What I'm Reading: Goodreads Updates To Keep You Busy While I Go On Spring Break

Today marks the start of a week off here at RA for All for Spring Break. But never fear, I have left you with plenty of content to fill your week-- many many reviews. If you parse them out you can have new content all week. Or binge, but then you have to deal with your RA for All withdrawal.

As a reminder, I do periodic updates of all of the books I read for fun on Goodreads and then compile them here. This is a roundup of some books I have read since January, including 2 backlist titles which is keeping me on track for one of my reading resolutions. See below for the authors and titles as well as my three words. Use the links to read the full reviews on Goodreads.

Audio

• Lethal White by Robert Galbraith [character centered, menacing, interesting details]
• The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Stephen Brusatte [popular science, lively voice, engrossing]
• The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz [metafiction, offbeat, engaging narration]

Print

• Severance by Ling Ma [satire, shifting time frame, character centered]
• The Blizzard by Vladimir Sorokin [surreal, atmospheric, satirical]
• backlist
• Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond [unsettling, compelling, moving]
• backlist

Now if you'll excuse me, I am disappearing for the rest of the week.  I'll be back on 4/1. Stay out of trouble and read something great while I'm gone. And then talk it up to anyone who will listen.

Summer Scares Updates Just in Time for Us to Open in Wide Release

Summer Scares is going strong. Starting soon we will have 3 episodes on the Ladies of the Fright podcast featuring committee members discussing the program and the specific titles by age group category. You should subscribe now to have these episodes show up automatically in your podcast feed. And while you are waiting for the first Summer Scares episode to drop, listen to their last episode- a conversation with Victor LaValle.

For general Summer Scares info I have this very detailed resource page available at all times here, but basically, Summer Scares is all about reminding library workers that horror makes a good read all year long-- not just in October and/or not just for weirdos.

And especially for kids. I talk about why horror is a great read for kids despite the fact that giving it to kids makes parents a bit nervous [not this parent, but others] in this interview [also available on that resource page]. 

The program is all about a panel of library experts suggesting titles that are excellent reads for a wide range of leisure readers from middle grade to adult. We have included suggested titles that range from literary to pulp to novels to short stories to graphic novels. We literally have it all!

We also know that once you give out the suggested titles [click here for those], we are confident you will have people clamoring for more, so we are creating more lists of recommended reads all of the time. Enough to keep you filled up with horror suggestions all year long. And trust me, you will need them starting today when all of your patrons come in looking for more books like Us.

Our focus is on "Summer" because that is when we see the biggest uptick in leisure reading among all of our patrons. So we will have lists you can turn into book marks, interviews with authors for your websites and social media [see below for the first 2], and lists upon lists upon lists. Again, there is already a lot of information on the resource page.

But the second component of the Summer Scares program is that for those libraries that want programming, we will help to facilitate an author visit to your library. Because we have the support of the entire Horror Writers Association behind us, we can help with programming as well as reading suggestions.

So watch this blog for more updates of resources, and start using them today. Don't wait for Summer. Your patrons aren't waiting. They are lining up to see a horror movie this very weekend.

And always remember, as I always say-- your horror readers aren't monsters, they just like to read about them.

Newly added to the Resources Page:

• "Teen Screams: YA Horror for Every Kind of Reader": 3/19/19 in SLJ by committee member Kelly Jensen

• Committee member Grady Hendrix gave our selected authors the same 6 questions. See their answers to get a sense of the personalities behind the books. Feel free to use these interviews on your websites, social media, and with patrons to supplement the Summer Scares Program:
• Stephen Graham Jones
• Daniel Kraus
• More coming soon....

ARRT Romance Program Wrap Up and RITA Finalists Announced

As I mentioned here, ARRT hosted an awesome panel discussion all about romance on Tuesday afternoon. I was one of the people live tweeting the event.

If you click here you can pull up that Twitter thread [#ARRTReads] in reverse chronological order. We always use the same hashtag for all of our ARRT Programs, but that link will limit your results to the conversation by date so you only get the romance program Tweets.

Also, I kept everything I Tweeted in one thread which you can access in order here.

