Book talk ... Western Genre ... GIDDY-UP!

After I saw a suggestion on NoveList that Louis L'Amour fans should consider making a switch into a different genre and try Lee Child I got the idea to do Westerns.  Also, because I had read 1 Louis L'Amour book & absolutely loved it & have read numerous Lee Child books.  Another author who has a "western" vibe is C.J. Box who I suggest for men at the library often.  I threw in some classics because some men just aren't going to stray away from their beloved landscape, adventure-filled favorite books.  Furthermore, I'm a total goofball so coming up with the Book-A-Roo Ranch idea just popped into my head while doing dishes - thus, all that was left was "Ridin' into the Sunset!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV2laTlqur0  is the link to paste into a browser to watch my you tube video book talk.

John Wayne as Louis L'Amour's Hondo Lane

Week 7 Fake, Funky & Frantically Delicious?

There are times I'm totally amazed at the crazy "response" some writers receive.  Sometimes I think, do the patrons really read some of this stuff?  Granted, I often read just to "get away," but, wow, some of the stuff these people want is Funny, Fake & anything but delicious!

I was working in a library and considered it totally annoying when we received Oprah's nominations for a good book.

A. Did she have any credentials for choosing books?
B. As if others hadn't already suggested some of these books were/weren't worth reading.
C. I didn't like being "told" to display a book just because the Queen of daytime television said I should!

The best thing was ... the big county library donated 1 of Oprah's books to us (the small county library) because they would buy multiple copies to keep up with the crowd.

Thus, NO
  was spent on the books.

It does sadden me that there are talented authors who sell minimum books & A Million Little Pieces sold over 3.5 million copies and spent 15 weeks on the New York Times Non-Fiction Best Sellers list.  I wonder how embarrassed and aggravated the Harpo employees were after they realized Oprah had been duped by Frey?  I'm hoping she bought them some caviar, Godiva chocolates, and jelly-filled doughnuts to make up for the travesty!

Now that I'm an adult and overly "mature" it is interesting to see how my reading habits have altered.  The romance (unless it is just part of something more fast-paced and suspenseful) has flown the coop and been replaced.  My fanciful girly days are behind me as I have probably entered middle-age - YIKES! - did I just say I'm old? (something my teenagers have been telling me for years)  Can't wait to see what I'll scrutinize in the next few decades.  BRING IT ON!

Mystery ... Graphic Novel Style

Main character, Alex Barnaby is a girl mechanic and spotter for race car driver Sam Hooker.  Alex's nickname is just "Barney" and trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes.   As the tale opens, a voo doo doll is found and Felicia is attempting to convince Alex that waving a chicken over it will keep her out of harms way.  Unfortunately, Alex is fresh out of chickens, but Felicia's lunch is chicken salad.  Yes, you can "picture" the next scene (hilarious and well worth the perusal!)

Artwork, by Jones exemplifies the misfortunes the characters encounter.  Hooker, the good-looking pain-in-the-neck boss has a witty banter with Alex that will keep you laughing especially when Alex's meatloaf baking mom by day, but cougar by night surfaces in the nightclub where they are trying to solve their friend's disappearance.  Entering the Everglades the duo encounter creepy rituals, are involved in a boat and a car high speed chase, find a "hand" in the mail and even dig through garbage to solve the mystery ... can Alex & Sam succeed in time?

If Trouble Maker was fun for you too .... TRY these ...

Trouble Maker 2 by Evanovich

Batwing by Judd Winick

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore

& Crime does not pay

Week 6 ... book talks ... prompt

Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
by Mildred Taylor

Have you ever been afraid?

Have you ever felt like there was NO hope?

Have you ever felt like the entire world is against you?

Yes, well then, now you know how our young heroine, Cassie Logan feels most days!

It is 1933 during the Depression in the deep South and times are difficult, especially when you are African Americans who own more land than most of your racist white neighbors.
Mildred Taylor weaves a wonderful tale of how a family needs to possess courage, pride, strength, and respect for humanity while fighting off the Night Riders who are burning crops so families can't pay taxes.
Will Cassie and her 3 brothers realize white people hate them because of the color of their skin and will humiliate, threaten and destroy what the Logan family has sacrificed to achieve?
Can Cassie overcome ridicule and a horrifying year while learning when and how to fight racism or when to endure the punishment?



