Week 16 Prompt

Both of our readings this week talk about the culture of reading and the future of the book. So I have two questions for you as readers, pulling on your own experiences and all of the readings we have done over the semester: First, how have reading and books changed since you were a child, for you specifically? Second, talk a little about what you see in the future for reading, books, or publishing - say 20 years from now. Will we read more or less, will our reading become more interactive? What will happen to traditional publishing? This is a very free-form question, feel free to wildly extrapolate or calmly state facts, as suits your mood!

I have no memory of a time when I wasn’t a reader; I learned to read by accident when I was four.  My mom sat me at the kitchen table with coloring pages while she helped my sister with her phonics homework, and I learned by simply listening.  It wasn’t until I started reading a chapter book aloud later that year that my mom even realized I’d learned!  Then, when we were all in grade school, she started paying each of us $1.00 for each book we read (no repeats) in lieu of an allowance.  She was a great literacy advocate for my siblings and me and turned us all into lifelong readers. 

I went through waves in my appetite for reading, usually proportionate to the amount of academic reading I had to complete.  Once I completed my undergraduate degree, I started working as a nanny and ended up having quite a bit more free time to read.  Then, as a Christmas gift, the family that I worked for gave me a Kindle.  Before I knew it, I had thousands of free books on my Kindle, and I was reading wherever I went.  Now I use the Kindle application on my phone along with my Kindle device, as well as a whole selection of printed books.  Anymore, I read on both mediums, print and digital, and reading for enjoyment is an important part of each day. 

Given the way that reading habits have evolved over the past twenty years, it’s hard to imagine how they will change in the next twenty.  I can only assume that technology will continue to change the way that reading is experienced.  It’s easy to imagine that in the next several years that ebooks will have more integrated experiences.  Graphics, animation, sound, and other methods could easily be used to make reading a multi-sensory experience and can incorporate more than just the printed word.  I don’t think that printed books will every truly disappear, but it is likely that a higher proportion of people will begin to do some of their reading digitally, given the trends over the last several years. 

I do think that the publishing industry is likely to change significantly over then next couple decades.  I think the polarization between the big publishers and self-publishing will become greater; the big publishers will consolidate further and be able to exert greater control over the industry while smaller publishers will have to resort to more creative methods to market their products. 

I believe that reading in general will continue to remain important to daily life.  There is no replacement for literacy in daily life, and I think that a culture of reading will be maintained, even with the changes in reading habits that might occur over the next twenty years.  It will certainly be an exciting adventure, no matter what the future holds! 

Week 15 Prompt

As I work in a bookstore, my first inclination for marketing any book collection is to create eye-catching displays.  Simply putting products into the sight line of customers is often enough to get them to pick it up.  Hiding books in the shelves is efficient, but not a particularly great way to make the collection appealing.  Facing books out so that their covers, rather than their spines, are most visible will catch someone’s eye.  The majority of the displays should be comprised of books; other materials can be included as well, but the focus should be on the fiction materials.  It’s also important that those displays remain full, and change frequently so that people don’t become accustomed to what they see and begin to ignore it.  With a little bit of practice and preparation, displays are an easy way to market a collection. 

Another great way to market your collection is through social media and other online avenues.  Writing up book reviews on a blog that is linked through the library website can highlight some hidden gems, while featuring new arrivals on the library’s Facebook site lets patrons know about new materials.  Simply letting people know through a wide variety of online avenues what is available in the collection will cause an increase of interest.  Similarly, the online catalog should be easy to navigate, so that patrons can easily find what they’re looking for. 

Finally, keeping updated lists and resources is a great way to market a fiction collection.  Bookmarks, flyers, and annotated booklists are all easy ways to highlight some lesser known parts of the collection.  Simply making a short list of books in a very specific genre (like Amish fiction, zombie novels, fractured fairy tales, or reimagined classics) can help users find something that they’re looking for.  Creating a short, NoveList-inspired flyer to popular titles can help direct patrons who have enjoyed one work to something new.  It is also important to keep these lists updated and constantly changing so that there is always something new to discover. 