At the end of the program our moderator, Susan Maguire, asked the panelists to recommend other romance authors. The names were coming fast and furious, so we gave up trying to Tweet them and instead compiled this list:

ARRT Panel Authors Mentioned K. J. Charles Jeannie Lin Grace Draven Jeffe Kennedy Alisha Rai Naima Simone Alyssa Cole Jackie Lau Kennedy Ryan Melissa Blue aka Dakota Gray   Scarlett Peckham Alexis Daria Rebekah Weatherspoon Kathryn Nolan- Bohemia Priscilla Oliveras L. J Shen- Vicious Nana Malone L. Penelope Lucy Parker Tracey Livesay Sonali Dev Amanda Bouchet Lisa Berne Mina V. Esguerra Kate Clayborn- Chance of a Lifetime Series Jenny Holiday 

Finally, the 2019 RITA award finalists were also announced today. You can pull up the full list here.

And remember, awards announcements are a great RA and Collection Development resource [click here for more on that topic]. In fact, just yesterday someone was asking for non-speculative transgender fiction for an adult audience and I directed the person to the LAMDA Literary award finalists list that was also recently announced. They have multiple transgender categories, from this year and going back. The person was super excited to have so many choices when they thought they would struggle to find even a couple. Yay awards lists as our secret suggestion weapon.

RA for All Roadshow Visit the RSA Day at the Peoria Public Library

Today I am at the Peoria Public Library to provide the Keynote and 2 breakout sessions [that repeat, so four sessions but on 2 topics] for the Resource Sharing Alliance Training Day. It is a sell out, but all of the details are here.

I am excited to be there and thankful that RAILS provided RSA with a grant to make my appearance possible.

Below you can find the information about the entire day. I am sharing it because I think they have put together a wonderful day of training for a wide variety of library staff to partake in. I have inserted the links to my resources and slides where applicable.

Click here to see the announcement on L2 also.

RSA Day 2019!

When:		Wednesday, March 20, 2019 (9:30 AM - 3:30 PM)
Where:		Peoria Public Library (In Person, Max: 150)
Cost:		Free

All RSA member libraries are invited to a day of training.

Member Library Group: RSA Consortium
Event Coordinator: Alissa Williams
Email: alissaw@mortonlibrary.org
Phone: 309-263-2200

Join us on March 20, 2019 at the Peoria Public Library – Main Library for an exciting day of training. For our 3rd annual event we have altered the schedule to provide more in-depth sessions.
 - Breakout sessions #1 & #2 will repeat as will sessions #3 & #4.
 - Lunch is provided.

Please note Peoria Public Library – Main Library doors do not open until 9 a.m. 

The Schedule for the Day is as follows:

9:30-10:40 Welcome & Keynote
Keynote: “RA for ALL” Becky Spratford

• This talk follow Becky's 10 Rules of RA Service

Readers Advisory belongs in every library, no matter its budget. The implementation of this vital service is the responsibility of every staff member—from pages to directors, from those behind the scenes to the ones on the front lines. This program will remove the mystery behind providing great RA service. Using her “Ten Rules of Basic RA Service” as a guide, Becky Spratford will use your own love of your favorite books to show you how to help any patron find their next great read. It's not as hard as you think. But more importantly, you will learn why a staff that can harness the power of sharing a great read will become a stronger team and improve service to all patrons.

10:45-11:30 Breakout Sessions #1
11:40-12:40 Lunch
12:45-1:30 Breakout Sessions #2
1:45-2:30 Breakout Sessions #3
2:45-3:30 Breakout Sessions #4

We are pleased to announce our keynote speaker is Becky Spratford of RA for ALL. 

Becky Spratford is a Readers' Advisor in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All , and is on the Steering Committee of the Adult Reading Round Table .

She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist . Becky is also known for her work with horror readers as the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror , Second Edition [ALA Editions, 2012] and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association who honored her as a special guest of honor at StokerCon 2017 for her contribution to the genre. You can follow Becky on Twitter @RAforAll .

Becky will present her keynote “RA for ALL” as well as two breakout sessions. Her appearance is made possible by a RAILS Continuing Education Event Grant.

Breakouts #1 & #2:
   1. Booktalking Your Way to the Friendliest Library in Town by Becky Spratford
Booktalking is at the heart of what we do with patrons each and every day at the public library. Whether we are sharing books informally at the services desk, presenting a prepared list of books, or posting information online, talking about books is something we do each and every day. It is a core service, but it is also hard to teach. Booktalking is more of an art than a skill, but with the right guidance and some practice, it can go a long way toward engaging your patrons and re-energizing your staff. Join experienced Readers’ Advisory Becky Spratford as she shares the secret behind delivering great book talks, giving you tips and tricks you can begin using right away to hone your own skills. Rediscover the power and joy that comes from sharing books with patrons.

