The Readers' Advisory Matrix for Scandalous Women

The Readers’ Advisory Matrix for Scandalous Women: The Lives and Loves by History’s Most Notorious Women by Elizabeth Kerri Mahon.

·      Narrative Continuum – How much does this book read like a novel? There isn’t much of a traditional narrative with dialogue, but it is descriptive and that helped the book read faster as a page turning work. I’ve only read one chapter so far, but I intend on reading more of Scandalous Women because of the interactive manner that it presented information about a variety of different historical women.

·      Subject—This falls under historical nonfiction so I would recommend it to patrons who may be looking to read more about famous women of the past, in the Eastern and Western worlds. There is also a fair amount of humor and description so I would also make sure to ask these kinds of probing questions for style and appeal factors.

·      Type—It is historical nonfiction that reads almost as a blog because it provides a shorter, concise, but still narrative, insight into a variety of famous women from the past. It is interactive with questions posed for the reader that they could engage with, and even further research in their free time.

·      Appeal—The format of Scandalous Women is broken into different sections in one chapter because of the different types of famous women that are addressed: Warrior Queens, Wayward Wives, Scintillating Seductresses, Crusading Ladies, Wild Women of the West, Amorous Artists, and Amazing Adventuresses. The font is easy to read, and Scandalous Women is a shorter work that a patron would be able to curl up with on a lazy, Sunday afternoon.  Scandalous Women also provides a Selective Bibliography, as well further reading and movies, that a patron would be able to research and read in their free time, as well as lending to the credibility of Elizabeth Mahon.

·      Pacing—The pacing is influenced by the description of the facts and the narrative that is weaved through the different people that are introduced. The humor and interactive language would be entertaining for patrons that are looking for a nonfiction work about famous women that shaped culture and society.

·      Characterization—The characterization of these women is appropriate because it weaves in the influences of the society in which all of them were raised. Scandalous Women provides a realistic interpretation of their role in society, and how the handled the struggles and hardships in their lives. The book also adds a fair amount of insight into the lives of their families and personal lives to make them seem more relatable, as opposed to being separate from the reader.

·      Storyline—Scandalous Women is meant to educate the reader on a variety of famous women of the past, and it does so in a descriptive manner that makes the book a page turner. The facts that are provided are weaved into a descriptive narrative that serves as entertaining for the reader. I read the first chapter in the span of twenty minutes, and I enjoyed the story as I learned more about historical figures, like Joan of Arc and Cleopatra.

·      Detail—There aren’t any maps of geographic locations, but there are illustrations and pictures with the more modern famous women. The written detail about these women are more than sufficient, and it makes for an engaging, factual narrative that educates the reader about the daily lives and struggles of these women.

·      Learning/experiencing—Scandalous Women does not provide many teachable moments, but it does share the experiences of the famous women, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Grace O’Malley, that it informs the reader about. It explores the life and daily living of each of these women, as well, so the reader can feel as though they are experiencing these life moments.

·      Language—The language is more lyrical and descriptive for the reader so that they will be able to enjoy the facts that are presented. The language is also easy to understand and the vocabulary used is appropriate for those read Scandalous Women. It adds to the appeal of it being a factual, but engaging page turner for patrons looking for a book about historical women.

·      Setting—The different settings serve as a helpful backdrop to the lives of these historical women because geography plays a part in their daily lives. It provides a world that the reader could participate in because of the way it describes the society that was established in the different geographic locations.

·      Tone—The tone is a lighter, and more informative because of the variety of scandalous women that is informs the reader on. There is some humor to this nonfiction work, and it is also interactive to make it an engaging page turner for the patron that may check it out.

Here is my annotation of The Alchemist. I hope you all enjoy it, and let me know if you have any issues with viewing it!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8TQ6PVQNBlTRmlqRDQwcDVFS3M/view?usp=sharing

eBooks and Audiobooks

eBooks and audiobooks are a growing trend because of their convenience for those who use them. Instead of having to haul around several different paperbacks or hardcovers, they can either download to their device or listen to while in the car. Appeal factors are even more important with these two mediums because patrons won’t be able to feel the physical book in their hands as they read it. eBooks are more easily published as well so it is important that we, as librarians, are aware that they may not be available in print circulation. Older patrons may not want to deal with the hassle of downloading the necessary software or app to read the most recent book in a series.

Audiobooks are unique because the text being narrated is affected by the tone of voice of the one doing the narration. The major appeal factor with audiobooks is the one doing the narration so it is important to be aware of the tone and pacing that the narrator provides for the text they are reading. Patrons may want the narrator to match their voice to the events of the novel so it is important to be aware of the narrators that match the pace of their narration to the pace of the novel. Romance novels may require a narrator with a soft and soothing voice, and mystery/suspense novels may require a narrator that embeds that mystery and suspense in their tone of voice. This is important, and it may even require us to practice listening to audiobooks narrated by different people in a variety of genres so we can be effective when it comes to recommending audiobooks to patrons.

