Week: 3

Article on RA Conversation:  Most interesting suggestion in article--when possible showcase lots of facets of entire collection--maybe non-fiction, audio books or DVD's.

Nancy Pearl:  Her book reviews are short-about a minute or slightly longer. Minimal plot summary-just enough to give you a very basic sense of plot. She uses multiple appeal factors: pace, tone, character development, language and a personal reason why she likes the book. Because Nancy is an amazing advisor she can give those personal insights--not always possible for most librarians especially in a genre that is not your favorite but it can really sell a book if you can do this.

Recommendations:

Conversation 1:

No Reservations by Alice Steinbach. Pulitzer Prize winning writer, divorced, empty nester, on a 6 month leave from the Baltimore Sun travels to Europe to find her sense of self. Upbeat but sometimes bittersweet. More memoir than travelogue. Unexpected romance. Cozy and relaxing--didn't want it to end.  Has lots of discussion possibilities for a Book Club.   Has a sequel: Educating Alice: Adventures of a Curious Woman.

Conversation 2:  

I would suggest the fast paced series by Laurell Hamilton featuring U.S. Marshall/vampire hunter Anita Blake. Multiple lovers--no teenage angst.

Conversation 3:

Mapmaker's Wife: by Robert Whitaker. Mapmaking, science, late 1700's politics and finally the true and remarkable adventure of a wife who after 20 years of separation starts a trek through the Amazon to find her scientist husband.