BPL Book Discussion: Silver Sparrow

On Monday the BPL book discussion group got together to talk about Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones.  Here is the summary:

"With the opening line of Silver Sparrow, My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist, author Tayari Jones unveils a breathtaking story about a man's deception, a family's complicity, and the two teenage girls caught in the middle.

Set in a middle-class neighborhood in Atlanta in the 1980s, the novel revolves around James Witherspoon's two families;the public one and the secret one. When the daughters from each family meet and form a friendship, only one of them knows they are sisters. It is a relationship destined to explode. This is the third stunning novel from an author deemed one of the most important writers of her generation."

 

Now on to our lively discussion.  Please remember, these are notes.  When I use "I" I am often referring to the person who said the comment.  I do not identify participants for their own privacy, but it does give you a sense of the range of opinions shared:

• We had 6 likes, 1 dislike, and 7 so-sos.  With so many so-sos I was worried that the discussion would be tough going, but thankfully I was wrong.  This was a boisterous discussion that had me actually having to shush people, and any of you out there who know me at all know this is a big deal.  I am no shush-er.
• The disliked was firmly standing her ground; she could not like the book because of how much she disliked James, the father.  A lot of the group then chimed in on their dislike for James, but I made everyone wait to talk about him.  I didn't want James to rule our discussion from the start the way he ruled the girls' lives.
• One of the so-sos said she liked the book but felt like this really couldn't have happened in such a tight knit community.  I butt in here and brought up this interview where in the last question Jones talks about all of the hidden children who have contacted her after reading this novel. In fact the entire interview is quite touching.  I had never thought about the stigma of being a "half" sister before.
• How did you feel about the way the story was told using only the 2 girl's perspectives? We get Dana, the secret child who knows of the other family, first and then Chaurisse the legitimate child second.  It is one timeline though, so the first half of the story is all from Dana and the second half all from Chaurisse.
• I liked that it did not alternate back and forth.  We really had the chance to get into one character's head before the perspective changed.
• When I was in Dana's head, I loved her and then it switched.  It was hard to like Chaurisse at first, she seemed a bit spoiled.  She did not have it as hard as Dana, but in the end, I came to love her too. And then later, I got mad at Dana for her actions because I was so caught up in Chaurisse's point of view.  It was a great way to tell this complicated family story.
• There were times I wanted to go back to Dana and see what she thought, but I am glad the author kept the two perspectives separated.
• Other general comments from the opening of discussion that I feel are worth sharing:
• The characters here were great.
• Bunny, the grandmother was more important that you think while you are reading the novel.  Afterwards, I thought about her and her key role in everything that happens. I think she may be the hero of the book.
• I liked Dana and her mother (Gwen). I respected them.  But I also liked and respected Chaurisse and Laverne too. That made the book more complicated but not confusing.
• There are not a ton of rotten bad guys here.  Even James is not evil. (a few grumbles, but see below for James discussion)
• This novel felt like an easy read, but it was deceptively complex.
• I liked how racism was part of the book but at the same time not part of it. This was well done. The race and class issues are there throughout the book, but they are not the focus.  You think about them because of how well the book is written, but this is not an "issue" book.
• The ending came up early in the discussion, so I ran with it.  Here are some of the comments:
• The ending broke my heart. James cruelly dismissed Dana and would not allow her to be his daughter publicly.
• But could there have been a happy ending? Well, not happy, but less cruel. He could have not blamed Dana as harshly. He could have been willing to try to find a way to still be a part of her life.
• There was no way to make everyone happy.
• There was no catharsis at the end as I see in other books.  We discussed this comment a bit more.  Is there catharsis always in life? No.  Dana did get a catharsis when she saw James' true colors.  At that point she stopped being the "other" daughter and started living her life-- we see this in the Epilogue.
• When I finished the book I was not sad, but I felt sadness for both girls and Raleigh.  I was conflicted about Gwen.
• Yes, Gwen should have cut ties earlier and given Dana a better life.
• I asked the group if James love Laverne.
• Some said no, but most said yes. It was different than his more sexual/desire based love for Gwen.
• He loved Laverne like a sister.  They were put together at such a young age because Laverne got pregnant.  When she lost the baby, James, Raleigh, and Laverne were a family.  Teenagers growing up together and taking care of each other.  There was love and affection there.
• Did anyone think when Dana made James own up to the second family and he was forced to choose a "wife" that he would choose Gwen?
• No
• Gwen was sexual love but Laverne was family.
• Laverne also knew she was not a first choice wife from the start of their relationship, so when Laverne found out that James (after being thrown out of Laverne's house) did not go back to Gwen even once, she knew she was chosen fairly and finally won.  She took him back and did a public recommitment ceremony to show the world.
• Why did Gwen choose to bring everything up publicly after 18 years?
• Sheer anger.  If James had handled himself better at the gas station when the 2 girls were stranded with a flat tire, Gwen's anger would have been less.
• Speaking of the gas station scene, we all agreed that it was fabulously written. It was the best scene in the book, and even one of the best scenes we had read in awhile in any book.  We talked at length about what happened.  We were most struck by James' behavior.  His refusal to deal with the confrontation in front of him showed his true colors to Dana and Chaurisse (and us, the reader).  If Laverne had been there, we were not sure she would take him back.
• But everything about the scene was great.
• It should be used to teach new writers.
• Ahhh, James.  I finally let us go off on him.
• Bigamist, but Gwen was complicit.  She was not innocent here. Laverne on the other hand had no idea. Then again, when she did find out, she took him back eventually.
• He only loved himself.
• But he was not a monster. He loved Gwen and Laverne in different ways.  He had to marry Laverne but he loved Gwen.  He was also trying to be the best Dad he could be to both girls given the circumstances.
• He was a fair and proud business owner and brought Chaurisse into the limo business.
• I finally took a vote on the group's opinion of James (their idea), but we decided not to go with like and dislike.  Instead I asked for anti-James and neutral-James votes.  I got 6 anti and 8 neutral.
• One neutral ended this line of discussion by saying he really did try to do the best he could, he simply made bad choices.  Look at families today.  There are a lot worse situations; a lot worse dads.
• We moved on to talking about Laverne.
• What were her choices really?
• She could have had the baby and adopted it out and then go back to her own life.  But we were unclear if her mom would have taken her back.
• When she lost the baby and asked Bunny if she had to go back now, we all felt for young Laverne.  So innocent, such a child.  Being with Bunny and James may have been the best thing to happen to her in the long run.  Yes, he cheated on her, but she became a successful business woman (with no high school degree) and in the end he committed to her for the rest of his life (we think).
• Again the ladies wanted a vote.  Is Laverne better off for having married James? 9 said yes.  Only 3 said worse off. One chimed in that living a lie is not worth it.
• What about Gwen then? Is she better off for having married James too.  All said No.
• He made her full of anger.
• She was too smart for all of this.
• Someone spoke up to remind us that we are all white Northerners.  All of the characters are Southern African Americans. We may have trouble completely understanding the underlying issues here.
• On a similar note, someone else said, I do not think about bigamy much but this opened my eyes.  It was taking place in middle class Atlanta, not overseas or in Utah.  Very interesting.
• We were winding down and people were quite spent after all of the back and forth we had going and because of their intense passion for the book and the charcaters, so there was not as much energy for final words and phrases as usual.  But we did get some:
• well written
• just one more chapter (That's how she felt as she read it; I will just read one more chapter)
• compelling
• characters
• complex but easy to follow
• heartbreaking

