Week Twelve Prompt

Author: Bill Bryson (Bryson, 1998, n.p.).

Title: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (Bryson, 1998, n.p.).

Publication Date: 1998 (Bryson, 1998, n.p.).

Number of Pages: 397 (Bryson, 1998, n.p.).

Geographic Setting: The Appalachian Mountains and the Appalachian Trail in North America (Bryson, 1998, n.p.).

Time Period: March of 1996 to October of 1996 (Bryson, 1998, pp. 49, 391).

Subject Headings: 1. Appalachian Trail--Description and travel. (Bryson, 1998, n.p.; SirsiDynix, 2016b, n.p.). 2. Bryson, Bill—Journeys—Appalachian Trail. (Bryson, 1998, n.p.). 3. Natural history--Appalachian Trail. (Bryson, 1998, n.p.; SirsiDynix, 2016b, n.p.).

Type: Nonfiction; Travel; Essays; Humor (Nonfiction) (SirsiDynix, 2016a, n.p.).

Series Notes: This is mostly not applicable towards this novel. However, there are similar books that are based on the subject of traveling in certain countries or areas. A few examples include: Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson, In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson, and The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson (goodreads, 2018, n.p.).

Book summary:             Bill Bryson, a man of forty years old, decides to travel the Appalachian trail with his old friend, Stephen Katz. So, Bryson travels with his friend along the Appalachian trail near the end of the 20th century. As the two travelers briskly hike through the Appalachian trail, they encounter a number of humorous characters and situations through the perils of their travels. During his travels along the trail, Bryson gives an engaging and witty perspective to the book and a funny tone to the novel. Also, Bryson discusses the natural history of subjects related to nature, and the book’s humorous writing allows the book to serve as a suitable adult book for young adults.

Reading elements: Pacing:             The pace slows when the narrator describes facts at the beginning of each chapter, and the pace of the chapter speeds up when the author utilizes irony. In addition, the pace of the novel quickens when the narrator encounters trouble on the trail. Characterization:             The characters of the book are eccentric and amoral. The narrator is not likeable and often appears to exhibit anti-hero traits; however, the narrator is also engaging and witty in his written narrative. Additionally, the narrator has a friend who thinks about girls and swears. Some characters appear in an episodic nature. One character, Mary Ellen, functioned as a stupid individual, and a drunk couple to be married was present in the story.   Story line:             The story line involves a long journey with intervals of description. The story line also consists of a personal narrative that is primarily written from a first-person point of view from the author. Detail:             The book is filled with many details. The detail is more intricate at the beginning of at least some of the chapters, and the detail is lessened during the sections of dialogue and the author’s casual description of the narrative.   Learning/Experiencing:             The novel contains several paragraphs of explanatory information about subjects of nature; the topics involve subtopics in relation to famous botanists, plant life, animal life, and the destruction of nature. The explanatory information’s description helps one to understand certain facts about the topics of nature. In addition, the book contains experiences of nature through the narrator’s personal experiences of traveling through the Appalachian mountains and trail.    Language:             The language is somewhat crude, since it comes from the perspective of a somewhat amoral and middle-aged man. The language may also be a bit colloquial, since part of the story takes place in the South-eastern United States.   Setting:             The setting of the novel takes place in an actual environment. The setting is also situated in nature and in an outdoor environment. Specifically, the setting primarily takes place in the Appalachian mountains and in the Appalachian trail. Also, the setting takes place from spring to autumn, and the setting is prominently situated in the woods.   Tone:             The tone of the novel is sarcastic and ironic. The tone is also sympathetic to nature and is thoughtful by contemplating the destruction of nature.

1-3 Annotation: Bill Bryson and his friend, Stephen Katz, decide to travel the Appalachian Trail together in 1996.

Similar works: 1. A journey north by Hall, Adrienne.             The reason for this title’s inclusion involves a similar depiction of humor and engaging “accounts of walking the Appalachian Trail” to A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). 2. Walking to Vermont by Wren, Christopher S. (Christopher Sale), 1936-             The reason for this title’s incorporation is its sense of reflectiveness and wit and a travel memoir of America's natural landscape (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). 3. Frost on my moustache : the Arctic exploits of a lord and a loafer by Moore, Tim, 1964-             The reason for including this title as a similar work involves being “humorous, rollicking accounts of the author's attempt at a physically challenging journey for which he is laughably unprepared” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Also, the book shares “a self-deprecating tone and robust good humor” with A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

Name of annotator: Megan Kammeyer

References Used:

Bryson, B. (1998). A walk in the woods: Rediscovering america on the appalachian trail. New

            York, Random House, Inc..

