Week Three Prompt Response

Part I:

1.

            The answer to this first question is complicated. Apparently, the third book in the Anita Blake series is probably not the third book in the Anita Blake series. According to the Novelist database, the third book is actually the fifth book in terms of the sequence of events of the Anita Blake series (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). This piece of information is displayed as a simple number next to the category titled, “Series” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). This novel is titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: the laughing corpse, book 3: executioner, and it was published in December of 2010 (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The third book is actually called, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: the laughing corpse, book 1: animator; this graphic novel was published in April of 2009 (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). These books actually exhibit different numbers because the first book was actually considered a volume. The first book was titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: guilty pleasures, vol. 1, and it was published in January of 2007 (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The second book is also a volume. The second book was titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: guilty pleasures, vol. 2, and it was published in August of 2008 (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Since you specifically mentioned that you wanted to find a book directly after the third novel, I can only assume that you were misinformed by the fifth book’s title. Since the fifth book was titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: the laughing corpse, book 3: executioner, you gathered information from this title and assumed that the book was the third one in the series. This was incorrect information. So, you are actually asking for the sixth book in the series, and the book does not specifically identify itself as being the fourth book in the series with a discrete number on its title. This book is titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: Circus of the damned, book 1: the charmer, and it was published in February of 2011 (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

            However, if you were correctly informed about the main order of the Anita Blake series and were being vague in the details of your question, then the book that you were asking for was titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: the laughing corpse, book 2: necromancer. This book was published in January 2010, and it exhibits the number four next to its category titled, “Series” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Based on my previous assumption, the probability of this book actually being the fourth book that you wanted is unlikely. So, the novel titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: Circus of the damned, book 1: the charmer, is probably the novel that you were asking for.

            The chronological sequence of the published dates of these novels also supports my claim to an extent, since most of the books in the Anita Blake series were published in order after one another. The only exception is the prequel to the series that is titled, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: the first death; this novel was published in January of 2009 (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Technically, Anita Blake, vampire hunter: the first death is the second book in the series in terms of being published in a chronological order. However, the novel is considered a prequel, so it is not within the main order of the Anita Blake series and serves to presumably explain the backstory or the other adventures of the character of Anita Blake.

2.

            I chose the novel labeled, Yellow emperor's cure, for my answer. Since you didn’t explicitly ask for a book by the same author, I looked for books that had been written by other authors. The author of Yellow emperor's cure is Kanul Basu (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). I initially searched for the novel of Prodigal Summer, and I looked at its details. Based on your words of liking the language or the manner of how Prodigal Summer by Barabara Kingsolver was written, it seemed that you wanted a book with the exact writing style as Prodigal Summer. So, I wrote down the aspects of the writing style that the Prodigal Summer exhibited; these aspects were: descriptive, lush, and lyrical (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Then, I limited my search results for aspects that were descriptive, lush, and lyrical. I also added the aspect of fast-paced to the category of pace in my search results. Four different results appeared with a descriptive, lush, and lyrical writing style and a fast-paced pace. However, some of the results contained more elements than just a descriptive, lush, and lyrical writing style, so I tried to select the novel that was the most restricted to a descriptive, lush, and lyrical writing style with a fast-paced pace. So, I chose Yellow emperor's cure, since it contained a descriptive, lush, and lyrical writing style and a fast-paced pace (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The only major deviation the Yellow emperor's cure exhibited was an additional aspect of being richly detailed for the novel’s writing style (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Otherwise, I found the Yellow emperor's cure to be a suitable choice.

3.

            I selected the novel, Child of vengeance, for my answer. The book is by David Kirk and was published in March of 2013 (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). However, the book exhibits the genre of historical fiction and the location of Japan, so it adequately satisfies your requirements (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). In addition, Child of vengeance takes place within the time period of the 16^th century and the 17^th century, so the novel can also be considered part of the historical fiction genre by these aspects of the time period (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

4.

            Novelist’s suggestions for authors similar to Elizabeth George were only partially helpful. I had to scour through aspects of writing that these similar authors were known for and then compare some of those aspects to Elizabeth George’s aspects of writing. In addition, I wrote down aspects of John Sandford’s writing to compare with the authors who were similar to Elizabeth George with their aspects of writing. I had to be certain that these authors didn’t utilize a tone similar to a creepy tone, such as a menacing tone. Also, I ensured to not utilize authors who exhibited darkly humorous or offbeat tones in their novels, since John Sandford’s works contained darkly humorous and offbeat tones (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). I also believe that a darkly humorous tone or an offbeat tone can create the impression of a creepy tone for readers, so I did not choose authors who applied a darkly humorous tone or an offbeat tone in their works. In addition, I used authors who wrote books within the genre of mysteries. It was significant to find authors who utilized the genre of mysteries, which focus on offering “clues while withholding vital information from the reader” (Saricks, 2009, p. 51). 