Readalikes: The sisters angle reminded me of Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry.  Click here for my review on that novel.

 

If you liked the compelling story of  teenage African American girls here, you should try the award winning Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward which is about surviving Katrina.  The Taste of Salt by Martha Southgate is also a good contemporary, literary fiction, African American story.

 

If you want to look at the effect of bigamy from the wife's perspective, multiple sources pointed me toward The Ruins of Us by Keija Parssinen as a good choice. In this case the setting is Saudi Arabia.

 

The lyrical writing and the hidden family secrets angle of this novel also reminded me of The Thirteenth Tale.  Click here to see a report from when the BPL book discussion group read it. This novel is in the Gothic style, but the family secrets and hidden siblings here are just as "juicy;" actually there are probably more so.

 

If you liked the family drama aspects of the novel, especially with a coming-of-age teen protagonist relating it all to the reader, I would also suggest  My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult (the Queen of families with issues), Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple, or Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl (you'll have to scroll down a bit for that review).

 

If you liked the combination of a character centered story that still has a compelling pace and strong sense of place, I would also suggest Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (time period strong) or The Round House by Louise Erdrich (setting strong).

 

For a completely different take on bigamy, I really liked Brady Udall's The Lonely Polygamist.

 

One final note here on the readalikes, all of these titles would be a great book discussion group choice.

RA for All Roadshow Hits ALA: Read N Rave Panel

Today from 10:30-11:30 I was a part of Rebecca Vnuk’s Booklist Read N Rave panel.  For all of the titles that were Raved and by whom, you can go to this post from Booklist Reader. Together we gave you some great books.

Each panelist had 10 minutes to Rave to the audience about the books from the conference which we are most excited about. Below are nine titles and that I Raved with way more information about them than I gave in my 10 minutes.

My nine titles break down nicely into three distinct categories. 5 books getting a full rave, 3 teasers on upcoming titles which I will be reviewing in Booklist, and 1 book that is already out, but I am still talking about it. I wanted to talk about it so much, I orchestrated a giveaway with the publisher so the book would be on the floor and therefore eligible to be Raved.