There are innumerable ways for librarians to market their fiction collections, and no one way is going to work well for every library.  However, including passive methods like the ones above alongside more proactive methods like programming makes for a well-balanced combination that is likely to reach every library user. 

Week 14 Prompt

Before making any decisions, I would first need to know why the request was being made.  I can imagine two likely scenarios.  First, a well-intentioned patron wants to make browsing through these genres easier by grouping them together.  Second, someone was offended or put off by finding these genres on the general fiction shelves and does not want his or her library experience to include seeing these genres.  Obviously, the request in the second scenario would not be granted, but the first would receive consideration.  However, even after deliberation, it is unlikely that the request would be granted for the following reasons:

1. Segregation is a form of discrimination, even with books.  Separating out the LGBTQ or African American materials might encourage some by creating a central location for all the items, but it is more likely to create a barrier.  Those that aren’t seeking out either of those genres are unlikely to browse through a dedicated section, while those that are looking for those genres are less likely to feel comfortable browsing for fear of judgment. 
2. Separating the section decreases clarity.  What about materials that don’t fit neatly into one category – would they need to be shelved in several places, or would they be shelved in just one location?  What about children’s or teen sections of the library – would they also need separate sections, or only adults? 
3. Studies have demonstrated that people, especially those that look for LGBTQ materials, prefer their privacy and are more likely to utilize that portion of the collection if they have the opportunity to do so anonymously (Mathson and Hancks).  Placing items from the LGBTQ and African American genres in the general fiction section increases the anonymity of a patron’s library experience.  
4. These collections can be highlighted in different ways, rather than shelving them separately.  Finding aids, displays, even spine labels (provided they are value-neutral) are all ways to highlight the collection without shelving them in their own sections. 
5. Separate sections often prevent other patrons from finding these genres on their own.  If these materials are included in the general collection, they are more likely to find a wider audience. 

Each of these reasons can also be applied to various other genres and subgenres; I shared last week how I disliked the ‘otherness’ of the YA/Graphic Novel section at my local library, which prevented some adult patrons from browsing there.  I am even uncomfortable with shelving major genres like science fiction, romance, and mystery separately; it offers too many opportunities for self-censorship by patrons simply because of where something is physically located.  If our goal is to provide a wide variety of materials to each of our patrons, the best way to do that is to remove as many barriers to the materials as possible. 

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Works Consulted:

American Library Association.  "Labeling and Rating Systems."  Accessed April 15, 2014.  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/labelingrating. 

Mathson, Stephanie and Jeffrey Hancks.  “Privacy Please?  A Comparison Between Self-Checkout and Book Checkout Desk Circulation Rates for LGBT and Other Books.”  Journal of Access Services 4 no. 3 (2006): 27-37.  

Week 13 Prompt - Young Adult, Graphic Novels, and Urban Fiction

I like to think that most of the reluctance to include a wide variety of materials in library collections comes from a lack of knowledge about those genres/materials and a fear that libraries won’t be able to support a wider range in their collection.  Unfortunately, however, the reality is that some people really do cling to a close-minded view of what is “appropriate” for certain patrons, no matter how much the larger library community wants to serve their patrons well. 

I’m a big advocate for YA literature for adults, especially given the high quality that most of what I’ve read lately has been.  Our Teen Fiction section is one of the most heavily shopped sections of the store, and only about two thirds of the shoppers in those sections are teens.  We are even creating a New Adult section early next week that will be shelved between the teen and general fiction section.  We also have a huge section for graphic novels, and I’ve loved talking with customers to get to know the titles that they love.  All of these trends in a commercial setting indicate that these types of materials are growing increasingly popular, so it is great to see these genres grow in local libraries as well.  We’ve considered starting an urban fiction section as well given the large number of titles we have in that genre, but unfortunately, there isn’t currently a whole lot of demand for that genre in my area. 