Question to ponder ...
Do I think book-talks should only be "performed" on books I love -- definitely!  I have a kooky personality ... If I tried to encourage others to read a book that was boring and I didn't like ... I'm more than convinced I couldn't even make it sound wonderful!  Thus, there are so many books I absolutely love - that I would never run out of ideas!  Of course, I also think as a library lady I should continue to broaden my horizons & read other genres, so I can support all "areas" of the library!

**I would also talk about other books from the Depression while giving the Roll of Thunder book-talk.  Two of my all-time favorites Year Down Yonder & A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck will leave the audience in stitches - which might be a good idea after a serious book (even though there are funny parts in Taylor's tale also).

Kirkus style review ... Petey Power!

Petey
Ben Mikaelsen
Pre teens (11+)
Fiction

Petey Corbin, born with unknown physical ailments, was taken to an institution after his parents were penniless due to his ailment.  Unfortunately, in this time era (1920's) children were misdiagnosed and left in horrible conditions.  Thought of as an idiot, this young boy would spend the rest of his life in a mental institution.  Mikaelsen (Stranded, 1995) met the real life Petey (Clyde Cothern) and penned this amazing tale in honor of his new friend.  Granted, since "Petey's" communication was limited, his friendships were formed through nurses, patients, mice, and eventually Trevor.  The desire to be jovial in his unhappy environment showed Trevor life is what you make of it! This tearjerker will leave you frustrated, enraged and because of this anger more kindhearted.  Mikaelsen has well-developed characters that leave the reader feeling empathetic.



Publication date: 1 September 1998 by Hyperion
ISBN: 0786804262
280 pp.
posted February 8, 2014

Adventure on Treasure Island

Jim, a young lad, who recently lost his father is thrust into a whirlwind adventure with roguish pirates who love gold almost as much as spirits.

Inheriting a treasure map from old Billy Bones throws Jim into a mission where cunning actions are more valuable than rubies.  Being young in years doesn't hamper the accomplishments of our hero when the villains deter him from survival.   Even though the island reeks of death, Jim boldly goes where no man has gone before ... Will he survive, assist his comrades and locate the desired fortune?

If you crave a classic novel about the high seas where you are mystified about the outcome as you quickly turn the pages ... Then arrrgh! Pick up yer spy glass and search fer yer copy of Stevenson's spectacular story before me stick ya with me cutlass. Ye won't be disappointed.

When an adventure is at hand ...

Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling

Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Ivanhoe by Walter Scott
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain...

 The books will all keep your blood pumping until the hero is home safely!

Secret Shopper Sensation: Reader's Advisory Appreciation

While visiting a local library I was anxious to approach someone about an RA question.  Would they be capable of helping me?  Would they want to help me?  Would they answer my questions with 1 word answers?  Would I be wasting my time?

Alas, a sweet, thirty-something library lady assisted me with vigor! Her passion for books was apparent and her desire to assist me in my search was impressive!

Thus, I began this journey ...

There were not signs mentioning reader's advisory

There were no visible booklists

Reference desk was easily accessible

The reference desk was staffed with 2 eager librarians, both in nice attire

The staff member was approachable & friendly

So, I begin ... "I need a book to read."

I'm then barraged with a multitude of questions ...

What did you read last?

What did you like about that particular book?

Did you read it because of the author?

Is this a particular genre you like?

(I played dumb & asked what a genre was)

Thus,

Do you like to always read mysteries?

Do you like the book to be fast paced?

Do you like the characters to have personal relationships?

Does it matter about foul language or sexual content?

Do you have a preference of male or female authors?

I answered her inquiries and she clicked away on her keypad

Then, she asked a few more questions.  She had pulled up Amazon I noticed.

She also told me about the "GN" display.  She was very excited about this area in

the library because she had "begged" the library director to allow her to order books for this area.

Until a few months ago she said the only Graphic Novel materials were in the YA

area and she said there are lots of adults who also enjoy these books.  I told her I had only read

two graphic novels in the past.  But, I checked one out because 

of her  for the genre.

What a fun experience.  I mentioned there are times when I want to know who writes like another author and if you aren't at work, what will I do?  Thus, she mentioned a Reader's Advisory section on the library home page to help me and she mentioned other places to learn about books.  By the new adult books The New York Times Best Sellers list is available and she mentioned a few periodicals that were in the Reading Room.  She suggested an author I've never read (Jo Nesbo), told me about

emerging cultures to keep an eye on (like Urban fiction becoming more popular), she was

also familiar with a few series I brought up to see how "up-to-date" she was on other genres.

With the zeal this young lady showed for RA services, it was apparent she will

be a valuable tool to the library where she worked!