Also, in true Becky fashion, all 9 of my books are dark and have complicated protagonists [yes even the NF as I will explain], but you know what, some of us love that. Give me steadily building dread, oppressive atmosphere, and total devastation over rainbows and sparkles any day. Don’t judge me and I won’t judge you. Besides, we’ve all got our quirks.

Enough preamble, let’s do this.

Five Books That I Gave the Full Rave Treatment:

The City of Brass

by S.A. Chakraborty

Hardcover, 528 pages

Expected publication: November 14th 2017 by Harper Voyager

The City of Brass is a debut, historical, epic fantasy novel. I was drawn to this title because- well look at the gorgeous cover, but also because it was offered as a good choice for fans of The Golem and the Jinni, and as that link shows, I love that book. 

The set up-- Nahri is a young woman, con artist, making her living on the crowded streets of 18th Century Cairo by providing “magic” to her rich customers-- fortune telling, healing, etc... Except one day, while performing an “exorcism” she accidentally summons a djinn warrior. And so begins a story you think you know-- disadvantaged young adult stumbles into a magical world where they have so much more power than they ever knew and are the key to saving that fantasy world.  

That’s what I thought at least, but what followed was a spellbinding story, with beautiful prose, adventure, magic, political intrigue, and even some romance. Yes, it has the requisite world building, and the frame, based on the mythology and fairy tales of the djinn from Arab culture [which by the way was well research and authentic; I checked into it], but it was a story that simply grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Seriously, watch out if you start it, it is not a short book, but you may not be able to stop reading it. Clear your schedules.

Yes you can suggest this for fans of "Arabian Nights”-esque stories like Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson, but if you limit your hand selling of this title to those readers only, you will miss a lot of readers who will LOVE this book. 

This is a book for people who want to get caught up in a detailed fantasy world based in established fairy tales, like those who loved Uprooted by Novik. 

But beyond the fairy tale frame, The City of Brass will also bring readers back to other magical titles that caught them up in their webs and held them breathlessly captive while reading, and then longing for more after they finished, like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and The Night Circus [which as a side note, is still one of the most popular posts on my blog- it’s accessed multiple times each month.]

The only reason you wouldn’t pick this book up is because it appears to be the first in a series and waiting for another book would make you angry. 

Three Words That Describe This Book: Captivating, Fairy Tale Frame, Great Characters 

My Absolute Darling

by Gabriel Tallent

Hardcover, 432 pages

Expected publication: August 29th 2017 by Riverhead Books 

Keeping with the debut theme and also with a very strong sense of place, but decidedly NOT fantasy in any way is My Absolute Darling. In fact, I was given this book as the answer to this questions I asked PRH rep Robert, “What’s the darkest book you are going to have at ALA?” He brought the question to the entire team.

So t everyone at PRH I say, “Touché. Job well done.” Let me start with a warning here-- this book is DARK, like seriously, realistically dark. But, it is also beautiful.

Here is the quick set up, Turtle is 14 and lives with her survivalist father in Northern CA. Her mother is dead. Her father, may love her, but he is brutal. I cannot stress this enough. There is physical and emotional abuse here. Turtle spends much of her time roaming the miles of unspoiled wilderness of the woods, creeks, and islands near her home. She knows no other way of life. She lives under the rules and oppressive world views of her father. Her only interactions with people are in school, and well, you know how middle school can be, so that’s not the best either.

But, when Turtle befriends Jacob, a high school boy who lives a fairly normal life, she begins to see that she has a choice to live differently. Thus begins Turtle’s journey. Using the survival skills her father has been teaching her for her entire life, Turtle goes on a journey to save herself. It is gripping, dangerous, and harrowing. The story is suspenseful as we are intimately engaged in Turtle’s struggle. But she is 14, so all her choices are not the ones we would make.

This book is as close as you are going to get to a horror novel without ANY supernatural interference [like a super intense horror novel],  but what sets it apart from other brutal stories of terrible childhoods is the beauty of the writing. The passages describing the natural world are worth the price of admission. And, Turtle is an inspiration.

I will admit right now, this book is not for everyone. There are many trigger warning here, and Tallent pulls no punches. He does not use metaphors when it comes to the brutality and terror of Turtle’s life. However, if you are a reader that can move past that, I promise you that at its core, this is a beautiful and inspirational story that will stay with you for years to come.

Readalikes would include A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. If you don’t mind a little bit of speculative, I also think The Road by Cormac McCarthy or Never Let Me Go by Kazou Ishiguro would work. All have a disturbing tone, a character centered storyline and lyrical language.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Coming of Age, Strong Sense of Place, Heartbreakingly Beautiful

The Last Ballad: A Novel

by Wiley Cash

384 pages

Expected publication: October 3rd 2017 by William Morrow

Speaking of Wiley Cash, his third book is coming out in October and it is a departure from the southern Gothic influenced psychological suspense he has written before it. Now, I know Cash is a no brainer add for public libraries at this point, but I wanted to include it today because while it is excellent you are going to need to let patrons know how it is different from his other novels.