            Novelist listed nine other authors who used similar aspects of writing to Elizabeth George. I ended up eliminating four of these authors, since the authors’ aspects of genre and tone didn’t match up with Elizabeth George’s aspects of genre and tone. These authors were: Peter Robinson, Tana French, P. D. James, and Carol Goodman (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Peter Robinson utilized a menacing tone in his stories, so I eliminated him from my list of suggestions (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Tana French’s works exhibited a disturbing tone and were not directly focused on the genre of mysteries, so I did not place Tana French on my list of suggestions (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). P. D. James’ novels contained a menacing tone, and I did not include P. D. James on the list (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Also, I did not include Carol Goodman on the list, since she was only involved with the psychological suspense genre (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). So, I decided to suggest these authors for using the genre of mysteries and other aspects of tone in Elizabeth George’s works: Ruth Rendell, Louise Penny, Deborah Crombie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Erin Hart (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The authors also wrote in similar fashion to Elizabeth George, so these authors were suitable choices for this answer.   

5.

            In respect to my answer, I decided to not choose individual books that were specifically similar to The Walking Dead series. I chose to format my selection according to this format because I believe that The Walking Dead series was a series of books and was not just comprised of individual titles. Therefore, I utilized specific series that were similar to The Walking Dead graphic novels. So, I chose the B.P.R.D. series, the Rage series, the Hack/Slash series, the Night of the living dead graphic novels, the Crossed. Main series, Stephen King's The Stand series, the Crossed. Wish you were here series, and the Sweet tooth series (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

            Specifically, I chose the B.P.R.D. series for a recommendation, since they are gritty and violent, deal with global supernatural disasters, and are associated with the subjects of demons, occult crime, and paranormal phenomena (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). While the subject of the undead or zombies is not explicitly discussed for the B.P.R.D. series, the B.P.R.D. series still contains content that is associated with the subject of the undead, such as global supernatural disasters, violence, and paranormal phenomena (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). So, I believe that the B.P.R.D. series is a fairly suitable recommendation. Also, I selected the Rage series for a recommendation, since the Rage series is focused on zombie epidemics (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). In addition, I determined that the Hack/Slash series was appropriate for the recommendation, since the series included the subject of the undead, incorporated a great amount of gore, and exhibited the aspect of horror for its genre (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

            I also selected the Night of the living dead graphic novels, since the novels’ tone was bleak and gruesome (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The Night of the living dead graphic novels additionally included the genres of apocalyptic comics and horror comics and the subjects of zombies and survival after epidemics (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). In addition, I included the Crossed. Main series in my recommendation because it incorporated the subjects of epidemics and survival after epidemics, contained a disturbing, gruesome, and violent tone, and exhibited the genres of horror comics and apocalyptic comics (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Also, I chose Stephen King's The Stand series, since the series contained the genre of horror comics and exhibited the subjects of epidemics, plague, and survival after epidemics (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). I chose the Crossed. Wish you were here series, since the series contained the genres of horror comics and apocalyptic comics and displayed the subject headings of epidemics and survival after epidemics (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). In addition, I selected the Sweet Tooth series, since the series included the genre of horror comics, bleak and violent tones, and the subject of survival after epidemics (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

            In relation to World War Z, I selected individual books that were similar to the individual World War Z book, since World War Z was not a series of books. I chose The zombie autopsies novel, the I am legend book, The passage novel, and The dead run book for my list of recommendations of books similar to World War Z and that involve the idea of zombies in some manner (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). I selected The zombie autopsies book, since it contained the genres of horror and apocalyptic fiction and the subjects of epidemics and zombies (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Also, I chose I am legend, since it exhibited the genre of horror comics and the subject headings of survival and plague, which were involved with the idea of zombies (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). In addition, I selected The passage novel for my recommendation, since the novel deals with the genres of apocalyptic fiction and horror and the subjects of survival, violence, and viruses (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Also, I determined that The dead run book was suitable for my recommendation, since it involved the genre of horror and the genre of thrillers and suspense and the subject of the supernatural (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

6.