• Slide access here

    2. Cataloging Maintenance Center
Learn about what services the cataloging and maintenance center offers to all Illinois libraries.

    3. IMRF Basics
IMRF Field Representative Randy Stevens will provide you with an overview of your IMRF benefits. 

    4. RSA Cataloging (Session 1) & RSA Past, Present, Future (Session 2)
In Session 1 Cataloging topics will be discussed. In Session 2, RSA staff will share a brief history of RSA, our current state, and what our future holds as we work on a strategic plan and more granular, practical membership levels.

    5. Rural Libraries Unite! How to Feel Less Alone in a Small Rural Library
Are you new to your small rural library? Do you feel isolated and out of step with your bigger library neighbors? Do you wonder if you can find a mentor who understands the issues you face? You are not alone--Illinois has many small rural libraries and we are blessed with a sharing community! Join us at this session to:meet other staff members of small rural libraries, ask questions unique to small rural libraries, identify groups and mentors (Peoria Area Directors, Renegade Reference, Rural Directors etc). Presented by Beth Duttlinger and Michael Baumann. 

Breakouts #3 & #4:
    1. RA Rethink: Merchandising and Upselling Edition
If someone told you there’s a practical and easy way to increase circulation, patron visits, program attendance and the job satisfaction of your staff, would you do it? Of course you would. Librarian Becky Spratford has developed a method you can use to accomplish all of this and it plays off of the skills, talents, and interests you already possess. She’ll explain how to deepen staff involvement in readers’ advisory in a way that gets everyone from staff to patrons excited. You are spending a lot of effort and money on cultivating good collections, but are you giving those collections a fair chance to shine? Are you linking your work with patrons as you find them items to your programming and other services? Do your patrons even know the full breadth of what you offer them? And how are you measuring results? With just a few simple tweaks to how you already market your collections, services, programs and even staff, Becky will help you leave a trail of happier and more engaged patrons in your wake.

• Slide access here

    2. Practice Makes Perfect: Difficult Patron Role Play
Have you ever been yelled at by a patron? Have you ever had a patron get annoyed and decide to urinate over the computer keyboard because you do not understand his message? What about the patrons who think it is okay to bring their dogs into the library and eat the books? What about the patron who plays all the staff against each other so they never have to pay fines? These are just some of the TRUE problem patron stories that have been heard over the years in libraries everywhere. Ryan Franklin from the Illinois State Library and Michael Baumann from the Toulon Public Library will be acting out some of these scenarios, and giving the audience a chance to get involved. Volunteers will be given a chance to act as a problem patron, and see how a committee member would react.

    3. Big Day Programming
Many libraries have begun hosting large scale programming. Laura Warren will be discussing her library’s annual Star Wars Day, Amanda Shaffer will be telling us about Harry Potter Day, and Joel Shoemaker will be giving information on his Metamora Square(s): An Intergenerational Initiative program. We will have ideas about running these sorts of programs at your libraries, as well as advice on scaling these programs up or down to fit your patrons. We will talk about tips and tricks for running these sorts of programs on a budget. 

    4. RSA Cataloging (Session 3) & RSA Past, Present, Future (Session 4)
In Session 3 Cataloging topics will be discussed. In Session 4, RSA staff will share a brief history of RSA, our current state, and what our future holds as we work on a strategic plan and more granular, practical membership levels.

    5. Fine Free Libraries
Learn from libraries that have gone Fine Free on why they made the decision, how they implemented it and what the results have been. 

My Favorite Resources for My Least Favorite Genre And Why I Love Them [Pun Intended]

Later today I will be attending and live tweeting this ARRT Program:

Click here for details

I have been privy to some of the planning that is going into this panel. It is going to be an in-depth discussion about the genre from the perspective of the writers, editors, and reviewers but it will also include asking the panelists to consider themselves as readers and Romance fans. There will be discussions about trends in the genre including the HEA requirement and trope discussions. It is going to be great.

But I also know many of you cannot attend and, as of now, ARRT does not offer taping or recording of our programs [it is in discussion, but understand we are an all volunteer group and this requires a lot of moving parts], but don't worry, I have you covered. For a wrap-up, you can look at the #ARRTReads thread or just wait until Thursday when I will post general thoughts, links, and the entire thread which will be accessible to all, no need to have a Twitter account.