In fact, I was considering not Raving it today because he is so popular and you don’t need me to tell you to buy it, but here is what pushed me over the edge....Wiley Cash left me a voice mail. He saw on Goodreads that I had already read The Last Ballad and given it 5 stars. He followed the links to my blog [I’m a Goodreads author], saw that I was a librarian, found my cell number [it’s listed here so libraries can contact me to hire me], and called me.

Yes that’s right, Wiley Cash was stalking me. But to be fair, he both admitted to it and apologized for it in the first seconds of the almost 2 minute voicemail he left me. Well, of course I called him back. He wanted me to know that he wrote most of this book in a library because he and his wife had moved in with her parents while they were looking for a new house. He couldn’t write there and went to the library. He is also very worried about this novel because it is so different and he really hopes people like it.

Well, after chatting for a few minutes I told him that he just won himself a spot on my limited list because he was so sweet. I also told him librarians will love his story! And, the few I have told already do.

But back to the book- The Last Ballad. This is seemingly the story, set in 1929, of one poor, uneducated, 28 year old woman- Ella May Wiggins- who works the night shift at American Mill No. 2 in North Carolina. We know from the very early pages that Ella May is not going to live for much longer because Ella May is a real person. She joined the organizer trying to unite the poor white workers; in fact, Ella May was not only fighting those in power to try to unionize the white factory workers, she was also involved in trying to make the poor white workers accept the poor black workers into the unions too.  

Despite the fact that we know she will die before the book is done, and make no mistake that darkness and sadness penetrates the book, as I read, I couldn’t stop turning the pages and hoping that somehow she would make it through. That the poverty and oppression would end-- I know it does not, it still has not, but I still hoped as I read. Such is the brilliance of Cash’s writing.

So the publisher suggests Ron Rash’ Serena, Denis Lehane’s The Given Day, and films like Norma Rae and Silkwood as read/watch alike. I agree but I would also like to add the Pulitzer Prize winning, linked story collection, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout to the list. The Last Ballad is told in a  similar fashion to Olive Kitteridge, with Ella May only having the POV for a few of the chapters. In most of the  chapters the story is told from those who have come into contact with Ella May. Some only for a moment, but that encounter effects them greatly. This stylistic storytelling choice is what elevates this novel from a good story about an ordinary woman who made her mark on history [a popular subgenre today] to an excellent book about the fight for equality and dignity for all.

I would also suggest this to people who have enjoyed recent books like, Hillbilly Elegy or White Trash. Here we have historical fiction, well researched but fiction, on the same topic. Speaking of, Cash also told me that the finished copy of the book will include an appendix essay about the real Ella May.

This book may be set in 1929 but it shows us the roots of our current social turmoil and upheaval. It illustrates issues and concerns of right now, from racism to workers rights to police brutality to the 1% vs the 99%- all by telling the story of one forgotten woman’s life through her eyes yes, but also those around her, in one compelling, emotional, and fascinating book.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Multiple POVs, Historical but Timely, Character Centered

An American Marriage

by Tayari Jones

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: February 6th 2018 by Algonquin Books

Jones’ last novel, Silver Sparrow is one of my all time favorites. I still regularly hand sell it to readers, and it came out 6 years ago! When I saw she finally was going to have a new book, I knew I needed to get my hands on it as early as possible. 

Like Silver Sparrow, An American Marriage is set in Atlanta and like Silver Sparrow it has a provocative setup-- Celestial and Roy are a couple in love and on the rise, but soon after they are married, Roy is convicted and sent to prison for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit-- for 12 years. How does your life and love continue from there.

Celestial turns to Andre, Roy’s best friend for help. After 5 years, Roy’s conviction is overturned and poof...he is free and ready to join his old life. But can he? Is that life still there? 

But seriously, what would you do if this happened to you? That question alone and how these characters deal with it would make this a good book. But what makes it great are the characters and the fact that Jones allows them each a chance to tell the story. She writes eloquently but through the characters. We watch their lives unfold with a truth and complication that feels real and without the melodrama that would creep in if Jodi Picoult or Nicholas Sparks told this story. And by the way, that is not a judgmental statement. Melodrama is a style of storytelling that has its place for the right reader, but this is not the kind of book that is, even though if you just knew the story line it may sound that way.

This book reminded me more of The Mothers by Britt Bennett. Both are character- centered novels that deal with serious issues in an honest way [The Mothers takes on abortion] set in African American communities. But as I said above about The City of Brass, you do the biggest disservice to your patrons if you only suggest “black books” as readalikes because this a book about characters, issues and relationships, period.

