Friday, February 19, 2010
Non-fiction spotlight : Malcolm Gladwell
Ever meet a couple that are dating and get a feeling that they won’t last? Turns out, most of the time your right. Malcolm Gladwell explores this, as well as other split second decisions that we make in Blink (of an eye.) His other books The Tipping Point (just why did some fads catch on?) and Outliers (did you know most hockey players are born between January and April?) are all on the best seller lists and make you look at the most common things in a different way. The language in the books is easily understandable, with examples taken from real life to help the reader relate to the book. One of the other good things about the books is that you can skip over chapters that are less interesting to you, as most chapters are independent of each other.
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Monday, November 30, 2009
A look at teen magazines - Seventeen
One of the many in the realm of teen girl magazines, Seventeen provides the usual articles and information that would be of interest to the mainstream. Information on the latest celebrity rumours, fashions and beauty products, movie news and quizzes and tips of a variety of topics but usually focused on relationships, style and the latest movies. Also included are gift ideas for family and friends, broken down by price brackets; however it is clear that these budgets are much higher than anything I was able to afford as a teen. Articles are short, with longer ones being interviews with a star, but this style fits its audience and reading style, enabling teens to read quickly and not demanding complete attention, allowing for music and talking with friends to take place. It is clear that the consumer push is very strong the magazine, as is usual, close to half the pages are taken up by adds for various products, with the majority being beauty products.
One can see the appeal of this style of magazine for teen girls, however other may find it offensive, demeaning or boring depending on their personality and view of popular culture. Finding magazines for these people can be harder, especially depending on the size of the community. It must also be remembered that teens will read more informative magazines such as Maclean’s, The Environmentalist or Scientific American. These magazines were in my household as a teen, and I would flip through and read them often. No matter what the case or background area of the librarian, an understanding that there are people who like the stereotypical teen magazine, as well as the ‘educational’ adult magazine and they should be acknowledged and fulfilled in the library setting.
One can see the appeal of this style of magazine for teen girls, however other may find it offensive, demeaning or boring depending on their personality and view of popular culture. Finding magazines for these people can be harder, especially depending on the size of the community. It must also be remembered that teens will read more informative magazines such as Maclean’s, The Environmentalist or Scientific American. These magazines were in my household as a teen, and I would flip through and read them often. No matter what the case or background area of the librarian, an understanding that there are people who like the stereotypical teen magazine, as well as the ‘educational’ adult magazine and they should be acknowledged and fulfilled in the library setting.
WWZ- Chronicles of the Future War
World War Z is the second zombie book by Max Brooks, author of The Zombie Survival Guide and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks which is in the form of a graphic novel. His books are a large part of the rise in the popularity of zombie culture and talks between people of how to prepare for the coming war.
WWZ is set up in the style of the author having interviews with people that have survived the zombie war, starting from the first doctors that discovered the virus and were told to hide it from the public and continuing as the war developed. Other interesting accounts include one man talking of seeing a bridge blown up behind him, saving those on his side from the hoard of zombies, but killing those still human that were trying to escape; and a blind man in the forest who’s highly developed sense of hearing and smell allowed him to survive and kill many zombies. The final interviews deal with the end of the war and the rebuilding of society. Throughout, it is clear that the biggest question one faces is whether to save oneself or help others and possibly parish.
Throughout the amount of detail about the war and the different experiences that the author creates is immense, it is a world that few can understand or fully invest in, but for those that can it is a great read. Those that have knowledge of the subject from Brooks’ past book will see many elements of survival through the interviews, as well as faults and mistakes made by those that didn’t. It is clear that there are those out there that are preparing themselves for this coming war, using these books as reference. The scarier part is that there are those out there looking forward to it.