But now onto today's topic-- Romance Resource. It is no secret that Romance is my least favorite genre to read for fun. However, I am also very vocal about the fact that Romance readers are my absolute favorite readers to help. Why? Because, one, romance readers know what they like and why, and two, they are not afraid to tell me all about it.

I also really enjoy learning about my least favorite genres from the genres' biggest fans. In general, this is good advice for all of you. You will enjoy learning about a genre you don't enjoy so much more by listening to and reading the work of its fans. They will give you the genre's best version of itself from its ideal reader.

I spend a lot of time reading romance resources and reviews, rather than the books themselves. As a result, I end up getting so much more insight into Romance. Think about it. Instead of forcing myself to read a few Romance novels a year, I read articles and review by those who LOVE romance [again, pun intended]. I get myself excited about the books and I learn about the genre in general. I then share that enthusiasm and knowledge  with readers without letting my personal feelings get in the way.

This will work for any genre, but you have to put in some work. I spend about the amount of time it would take me to listen to 2 romance novels researching the genre-- every year. Now it is not all in one day, but rather sprinkled out over the course of a year. And sometimes, like today, I get 2 straight hours right from the experts themselves.

But you can't always be at a Romance panel 20 minutes from your house. So, here is my list of my favorite FREE romance resources [in no particular order] that I can access at any time, and what I like most about them:

• Romance Writers of America: This is where I go for award lists, industry statistics, and general state of the genre info.
• All About Romance: Reviews-- especially the Power Search! I can search by subgenre and heat level all in one place. And I can read those choices to the patron and let them decide the terms we are using as we search. I also love that there is a "varies" option for heat level.
• Smart Bitches, Trashy Books: I use this for everything. It is where I go to learn more about the genre because there are so many features, articles, reviews, even podcast episodes. I often spend a few days a year just going down the SBTB rabbit hole, reading everything I can get my   eyes and ears on.
• The Ripped Bodice: The most well known Romance books store in America. See what is selling well. See who is on tour [maybe they can come to your library if there are coming near your town]. Read their annual Diversity Report. 
• The ARRT Romance Genre Study: Although it is still in process, the genre study has created a wonderful resource-- the assignment reading lists, discussion notes and lecture slides. And they are available to all for free.

There are many more places to go for Romance info, but these five offer, in my opinion, a great cross section of points of view of the genre. When I use these resources, I get as broad a picture as possible of a genre millions love, even if I am not a personal fan.

Also don't forget to look for my report on today's great program coming on Thursday [I'm on location training all day tomorrow]. It will give you yet another resource.

What I'm Reading: The Dark Game

After having 3 reviews in the last issue of Booklist, I only have 1 in this issue, but I am not kidding here, this one is going to be a crossover hit as I will explain below. This is for ALL public library collections. If you have readers of popular fiction you need this book. And that is all of you. I am not exaggerating. 

As usual below you can find my draft review [which is longer than the published one], further appeal insight to make it easier for you to book talk this title, and more readalikes.

THE DARK GAME
Janz, Jonathan (author).

Apr. 2019. 304p. Flame Tree, $24.95 (9781787581876); paper, $14.95 (9781787581852). First published March 15, 2019 (Booklist).

In his latest pulp horror gem, reminiscent of early Stephen King, Janz uses a well mined genre trope, the secluded writers’ retreat, yet manages to craft it into something unique, thought provoking, and gloriously twisted. From the very first line, readers are alerted to the fact that they are in for a terrifying ride where nothing is as it seems, as we are told, “Lucy [was]...unaware she was entering the nightmarish plot of a madman instead of a writers retreat.” We are introduced to ten contestants and internationally regaled bestselling author Roderick Wells, who is hosting these aspiring authors for a contest where only one winner will emerge to a life of fame and fortune. But these authors can have no contact with the outside world, couldn’t tell a soul where they were going, and, as we were warned from the start, their lives may be at stake. Not only is Wells sinister, but as we readers learn, each contestant is also harboring a sinful secret. The characters rule this story. It is through their unease with the situation, their guilt with their own past transgressions, and their ruthless desire to be famous and eliminate the competition at all costs, that the tension builds, relentlessly and violently. Along the way, Janz introduces just the right amount of supernatural monsters, but with a brillant literary twist, bringing the horror to a climax, one that will have readers worried about all of the books they read for years to come, not just this one. This novel is a treat for horror fans, yes, but it also perfect for fans of any kind of popular fiction as it manages to both scare and comment on the joy a great read can bring to the right reader. Many will be drawn this fast paced thriller from readers who love the pulp horror of Brian Keene, the dark twists of intense psychological thrillers by Sarah Pinborough, or the terrifying and emotional storytelling of Paul Tremblay.