To that end I would also highly suggest Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka or The Round House by Louise Erdrich- neither of which is a “black book.”

Three Words That Describe This Book: Multiple POVs, Character Centered, Honest

Paperbacks from Hell: A History of Horror Fiction from the '70s and '80s

by Grady Hendrix

Paperback, 256 pages

Expected publication: September 19th 2017 by Quirk Books

Paperbacks From Hell: A History of Horror Fiction From The 70s and 80s is exactly what the title says it is, but it is also so much more. 

Like Hendrix’s fiction, this nonfiction book has the snarky humor, but you can also not deny his true, undead love for these books.

Broken up into categories based on subgenre [similar to ones I use in my book], Hendrix looks at the best paperback books and authors from this era in chapters on, for example vampires, demonic possession, and deadly animals. Yes he provides the crazy covers but he also gives biographies of authors from the still well known to the barely known ever. There are discussions of the books, their appeal and summaries. There is a huge index. It is exhaustive. But it is so fun to read.

Anyone who has ever read a horror paperback will find something here to enjoy. Like Hendrix, who openly shares his younger self’s obsession with these books, books he only first opened because of their covers, many of us have read a book or two [or in my case a hundred] found within these pages and we loved it! The affection Hendrix has for the topic-- the “trashy” books that turned him into a critically acclaimed novelist-- bleeds through [pun intended]. In fact, after you read this book, you too will accept that these books are no less worthy because they blatantly intended to scare readers- or at least that’s what Hendrix [and I] hopes.

This book pairs nicely with Stephen King’s 1980s nonfiction masterpiece advocating for the importance and the universal appeal of horror- Danse Macabre, a book all of your libraries own. Of course any of the hundreds of books mentioned within the pages of Paperbacks from Hell could be sought out by your patrons.

Three Words That Describe This Book: Fun, Books About Books, Eye-Opening

Three Titles I Teased About Upcoming Raves:

In the Fall, I will have full reviews of these three books in Booklist. I didn’t want to waste my limited Rave time talking about them, since you can read my “Raves” in the magazine soon, but just a quick heads up about why you need to pre-order these titles ASAP.

Creatures of Will and Temper by Molly Tanzer [November 2017]. John Joseph Adams Books from HMH. From the imprint’s landing page:

Led by John Joseph Adams, the acclaimed short fiction editor and series editor of The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, John Joseph Adams Books is dedicated to publishing best-selling and award-winning science fiction and fantasy from a diverse range of voices, both new and established—fiction that is literary and accessible, sometimes experimental, and always full of a sense of wonder.

In this one fencing, demons, and upper crust Victorian society collide. I am very excited to dive into this one after the conference. Horror authors in particular have been buzzing about it already.

Strange Weather by Joe Hill is coming out in October. It is a collection of 4 novellas. So already we have two reasons to love this book-- Joe Hill and novellas.  As I mentioned back in April, novellas are hot right now, and Joe Hill well, he is great. Just preorder it. My full review will be in the August 1st issue of Booklist which is the Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror Spotlight issues.

Speaking of that issue, I will also have a review of The New Annotated Frankenstein and an interview with the editor, Leslie Klinger. You may think this book is the least “sexy” of the ones I mentioned today, but you are wrong. I will let you read the review and interview to see why, but for now, you need to know that this is a book to order because 2018 marks the 200th Anniversary of this novel, written by a teenage girl, which birthed both the horror and science fiction genres. For more information, visit Arizona State University’s Frankenstein Bicentennial Project.

One Title That is Already Out and I Have Already Raved:

In The Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson is a book that I loved. You can read my full review but here are my-- Three Words That Describe This Book: lyrical, haunting, atmospheric.

I wanted to Rave this book even though it came out in early June because it is THAT good, but its is from from a smaller press so I want to make sure I give it all the attention it deserves. The rules to mention something in this presentation were that the book much be on the exhibit floor. So.....I talked to Skyhorse and they have not only put the book out on the floor, but they also made 25 hardcover copies available to folks who came to this program. I handed out tickets, and the first 25 who turned them in at booth 3131 got a copy...for FREE!

Buy this book. It is amazing. You will thank me later.

And now, time for a breath. [Exhales]

Of course I did not say all of this in my ten minutes during the program. This post has a lot more detail. Also you can go to Booklist Reader for a list of all of the titles.

Finally, I “Raved” 15 more titles that were at the conference in this post on Friday. So in total that’s 24 titles coming soon that I think are worth your time.

I will be back tomorrow with more ALA Annual wrap up posts including wrap ups by others.

Announcing The BPL Book Discussion 2013 January Through June Schedulee

The votes are in, the books have been purchased from the wonderful people at The Book Table in Oak Park, and the schedule has been set.