EBSCO Industries, Inc.. (2018). Read-alikes for A walk in the woods. Retrieved from

http://web.a.ebscohost.com/novp/detail?sid=c3e887a4-5e55-44e4-9350-175fc18b5502%40sessionmgr4007&UI=UI+175386&vid=3

goodreads. (2018). Books by Bill Bryson. Retrieved from

            https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/7.Bill_Bryson

SirsiDynix. (2016a). Title: A Walk in the Woods Rediscovering America on the Appalachian

Trail. Retrieved from http://alpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results?qu=A+Walk+in+the+Woods&te=

SirsiDynix. (2016b). Title: A walk in the woods : rediscovering America on the Appalachian

Trail. Retrieved from http://alpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default/search/results/?q=A+Walk+in+the+Woods%3A+Rediscovering+America+on+the+Appalachian+Trail

Week Eleven Prompt

            The recent medium of ebooks means serious business in relation to public libraries. The change has affected the role of libraries, since libraries “have struggled to understand their role in communities as technology has changed.” (Vinjamuri, 2012, n.p.). Library patrons will also have an increased dependence on public libraries from the great and increasing amount of ebooks that are curated in libraries (Vinjamuri, 2012, n.p.). In addition, librarians will need to observe how a new “format affects the reader’s approach to the material” (Katie, 2011, p. 325).

            The change in the medium of paperback or hardback books to the medium of visual and electronic content in ebooks or the audio and electronic content in audiobooks does not significantly alter the appeal factors of the content of genres for stories or information. However, the presentation of the content is altered in a specific manner, so a new context or new information is created in relation to the original information of physical books. In other words, a new context or new information can lead to a different perception of the original content for a story or information. So, appeal factors will still have a great significance in ebooks and audiobooks; the use of the appeal factors has only altered through the presentation of content.

            Personally, the lack of concreteness or a tactile sense of a book’s physical weight or feel is disturbing and significant in relation to ebooks. Readers may be discouraged by the lightness of an ebook and may prefer to read the content of a certain item in a physical hardback or paperback book (Katie, 2011, p. 327). Nevertheless, the sensation of not being able to feel the physical weight of a book in one’s hands does not significantly affect one’s knowledge of a genre.

            Also, a minor reason for the impact that the knowledge of the genre exerts on a reader is “the lack of physical indication as to how much left you have of the book to read” (Katie, 2011, p. 328). The lack of physical indication can cause readers to shun detailed books (Katie, 2011, p. 328), since the readers can’t scan the ebook quickly and don’t know how to jump between certain areas in an ebook (Katie, 2011, p. 328). Readers that appreciate reading an ebook more than once may also become frustrated from not being able to physically guess where certain parts of the ebook are (Katie, 2011, p. 328).

            One’s knowledge of a genre is primarily affected by the difference in weight between a physical book and an ebook, and there is only a difference of a degree of weight and no weight at all in respect to the difference in weight between a physical book and an audiobook. Physical weight can alter one’s perception or one’s remembered associations with an object. So, I think the idea of nostalgia or recognizing distinct associations with an item at a certain time and place or multiple times and places can shape one’s perception or memories of the content of a story or information.

            In relation to ebooks, readers should be able to affect the pacing and tone of the content of ebooks in a number of significant ways. In relation to both pacing and tone, one should recognize that the “impact of digitization of books and stories on appeal factors is most prominently felt with pacing” (Katie, 2011, p. 328). So, pacing is the most impressionable appeal factor of ebooks. In addition, the digital format in ebooks has altered “some appeal factors considered inherent to the book reading experience” (Katie, 2011, p. 328).

            In general, changing the font of ebooks will create a dramatic emphasis on certain words or will create a distinct feel or association towards the text. It should be noted that display “options are the most easily understood component in determining appeal factors in regards to e-book readers” (Katie, 2011, p. 327). Also, pacing is impacted “by how much text is visible on the screen, so the larger the text, the less there is to indicate how quickly the story is moving” (Katie, 2011, p. 328). In addition, the tone of ebooks is affected by the font size of the text, since the layout of a page can “affect the tone of the story” (Katie, 2011, p. 328).