Further Appeal: I am not sure where to start here because everything about this book was amazing, but I think this is where I need to start:

"This novel is a treat for horror fans, yes, but it also perfect for fans of any kind of popular fiction as it manages to both scare and comment on the joy a great read can bring to the right reader."

This is not your typical writer writing about the writing process story-- not at all. First, while the setting is a writers retreat, the entire story is more of a celebration of readers especially readers of popular, pulpy books. In fact, Janz goes as far to outright say, in this novel, that all great pulp fiction has a deeper meaning, and it is a meaning that can be enjoyed without pretension.

Second, this contest is intense. The host is a literal monster- a demon feeding on the souls of the contestants. And I am not giving anything away here because it comes clear quickly that this is happening. The point is for the reader to be in on it early, which also generates the intense psychological suspense part of the story.

From the first line we know this contest is evil. Our host is unreliable to the reader before we even meet him.

But, as if that is not enough, then there is the third thing that makes this book not your typical horror story of writers on an isolated retreat-- all the contestant are also unreliable. Every single one of them was invited for being a writer but also because they each have a terrible, violent, horrible secret in their pasts. Every single one. Even as "good" characters emerge, none are untainted by violence and evil which they perpetrated knowingly and willingly. There is no gray area there.

All of these additions to what could have been a trite story make is fascinating. The characters are amazing and the heart of the story. They comes from all walks of life too, their diversity being accurately representative. They propel the action. Learning about the details that flesh each out on the page is terrifying yet satisfying. The characters are what add interest and even pacing to the story. Yes the plotting is great, the twists satisfying, and the action awesome, but the character rules here. This is a rare feat for such a fast paced story. Janz builds character without sacrificing action; in fact, he uses some key action sequences specifically to develop some characters. Very cool.

There is violence and horror. There are actual terrifying scenes and intense plot twists. This is an emotional story but man, the ending is killer. But even more than being a great ending, it is one that leaves the reader unsettled about reading any book, ever. Seriously. And that is ultimately what makes this novel great, one that I think we be read for many years to come.

Three Words That Describe This Book: unsettling, book about reading, thought provoking

Readalikes: I listed 4 authors above and here are their titles that I would choose to best match The Dark Game.

• King- Salem's Lot [It is mentioned in the book]
• Keene- The Complex
• Pinbrough- Behind Here Eyes
• Tremblay- A Head Full of Ghosts [because of all the reverence for the genre and the mentions of many other books]

In general, this novel reminded me A LOT of Brian Keene's entire body of work. I felt like at times Janz possessed him. Later, I found out that the book will be dedicated to Keene [in the ARC there was no dedication]. That made a lot of sense.

Other excellent horror novels about people sequestered on purpose include Kill Creek by Scott Thomas and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Although it is decidedly more literary than The Dark Game, Janz's novel also reminded my of Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi. Here, every character is flawed and damaged, but the "game" is a war these residents did not choose, but have to live under its twisted rules. The "monster" in this story is also collecting the stories of others. And of course, as you can tell from the title, it is a book framed by the themes and ideas of another book, but presented in a new way. Both are novels that can be seen as "pulpy" and literary. But whereas The Dark Game is a pulp novel that sneaks its literary fiction tendencies in, Frankenstein in Baghdad is literary on the outside, but has a satisfying pulp center.

Library Reads: April 2019

Today is Library Reads day and that means three things here on RA for All:

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about Library Reads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any Library Reads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Also, please remember to click here for my Library Reads 101 recap for everything you need to know about how to participate. And click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month. 

April 2019 LibraryReads

Lost Roses: A Novel

by Martha Hall Kelly

Published: 4/9/2019 by Ballantine Books
ISBN: 9781524796372

“The Ferriday family (The Lilac Girls) returns in this story of love, loss, and triumph. The voices of four compelling female characters tell of the devastating effects of the Russian Revolution and World War I. Highly recommended for book clubs and fans of Anthony Doerr, Susan Meissner, and Lauren Belfer.”