Here are the titles, dates, and times that my group will be meeting at the BPL; all links are to discussion guides where possible:

Monday Afternoon Group, meets at 2:30 p.m.

January 21st - The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht

February 25th - Bury Me Standing by Isabel Fonseca

March 18th - Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

April 15th - I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flag

May 20th - The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

June 17th - Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

Remember, I always post a report on what we discussed, so no matter where you live, feel free to follow along with us.  All are welcome to comment after I post the discussion notes too.

It looks like it will be a fun six months of discussions.  Our only disappointment was that when we made the eligible titles voting list, Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers was scheduled for a January 2013 paperback release, but after the votes were tallied, and it made the cut we were informed that since it won the National Book Award, the publisher is holding out for more money and the paperback has been pushed back until at least October 2013.

While You Wait for Go Set a Watchman: How to Turn an Event Book Into Opportunity

I know you know that Go Set a Watchman came out today.  I also know most of you had already prepared “While you wait” lists of alternatives for the influx of patrons who will be coming in to request it-- many them coming to the library for the first time in years.

But I also know that when this HUGE single book events happen, you can never have enough readalike options.

You also want to make sure you have options for every kind of reader.  Remember, a book like this brings people out of the woodwork.  People who haven’t been to the library in a long time. They do not realize there will be a wait list.

We need to use event book opportunities like this one to show off our awesome services.

Harper Lee brought em in the building, now it is our job to show off our skills and promote those books which are on the shelf right now.

With bestsellers, you cannot only have exact readalikes [if there is such a thing] ready.  Your instinct will be to have other southern set titles with Civil Rights themes ready to hand out automatically each time someone asks to be placed on the waiting list.  And while, for example, The Help is a great readalike suggestion, there are many readers who only want Go Set a Watchman for this type of read, when actually they generally prefer a completely different type of book normally.

This is where you can shine and turn these newbie library users into lifelong believers. You can make them see the light and turn into library evangelists, spreading the word of your amazing skills all over town.

[I used bold, but I am not exaggerating. This has worked for me. I have made this happen multiple times.]

First, make sure the patron in front of you asking to be put on hold for the Lee book wants to read something just like it while they wait. Instead of offering a readalike immediately, try saying something like, “We have lots of great reads on the shelf right now. What kind of book do you want to read while you wait? I am sure we can find you something that will make the time pass quickly.”

This is how we at the library turn a publishing event into a chance for us to market ourselves and our book expertise. We hand them a much better option for them, tailored to their specific preferences, and they LOVE it. They think we worked magic when all we did was have the RA conversation with them. Success!

So by all means, have the very specifically matched readalike suggestions lists for Go Set a Watchman out for people.  But the patrons that stop and ask for help...to those patrons, please engaging them in a conversation about what they like to read (in general) and use all that you have learned by reading this blog and attending my trainings over the years to find these patrons the perfect read for them- whether or not it shares anything in common with the book they came in to reserve.

To help you start thinking outside the box, I will give you a few Southern Gothic options with a coming of age theme. BY the way, these would be great for the people who you haven’t seen since Gone Girl came out. Click on the titles for a full review of each.

• The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell
• The Darkling by R.B. Chesterton
• This Dark Road to Mercy or A Land More Kind Than Home both by Wiley Cash
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (not Gothic, but an undertone radar option that I love and wanted to sneak in somewhere)

Now go out there are show off your mad RA skills! I know you can do it.

Monday Discussion: Sure Bets to Booktalk in the Stacks

I am getting excited to debut my brand new booktalking program with Maine State Library tomorrow morning.  One of the topics I will be talking about at length is how to prepare yourself for booktalking in the stacks with patrons.

But I want to get the conversation kick-started a day early here on the Monday Discussion because one of my biggest tips for being ready when the opportunity for impromptu booktalks arises is to have a stable of sure bet titles in your head.

These would be books that:

1. you have found from experience appeal to a wide audience
2. you feel comfortable talking about concisely and enticingly
3. are at least a few years old (backlist titles), so that there is a higher probability that they are on the shelf.

So what are your current sure-bet favs to hand-sell to patrons as you encounter them in the stacks; patrons that you might not have time to properly enter a formal RA conversation with.

I'll go first. Here are my current favs that I am book talking to patrons regularly.  I have included my opening line, sound-bite, that I use to gauge their initial interest [if they look uninterested, I move on the the next book and sound bite quickly]. The titles here are also linked to my full review for the book.