WWZ is set up in the style of the author having interviews with people that have survived the zombie war, starting from the first doctors that discovered the virus and were told to hide it from the public and continuing as the war developed. Other interesting accounts include one man talking of seeing a bridge blown up behind him, saving those on his side from the hoard of zombies, but killing those still human that were trying to escape; and a blind man in the forest who’s highly developed sense of hearing and smell allowed him to survive and kill many zombies. The final interviews deal with the end of the war and the rebuilding of society. Throughout, it is clear that the biggest question one faces is whether to save oneself or help others and possibly parish.
Throughout the amount of detail about the war and the different experiences that the author creates is immense, it is a world that few can understand or fully invest in, but for those that can it is a great read. Those that have knowledge of the subject from Brooks’ past book will see many elements of survival through the interviews, as well as faults and mistakes made by those that didn’t. It is clear that there are those out there that are preparing themselves for this coming war, using these books as reference. The scarier part is that there are those out there looking forward to it.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Cory Doctorow on 'The Hour' - a blog on the author instead of the book
Last night I was watching The Hour, as Morgan Freeman was on, an interview I knew would be interesting, being one of the more highly respected actors of our time. Although it was a good interview, the interesting aspect was that Stroumboulopoulos’s second interview was with the author of one of our next novels, Cory Doctorow who wrote ‘Little Brother’. He was not on to talk about his materials or latest novel, but to talk about the issue of copyright and the internet.
In the introduction about him, it is explained that Doctorow’s materials are all available free online, as he feels that this is the way to both increase how many people have access to his novels, as well as taking a stance on the copyright laws that currently exist. He said through the interview, that having his novel free online has not hindered his sales, but feels they have increased them, as not all people will read the entire novel online or on the computer, instead reading some, enjoying it, then purchasing it. Having over 90,000 copies in hardcover print of ‘Little Bother’ helps to prove this fact.
Doctorow’s main issue with the copyright laws that exist, even with online purchases or items such as the kindle, is that there is no ownership involved in the material in question, and the licensing agreements one is forced to agree to make it impossible for the consumer to have any legal standing no matter what the case. Another topic that was discussed was the penalties for breaking copyright laws, using the example of France, where if one is ‘accused’ of breaking online copyright laws three times, they, and the household are banned from the internet. The key here is that there is no proof needed for the ban, only an accusation, and there are talks about implementing this in Canada.
Bringing this interview into the realm of YA, Doctorow’s views on the internet and copyright would be very appealing to teen’s, increasing interest in his novels, especially the fact that one can access them online. Although legal in this sense, in my opinion for teens it is not the fact that it is legal or illegal online, but that it is online. As well, he appeared on a talk show that would be more appealing to YA’s then other news/talk shows, and although Stroumboulopoulos’s career on Much Music may not be known to YA’s, the live audience at the show displays that he is in touch with this generation. At least for me, this increased my interest in the upcoming novel, without even hearing about it. For YA’s this may work as well, show the author in an interesting light and connecting to the issues of their generation, barely mentioning the actual novel but managing to bring readers in.
In the introduction about him, it is explained that Doctorow’s materials are all available free online, as he feels that this is the way to both increase how many people have access to his novels, as well as taking a stance on the copyright laws that currently exist. He said through the interview, that having his novel free online has not hindered his sales, but feels they have increased them, as not all people will read the entire novel online or on the computer, instead reading some, enjoying it, then purchasing it. Having over 90,000 copies in hardcover print of ‘Little Bother’ helps to prove this fact.
Doctorow’s main issue with the copyright laws that exist, even with online purchases or items such as the kindle, is that there is no ownership involved in the material in question, and the licensing agreements one is forced to agree to make it impossible for the consumer to have any legal standing no matter what the case. Another topic that was discussed was the penalties for breaking copyright laws, using the example of France, where if one is ‘accused’ of breaking online copyright laws three times, they, and the household are banned from the internet. The key here is that there is no proof needed for the ban, only an accusation, and there are talks about implementing this in Canada.