            In general, altering the line spacing will create dramatic pauses and tension at distinct places in the text. Also, the tone of ebooks is affected by the positioning of “large blocks of text” (Katie, 2011, p. 328), since the amount of text can display a detailed story (Katie, 2011, p. 328). In addition, the tone of ebooks is impacted by line spacing through short paragraphs with dialogue that can create “snappy or quick-witted characters” (Katie, 2011, p. 328).

            Also, changing the color of the text will form certain associations with the text. Changing the color of the text may also make reading easier or more difficult for library patrons. For instance, from my own experience and judgment, altering the color of the text to red will increase the difficulty of reading the text while changing the color of the text to green will make the text easier to read.

            The pacing and tone of audiobooks is greatly altered by track length, narrator choice, and the presence of music. In terms of audiobooks, the track length for each section can make an individual section of an audiobook easily speed up or slow in relation to pacing. If an audiobook’s audible chapters are short, the pacing of the chapters is quick. However, if an audiobook’s chapters are long, the pacing of the chapters is slow. Also, in a similar fashion to ebooks, audiobooks’ application of the presence of short paragraphs with dialogue can form “snappy or quick-witted characters” in audiobooks’ track lengths (Katie, 2011, p. 328). So, I would argue that these short paragraphs can affect tone in audiobooks’ track lengths, since characters are given distinct attributes that help establish the tone of audiobooks.

            From my experience, the effect of a narrator on appeal terms for an audiobook is highly subjective and is based on a user’s own memories, experiences, and knowledge of common or universal perceptions in relation to stereotypes and the construction of words and names in conveyed information. Nevertheless, if an individual has experienced a large amount of common or universal perceptions in a stereotypical manner, there is a noticeable effect on appeal terms from a narrator of an audiobook.

            So, the choice of a narrator can impact the pacing of an audiobook. One should note that pacing operates “differently in audiobooks than in print” (Saricks, 2015, p. 131). Narrators can create a positive impact towards pacing by speeding up “the reading of suspenseful chases” in audiobooks (Saricks, 2015, p. 131). However, if narrators read “too quickly for comprehension” (Saricks, 2015, p. 131), they may be difficult for patrons to understand. Narrators can create a feeling of danger through reading rapidly and form a contemplative mood and pace during detailed areas of information in the audiobooks (Saricks, 2015, p. 131). In addition, it should be noted that “a poor match between the pace of the story and the pace the narrator uses can cause a reader to stop listening to an audio book” (Mediatore, 2003, p. 319). So, the pace of the story “must be matched to the pace the narrator uses” (Mediatore, 2003, p. 319).

            Also, the choice of a narrator has an impact on the tone of audiobooks. The choice of narrators can affect tone by mirroring and enhancing the author’s tone (Saricks, 2015, p. 131). Also, narrators’ accents can assist in creating geographical settings in relation to the tone’s aspects of background and setting (Saricks, 2015, p. 131).

            The presence of music in audiobooks affects the frame or tone of the audiobooks. For instance, the tone is enhanced by music or certain sound effects (Mediatore, 2003, p. 319), and these audible additions can ultimately “elevate the quality of the recorded book” (Mediatore, 2003, p. 319). However, pacing is not tremendously impacted by the style of music that is utilized in audiobooks. Although, the speed of the music can affect the aspect of pacing by being fast or slow.

            In addition, the choice of a narrator affects certain appeal factors besides pacing and tone. Notably, there are three other appeal factors for audiobooks; these factors are: storyline, characterization, and audible presentation (Saricks, 2015, p. 131). For instance, narrators need to effectively organize the story line (Saricks, 2015, p. 131), and narrators must also “interpret visual cues from the print version” of a text during the track of an audiobook (Saricks, 2015, p. 131). Also, characterization can be effectively conveyed by narrators when narrators adopt “a persona from which to relate the story” (Mediatore, 2003, p. 319). In addition, the audible presentation of audiobooks depends tremendously on narrators’ skill in avoiding mispronunciations, creating accents to form characters’ identities, and forming an effective cadence of the audiobooks’ prose through their unique rhythm of speech (Saricks, 2015, p. 131).

