Indiana University LIS-S524 (Spring 2024) Class

  Week 11 Prompt When E books were introduced years ago, I made a vow that I would never use an electronic device to read a book. A book should be something you hold in your hands and turn the pages. Smelling a book whether it be brand new or old and yellowed is something I enjoy. How could I get that fabulous smell from a Kindle? Then, a couple of years ago, I noticed when I went to read small paperback books, the print was getting smaller and smaller to my eyes. I felt the strain in my eyeballs. It appears that I was getting older and my eyes were getting worse. It was always a several weeks wait at the library to get a large print copy of popular books. So, on a black Friday special, I did what I vowed never to do, I bought a Kindle. A whole new world opened up to me. I could make the font as big as I wanted! I could read in bed with the lamp off without disturbing my husband. I didn’t have to drive to the library anymore. I could download the books from the libraries Overdrive. I f

  Historical Fiction Author: Nancy Horan Title: The House of Lincoln: A Novel Genre: Historical Fiction Publication Date: June 2023 Time Period: 1858-1861 Geographical Setting: Springfield, Illinois Pages: 352   Plot Summary We follow the story of Ana, a live in servant to Abraham Lincoln. Through Ana eyes, we see the events leading up to Lincoln’s run to the Presidency. This is an intimate rendering of what Lincoln’s family life was like living in Springfield.   Subject Headings President Lincoln Mary Todd Lincoln Slavery Springfield, Illinois Civil War   Appeal Pacing: Slow. The story drags without much to hold reader’s interest. Tone: Depressing. Characters can be hateful such as the slave catchers. Characterization: Story is narrated by Ana. Language: Modern English   3 Term Description Historical Changes Racism Eyewitness Account of Slavery Similar Books The President’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood The story of how Edith Wilso

  My neighbor Jolene hosts a monthly book club meeting for the ladies in our neighborhood. When I told her I needed to find a book club for this assignment she invited me to her Thursday night meeting. This month’s pick is Killing Floor by Lee Child. The book was first published in 1997. I asked her why she chose an old book from the late nineties. Jolene explained that the group loved mysteries. Also, this book series was made into a tv show on Prime +. The group likes to read tv series books, then watch the show and compare. Luckily, I read this book a long time ago, so I was already prepared for the meeting.                 A total of seven ladies showed up, myself included. Jolene had a lovely spread of crackers, cheese, vegetables, dips, and cookies for everyone to enjoy. Everyone got their plates and sat down. Jolene began the meeting by asking if everyone had finished the book. Everyone nodded in agreement. The first question of the night was How would you describe the main c

  Do Celebrity Book Clubs Help or Hurt the Public Library?                 How popular are celebrity book club books in the public library? Jessica Hilburn a librarian in rural Pennsylvania had the same burning question. She has a small purchase budget for new materials. She has struggled between demand driven acquisition or more intellectual quality material. Should she spend her meager budget on celebrity book club books? She decided the best way to make this difficult decision is to survey her fellow librarians. She created a survey that focused on whether the librarian’s main acquisition for fiction were celebrity book club books. Twenty-four librarians responded and the answer was surprising. Only half paid any attention to popular culture and celebrity book clubs. The other half that did focus on celebrities, Reese Witherspoon was the clear winner in popularity. Jenna Bush was second and poor Oprah was at the bottom in third. “Although celebrity book clubs and popular culture w

  Gentle Reads   Author: Jenny Colgan Title: The Bookshop on the Corner Genre: Gentle Reads Publication Date: 2016 Time Period: Present Day Geographical Setting: Scotland Pages: 364   Plot Summary Nina wants to start over. She decides to buy a van and turn it into a book mobile named The Little Shop of Happily Ever After. Following along with Nina as she searches for happiness in her life. Will she find it with her new landlord Lennox?   Subject Headings Book Mobile Lamb Farm Librarian   Appeal: Pacing: Normal pacing. Tone: Gentle. No violence, bad words, or high drama. Characterization: The story is narrated by Nina. Language: English 3 Terms Description: Romance Starting-Over Self-Confidence    Similar Books: Monsieur Perdu has a floating bookstore. He uses his psychic intuition to pick the right books for his customers. The books he chooses for them help heal their broken hearts. Will Perdu ever be able to heal his own broken heart?

  Reading this week’s articles, an author came to mind that affected me negatively. Her name was Sylvia Browne. Yes, that Sylvia Browne. The famous psychic. You see, when my father died in 2003, I was devasted. All I could think about is what was Heaven like? What is he doing up there? I wondered about the mythical aisle at my local Border’s bookstore and found the book Life on the Other Side by Browne. I devoured the book. Her writing brought me peace that my Father was living it up in Heaven. She even gave descriptions of what the buildings and gardens looked like there. From then on out, I was a devoted fan. I read every book that she published, including one where she gave predictions. She said that she would not die until she was well into her nineties. She died in 2013 at the age of seventy-seven. How could this world-renowned psychic get her own death wrong? This led me down an investigated path. Come to find out her ex-husband said she was a fraud. They planned to con people b

  Science Fiction Author: John Scalzi Title: Starter Villian Genre: Science Fiction Publication Date: 2023 Time Period: Present Day Geographical Setting: Chicagoland Area & Volcano Island Pages: 272   Plot Summary: Charlie is a divorced substitute teacher going through one of the hardest times in his life. His father died, and he is on the verge of losing the house he is living in. The only comfort he has is his cats. Out of the blue he is contacted by a lady named Morrison and he is now a billionaire due to his estranged Uncle dying. He heads to his Uncles’s Volcano Island to claim his money. He learns that his cats are more involved in his survival than he thought. Subject Headings: Cats Villains Murder Genetic Intelligence   Appeal: Pacing: Book moves fast and keeps your attention. Tone: Science Fiction. Cats that type on keyboards and Dolphins who can speak to humans. Characterization: The story is narrated by Charlie’s voice. Language: