certain aspects of the work. Illustrations, maps, charts, and other images simply cannot be conveyed in an audio recording, and the very idea of an audio graphic novel is absurd. Some works also have structural issues that make an audio version difficult: consider how you would format an audiobook of the Choose Your Own Adventure series. (An ingenious solution, Neil Patrick Harris simply reads all the options in his similarly formatted book Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, but he even mentions in the recording how the experience is diminished by the lack of photographs of his younger self.)

Despite these drawbacks, there are certain benefits that come from these expanded formats. Consider a patron with arthritis or another physical impairment who cannot hold a book for the amount of time required to read it. For them, electronic and audio formats become an issue of accessibility. Similarly, visually impaired patrons can often adjust the size of print in an eBook (or sidestep the issue by choosing an audio format). Further, certain formats can simply be more convenient for the reader, whether that's eBooks on a trip out of town or audiobooks during a morning commute. Truth be told, most of my reading comes while I'm driving back and forth from work. (Obviously, I choose an audio format to drive safely.)

Audiobooks in particular add a new dimension to a work, with voice quality, tone, and artistic delivery all impacting and (hopefully) enriching the literary experience. The mood of the book can be enhanced by the performer(s), whether that mood is comedic, engrossing, intense, or somber. The use of special effects, background music, or even a live audience can transform a work into a full show. Take a look at pages 30-34 of this brochure by NoveList about story elements for more examples of elements that may draw a reader to a particular audio recording.

Differing formats of books allow for different experiences, and these experiences appeal to different audiences. For some, print books present accessibility issues. For others, the trade-offs are worth the benefits. At the end of the day, reading is reading, whatever format you choose. A book in any other format has its own pluses and minuses, and readers should we aware of this fact. 

But the jury's still out on if it reads any sweeter; I guess that's a matter of taste.

References

Dunneback, K., & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and readers' advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(4), 325-9. 

Laliberte, M. (2020, January 26). Science has figured out why you love the smell of old books. Reader's Digest. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://www.rd.com/article/old-book-smell/

Shakespeare, W. (n.d.). Romeo and Juliet. J. Hylton (Ed.). MIT. http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/romeo_juliet.2.2.html (Original work published 1597)

Soniak, M. (2012, July 19). What causes "old book smell"? Mental Floss. Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/31235/what-causes-old-book-smell

The Man Called Noon

The Man Called Noon
by Louis L'Amour
Bantam, 1969. 240 pages. Western

Settings: El Paso, Colorado, and New Mexico; presumably mid- to late-1800s.

Plot Summary: Waking up with no memory and an urgent sense of peril, a man knows someone wants him dead -- but not why. As he seeks answers, he seems to find only more questions and more people trying to hide the truth. When he finds a link that connects him to a trove of gold buried on Fan Davidge's ranch, he knows he must protect her from the no-good gunfighters trying to loot it. But the people who know all about him are trying to make sure this man with no past also has no future.

Subject Headings: Amnesia, gunfighters, treasure troves, female ranchers.

Elements of Westerns: (From Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 151)

• Ranges from traditional Old West stories to western-set Historical Fiction. Written by L'Amour and originally published in 1969, this work falls squarely in the domain of traditional Western stories about the Old West. 
• Exterior descriptions of terrain: western U.S., usually between the Civil War and 1900 (often unspecified further than this). Although there is mention of a few specific towns like El Paso, Mesilla, Socorro, Alamosa, and Denver, the specifics of the setting aren't particularly relevant to the plot. The writing evokes an Old West backdrop, and it often describes the landscape "west of the Mississippi". The year is not specifically mentioned, but it seems to be the mid- to late-1800s based on discussions of settlements and the technological advances.
  
• Traditionally, a loner hero who rights wrongs and then moves on. Our lone hero defends himself with his gunslinging and marksmanship. While he befriends Fan, Rimes, and Lebo, he largely works alone to defeat the villains. At the end of the novel, it is not clear if he truly "moves on," but he seems to remain with Fan on her ranch, which is a deviation from the typical elements of a Western.
• Either complex or straightforward plots. While the plot of this work seems straightforward, the protagonist does learn more about his past, including his own name (Rubal Noon / Jonas Mandrin) and how he is connected to the hoard of gold. He also learns how Judge Niland is responsible for the death of his wife and child, which complicates the plot somewhat.
• Often includes elegiac tone for days gone by. There is a sense of yearning for the days of yore when a man was as good as his word, and people treated each other fairly. This is reflected in the tone of the work, which is somewhat moody and mournful.
• Pacing may be quick (traditional) or more measured. True to the form of traditional Westerns, this work is very quick-paced, with action in almost every chapter and plenty of excitement to keep the pages turning.
• Spare, colorful, jargon-filled dialogue, with some lyrical landscape descriptions. Most of the characters do not engage in extended dialogue, and the use of cowboy slang (like "dun", "hand" and "sorrel") together with non-standard grammar and conventions helps to create the atmosphere of the Wild West. The work contains minor expletives like "damn" and "hell", which further add to the ambiance of the era.

Rule of Three: (From Saricks, 2009) 

1. Fast pace. As mentioned above, this work has a very fast pace with lots of action and gunfights. This contributes to the compelling nature of the work that makes it difficult to put down.
2. Gritty, moody tone. The dark and foreboding feeling of the work is paralleled in the way that L'Amour doesn't pull his punches; our hero doesn't suffer less consequences from negative actions just because he's written sympathetically. The tone compels the reader to investigate further and unravel the tightly-wound plot as it is revealed.
3. Action-packed, plot-driven storyline. Related to the fast pace, this work is chock-full of action and excitement. There are multiple gunfights, train scenes (complete with bandits) and chase scenes, each of which advances the storyline towards the resolution of the hero's plight.

Similar Works (Read-alikes): 

• Slaughter of Eagles by William W. Johnstone
  Both of these action-packed Westerns feature gunfighters in search of treasure troves in the Wild West. While Johnstone's work was written some 40 years after The Man Called Noon, it still contains many of the same elements and is a good suggestion for someone looking to venture from classic Westerns to more recently published works.
• Dorn of the Mountains by Zane Grey
  As a golden age Western writer, Grey's stories mirror L'Amour's in their action and adventure with beautiful descriptions of the terrain and concise, clear writing. In particular, this work features an old-fashioned cowboy saving a damsel from a gang of ne'er-do-wells.
• The Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins
  Set in the West during the 1800s, Jessi Rose also centers on a female Frontier homesteader and a gunslinging mercenary. However, Jenkins explores the relationship between the characters at more depth than L'Amour did, carrying elements of Westerns into the Romance genre. This work may be spicier than traditional Western fare, and a potential reader should we aware of this fact.
• Bill O'Reilly's Legends and Lies: The Real West by David Fisher
  This nonfiction work sheds a light on the real-life events that occurred on America's frontier, separating the facts from the fiction about this iconic period in American history. The amazing artwork helps bring the Wild West to life in this fast-paced, action-packed narrative.
• Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West by Hampton Sides
  While classic Westerns are sometimes problematic in their depiction of women, indigenous peoples, Latinx characters, and other minority groups, Sides here examines the westward expansion of the United States and the forcible subjugation of Native American tribes. This may compel readers interested in the authenticity of traditional Westerns.
• I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia by Su Meck
  Readers interested in delving deeper into the real-life implications of head trauma and subsequent amnesia may enjoy this chronicle of a twenty-two-year-old woman's freak accident that completely wiped her memory, never to fully heal. 
  

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

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). Westerns. In The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction (pp. 149-166).

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.)