I have visited quite a few libraries in my area recently, and my favorite layouts are those that don’t have obvious separations between sections.  In my local library, the graphic novels are shelved with the teen books, and those shelf fixtures are obviously different in height from the adult fiction next to it.  Those libraries that use universally sized fixtures have fewer barriers to casual browsers that might be afraid that they’ll be judged for their reading choices.  

One of my favorite things that my local library does is that they make it easy to submit materials requests.  There is a limit to the number of materials you can request (five per month), but the process is simple.  Patrons simply fill out an online form with all the information they know, and if the purchase is approved, they get an automatic hold on the item when it comes in.  If the purchase is not approved, there is an option for an interlibrary loan request.  I’ve used this several times, and librarians that I’ve talked to at the library about this have stated that frequently, if one patron requests it, numerous other patrons are also excited to check out the material.  They do also frequently advertize this process, so that many patrons are regularly requesting materials.  This allows the collection to grow organically, and patrons can be sure that they will find materials that they want.  

Week 12 Prompt - Nonfiction Analysis

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
By Malcolm Gladwell
ISBN: 9780316204361

NONFICTION READER'S ADVISORY MATRIX

Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
This book is highly narrative, written as a series of essays. 

What is the subject of the book?
The book describes a new way of thinking about strengths and weaknesses.  Instead of seeing traditional strengths as advantages, Gladwell describes them as disadvantages because they frequently impede the ability to live a full life. 

What type of book is it?
The book is categorized as a psychology/sociology book, though it touches on various other genres as well. 

What is the pacing of the book?
The book moves quickly, with short, pointed chapters and subdivisions, though the tone is not hurried. 

Describe the characters of the book.
The book includes sketches of a wide variety of characters, including a basketball coach, a teacher, an undergraduate student, and a social activist, along with more famous characters such as T. E. Lawrence, Paul Cezanne, and Martin Luther King Jr.

How does the story feel?
The stories draw you in with a series of intelligent, unassuming arguments, which also have an intimate feel. 

What is the intent of the author?
The author wants readers to reevaluate the way that they see the world and to consider alternative ways of assigning value. 

What is the focus of the story?
The story focuses on the ways that truths about the realities of life are often counterintuitive. 

Does the language matter?
Yes, the language is lyrical and engages the reader. 

Is the setting important and well described?
Yes, each chapter dedicates sufficient time to setting the scene, including location, time period, and cultural atmosphere. 

Are there details, and if so, of what?
There are numerous specific details, as the arguments are often drawn from statistical evidence. 

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?
Each time a visual is discussed, it is integrated into the text so there is little misunderstanding on the part of the reader. 

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
Yes, the goal of the book is to create a new understanding or way of thinking. 

Why would a reader enjoy this book?
Engaging language, Intriguing premise that offers learning, strong narrative. 

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern

by Stephen Greenblatt

Publication Date: 2011

Number of Pages: 356

ISBN: 9780393064476

In this Pulitzer Prize winning nonfiction book, the author argues that one piece of literature, an ancient work called On the Nature of Things by Lucretius, changed the course of history.  When it was penned before the first century, it proposed that the world was made up of millions of atoms that all interact and collide in random fashion, creating the world we see in front of us.  This proposition, in turn, serves as a metaphor for the discovery of the manuscript itself.  When it was rediscovered in 1417 by a humanist scholar and papal secretary named Poggio Bracciolini, it slowly began to be disseminated throughout Renaissance Europe and eventually, changed western civilization. 

This book is a short history, with well-organized chapters that take the reader on a journey alongside Bracciolini as he discovers what will soon be one of the more influential manuscripts of the Renaissance.  It moves along quickly, moving through years and over terrain, making the worlds of both Lucretius and Bracciolini come vividly to life.  These men, through their intellectual endeavors, and the winds of chance, became an important part of western cultural history, and this work is an exciting recovery of that reality. 

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If you enjoyed The Swerve, you might also enjoy these works:

1434 by Gavin Menzies

Another revisionist history, this book argues that it was China’s influence on Europe that sparked the Renaissance.  Though less meticulous in its research than The Swerve, it nonetheless presents a similar argument that previously unconsidered influences caused the huge cultural shift necessary for the European Renaissance. 

