Week 3 prompt.


1. I am looking for a book by Laurel K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next!

The 4th book in this series is Lunatic Café. Process: I searched series on Novelist

Reasoning: I chose this book because it was listed 4th in the series and the patron just finished book 3 of the series
Process: Searched series on Novelist.

2. What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn’t mind something a bit faster paced though
.
 Pick 1: Moral Compass by Danielle Steel. Reasoning: Mainstream fiction like Prodigal Summer and described as fast paced
Pick 2: The Overstory by Richard Powers Reasoning: Both use lyrical, lush language and writing styles 
Process: First read alike on Novelist according to title. Looked for same writing style and language on Novelist. Searched genre as well. 
3. I like reading books set in different countries. I just read one set in China, could you help me find one set in Japan? No, not modern – historical. I like it when the author describes it so much it feels like I was there! Pick 1: The Office of Garden’s and Ponds by Decoin Didier. Reasoning: historical fiction set in Japan 1000 years ago, has a strong sense of place, and the patron likes feeling like she’s there.
Pick 2: The Snow Fox by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer. Reasoning: historical fiction set in Japan in the 11th century, another strong sense of place, and is a read alike found for pick 1
Process: when looking for my first pick I searched historical fiction set in Japan, and selected a title I thought was interesting, for the second book I chose a read alike Book from the list for the first title


4. I read this great mystery by Elizabeth George called Well-Schooled in Murder and I loved it. Then my dentist said that if I liked mysteries I would probably like John Sandford, but boy was he creepy I couldn’t finish it! Do you have any suggestions?
Pick 1: A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George Reasoning: Same author and series
Pick 2: A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny Reasoning: Also, a police procedural, also character driven.
Process: Searched title for patron’s previous book on on Novelist, searched author and learned of series. Then for the second book I found it in read alike
5. My husband has really gotten into zombies lately. He’s already read The Walking Dead and World War Z, is there anything else you can recommend?
Pick 1: The Zombie Autopsies by Steven C. Schlozman Reasoning: describes the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse like  World War Z, Set in NYC, discusses diseases
Pick 2: Zone One by Colson Whitehead Reasoning:  Post-apocalyptic story, bleak tone like others, set in NYC, discusses diseases.
Process: World War Z search on Novelist, read alike both picks
6. I love books that get turned into movies, especially literary ones. Can you recommend some? Nothing too old, maybe just those from the last 5 years or so.
Pick 1: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Reasoning: published less than 5 years ago has movie adaptations, literary fiction.
Pick 2: The Swimmer by Julie Otsuka Reasoning: new release (this Monday) Literary fiction, award winning by Vogue and Kirkus. Author is NYT best seller.
 Process: This is one of my favorite books, so I knew right away to suggest it. (Pick 1) Google: New Releases literary fiction (Pick 2) I love thrillers, but I hate foul language and sex scenes. I want something clean and fast paced.
Pick 1: Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor. Reasoning: Described on Novelist as complex and compelling, chaste tone
Pick 2: Three Bargains by Malik Tania Reasoning: Is a suspense thriller author read alike for pick 
Process: I used the Novelist appeal mixer to search for a book that was chaste and fast paced for the first book. For the second book I used author read alike in selected a book by the similar author that was categorized as a suspense thriller novel.

Tools I use to find books: I find again majority of my books via Good Reads. I like this site because it categorizes lists for you based on recent reads, allows you to see what your friends are reading, and makes it easy to find genres and authors. When I’m looking for something specific, especially where representation for certain  groups of people, I often Google List of books about _______ or with ________. I like this because it keeps things frequently updated. For example the frequently publish book lists on Book Riot, and I have picked out many titles from there.

Comments

  1. Erin CataldiJanuary 30, 2023 at 9:15 AM

    I love how you outlined the process and reasoning behind your suggestions. They look spot on. Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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