Darla's Readers' Advisory Blog

Let's get real. 2020 was horrifying. And 2021 isn't off to that great of a start either! It honestly feels like we are in The Upside Down from Stranger Things. I think we should embrace the strangeness and create a display of horror books and DVDs with a fun eye catching twist. I propose that on our display table we make a large Demogoron (from the popular show Stranger Things) out of construction paper and cardboard with a sign that says, "Library Things to Read" on the topside and a mirror image that says "Library Things to Watch" on the bottom. I also think that we should use a black table cloth artfully scrunched up and spilling over the sides to give the display more depth and more contrast for the books and DVDs to stand out. String lights would also be a great touch. On the top side, I propose that we have books and DVDs in book stands. This would be a great opportunity to have integrated advisory which is, "a way of providing advisory services t...

In a standalone epic fantasy, a royal house has ruled for over a thousand years, but the waking forces of chaos and evil are not only threatening the throne, but the world itself. Unlikely allies must come together to vanquish this darkness, but their differences are great and distrust runs deep.  Queen Sabran the Ninth of the House of Berethnet in the West is expected to continue her lineage in order to not only secure the royal line, but also keep back the hellish fire-breathing wyrm called The Nameless One. Ead Duryan from the South, a mage secretly protecting Sabran with forbidden magic, must keep her senses sharp as assassins get closer day by day. Tané, a dragonrider hopeful from the East, must make a choice that could have unforeseen consequences to herself and those most important to her. An alchemist cast aside from his kingdom, mourning for a lover lost, faces the greatest journey of his life. Friends sent away in the name of propriety uncover an unexpected and frightenin...

It is my belief that the more information that there is out there on different genres of books, the more people will be pulled into the wonderful world of reading. If a person is seeing reviews for popular fiction genres that do not interest them, most likely they will not pick up those books. However, if a not as highly reviewed genre catches their attention, they may be interested in selecting that title. I do not think that it is fair that one type of book is reviewed over and over again while other types get little to no attention. I think that this type of book reviewing can make authors feel unseen and unheard, and can also make readers feel isolated from the review community. Tools that I use regularly, like NoveList and other review sources to find a similar read to a book I enjoyed, may not actually work for those who read not as popular genres. This can discourage readers from finding books they enjoy. I think that this can greatly affect collection development. If there is n...

I had a great experience with the library I visited for this assignment. Before I went to the library, I called ahead and asked what time would be best to come in to get a couple of book recommendations and they let me know when would be the best time. The librarian I talked to said she loved mysteries.  She asked what I like and I told her that I like Robert Galbraith, Tana French, and have read and enjoyed a couple Agatha Christie novels. She then asked me if I was looking for something involving police and I said yes. She then asked what I was in the mood for, and I didn’t really have a good answer, so she asked me if I was in the mood for something fast paced or slow burn. I said fast paced and then she then asked if I like my mysteries to be more gritty or funny, or any other type of tone. I said that I like a gritty tone, but I also enjoy some lightheartedness as well. She then asked me what I was looking for in a mystery. She asked if I liked the storyline to focus on the ma...

1. I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next! The fourth book is called the “Lunatic Café,” and as a heads up, the fifth book is called “Bloody Bones.” 2. What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver, Prodigal Summer. I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though. If you liked that read, I would also suggest “Bloodroot” by Amy Green. This book is a bit faster paced, but it still has a similar writing style that is lyrical like Kingsolver’s style. I would also recommend “Frog Music” by Emma Donoghue. She also has a similar writing style that is lush and lyrical but is faster paced. If you are looking for an author similar to Kingsolver, I would recommend Annie Dillard who has a writing style that is descriptive, lush, richly detailed and lyrical. 3. I like rea...