References:

Katie, D. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, (4),

325. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=cc48cb01-ceab-463b-a048-5487de401e17@sessionmgr103

Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers' Advisory and Audio Books. Reference

& User Services Quarterly, 42(4), 318-23. Retrieved from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=bba02510-4317-4971-87a8-309ce3f9c95e@sessionmgr102

Saricks, J. (2015). At leisure with Joyce Saricks: listening for the appeal of audiobooks. Booklist,

(19-20). 131. Retrieved from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=a6e0abf2-0684-4d40-bcf6-2f91ea6555e2@sessionmgr4007

Vinjamuri, D. (2012, Dec. 11). The wrong war over ebooks: Publishers vs. libraries. Forbes.

         Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidvinjamuri/2012/12/11/the-wrong-war-over-ebooks-publishers-vs-libraries/ 

Week Eleven Fantasy Genre Annotation

The Book of Three

By Lloyd Alexander

Brief Summary:

Taran, an orphan and keeper of a white and magical pig, aspires to become a hero and to fight mighty battles in the land of Prydain; however, Taran is ordered to maintain his ordinary farm life at Caer Dallben from his master, Dallben. So, when Taran accidently stumbles away from the farm to find the runaway white pig, he seizes the chance to seek companionship with the legendary prince, Gwydion. When Gwydion is taken hostage at Spiral Castle, Taran soon meets new friends, such as the enchantress, Eilonwy, and the bard and former king, Fflewddur Fflam, that assume the new quest of warning Gwydion’s residence of Caer Dathyl of a threat from gathered forces in league with the evil kingdom of Annuvin.

Elements of the Fantasy Genre:

Pacing: The pacing in The Book of Three starts slowly in relation to displaying “elaborately developed locales and multiple characters”, such as the introduction of the location of Spiral Castle and the characters of Eilonwy and Fflewddur Fflam (Saricks, 2009, p. 273). However, the pacing in the novel speeds up “when the forces of good engage those of evil in battle” in respect to Taran’s friends fighting against some of the forces of Annuvin (Saricks, 2009, p. 274). Also, the pacing is greatly slowed with lengthy chapters of detail during the middle of the novel (Saricks, 2009, p. 274), and the book’s pacing becomes rapid near the end of the book with an increase in action from Taran and his friends encountering the gathered forces of evil (Saricks, 2009, p. 274).

Storyline: The storyline in The Book of Three involves a story about “the forces of good eventually conquering evil” (Saricks, 2009, p. 269). The storyline exhibits a hopeful outcome, despite the presence of grievous trials during the story (Saricks, 2009, p. 269). Also, The Book of Three consists of a single and continuous story (Saricks, 2009, p. 269). In addition, the storyline involves “a quest of some sort with a band of characters embarking on a dangerous mission and, after a series of adventures, succeeding in attaining their goal” (Saricks, 2009, p. 269). Additionally, the fate of the land of Prydain is at the center of the story (Saricks, 2009, p. 270), and Taran and his friends battle against the gathered forces of evil in a final confrontation (Saricks, 2009, p. 270).  

Characterization: In general, the characters in The Book of Three are stereotypically good or evil (Saricks, 2009, p. 272). However, there is at least one exception during the story to these established stereotypes, and the stereotypical characters are also “carefully and interestingly drawn” (Saricks, 2009, p. 272). In addition, there is a strong emphasis placed on Taran as the protagonist of the story (Saricks, 2009, p. 272); Taran is a complex character on a journey of discovering his own self-worth and potential through his quest of traveling to Caer Dathyl to warn the location of a future attack from the gathered forces of evil (Saricks, 2009, p. 272). Additionally, there are nonhuman characters with human characteristics in the book’s story (Saricks, 2009, p. 273).

Frame/Setting: The frame of the story contains magical elements, such as a magical pig or a magical sword (Saricks, 2009, p. 266). There are also creatures, such as dwarfs, that only exist in a magical world (Saricks, 2009, p. 266). In addition, the setting includes an emphasis on landscape and “elaborate, easily visualized settings” (Saricks, 2009, p. 267). Also, The Book of Three involves the application of an alternate medieval world in its setting (Saricks, 2009, p. 268).

