My sisters and three friends became my lab participants. I e-mailed them a list of questions and the advising began.
Reader Profiles
All of the participants are females and mothers. Reader #5 is non-fiction reader. Reader's #1 -#4 read often. Reader #5 is in mommy mode and is currently able to read.
Questions and Answers
What is the last book that you read?
1. Be Careful What you Pray For
2. Sleeping with the Enemy
3. Blue Collar Blues by Rosalyn McMillian
4. Act like a Lady, Think Like a Man
5. Sidney Poitier Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter
Who are some of your favorite authors? Please list three.
1. VC Andrews, Kiki Swinson and Zane
2. Zane, Frances Ray, Carl Weber
3. a. Jacqueline Thomas
b. Rosalyn McMillian
c. Benita Little
d. Bebe Moore-Campbell
4. Mary B. Morrison, Cheryl Robinson, Katherine Langhorne, Chonda Cheeks, Denene Millner
5. None at this time
“Tell me what kind of reading experience you’re looking for”?*
1. I need to be able to gain more knowledge in regards to US history.
2. “Exciting page turner with lots of action”
3. a. Love stories with comedy and happy ending
b. Self- help, devotional and inspirational
4. Good plots about girlfriends, romance, drama
5. Biography and educational
What are your favorite genres? Please highlight your top two answers.
Romance III
Gentle Reads (generally no sex or violence)
Chick Lit I
Adventure I
Street Lit I
Horror
Mystery Suspense II
Science Fiction
Thrillers
Historical Fiction
Fantasy
Women’s Lives and Relationships III
Young Adult Fiction (ex. Twilight)
Are you willing to try a new genre? If so, please indicate genre below?
1. Yes, Historical Fiction
2. Women’s Lives and Relationships
3. Yes, mystery and chick lit
4. Mystery, fantasy
5. Chick Lit, Street Lit
Are there certain genres/types of books that you do not like to read? Please list below?
1. Horror
2. Thrillers and Adventure
3. a. Horror, street lit
4. Horrors, suspense, thriller
* Question obtained from Ross and Chelton, Reader’s Advisory: Matching Mood and Material, 2001.
Their answers helped me to select book choices. I e-mailed the titles, images, synopsis, and in some cases reviews to the reader's.
I reviewed the following resources to create the list of suggestions:
aalbc The #1 Site for African American Literature
http://aalbc.com/
Amazon.com
Bella Online African American Lit Site
http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/6222.asp
Goodreads.com (did not find anything)
Novelist
Readalike.org
Reader's Advisory Online
Reader's responded, by e-mail, if they would read the book, had read the book, or would not read the book. The responses for Reader #5 were obtained by phone. I recommended seven books to Reader 1. She indicated that she would read three of the books. Six books were selected for each remaining reader's. Reader #2 would read three books. Reader #3 would read all six selected books. Reader #4 would read five books. Reader #5 would read four books and had read one of the suggested books.
Lessons Learned
I will not have the luxury of hours to find a good read when working with library patrons so I must move quickly.
The person helping the patron may find great books as well.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Up at the College
By Michele Andrea Bowen
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0446577758
Genre: Romance
I selected this book because I did not want to read a book labeled as a romance. I wanted a story filled with the longing and anticipation of love; where the people grew to love one another. In this regard, this book met my expectations.
It begins with the divorce of the heroine Yvonne Fountain Copeland who has put up with her husband’s awful taste in music and even more awful behavior. Darrell, the husband, cheats on Yvonne and then informs her, “I want you and the girls [his daughters] out of the house seven weeks from today” (5).
There are great descriptions and humorous sentences like the following from the Prologue that made continue reading.
After much contemplation, relentless journaling to soothe my endless vexation with you, tai chi, acupuncture and colon cleansing to rid myself of the impurities brought on by my anxiety over this situation, I have decided that I must find my way back to my original self through a wrenching detachment process some refer to as divorce.