Mamie Ney, Auburn Public Library, Auburn, ME 
NoveList Read-alike: The Women In The Castle by Jessica Shattuck

The Girl He Used to Know

by Tracey Garvis Graves

Published: 4/2/2019 by St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 9781250200358

“A college romance with an odd, quiet girl fades when she fails to follow him to New York after graduation as promised. Ten years later, a chance meeting in Chicago reunites them. An interesting story giving insight into the world of a high functioning autistic adult. For readers who enjoyed The Rosie Project.”

Virginia Holsten, Vinton Public Library, Vinton, IA 
Novelist Read-alike: Ghosted by Rosie Walsh

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The Invited: A Novel

by Jennifer McMahon

Published: 4/30/2019 by Doubleday
ISBN: 9780385541381

“Nate and Helen leave their teaching jobs to build their dream home in rural Vermont. Helen begins seeing ghosts, and Nate becomes obsessed with a white doe. An unputdownable thriller about a house with a tragic past. Perfect for fans of Erin Kelly and Attica Locke.”

Terri Smith, Cornelia Library, Mt. Airy, GA
NoveList Read-alike: Mansion by Ezekiel Boone

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Little Darlings: A Novel

by Melanie Golding

Published: 4/30/2019 by Crooked Lane Books
ISBN: 9781683319979

“A creepy, beautifully written story about a new mother of twin boys who claims to have seen a strange creature who wants to steal her babies. Doctors and the police are dismissive. Then the unthinkable happens. For fans of modern myths, psychological suspense, and Fiona Barton.”

Amy Verkruissen, Calcasieu Parish Public Library, Lake Charles, LA 
NoveList Read-alike: The Other Mother by Carol Goodman

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Miracle Creek: A Novel

by Angie Kim

Published: 4/16/2019 by Sarah Crichton Books
ISBN: 9780374156022

“When a medical treatment facility explodes, killing two people, the ensuing murder trial rocks the town while witnesses go to extremes to conceal their darkest secrets. Part family drama, part whodunit, Miracle Creek is a gripping debut. For fans of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty.”

Portia Kapraun, Delphi Public Library, Delphi, IN 
NoveList Read-alike: Defending Jacob by William Landay

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The Mother-In-Law: A Novel

by Sally Hepworth

Published: 4/23/2019 by St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 9781250120922

Lucy hopes to have a good relationship with her husband Ollie’s mother, but Diana makes it difficult. When Diana is found dead of an apparent suicide, Lucy reexamines everything she knows about Diana and the rest of the family. For fans of The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand and The Lake House by Kate Morton.

Chris Markley, Kingsport Public Library, Kingsport, TN 
NoveList Read-alike: The Other Woman by Sandie Jones

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Normal People: A Novel

by Sally Rooney

Published: 4/16/2019 by Hogarth
ISBN: 9781984822178

“Follows the complicated relationship between Connell, a popular boy, and Marianne, a lonely and private girl, through their high school years and college. A great book club pick. For fans of Three Junes by Julia Glass and Idaho by Emily Ruskovich.”

Anbolyn Potter, Chandler Public Library, Chandler, AZ 
NoveList Read-alike: The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear Mcbride

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Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir

by Ruth Reichl

Published: 4/2/2019 by Random House
ISBN: 9781400069996

“Reichl’s captivating story about leaving her job as a New York Times restaurant critic to become Editor in Chief of Gourmet magazine. Her writing is as luscious as the food she critiques. For fans of Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain and My Life in France by Julia Child.

Katelyn Boyer, Fergus Falls Public Library, Fergus Falls, MN
NoveList Read-alike: My Soul Looks Back by Jessica B. Harris

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Southern Lady Code: Essays

by Helen Ellis

Published: 4/16/2019 by Doubleday
ISBN: 9780385543897

“A funny, spot-on collection of essays on topics ranging from marriage and manners, three-ways, and how to be a good friend in the middle of a murder trial. For fans of You Play the Girl by Carina Chocano and Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom.”

Linda Quinn, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT 
NoveList Read-alike: Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley

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Women Talking

by Miriam Toews

Published: 4/2/2019 by Bloomsbury
ISBN: 9781635572582

“In a modern-day Mennonite community, eight women surreptitiously gather in a barn to decide their future after learning the truth behind two years of sexual assaults committed by neighbors and family members. Their circuitous, swooping two-day conversation touches on faith, autonomy, duty, anger, and their hopes for their lives and those of their children in this compelling and haunting read. For fans of Lauren Groff.”