Tone/Mood: In general, there is an optimistic tone that pervades throughout The Book of Three (Saricks, 2009, p. 270), since humor is prominently featured throughout the book (Saricks, 2009, p. 271). The humorous mood in The Book of Three assists in handling significant problems in an intelligent and light-hearted manner (Saricks, 2009, p. 272). However, there is also an elegiac tone in The Book of Three (Saricks, 2009, p. 270), since there are at least a couple of scenes where Taran believes that a certain character is dead.  

Style/Language: The language of The Book of Three varies from being somewhat elegant and stylized in its simple descriptions of locations to being more conversational and stereotypical in its dialogue (Saricks, 2009, p. 274). In addition, cadence in relation to the pronunciation of names and words is significant in the story (Saricks, 2009, p. 274), and the pronunciation is displayed in a list of names at the end of the novel (Saricks, 2009, p. 274). Additionally, the language is colorful, dramatic, atypical, and sparsely and efficiently utilized (Saricks, 2009, p. 274). In addition, there is a certain amount of the description of unusual names and social and political structures in the book’s story (Saricks, 2009, p. 274). Also, the novel contains an illustrated map of the story’s primary locations and brief pictures of characters or creatures at the beginning of each chapter (Saricks, 2009, p. 274).

Read A Likes:

The hobbit, or, there and back again by J. R. R. Tolkien. This novel has been influenced by Celtic mythology and legend (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). In addition, the book has been intelligently written and contains a completely developed setting (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). Also, the novel exhibits memorable characters that include “heroes on quests with friends” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

The ship of the dead by Rick Riordan. This book shares the same incorporation of the genre of fantasy fiction and the subject of quests with The Book of Three (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

Talons of power by Tui Sutherland. The novel shares the same inclusion of the genre of fantasy fiction and the subject of good and evil with The Book of Three (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

References:

EBSCO Industries, Inc.. (2018). Read-alikes for The book of three. Retrieved from

http://web.a.ebscohost.com/novp/detail?sid=8605e92e-e465-4450-8c5c-0cc40e774e1a%40sessionmgr4007&UI=UI+085175&vid=2

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

            American Library Association.

Week Nine Book Club Experience

Megan Kammeyer

Professor Erin Cataldi

LIS S524

9 Mar 2018

Book Club Experience at the Hessen Cassel Branch of the Allen County Public Library

            For this assignment, I observed the “Novel Ideas Book Club” event at the Hessen Cassel Branch of the Allen County Public Library on February 13, 2018. The event involved a discussion about The Nest, by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. I did not have the desire or the time to read the book, although I did glance through reviews on the Goodreads website for The Nest. So, I mostly observed the conversation, spoke a small amount of comments, and asked a few questions in relation to the discussion or towards other aspects of the conversation.

            The leader of the book club was a librarian from the Hessen Cassel Branch, who was named Edith. There were also five other individuals besides Edith and myself at the meeting. These individuals were: Bob, Betty Yoder, Sue Kienzle, Sue, and Joan. These individuals were additionally over fifty years of age.

            Edith began the discussion by asking: “How did you like the book?”. Edith then allowed the attendees to respond first to the question. The leader also attempted to answer questions or comments from the group by giving out explanations. Specifically, Edith voiced an explanation to one of Joan’s arguments or discussions at one point during the book club event. The leader additionally tried answering questions for the group from her list of questions about The Nest at the end of the discussion. However, this action was after almost everyone had said their opinions and thoughts on the novel’s content, so the leader was being quite respectful. In addition, instead of primarily utilizing questions to generate discussion, Edith often used informal comments about certain aspects of the novel to create conversation among the group’s members.

            Overall, Edith’s involvement as a leader in the discussion of the book club was fairly limited and brief. She seemed to operate as a guiding force within the group, as opposed to an actual leader. So, without much involvement from the group’s leader, individuals within the group frequently took turns. However, while most of the group’s individuals were polite enough to take turns at times, some individuals tended to dominate the discussion and talked for longer periods of time. Also, the leader permitted the group’s attendees to respond first to any direct question that she offered to the group.

            The leader asked at least three open-ended questions. She asked the group certain questions, such as: “How did you like the book?”, “Anyone have anything else?”, and “Does anyone want to talk about the place, the setting?”. However, besides these specific questions, there were actually not many direct questions in the group’s conversation. The group’s leader attempted to check through any questions on her list that needed to be addressed at the end of the conversation, but she didn’t really ask the questions on the list to the group. Also, there were no questions that required a positive or negative answer, such as saying, “yes” or “no”.

