Creepy Booktalks

After dealing with some technical difficulties, I finally have my "creepy" booktalks ready for viewing. For some reason I couldn't upload my edited videos, so I had to use these unedited ones. Please pardon all the "um's" and pauses. I wrote a general script of points that I wanted to hit, but mostly kept it open in case a new idea came to me as I was filming. Since I was filming myself without an assistant, I had a little difficulty with transitioning smoothly from one point to the next. I think if I had been talking to another person or to an audience I might have sounded a little more natural since I could have made my talk sound more like a conversation.

I tend to shy away from public speaking, but I am able talk about things that I am really interested in and passionate about, so I think with time and practice I could give great talks on books I enjoyed. I think taking a video of myself is a little more nerve-wracking for me because I don't like being on camera at all, whereas if I were giving a talk in front of an audience, I would just have to talk for a few minutes and then never have to revisit that moment again for editing purposes. Hope you enjoy them!

 

I think we've all felt this way...

As members of this class, we all love our books. But sometimes, publishers can get in the way of this pure, unsullied love by not realizing that yes, a book's cover does matter...

*Kudos to Hank Green of vlogbrothers

Week Seven Prompt - The James Patterson Business

Reading Jeff Zaleski's article, "The James Patterson Business" makes me wonder about all of those co-authors who chose to yield their talents to support the efforts of another. Do they use this role in the hope it will springboard their own literary careers? Or do they do this because they would otherwise never see their words in print? Admittedly I have not read any books that feature co-authors supporting a more well known author, so my opinion is decidedly subjective. I think the commercialization of novels in the vein of James Patterson completely disregards the traditional writing process for the sake of turning higher and higher profits. This negative view is perhaps due to my preference for stories that were written from great passion and labor. I do realize that many people would prefer books that are fast reads and easy to follow, which is apparent from the great number of these books that have been sold. In cases such as these, it's important to understand the appeal of such books in order to provide good reader's advisory to patrons who will still clamor for each new release.

Science Fiction Annotation

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
By: Douglas Adams

Publication date: 1979
Pages: 215
Genre: Science fiction, Picturesque fiction, Adult books for young readers, Humorous stories
Series: Hitchhiker series
Series information: The first in a trilogy of six parts

Synopsis:
Arthur Dent is trying to prevent his house from being demolished due to a bypass needing to be built when his friend, Ford Prefect, informs him that Earth will be destroyed in only a few minutes’ time. He also explains to Arthur that he is from an alien planet near Betelgeuse, and has been conducting research for a new edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, an electronic book of sorts that contains information about all areas and beings in the Milky Way galaxy. This novelization of the popular BBC radio series by Douglas Adams chronicles the adventures of Arthur and Ford after the Earth is destroyed. They encounter Vogons (bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous aliens) hitchhike aboard the Heart of Gold spaceship powered by an infinite improbability drive, visit the planet Margrathea, home of the planet-building industry, and become mixed up in a plot to uncover the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

Tone: Funny, offbeat

Writing Style: Witty

Read-a-likes:
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W.E. Bowman
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Mystery Annotation

In the Woods  
by Tana French

Publication date: 2007
Pages: 464
Genre: Mystery, Police procedural, Psychological suspense
Setting: Dublin, Ireland
Time Period: Present day
Series: Dublin Murder Squad novels
Series information: This is the first of four books in the Dublin Murder Squad series

Synopsis: As detectives on the Murder Squad with the Dublin police, Adam “Rob” Ryan and his partner, Cassie Maddox, are tasked with solving the murder of twelve-year-old Katy Devlin. She was found in the same woods where Adam and his two best friends went missing twenty years ago. Adam was the only one found, with blood on his shoes and no memory of what happened to his friends. While Cassie is one of the few who knows about his past, Adam has avoided media attention by using his middle name, Rob. As the investigation into Katy’s murder drags on, the case starts to mess with Adam’s head and his partnership with Cassie. Though the pieces eventually start to fit together, Adam is unable to foresee the unimaginable consequences of solving the case.

Tone: Disturbing, Moody
Storyline: Character-driven
Writing Style: Compelling, Lyrical, Richly detailed

Subject Headings:
    Girl murder victims
    Detectives
    Cold cases (criminal investigation)
    Murder investigation
    Crimes against children
    Police

Read-a-likes:
The End of Everything by Megan E. Abbott
Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
Bent Road by Lori Roy
Little Face by Sophie Hannah