• The Golem and the Jini by Helene Wecker-- This is a typical immigrant tale set at the turn of the 20th Century in NYC except for the fact that the protagonists are anything but typical. Both are from their home country's folklore: a Jewish Golem and a Arab/Christian Jinni (genie).
• The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa-- A housekeeper is hired to care for a mathematician whose memory, because of an accident years before, only lasts for 81 minutes. Now imagine these two people building a true and beautiful friendship under such trying conditions.
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones One man in Atlanta has 2 families, but he does not tell us his tale, rather it is through the eyes of his 2 teenage daughters, one who knows about the other family, and one who does not, that we experience the story.
• The Bees by Laline Paull-- Divergent meets Watership Down only with bees! (This is all you need to say on this one; either they will grab it from you or make a disgusted face; you will know immediately)
• The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt-- It is a cross between the movies O Brother, Where Art Thou and  No Country for Old Men. Two brothers with the last name Sisters are hit men for hire in Gold Rush CA.

Now it's your turn.  Feel free to use my sound bites and reviews to help you, but I would also love for you to contribute to the list. For today's Monday Discussion, give me a title or two, ones that are your go-to, hand-selling options when you encounter patrons looking for a good read. The more titles that we compile together, the better off we all are.

For past Monday Discussions, click here.

Becky's Under the Radar Holiday Book Suggestions-- Fiction

This will come as no surprise to many of you, but I am often asked for advice on what books someone should buy for another someone.  This kind of third hand RA work is never easy, but I feel even more pressure to do it well because if I screw up on a suggestion with a library book, well, it was free. You simply close it, return it and get another one.  But when someone is asking me for help to spend their money to buy a gift for someone they care about....well, that is money and my reputation on the line.

Seriously though, helping someone find a good book for themselves is hard enough, but when I am helping you find for someone who is not in the room who you may or may not know the intricacies of their reading tastes....this can be difficult. But hey, I love a challenge.

When I do take up these holiday gift suggestion challenges, I always try to find some sure bet, back list stunners. Books that I have suggested to a wide readership with great success for years. I do this for a few reasons. One, they have stood the test of time. Two, they are titles that have stayed with me in surprising ways, and when you give a novel to someone as a gift, you want it to be memorable to them. And three, older book suggestions make the gift giver look like they tried. You didn't just go to the book store, or the front page of Amazon. No you sought out advice on the perfect book for that person-- which you actually did do if you asked me for help. You can tell someone you worked hard on their gift all you want, but if you show up with a copy of Girl on the Train or Between the World and Me, they won't believe you-- even if that is the perfect book for that person.

So because people have begun asking me for these gift suggestions, and because I cannot possibly help everyone who wants my help, I am going to share my favs with links to the reviews. And please note, those reviews also have readalikes which means that this list can lead you to hundreds more off the beaten path suggestions.  Good luck.

• The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti
• City of Thieves by David Benioff (Dude, he knows that "winter is coming" after writing that book; too bad he is too busy crafting Game of Thrones to write another novel)
• The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diana Setterfield
• Forever by Pete Hamill
• A Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
• The Known World by Edward P. Jones
• The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
• The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
• Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
• Peace Like A River by Leif Enger [read before the blog-- link to Goodreads. Still stays with me]
• Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
• The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart

If I have time [and remember] I will try to do a narrative nonfiction version of this post too.  No promises though.

Some Fun Summer Reading Posts

Today I am off work to pack up my kitchen for a remodel but I thought I would pass along a few summer reading posts that I have been saving to share:

• With a redirect from RA Online, I saw this essay from the Boston Globe entitled, "How America Learned to Love Summer Reading."
• Having trouble finding the right summer read for you?  Why not try suggestions from your favorite fictional characters courtesy of BN.com. This was a fun list.
• All the NPR Books materials for Summer 2013. Ideas here for all ages and all genres.  It is a treasure trove for you and/or your patrons.
• I have been hanging on to this link for awhile now-- Amazon.com's editor pick for summer travel-- Around the World in 80 Books. 
• USA Today's Summer Reading lists and links.

Back to packing up the kitchen for me.  The good news is, I am "reading" the audio of Pillars of the Earth while I work.  And I have to say, a huge, 1,000 page epic of medieval England, filled with war and treachery, is pairing beautifully with the dismantling, demolition, and rebuilding of my kitchen-- especially since I can listen while I work.  Also, what I have to endure is NOTHING compared to the drama and horror that these characters are living through.  I will have to remember this when I encounter a patron who needs something to read while in a similar situation.

I will be back tomorrow with my post on our lively BPL Book Discussion of Silver Sparrow which took place yesterday.  It was a great one, even by our generally high standards.

Library Reads: February 2018

It’s Library Reads day! 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. 

Before we get to the current list, here are a couple of notes about the February 2018 list specifically. 

First, props to my friend and multiple time contributor to the blog, Alissa Williams for getting the lead review! 

Second, I was an early reader and promoter of An American Marriage. This book is absolutely amazing! I already loved Tayari Jones’s Silver Sparrow and use it as one of my sure bet backlist titles frequently, but An American Marriage exceeded my already high expectations. All my feelings are in this post which was a companion to my Read N Rave appearance at ALA Annual back in June and includes readalikes. 