            Most or all of the group’s members participated in the conversation, although Bob gave brief comments and talked the least. Generally, the group participated in the discussion by giving comments that were related to the subject of the event’s book. Specifically, Joan was quite talkative and delivered in-depth details of her experiences of the book to the group and related the novel to her own life. She discussed that the book’s content about family issues over the funding in a trust was plausible, since she had experienced or knew about a trust situation where family members were shafted. Also, Joan related to the book’s location on the East Coast, since she was from the East Coast of the United States. In addition, Betty believed that the book was true to real life, and she said that she had laughed at a section on chapter forty-two of the book. Also, there was at least a bit of discussion about the book’s theme about wealth.

            In terms of active participation, Joan was the most vocal and dominating of the group. Sue Kienzle and the other person named, “Sue”, also gave some lengthy content to the discussion. So, Joan and both of the individuals, who were named “Sue”, tended to swoop in and steal some of the spotlight from other members of the group. The other individuals of the group also based their discussions on comments and insights that Joan and the two individuals, who were named, “Sue”, had formed during the event.   

            The atmosphere of the discussion was very analytical. Also, the discussion was friendly, talkative, productive, and laidback. In general, the discussion did not focus on individuals debating the content of the book in an overly obsessive manner. The discussion occurred at the Hessen Cassel Branch of the Allen County Public Library; the discussion took place specifically at the large meeting room of the library, which was located near the library’s front entrance.

            There was a diverse amount of drinks provided for the event. The leader had a pitcher of hot water on a small table or cart. There were tea pouches in small containers or boxes in a medium-sized box next to the pitcher. The types of tea included: herbal tea, black tea, and a specific kind of Celestial Seasonings tea. A specific example of tea present at the meeting was mint tea. There were mugs supplied to hold the hot water with the tea pouches. In addition, the event also provided some snacks for the group. There was a box of donuts at the middle of the table, and there were plates and napkins provided for the donuts.

            The “Novel Ideas Book Club” typically discussed best sellers from previous years, or the group occasionally discussed the content of classic books. The book club did not discuss the books from the most recent best sellers, since it took time for the Allen County Public Library to receive copies of novels from the current year’s best seller list. The book club would meet once a month to discuss the best sellers from prior years. However, the book club has attempted to create a special event during the month of December for each year. During the month of December, each member of the group would bring and discuss a single title that the person has read earlier in the year. This event is called, “Reader’s Choice”.       

Special Topics Paper Summary

            I focused on the topic of the role of donated items in libraries in my paper. Specifically, I centered on discussing how donated items can play a pivotal role towards connecting with a public library’s local community by operating as a tool and a component of passive reader’s advisory. I began the paper with a relevant beginning paragraph with indirectly listed points in my thesis statement to help guide readers through the paper and to smoothly coordinate the individual components of the paper. I also finished with a relevant ending paragraph to reflect the beginning paragraph and the thesis statement in a pertinent manner.

            In relation to the role of donated items as a tool, I discussed four main elements and developed paragraphs around these elements for this first half of the role of donated items. The four elements related to the role of donated items as a tool were: augmenting the number of books in public libraries through the participation and charitable acts of wealthy celebrities and organizations, increasing the number of donated books by appealing to specific and meaningful causes, utilizing books for a public library’s collection or for personal use by the public, and further educating foreign countries through certain ideas or the use of materials and connecting these countries to the United States. I discussed these elements in the first half of the body of my paper.

            In the first half of the paper, I discussed the element of augmenting the number of books in public libraries through the participation and charitable acts of wealthy celebrities and organizations. I cited the charitable acts of Dolly Parton and the novelist Doris Lessing to prove my point about wealthy celebrities. Also, I cited the Friends of the Library organization and the Charles Taylor Foundation to support my point about the charitable acts of organizations.

            In addition, I addressed the aspect of increasing the number of donated books by appealing to specific and meaningful causes. I cited the example of local donations of books that were given to the Algiers Regional Branch in New Orleans to prove my point. Also, I discussed the element of utilizing books for a public library’s collection or for personal use by the public. When I was discussing this aspect, I cited examples and sources from library websites and documents to support my points. Also, I discussed the element of further educating foreign countries through certain ideas or the use of materials and connecting these countries to the United States by citing an example of an American Embassy’s impact of donating books to the Maun Public Library in Botswana, an instance of the First City Monument Bank donating books to the Bethesda Nursery and Primary School in Lagos, and an example of the United Kingdom creating an exchange program in Nairobi to donate books at a local library.