The format of these two mediums do affect pacing and tone because audiobooks are affected the narrator telling the story and eBooks are affected by the format of the text. I like that eBooks have a variety of fonts, line spacing, and text colors because it helps me to read the novel faster. I love being able to balance my iPad or my Nook in my lap while I listen to music, and I prefer eBooks that have fonts that are a bit smaller. It also helps that I can listen to music on either of my devices so that I am able to relax after a long day of work. Fonts, line spacing, and colored text is something we should be aware when it comes to recommending eBooks to patrons because it does affect appeal factors.

The Blade of Fortriu Annotation

This is my annotation of The Blade of Fortriu by Juliet Marillier. If you have any problems accessing the link, just let me know! I hope you like the annotation, and that you check out the novel because it was really good!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8TQ6PVQNBlTQXM2VlYxb3dnQzg/view?usp=sharing

The Fortune Hunter

This is my annotation of The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin. I made sure that everyone could view it, but, if you have trouble accessing it, just let me know! I hope you like it! I enjoyed the novel a lot!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8TQ6PVQNBlTV21JSEZMeHRma0k/view?usp=sharing

Book Club Experience

Book Club Reflection

            I attended a book discussion group that was hosted by the Alpine Branch of the Kent District Library on Wednesday March 1^st as an observer because I did not have a chance to read the book. The book that was discussed was A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra, and it was about a doctor who harbors an eight-year-old girl from Russian forces that have captured her father. The book also explores the past that binds the doctor and girl together as he treats a series of wounded refugees.

Who is asking the questions, is there a leader or do people take turns?

There was only one person to show up to the book club discussion, besides myself as an observer and the facilitator Hannah, and her name was Trina. The weather had been bad that night, and many of the usual people that show up may not have been willing to drive because of the snow. I also found out that the original leader of the discussion group had been in a car accident a few days prior so that’s why she did not attend. Hannah did an excellent job of facilitating the discussion with Trina by asking appropriate follow-up questions to engage with Trina on the contents of the novel.
If there is a leader, does the leader answer the questions as well or let the attendees respond first?

Trina initially lead the discussion by describing the plot of the novel, and talking about the setting and the writing style as well. She was a very good sport as she was the only one to show to the book club meeting, and she did not seem to mind that the spotlight was on her for most the night. Hannah was effective in her role as a facilitator as she asked Trina questions, despite also not reading the book, and she seemed to be genuinely interested in what Trina was saying about A Constellation of Vital Phenomena.
What type of questions are asked? Any involving just yes or no answers?

Hannah asked a variety of questions about the genre, the plot, characters, and setting so that Trina was not just answering with yes or no. Just on the off-chance Hannah had not asked any questions, there was a brochure of discussion questions that could have been asked to keep the conversation flowing. The regular leader, Shawna, was well-prepared with creating this handout so that the discussion would not have been an entire waste of time for those who attended, even though the only one who came was Trina.
Do all attendees actively participate?

Trina and Hannah actively participated in the discussion as Hannah was genuinely interested in the novel. I was more passive on the side because I was actively taking notes about what was being said, and the topics of discussion that was covered.
Do any attendees swoop in and steal all the spotlight?

There was little chance that any of attendees swooped in and stole all the spotlight as Trina was the only attendee. Most the spotlight was on her during the book discussion group, and her ability to discuss the novel with Hannah and myself. I was interested in the plot of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena because of the effective way Trina described the novel.
What is the atmosphere of the discussion, where is it taking place at?

The discussion took place in the side room in the Alpine Branch Library, and the atmosphere was very casual and comfortable. The lights were dimmed to create a nice mood for the discussion about A Constellation of Vital Phenomena as I saw the snow fall outside the window. It was pleasantly warm compared to outside, and I liked that it seemed like an open and welcoming place for Trina to be willing to share about her experience with the novel.
Are snacks or drinks provided?
            There weren’t snacks or drinks provided for the discussion and I think it would have been a good thing to have hot coffee or hot chocolate because this was an event for adults. I know I was cold as I walked in to the library and it would have been nice to enjoy a hot beverage as I observed the discussion. It might have provided a similar effect for Trina as she might have been unprepared to be the main point of discussion about the novel. She may have been a bit more relaxed if she could have sipped some hot tea or coffee as she led the discussion.

What types of books does this book club normally discuss?

            I’m not sure what types of books this book club normally discuss because it seems like they choose a variety of different titles for patrons that participate to read. Shawna, the regular facilitator, picks the titles for the patrons to read, and the library provides them with a copy of the title before they leave. Trina also signed up for the next discussion, April 12^th, and she left after we discussed the novel for about 40 minutes with the next brochure and book.

Analysis

            I enjoyed this book discussion because Hannah was really engaging with Trina, even though she had not read the book. Trina was also receptive to discussing the novel as the only attendee, and neither did not seem to mind that I quietly observed the entire time as I took notes in the corner. This event made me realize that the best of library planning can go astray with factors, like weather, and unexpected events, like car accidents. It was very helpful that Shawna had the foresight to prepare brochure of discussion questions that Hannah would have been able to use if she couldn’t think of good questions to ask Trina. Though no one can be prepared for the effective that weather will have attendees, it is very important to be flexible with unexpected factors. That is the most important part of planning of anything, and this event was successful, despite all the factors that affected the attendance of regular patrons.