From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present by Jacques Barzun

This expansive history book focuses on the cultural shifts in the western world over a five hundred year period, arguing that decadence is a marker of the end of great periods that is always eventually corrected.  Witty and engaging, this book is written by a well-respected scholar who pulls together seemingly unrelated tidbits into a cohesive whole.  

Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King

Also set against the backdrop of Renaissance Italy, Brunelleschi’s Dome is a chronicle of the architectural wonder that is the dome in the Florentine cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore.  The achievement was all the more significant given the man who designed it, a clockmaker named Fillippo Brunelleschi.  This easy to read work follows the particular history of an unusual Renaissance man who ultimately achieved great significance in Renaissance culture. 

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

The Color of Magic

by Terry Pratchett

Publication Date: 1983

Number of Pages: 210

ISBN: 9780061020711

This is the first novel of the legendary Discworld series, where the flat, disc-shaped world is balanced on the backs of four elephants, which then stand on the back of a giant turtle named the Great A’Tuin, who walks with infinite slowness toward a destination unknown.  In this introduction to Discworld, we meet Twoflower, a gullible tourist from the Counterweight Continent, and Rincewind, a blundering wizard, who have banded together (through rather contrived circumstances) to explore the Disc.  Twoflower’s insatiable curiosity and inability to assess potential danger lead the pair into a series of misadventures in their journey across the Disc. 

Discworld is a unique combination of magic and everyday practicality; Rincewind the wizard only managed to learn one spell before being kicked out of the Unseen University and survives largely on his wits and ability to outrun those he’s offended.  Much of the humor in the novel relies on parodying the traditional fantasy elements.  In Discworld, the wizard is incompetent, the heroes can barely string three syllables together, the magical objects (like the aggressive and slightly homicidal Luggage) are certainly unique, and the dragons tend to explode. 

This novel moves quickly from one event to the next, and features lots of humorous adventure and action.  The jokes are just as frequently seamless as they are momentary head-scratchers, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. 

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If you enjoyed The Color of Magic, you might also enjoy these books:

Discworld Series by Terry Pratchett

The Color of Magic is merely the first in a series of Discworld novels; there are currently 35 books in the series (as well as picture books, graphic novels, video games, and companion guides), with the release of Raising Steam in March 2014.  Each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel, though the each member of the cast of characters generally appears in numerous titles.  Continuity is not particularly important, so each novel has its own plot and theme, though titles can be grouped together as story arcs.  Try this page or this flowchart for more information! 

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Set in an alternative version of England, The Eyre Affair begins the series with the mysterious kidnappings of literary characters, which is changing the content of classic literature, and therefore, the very fabric of society.  This novel is the first in Fforde’s Thursday Next series, and in the same way that Pratchett parodies traditional fantasy fiction stories, Fforde’s series parodies the world of literature.  This series is more mystery-driven, but equally humorous and witty. 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

This classic fantasy novel features Englishman Arthur Dent’s adventures (and misadventures) as he travels throughout the galaxy with a tour-guide writer.  This irreverent, humorous novel is also the first in a series that includes six books, each featuring the offbeat Dent and a zany cast of characters. 

Week 11 - Ebooks and Audiobooks

Ebooks and audiobooks are certainly unique mediums, and carry with them their own strengths and drawbacks.  I personally am an avid ebook reader, ever since I received a Kindle as a Christmas gift from a family I was a nanny for about four years ago.  They had two school aged children, so a good part of my day was spent waiting for them to complete their independent activities and I always packed at least two books with me each day.  The family had noticed this, and bought me a Kindle so that I didn’t have to lug three hardcover books around with me all the time.  I absolutely loved it; it was a great size, I could still use the library to put books on it, and the selection of free online books was enormous.