            Also, in relation to the role of donating items as a component of passive reader’s advisory, I discussed four main aspects and developed paragraphs around these elements for the second half of the role of donated items. The four elements associated with the role of donated items as a component of passive reader’s advisory were: transcending identification of genres, encouraging impoverished individuals to read and learn skills by allowing individuals to receive free books for personal use, focusing on the impact of the unique stories of donated items, and centering on the transformative elements associated with the escapism and leisure reading provided by donated items. I addressed these aspects in the second half of the body of my paper.

            In the second half of the paper, I addressed the aspect of transcending identification of genres by citing the course’s textbook. In addition, I discussed the element of encouraging impoverished individuals to read and learn skills by allowing individuals to receive free books for personal use. When I addressed this element, I did not cite any sources. Instead, I utilized logic and my own observations to create a reasonable argument to support my point.

            In addition, I discussed the aspect of focusing on the impact of the unique stories of donated items by citing relevant snippets of text from the course’s textbook. In addition, I addressed the element of centering on the transformative elements associated with the escapism and leisure reading provided by donated items by utilizing one of the course’s online readings.               

            Also, I cited at least fourteen sources to support all of the elements of the role of donated items in the main body of the paper. Specifically, I utilized sources from databases, library websites, the course’s textbook, one of the online readings from the course, and documents or webpages associated with library websites to prove the credibility of my paper’s points. In addition, the primary database that I utilized was Opposing Viewpoints in Context. I decided to use this database, since its sources can be easily accessed in relation to other databases that require more precise queries. I also preferred utilizing the database, since it often gathers information from a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, and other sources.

References Utilized in Paper:

Allen County Public Library. (2018a). Donate. Retrieved from

            http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/home/donate

Allen County Public Library. (n.d.b). srp-2016-reading-log-english.pdf [PDF file]. Retrieved

from http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/docs/default-source/SRP/srp-2016-reading-log-english.pdf?sfvrsn=c508e20e_4

Ambassador Launches American Corner. (2015, November 2). Africa News Service. Retrieved

from http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A433372455/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=ba0f946a

Andrews-Dyer, H. (2018, February 27). Reliable Source: Dolly Parton, who likes to give away

books, just donated her 100 millionth. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A529121343/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=4e14fba7

Arts notebook: Taylor Prize book to be donated to libraries. (2001, June 22). Globe & Mail

[Toronto, Canada]. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A30470902/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=f21beccc

Begum, S. (2011). Readers' advisory and underestimated roles of escapist reading. Library

            Review, 60(9), 738-747. doi:10.1108/00242531111176763 Retrieved from https://search-

proquest-com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/docview/900076684/fulltextPDF/EC6C4025CC9A410APQ/1?accountid=7398

Denver Public Library. (n.d.). How (and what) to donate to the Library. Retrieved from

            https://www.denverlibrary.org/donate

Epstein, J. (2014, May 5). The Reluctant Bibliophile; Joseph Epstein, bibliomaniac. The Weekly

Standard, 19(32). Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A366375368/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=77253868

FCMB Supports Education, Children. (2015, June 1). Africa News Service. Retrieved from

http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A415987824/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=ea7dab0c

Following through to the end. (2014, September 8). Maclean's, 127(35), 8. Retrieved from

http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A381666078/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=8ccbf501

FRIENDS FOUNDATION DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY. (2018). Donate used and rare books.

            Retrieved from http://www.dplfriends.org/donate/donate-rare-used-books.html

Kajiado Schools Benefit From British Programme. (1999, August 24). Africa News Service, p.

1008235u5813. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A55546153/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=19aca9f3

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

            American Library Association.

Toppo, G. (2006, June 15). Gulf Coast libraries bursting with donated books. USA Today, p.