            I would recommend Catching Fire, since it was adapted into The Hunger Games: Catching Fire film in 2013 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014a, n.p.). In addition, I would recommend Mockingjay, since it was adapted into The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 in 2014 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014b, n.p.; Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014c, n.p.). Also, I recommend The Sea of Monsters, since the novel was adapted into the Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters film in 2013 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014a, n.p.). In addition, I would recommend The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, since it was adapted into The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones film in 2013 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014a, n.p.). I would suggest Stephen King’s Carrie, since it was recently given another film adaption in 2013 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014a, n.p.). Additionally, I would suggest Ender's Game, since it was adapted into a film in 2013 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014a, n.p.). The Book Thief is another good book that was adapted into a film in 2013 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014a, n.p.). I would also recommend Vampire Academy, since it was made into a film in 2014 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014b, n.p.). I would highly recommend Divergent, which was made into a film in 2014 (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014b, n.p.). In addition, I would recommend The Giver, since it was adapted into a 2014 film (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014b, n.p.).

            I chose all of these novels for my recommendation, since I believe that they are quite popular novels and exhibit a basic literary quality, especially in relation to the young adult genre. Other novels, such as The Giver or Ender’s Game, exhibit a literary quality in relation to their use within schools and the esteem that they have been given through certain literary awards.

            In terms of works within the specific literary genre that have been adapted into recent films, the film Romeo & Juliet is a 2013 film adaptation of the Romeo and Juliet play by Shakespeare (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014a, n.p.). I believe that Romeo and Juliet can be considered a literary work, since the play’s transcript has been accepted into literature for a number of years. Much Ado About Nothing is a Shakespeare play that can also be considered a literary work, since the play’s transcript has been accepted into literature for a number of years. Much Ado About Nothing was released in North America in 2013 as a film. Beauty and the Beast is another literary work that has been loosely adapted into a 2014 French film and a 2017 film by Disney (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014d, n.p.). I would also recommend Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, since it was adapted into Wild, a 2014 film (Mid-Continent Public Library, 2014b, n.p.). Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail is a creative nonfiction novel, so the novel can be considered part of the literary genre.

7.

            Tom Clancy’s Duty and honor, which was published in June of 2016, appears to lack foul language and sex scenes (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The novel exhibits a fast-paced pace and contains the genre of political thrillers and the genre of thrillers and suspense (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Also, the novel’s relevant subjects of betrayal, engineers, fathers and sons, intelligence service, international intrigue, missing men, railroads, and secrets do not indicate that there is any foul language or sex scenes in the novel (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). In addition, Tom Clancy’s Duty and honor contains a suspenseful tone (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). This suspenseful tone indicates that the novel exhibits the thriller genre, since thrillers “require an element of suspense” (Saricks, 2009, p. 72). So, these aspects make this novel a suitable choice for you.

Part II:

            Personally, I don’t typically discover books to read through specific tools or unique websites. When I was a young individual in grade school, the school would occasionally deliver a paper catalog, which may have been a catalog for Scholastic, for students to order materials from. So, I’ve ordered young adult and informational books from that catalog during my childhood. Also, I have primarily found books to read through the Allen County Public Library’s search engine for the library’s unique catalog. Honesty, I’ve found at least a few books by manually searching a bookstore’s physical inventory of purchasable materials. Besides rarely using the Barnes & Noble website and Amazon.com to find books and book reviews, I haven’t really looked at specific online websites to find books to read or purchase. Also, during my utilization of the Barnes & Noble website I will generally not glance at the website's combined list of “best sellers for mystery, thrillers, and suspense” (Saricks, 2016, p. 17). I generally search for individual titles or stumble across books on accident when using the Barnes & Noble website.

            However, I will typically use a Bing or Google search engine on the internet to find books. In addition, I’ve utilized the Goodreads website as a tool to discover different novels that I’m very unfamiliar with or that I’ve never known about before to a certain extent. I’ve also utilized the Indiana Evergreen catalog to seek out certain books.

References:
EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2018). NoveList Plus. Retrieved 
            from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/novp/search/novbasic?vid=0&sid=d0cd2253-0f6b-42be- 
            9303-e22fd00e7729%40sessionmgr101

Mid-Continent Public Library (2014a). Based on the Book. Retrieved from

            http://www.mymcpl.org/cfapps/botb/year.cfm?id=2013

Mid-Continent Public Library (2014b). Based on the Book. Retrieved from

            http://www.mymcpl.org/cfapps/botb/year.cfm?id=2014

Mid-Continent Public Library (2014c). Based on the Book. Retrieved from

            http://www.mymcpl.org/cfapps/botb/year.cfm?id=2015

Mid-Continent Public Library (2014d). Based on the Book. Retrieved from

            http://www.mymcpl.org/cfapps/botb/year.cfm?id=2017

Saricks, J. (2016). At leisure with Joyce Saricks: suspenseful thrillers and thrilling

suspense. Booklist, (17). 17. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=4ac983dc-98f0-4bd8-ac53-f835daff7ff5@sessionmgr102

Saricks, J. G. (2009). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (2^nd ed.). Chicago, IL:

            American Library Association.