Andrea Gough, The Seattle Public Library, Seattle, WA 
NoveList Read-alike: The Natural Way Of Things by Charlotte Wood

Collection Development Alert: Translated Books and Resources for Your Collection and Patron Service

Books in translation are hot. Some of the very best fiction from around the world, originally NOT published in English are starting to become more easily available.

In the last few days in particular, we have had a flurry of activity that is relevant to every single one of you reading this.

First, HarperCollins announced its new imprint, HarperVia which will focus on getting the best non-English international titles[mostly fiction] translated and onto American, British, and Australian  shelves. Click here for the full story from The Bookseller.

This is huge news. One of the big 5 is putting resources [monetary and editorial] into getting more books in translation into our market in a more efficient manner. I am quite excited about this news.

Second, the Man Booker International Prize was just announced. From their press release:

2019 longlist announced- Man Booker International Prize

The Man Booker International Prize has today, Wednesday 13 March, revealed the ‘Man Booker Dozen’ of 13 novels in contention for the 2019 prize, which celebrates the finest works of translated fiction from around the world. The prize is awarded every year for a single book, which is translated into English and published in the UK and Ireland. Both novels and short-story collections are eligible. Authors and translators are considered to be equally important, with the £50,000 prize being split between them. In addition, each shortlisted author and translator will receive £1,000. The judges considered 108 books. 2019 longlist is:Author (Original Language –Country/territory), translator, title (publisher/imprint)

• Jokha Alharthi (Arabic / Omani),  Marilyn Booth, Celestial Bodies (Sandstone Press Ltd)

• Can Xue (Chinese / Chinese), Annelise Finegan Wasmoen, Love In The New Millennium (Yale University Press)

• Annie Ernaux (French / French), Alison L. Strayer, The Years (Fitzcarraldo Editions)

• Hwang Sok-yong (Korean / Korean), Sora Kim-Russell, At Dusk (Scribe, UK)

• Mazen Maarouf (Arabic / Icelandic and Palestinian), Jonathan Wright, Jokes For The Gunmen (Granta, Portobello Books)

• Hubert Mingarelli (French / French), Sam Taylor, Four Soldiers (Granta, Portobello Books)

• Marion Poschmann (German / German), Jen Calleja, The Pine Islands (Profile Books, Serpent's Tail)

• Samanta Schweblin (Spanish / Argentine and Italian), Megan McDowell, Mouthful Of Birds (Oneworld)

• Sara Stridsberg (Swedish / Swedish), Deborah Bragan-Turner, The Faculty Of Dreams (Quercus, MacLehose Press)

• Olga Tokarczuk (Polish / Polish), Antonia Lloyd-Jones, Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead (Fitzcarraldo Editions)

• Juan Gabriel Vásquez (Spanish / Colombian), Anne McLean, The Shape Of The Ruins (Quercus, MacLehose Press)

• Tommy Wieringa (Dutch / Dutch), Sam Garrett, The Death Of Murat Idrissi (Scribe, UK)

• Alia Trabucco Zeran (Spanish / Chilean), Sophie Hughes, The Remainder (And Other Stories) 

The longlist was selected by a panel of five judges, chaired by Bettany Hughes, award-winning historian, author and broadcaster, and is made up of writer, translator and chair of English PEN Maureen Freely; philosopher Professor Angie Hobbs; novelist and satirist Elnathan John and essayist and novelist Pankaj Mishra. Bettany Hughes, chair of the 2019 Man Booker International Prize judging panel, said: ‘This was a year when writers plundered the archive, personal and political. That drive is represented in our longlist, but so too are surreal Chinese train journeys, absurdist approaches to war and suicide, and the traumas of spirit and flesh. We’re thrilled to share 13 books which enrich our idea of what fiction can do.’ The shortlist of six books will be announced on 9 April at an event at Somerset House in London, and the winner of the 2019 prize will be announced on 21 May at a dinner at the Roundhouse in London.

These are all titles you should consider adding to your collections. 13 titles to enhance your in translation collection, a collection that is only going to gain in popularity. These are solid titles, reviewed by experts that represent voices form all over the world.

Finally, it is important for you to stay up to date on trending areas of popular fiction even if you aren't able to buy many titles for these collections. Right now the best and most up to date coverage on what is happening in the world of transitions is found on Book Riot using their #In Translation tag. They not only have news and new releases, but they also provide reading lists like this one frequently.

Don't sleep on this trend. I have given you plenty here today to get started. Here is also a link to all of the times I have posted about books in translation in the past, and I noticed that those posts go back quite far into my archives.