08D. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/apps/doc/A147078807/OVIC?u=iulib_iupui&xid=7f9f5955

Week Eight Women's Lives and Relationships Genre Annotation

Safe Harbour

By Danielle Steel

Brief Summary:

A woman named, Ophélie, moves to Safe Harbour, a gated community near the coast of San Francisco during the summer to relieve herself from the traumatic aftermath of the deaths of her husband and only son. While Ophélie’s daughter, Pip, is still around to comfort her mother, Ophélie maintains a deep sense of depression. Also, despite the soothing presence of a friend named, Andrea, Ophélie barely eats during her daily routine and can only sleep to relieve herself from her sorrow. However, Pip soon finds a friend on the beach; the friend is a divorced man nicknamed, Matt. Over time, Matt begins to soothe and heal the emotional wounds that both Ophélie and Pip have endured.

Elements of the Women’s Lives and Relationships Genre:

Pacing: The novel unfolds most of its events at a leisurely pace (Saricks, 2009, p. 161). However, the book contains at least one short chapter that rapidly accelerates the pace of the book, making the book into page-turner at this particular section (Saricks, 2009, p. 161). In addition, the novel’s pacing speeds up when the novel focuses on Ophélie’s problems or sudden outbursts in relation to her friends (Saricks, 2009, p. 161).

Storyline: The storyline examines “themes of concern special to women” (Saricks, 2009, p. 158). The novel specifically deals with the themes of “family relationships and friendships, issues with health and career, and women triumphing over adversity and reconstructing their lives” (Saricks, 2009, p. 158). The novel also emphasizes the idea of compromise being a key part of Ophélie’s quest to secure resolution in her life (Saricks, 2009, p. 159).

Characterization: This novel focuses on exploring the life of Ophélie and “her relationships with family, friends, and lovers” (Saricks, 2009, p. 157). The book additionally explores Ophélie’s “attempts to make sense of her life” (Saricks, 2009, p. 158). As a single protagonist, Ophélie is supported by her daughter, Pip, and by a female friend, Andrea (Saricks, 2009, p. 158). Also, the novel is heavily character-centered (Saricks, 2009, p. 158).

Frame/Setting: The currency of issues plays a major part in the book’s frame (Saricks, 2009, p. 159). The novel addresses modern-day concepts in relation to women, such as the effects of cancer and depression (Saricks, 2009, p. 159). The book also places an emphasis on “background details related to geographical setting” and hobbies for its frame (Saricks, 2009, p. 160). Specifically, the background details of the geographical setting of a coastal Californian beach and Matt’s painting hobby are relevant components of the novel’s frame and setting.   

Tone/Mood: Tone is a vital component of the book (Saricks, 2009, p. 157). The book’s tone prioritizes setting up an “emotional link that readers want and expect” (Saricks, 2009, p. 157). The novel’s tone also varies considerably (Saricks, 2009, p. 157); the book’s tone ranges from being sorrowful, painful, hopeful, and cheerful. The book’s contrasting mood of both sadness and joy stems from centering on “difficult and emotional topics” (Saricks, 2009, p. 157).

Style/Language: The novel’s language focuses on telling “the story of women and their lives” (Saricks, 2009, p. 160). The language of the book is simple and easily understandable. Also, the book contains a specific style that is based on a romantic tone (Saricks, 2009, p. 160). The writing style of the book utilizes the method of repeating the details of the same events from multiple characters. Because of this writing style, readers will not be perplexed about the events of the story and will find it easy to resonate with the book’s story and characters (Saricks, 2009, p. 160).

Read A Likes:

LaRose by Louise Erdrich. The novel is involved with exhibiting Safe Harbour’s subgenre of domestic fiction, which is an assumed subgenre of the genre of women’s lives and relationships (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The book also deals with Safe Harbour’s topic of sons (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).   

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. This book contains the subgenre of love stories, which is associated with the larger genre of women’s lives and relationships (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.). The novel also utilizes the topic of married men (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

The marriage of opposites by Alice Hoffman. The book is associated with the topic of widows and the subgenre of love stories (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

Two by two by Nicholas Sparks. This novel deals with the topic of married men and exhibits the subgenre of domestic fiction (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2018, n.p.).

References:

EBSCO Industries, Inc.. (2018). Read-alikes for Safe harbor. Retrieved from

http://web.a.ebscohost.com/novp/detail?sid=ad67c414-abc7-4115-870f-cebe2caa74ca%40sessionmgr4010&UI=UI+120521&vid=2

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

            American Library Association.