February 2018 LibraryReads List

The Great Alone: A Novel

by Kristin Hannah

Published:2/6/2018 by St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 9780312577230

“Leni and her troubled family embark on a new way of life in Alaska’s wilderness in 1974 – hoping this is finally the solution for her troubled, POW father. In Alaska, Leni and her family are tested and when change comes to their small community her father’s anger threatens to explode and divide the town. This is a beautifully written novel, descriptive and engaging with well-developed characters and a strong sense of place.”

Alissa Williams, Morton Public Library, Morton, IL

An American Marriage

by Tayari Jones

Published: 2/6/2018 by Algonquin Books
ISBN: 9781616201340

“Celestial and Roy are newly married professionals leaning in to a bright future when Roy is convicted of a crime he did not commit. This is not a heroes vs. villains tale with a tidy resolution. It is a complicated, messy, moving, and thought-provoking story about love, family, and the wide-reaching effects of incarceration. Book clubs get ready!”

Jennifer Alexander, St. Louis County Library, St. Louis, MO

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The French Girl

by Lexie Elliott

Published: 2/20/2018 by Berkley
ISBN: 9780399586934

“Six friends from Oxford University spend an idyllic week in the French countryside that ends with a missing neighbor, the enigmatic Severine. Fast forward ten years and Severine turns up. Or rather her skeleton does in a well on the property. All six friends are suspects. Will the loyalties hold and who put Severine in the well? This is a fun, taut thriller.”

Jennifer Dayton, Darien Library, Darien, CT 

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Force of Nature: A Novel

by Jane Harper

Published: 2/6/2018 by Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250105639

“When Detective Falk learns that an informant went missing during a corporate team building exercise in the bush, he realizes that she tried to call him in the middle of the night. Harper once again creates a compelling, fast-paced, and atmospheric mystery set in a remote wilderness area of Australia. Perfect for fans of Nevada Barr and Paul Doiron. Highly recommended.”

Vicki Nesting, St.Charles Parish Library, Destrehan, LA

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Surprise Me: A Novel

by Sophie Kinsella

Published: 2/13/2018 by The Dial Press
ISBN: 9780399592881

“Kinsella’s newest heroine has met and married Mr. Right – now how to spend the next 68 years? When Sylvie launches Project Surprise Me, she just might find that there’s always more to learn about the ones you love. Told in Kinsella’s trademark charming, relatable style.”

Ariel Kurst, Great River Regional Library, St. Cloud, MN

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Tarnished City

by Vic James

Published: 2/6/2018 by Del Rey
ISBN: 9780425284124

“Tarnished City, a contemporary fantasy with a healthy dose of world-building, is just as disturbing as its predecessor, Gilded Cage. I couldn’t resist diving deeper into the dark world of Equals and Slaves. James has pushed the characters in new ways, which makes the story riveting, intense, dark, and completely entrancing.”

Monicah Fraterna, La Porte Public Library, La Porte, IN 

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As Bright As Heaven

by Susan Meissner

Published: 2/6/2018 by Berkley
ISBN: 9780399585968

“Beautifully written, heartbreaking story of four women in Philadelphia in 1918 during the Spanish Flu. I loved this book, as I have other books by Meissner and would highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction.”

Cathy Branciforte, Ramsey Free Public Library, Ramsey, NJ

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How to Stop Time

by Matt Haig
Published: 2/6/2018 by Viking
ISBN: 9780525522874

“Even though there is something extraordinary about Tom Hazard and his aging process the problems and insights he experiences as he goes through life, are universal. Love, memory, and time play tricks on us all as this novel illustrates so exquisitely. This is an engaging,sweeping love story with all the elements of a great historical/time travel novel. For fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Life After Life.” 

Mary Coe, Fairfield Woods Branch Library, Fairfield, CT 

Summer Hours at the Robbers Library: A Novel

by Sue Halpern

Published: 2/27/2018 by Harper Perennial
ISBN: 9780062678966

“Kit is a librarian who closes herself off from emotions and people until she meets Sunny, assigned to the library for community service. Add in a group of regulars in the library and the result is an absorbing story of developing friendships and the unveiling of secrets. Kit’s story unfolds as we meet many quirky characters in this story of love, loss, and hope.”

Ellen Firer, Merrick Library, Merrick, NY 

Educated: A Memoir

by Tara Westover

Published: 2/20/2018 by Random House
ISBN: 9780399590504

“In her memoir, Westover recounts her childhood growing up in a strict Mormon family, ruled by an erratic father, and living off the grid in Idaho. Westover compellingly sketches her years growing up, her relationships with siblings, encounters in the town nearby, and the events that eventually drove her to leave and pursue formal education. For fans of Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle.”

Andrea Gough, Seattle Public Library, Seattle, WA