The major difference in my reading habits that I noticed right away was that if I was reading a book that didn’t really capture my attention, I didn’t feel the need to finish it.  There were so many more available to me immediately that I didn’t feel bad about skipping one that was poorly written (one of the frequent drawbacks of self-published ebooks).  I also noticed that I got better at being interrupted at my reading; while I used to have trouble getting right back into the book after an interruption, I find now that I don’t have that problem at all.

The one drawback that was particularly prominent was the lack of ability to make notes.  The model that I own does have that capability, but frankly, it was cumbersome and often required a master reset if I tried to highlight a passage or make a note.  For this reason, I still do any academic-focused reading on traditional book formats, since it saves me time and frustration.  In the intervening years I’ve gotten an iPhone, so I frequently do my reading on that device instead, which works much more seamlessly and offers the ability to use the device without connecting to a wireless internet network, which certainly increases its usability.

I have talked to a good number of customers at our store about their preference for ebooks because of their ability to manipulate the font or text size.  I know this was a big perk for my grandmother; she frequently increased the text size so that only a dozen words appeared on a page, and that made it easy for her older eyes to read it.  She did mention that sometimes it made reading slower, since the next page had to load before she could read it, but that she preferred her ereader anyway because the eye strain was so much less.  I’ve also heard from a few customers that they read on their ereader because of their dyslexia; the ability to manipulate the font helps decrease the reading time and difficulty.  Generally, I believe the greatest strength of ebooks and ereaders to be increased accessibility, so they are a very appealing option for quite a large segment of people.

Audiobooks have similar features that increase accessibility, especially for those that have limited vision.  They are also convenient for those that do not have the time to sit and hold a physical book/ereader, so long as you’re able to multitask.  I used to commute about an hour to work, so I frequently used audiobooks to “read” in the car, though it was often in concert with a physical copy when I was not driving.  It does require a certain amount of attention, however, so it’s not an ideal fit for everyone.

I have noticed that the pacing when listening to an audiobook is quite different from reading it on paper.  I first noticed this when listening to The DaVinci Code on a long road trip; there were whole sections that seemed completely irrelevant or way too descriptive when I was listening to them.  I still remember that the description of the “long mechanical arm” reaching into the depths of the bank to retrieve the safe deposit box seemed to take hours, when in reality, it was probably only a couple of minutes.  Having read some of Brown’s other works in print, I know that his general pacing doesn’t bore me at all; the audiobook was unique in this.  I discovered that I’m all for the abridged version whenever possible, though the purist in me cringes to know that I’ve skipped whole sections of the book.

Another major issue with audiobooks is that the style of narration becomes one of the most important appeal factors.  If you don’t like the narrator, you won’t like the book.  Unfortunately, the style of narration has so many variables, that it can be very difficult to predict if someone else will enjoy it.  The gender of the narrator, their pacing, their pronunciation, their choices when reading dialogue, the pitch of their voice, and any number of other factors can be important to readers.  It is an additional matrix that must be considered when providing RA for audiobook listeners.  Finding a book with plot, story, and characters that are appropriate is the first step, but then you must consider narrative style as well.

So even though I personally prefer actual books, I do bow to the convenience of other formats.  Ebooks and audiobooks do play a role in the way that I read, because sometimes carrying around stacks of books just isn’t practical.  I do, however, know from talking with many customers that those formats have enabled them to start reading again, because it makes books accessible in ways that they were not before.

Check it Out - Online Booktalks!

I actually enjoyed making these booktalks this week.  It was a great learning experience!  My opinions on booktalking that I expressed in earlier weeks haven't changed; however, it certainly is a lot easier to give booktalks on books that you have loved.  I'm still not convinced that you shouldn't booktalk books when you've only read a summary, but the preparation process was a lot shorter for the books that I've read more recently and stick in my head more.  I suppose it's still a time saver not to read the whole book, but with the time investment it takes to successfully booktalk a book that you're not familiar with, I can certainly understand that it might just be easier to read it.  