Bringing this interview into the realm of YA, Doctorow’s views on the internet and copyright would be very appealing to teen’s, increasing interest in his novels, especially the fact that one can access them online. Although legal in this sense, in my opinion for teens it is not the fact that it is legal or illegal online, but that it is online. As well, he appeared on a talk show that would be more appealing to YA’s then other news/talk shows, and although Stroumboulopoulos’s career on Much Music may not be known to YA’s, the live audience at the show displays that he is in touch with this generation. At least for me, this increased my interest in the upcoming novel, without even hearing about it. For YA’s this may work as well, show the author in an interesting light and connecting to the issues of their generation, barely mentioning the actual novel but managing to bring readers in.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Prep School library to contain no books
In an recent article, it was announced that a prep school near Boston is ridding their library of all their books, replacing them with a 'learning center' that will include lap-top ports, more subscriptions to online materials, digital readers and other multimedia devices.
While there is a need for technology, this is a big step for a library to take, and many issues arise form not having any books available to students, for both research and reading purposes. Being in this program, many of us have come from a history of a love of books, seeing the future as a combination of physical and virtual information.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/09/04/a_library_without_the_books/?page=1
Thoughts?
Readers Advisor Online: a Professional Resource
Readers advisor online, teengenreflecting
http://www.readersadvisoronline.com/lu/RAmaterials#T40829-link
This paid subscription site is an excellent tool for librarians to use in order to understand reading preferences and styles of users. The site has a specific section talking about materials for teens, in which many of the different genres of novels, including mystery, adventure, Christian fiction, multicultural fiction, romance, fantasy, sifi, historical fiction, graphic novels and articles on serving teens and issues. This is important, as the site talks about these same genres in general on the site as well, (usually in more detail) but talking about teen appeal is important. Having the resources to learn about the genres in detail is also useful as many teens do not only read YA materials, so understanding current and future appeal factors of the genres is needed. Throughout the site one finds links to other resources, awards in the genre, important authors as well as a history of the genre. A highlight of this source is that it is very reputable; all contributors have degrees or experience in the field, with many having published books on the subject of readers advisory.
As well as the section giving information on the genres, the site offers a blog and searching capabilities, giving one the opportunity to look further for materials that may be of interest to teens, as one can limit the search to their age group or by genre if wanted. The site’s ease of use also allows for librarians to have the resource available for teens who wish to look for materials alone, something that many wish to do. In looking at the site, teens may themselves learn more about their reading habits.
Overall this site offers a great amount of detail on a wide variety of genres, themes and appeal factors for teens as well as adults, making it an excellent professional resource for librarians to use for information on Young Adult materials as well as teen readers.
http://www.readersadvisoronline.com/lu/RAmaterials#T40829-link
This paid subscription site is an excellent tool for librarians to use in order to understand reading preferences and styles of users. The site has a specific section talking about materials for teens, in which many of the different genres of novels, including mystery, adventure, Christian fiction, multicultural fiction, romance, fantasy, sifi, historical fiction, graphic novels and articles on serving teens and issues. This is important, as the site talks about these same genres in general on the site as well, (usually in more detail) but talking about teen appeal is important. Having the resources to learn about the genres in detail is also useful as many teens do not only read YA materials, so understanding current and future appeal factors of the genres is needed. Throughout the site one finds links to other resources, awards in the genre, important authors as well as a history of the genre. A highlight of this source is that it is very reputable; all contributors have degrees or experience in the field, with many having published books on the subject of readers advisory.
As well as the section giving information on the genres, the site offers a blog and searching capabilities, giving one the opportunity to look further for materials that may be of interest to teens, as one can limit the search to their age group or by genre if wanted. The site’s ease of use also allows for librarians to have the resource available for teens who wish to look for materials alone, something that many wish to do. In looking at the site, teens may themselves learn more about their reading habits.
Overall this site offers a great amount of detail on a wide variety of genres, themes and appeal factors for teens as well as adults, making it an excellent professional resource for librarians to use for information on Young Adult materials as well as teen readers.
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