Yes, I would be shocked and devastated if my husband expressed these thoughts but I think that at some point these same words would make me laugh intensely. (Note, I have never been married or experienced this kind of betrayal.)
So funny lines keep me in this book and the love story makes it more enjoyable. Of course Yvonne, “an authentic church girl,” is going to find a new mate. She finds him in the form of Coach Curtis Parker. They both work at Evangeline T. Marshall University in her hometown of Durham, North Carolina. There is the problem of Curtis having not yet devoted his life to Christian living but this obstacle can and will be removed. These two individuals became a couple after time and consideration. The couple falls in love while dealing with life; she is in need of a permanent position at the college and he has problems with the basketball team.
Up at the College has the characteristics listed by Saricks. There is an immediate emotional tone, you dislike her husband; the man is handsome and the female is “strong, bright, independent, and often beautiful” (Saricks, 204); I did not read this quickly but I could stop and start with ease; and the language is “instantly recognizable” once the couple is together. They are holding hands and Yvonne thinks “I can feel the touch of the palm of your hand in the center of my heart” (216).
Although, the book is too long and at times extremely predictable, I do enjoy her characters and discussion of the impact of gentrification on the African American community. Her characters and this theme appear in some of her other titles.
This is a good book for those who enjoy love stories; fiction that includes stories of faith and triumph; and real life situations.
By Michele Andrea Bowen
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0446577758
Genre: Romance
I selected this book because I did not want to read a book labeled as a romance. I wanted a story filled with the longing and anticipation of love; where the people grew to love one another. In this regard, this book met my expectations.
It begins with the divorce of the heroine Yvonne Fountain Copeland who has put up with her husband’s awful taste in music and even more awful behavior. Darrell, the husband, cheats on Yvonne and then informs her, “I want you and the girls [his daughters] out of the house seven weeks from today” (5).
There are great descriptions and humorous sentences like the following from the Prologue that made continue reading.
After much contemplation, relentless journaling to soothe my endless vexation with you, tai chi, acupuncture and colon cleansing to rid myself of the impurities brought on by my anxiety over this situation, I have decided that I must find my way back to my original self through a wrenching detachment process some refer to as divorce.
Yes, I would be shocked and devastated if my husband expressed these thoughts but I think that at some point these same words would make me laugh intensely. (Note, I have never been married or experienced this kind of betrayal.)
So funny lines keep me in this book and the love story makes it more enjoyable. Of course Yvonne, “an authentic church girl,” is going to find a new mate. She finds him in the form of Coach Curtis Parker. They both work at Evangeline T. Marshall University in her hometown of Durham, North Carolina. There is the problem of Curtis having not yet devoted his life to Christian living but this obstacle can and will be removed. These two individuals became a couple after time and consideration. The couple falls in love while dealing with life; she is in need of a permanent position at the college and he has problems with the basketball team.
Up at the College has the characteristics listed by Saricks. There is an immediate emotional tone, you dislike her husband; the man is handsome and the female is “strong, bright, independent, and often beautiful” (Saricks, 204); I did not read this quickly but I could stop and start with ease; and the language is “instantly recognizable” once the couple is together. They are holding hands and Yvonne thinks “I can feel the touch of the palm of your hand in the center of my heart” (216).
Although, the book is too long and at times extremely predictable, I do enjoy her characters and discussion of the impact of gentrification on the African American community. Her characters and this theme appear in some of her other titles.
This is a good book for those who enjoy love stories; fiction that includes stories of faith and triumph; and real life situations.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Super Service
I originally sought help for a Historical Fiction book on Friday, February 5th. Arriving at the library right after opening allowed me to do work for another class and view the art featured in the annual Meet the Artist exhibit. I went up to the fiction section and asked the person at the desk for help with finding a book. She was the only person at the desk. Instead of beginning with a computer search, she selected a book from the ready reference shelf in back of the desk, Historical Fiction: A Guide to the Genre by Johnson (I did not write the first name but a web search indicates that the author is Sarah L. Johnson). I browsed the book while she did a computer search. She then went to a public computer station and showed me NoveList and remarked that I could access the resource from home. By this time, I had found a selection in the genre book, Until that Good Day. She in turn went and found the book on the shelf which was great, because the shelving at this particular library can be somewhat confusing.