Other than that, I was surprised at how little time it took to rehearse the booktalks, especially because I'm not a particularly comfortable public speaker.  I can do it, and I actually really enjoy it once I've started, but it simply makes me more nervous than the average person.  I really thought it would take longer to get it on camera, but I discovered that the longest time investment was determining the best way to record and publish them, rather than actually doing the talks themselves.  I do think it's a bit easier to do them extemporaneously, rather than rehearsed like these were, since there's less pressure to get them perfect and you can count on your audience to be a lot more responsive than a computer screen.  

All in all, it was a fun experience, and I'm seriously considering making this a regular habit!  

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Here are my three booktalks for this week's assignment, or it's embedded below!  Enjoy!

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

Sisterhood Everlasting

by Ann Brashares

Publication Date: 2011

Number of Pages: 349

ISBN: 9780679605096

It’s been ten years since the conclusion of young adult series, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.  The last we saw the Lena, Bridget, Carmen and Tibby, they had journeyed to Greece to find the lost pair of pants that tied them together.  The pants have been lost, and so have the close relationships that once defined their lives.  In this fifth and final installment, Tibby reaches out and plans a reunion for the quartet on the Greek isle of Santorini, and the remaining three enthusiastically make time to reconnect.  But when they arrive, tragedy strikes; Tibby has drowned, and leaves behind a series of letters for each of her friends that hint that it was planned.  Suddenly, the girls are left to deal with their grief, and must face the consequences of the choices they have made over the past ten years. 

Each of the girls embarks on a year of introspection and discovery, guided by Tibby’s letters.  As each new letter is opened, the characters discover something about themselves, taking the reader on their journey of self-discovery, and eventually, the realization that some bonds can never be broken. 

Though based on a young adult series, Brashares seamlessly transitions to adult fare.  While those who have read the earlier series will connect more fully with the characters, the novel also stands on its own as a study of the transition from childhood to adult friendship.  Each character’s story explores a theme universal to women’s lives: marriage, love, commitment, motherhood, work/life balance, death and grieving, and of course, friendship.  Brashares’ writing moves along at a steady pace, slowly revealing bits and pieces of the larger story.  Ultimately, the women find their way back together in a n ending that is both life-affirming and bittersweet. 

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If you enjoyed Sisterhood Everlasting, you might also enjoy these books:

The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart

This novel features two best friends, Cameron and Sonia.  The two have lost touch, and are forced to reconnect when Cameron fulfills of the dying request of her employer.  The story demonstrates the ways in which a childhood friendship can define a life. 

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

More humorous in tone, this novel explores the relationship between two sisters, Lottie and Fliss.  Lottie, the more whimsical of the two, decides to marry an old flame after reuniting for only a few days, and Fliss decides it is her responsibility to prevent it. 

Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson

This teen novel features much of the same themes explored in the first several books of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.  A group of three girls from diverse backgrounds bond during their summer working at a peach orchard, and begin a lasting friendship. 

Prompt 7

This week’s reading on the popularity of books named to Oprah’s Book Club did not present any particularly surprising conclusions; rather, it presented the intuitive reasoning with statistical evidence to support it.  It is no surprise that being named to Oprah’s Book Club would cause a spike in popularity, and would ensure continuing success for the named authors.  The almost cult-like following that Oprah cultivated during the height of her popularity would ensure that nearly everything she endorsed would immediately become popular.  Even today, when she no longer hosts her daytime talk show and has faded into the background of popular culture, there are still people and products that she endorsed that continue to enjoy popularity. 

I was glad to see a scientific process applied to the logical argument that I see manifested everyday.  I work in a bookstore, where about 85% of our book inventory is in used condition, which we buy in from our customers.  When we get numerous copies of a particular title, it is usually because of one of three reasons.  First, popular fiction authors (Patterson, Grisham, Clancy, Sparks, Roberts, etc.) who churn out several books a year are always bought into the store in quantity.  Second, books which have been made into successful films, such as The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Help, and Water for Elephants, also are frequently bought in.  And finally, books that have been named to Oprah’s Book Club come into the store in record numbers.

Because we get so many books in that have that little “Oprah’s Book Club” sticker on the cover, I wasn’t at all surprised to see the conclusions drawn in the article.  We get hardcovers and paperbacks, and almost all of them have that little sticker, which means they were purchased after being named to Oprah’s club.  The article’s conclusion that these books enjoy continued popularity is demonstrated in our sales; we sell nearly as many of these books as we buy in.  In fact, we have a revolving fixture of Oprah’s Book Club selections that displays new selections from the rather extensive list every few weeks.  Even the controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces and its authenticity doesn’t diminish its sales in our store; two copies were purchased off our display in the past week. 

If another celebrity personality ever manages to cultivate the same force of personality as Oprah has, then I foresee having to stock those recommendations just as we do Oprah’s Book Club.  Until that day, however, we’ll likely see books become popular based far more on merit than Oprah’s personal tastes. 

Works Consulted: 

Butler, R., Cowan, B., & Nilsson, S. (2005). From Obscurity to Bestseller: Examining the Impact of Oprah's Book Club Selections. Publishing Research Quarterly, 20(4), 23-34.

Fake Memoirs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_memoirs

Smoking Gun. (2006). A Million Little Lies: Exposing James Frey’s fiction addiction.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/celebrity/million-little-lies  

The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry

The Cater Street Hangman

by Anne Perry

Publication Date: 1979

Number of Pages: 287

ISBN: 9780449208670

In this Mystery novel, a murderer is on the loose in Victorian London, causing tensions throughout the neighborhood.  When three young women are murdered near Cater Street, Inspector Thomas Pitt, a police inspector, begins to investigate the serial murders.  Fate brings him to the doorstep of the novel’s main character, Charlotte Ellison, a well-bred young woman whose frank conversation skirts the very edge of Victorian propriety, which only makes her more attractive to the intelligent young inspector.  A young maid from the Ellison household was the fourth victim, and as Pitt’s investigation progress, the Ellison family members and their staff begin to discover that they didn’t know one another nearly as well as they thought.  This novel deals frequently with the social expectations of “respectable” women during the Victorian period, bringing their world to life while simultaneously shining a light on the inequities they face. 

This novel moves along at a leisurely pace for almost three hundred pages, offering a nuanced presentation of daily household life, punctuated by moments of discovery as the investigation unfolds.  Pitt frequently stops by the Ellison household to question various household members, during which he takes the time to explain his developing investigation to Charlotte, while also developing a social relationship between them.  The story is made more compelling by the inclusion of numerous well-developed secondary characters; each of them has an important role to play in the story’s progression.  Only the most careful and intuitive reader will discover the true culprit before the novel’s final scene; Perry’s narration will keep you guessing until the very end. 

The Cater Street Hangman is the first book in an extended series of mysteries featuring Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.  The twenty-ninth installment, Death on Blackheath, is due out in March 2014.    The Cater Street Hangman was also turned into a made-for-television movie with the same title in 1998. 

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If you enjoyed The Cater Street Hangman, you might also enjoy these mysteries set in Victorian England:

Good Night, Mr. Holmes by Carole Nelson Douglas

While more humorous in tone than The Cater Street Hangman, this novel is a reimagining of the world of Sherlock Holmes featuring Irene Adler as the main character.  In this novel, the first in a series of eight, Irene Adler is a strong heroine that certainly keeps pace with the famous Sherlock Holmes.  

Death at Bishop’s Keep by Robin Paige

This novel also features a strong-minded heroine, though Kate Adrleigh is an American mystery novelist visiting relatives in England.  While there, she stumbles upon a murder investigation, which places her in the path of amateur detective Sir Charles Sheridan, and the two begin to compete to see who can solve the mystery first.  Death at Bishop’s Keep is the first in a twelve book series. 

The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry

While similar in style to the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt mystery series, the William Monk mystery series is set thirty years earlier and features a detective afflicted with amnesia, who simultaneously attempts to solve a difficult murder case as well as the mystery of his own identity.  With equal parts psychological exploration and crime solving, with a bit of romance thrown in, this first novel in a nineteen novel series is a great compliment to The Cater Street Hangman.