I am not sure that she was a librarian ( I have seen and talked to her before and am pretty sure that she is a librarian) but she was extremely helpful. Although I did not read this book, I appreciated her willingness to help.
After scanning some of the secret shopper posts and the e-mail concerning the project, I decided to visit another library to see if I would have a different experience. I am happy to say that again, excellent service was rendered.
This time I arrived prior to opening (Friday, April 2nd) and had to wait for the gate to be lifted. I was not alone as there were several other anxious patrons. I returned some books and then went to the reference desk. I asked the person (again, not sure that the person was a librarian as she did not have a visible badge) at the desk for help in finding a Literary Fiction book. She asked about the content of this type of book. I described literary fiction as usually darker with a slower pace (Saricks, 127). She then asked about the characters. I explained that Toni Morrison writes in the literary style. At this point, she did a computer search. She asked if I liked James Baldwin or Their Eyes Were Watching God. She also asked if I was okay with a children’s book to which I responded that I preferred not to have a juvenile book. She further explained that the book was not a children’s book.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor was her suggestion. The lady assisting me seemed very enthused about this book and author commenting that the author had written excellent books. I was pleased with this selection as I have not read the book and plan on reading for this and another class. She went to retrieve the book from the shelf. I asked her how she found the book to match my inquiry. She responded that she had used Amazon.com and the section that suggests additional books and authors if you like such and such. In this case, she used Toni Morrison as I mentioned early in the Reader’s Advisory interview. She suggested that I use websites that have .lib or .org as they are more authoritative.
Finally, I asked about Elizabeth Berg. A classmate recently presented one of her books as a similar read and I am interested in reading her work. She was familiar with the Berg. She suggested that I use the computer catalog to search for Bergs work (I told her that I would just go to the fiction section and search) since all the books might have the same call number. This was not necessarily part of the secret shopper experience but I felt comfortable in asking and confident in her ability to assist.
I am not sure that she was a librarian ( I have seen and talked to her before and am pretty sure that she is a librarian) but she was extremely helpful. Although I did not read this book, I appreciated her willingness to help.
After scanning some of the secret shopper posts and the e-mail concerning the project, I decided to visit another library to see if I would have a different experience. I am happy to say that again, excellent service was rendered.
This time I arrived prior to opening (Friday, April 2nd) and had to wait for the gate to be lifted. I was not alone as there were several other anxious patrons. I returned some books and then went to the reference desk. I asked the person (again, not sure that the person was a librarian as she did not have a visible badge) at the desk for help in finding a Literary Fiction book. She asked about the content of this type of book. I described literary fiction as usually darker with a slower pace (Saricks, 127). She then asked about the characters. I explained that Toni Morrison writes in the literary style. At this point, she did a computer search. She asked if I liked James Baldwin or Their Eyes Were Watching God. She also asked if I was okay with a children’s book to which I responded that I preferred not to have a juvenile book. She further explained that the book was not a children’s book.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor was her suggestion. The lady assisting me seemed very enthused about this book and author commenting that the author had written excellent books. I was pleased with this selection as I have not read the book and plan on reading for this and another class. She went to retrieve the book from the shelf. I asked her how she found the book to match my inquiry. She responded that she had used Amazon.com and the section that suggests additional books and authors if you like such and such. In this case, she used Toni Morrison as I mentioned early in the Reader’s Advisory interview. She suggested that I use websites that have .lib or .org as they are more authoritative.
Finally, I asked about Elizabeth Berg. A classmate recently presented one of her books as a similar read and I am interested in reading her work. She was familiar with the Berg. She suggested that I use the computer catalog to search for Bergs work (I told her that I would just go to the fiction section and search) since all the books might have the same call number. This was not necessarily part of the secret shopper experience but I felt comfortable in asking and confident in her ability to assist.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)