Books, Readers and Beyond: #54 Social Networking Through Books

Exercise 1:

I used to lead a book club at my branch. The Reading Group Guides website was really helpful for me when I was still leading the club. I would definitely prefer an "in-person" bookclub to an online bookclub. However, it might be interesting to try to run a bookclub on Facebook.


Exercise 2:

Using the Reading Group Choices website I found a non-fiction book called A Journal for Jordan. If I were to start another book club at the library I think this would be a good choice. Right now, starting a book club at my branch isn't feasible because my branch is closed. For a good while, I tried to keep the club going by meeting at the community house in Seabrook, but the group members found it too difficult to get copies of the books. There's no reason, however, that I couldn't start a club among my friends. This would allow me to choose riskier books to discuss. I like the idea of a rotating presenter and of meeting at a local restaurant.


Exercise 3:

I looked up Stardust by Neil Gaiman on Goodreads and on Shelfari. The rating on Goodreads was 3.91 out of a possible five with over 20,000 ratings. Shelfari didn't have a cumulative rating but almost 10,000 had read it and 454 people had written reviews. I read a few of the reviews. Nothing really surprising turned up. Readers reacted to the book in various ways, some loved it, some hated it and some were in between.

Books, Readers and beyond:#53 Finding Books online

Exercise 1:

Books Plus
10909 Sabo Rd
Houston, TX 77089-2520
(832) 200-1350
2.0 miles from PW per Google Maps

This bookstore does not have a website.


HEP Bookstore (Home Education Partnership of Texas)

11665 Fuqua St
Houston, TX 77034
(281) 922-0472
2.4 miles from PW per Google Maps

hepbookstore.com‎

This bookstore's website has a link for products carried but when the link is clicked it leads to an "under construction" message. This bookstore caters to homeschoolers.

Jem Books
4815 FM 2351 Rd
Friendswood, TX 77546-2830
(281) 996-9918

2.8 miles from PW per Google Maps

This bookstore does not have a website.



Exercise 2:

I found audio versions of Stardust by Neil Gaiman and The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford in HCPL's digital media catalog. Hard copy versions were available from Amazon.com: $6.99 for Stardust (in paperback) and $10.85 for The Incredible Journey (hardcover).


Exercise 3:

I downloaded an ebook from HCPL's digital media catalog. It took me a while to understand how to get the book to open in the correct software so that I could view it. Eventually, I figured it our but it was frustrating. At first, the print was too tiny but then I used the command that makes the image the width of the page and the type became much easier to see. I read for about 45 minutes. I noticed my eyes were tired but other than that, I didn't really "feel" differently reading the book on the computer than I would have reading it in hard copy. Right now, this method of reading would be very inconvenient for me because I cannot afford a portable electronic reader. However, I like the concept of being able to carry dozens of books around on a portable device.

Advantages of the traditional book: no investment in equipment required/ easier on the eyes.

Advantages of the ebook: available for instant download/ dozens of books can be stored on a small device

IHCPL 2009 Books, Readers and Beyond: #52 What to Read

Exercise 1:

I didn't have any luck finding read-alikes in Novelist for my first title choice (gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson). Novelist had the author in its database but there were no author read-alikes listed. I tried the search in What Should I Read Next and got a list of 10 titles, one of which I had already read and enjoyed.

I tried a second title in Novelist (Stardust by Neil Gaiman) and had better luck. Novelist recommended Stephen King, Kurt Vonnegut, Alan Moore, Robin McKinley and Terry Pratchett as read-alikes for Neil Gaiman. Charles de Lint, Alan Moore and Joss Whedon were some of the authors recommended by What Should I Read Next. The only author that both sites recommended was Terry Pratchett.


Exercise 2:

I used librarybooklist.org which led me to an animal books listing on the El Paso Public Library page. For a 4th grade girl who likes animal books I would suggest The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford and Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

I used Novelist for the second part of this exercise. For a thirteen year old boy who is is interested in ghosts I would suggest Ghosts and Real Life Ghost Hunters by Michael Teitelbaum and Ghosts by Michael Martin.


Exercise 3:

I used Novelist and What Should I Read Next?. Three authors who write similarly to Dean Koontz are Dan Simmons, John Saul, & Stephen White.

Exercise 4:

I used the resource from Mid-Continent Public Library. Alanna: the First Adventure is the first book of the series entitled Song of the Lioness. The other books in the series, in order, are In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, and Lioness Rampant.

IHCPL 2009 Facebook Module

I have had a Facebook account for about a year's time, but I still found this module to be very helpful. I learned a great deal about the available privacy settings. One thing that has frustrated me for some time is when my profile shows up in Google searches. By following the instructions in Nick O'Neill's article: 10 Privacy Settings every Facebook User Should Know, I believe I have corrected this. Because of privacy concerns, I have posted very few photos to Facebook but I do have about 5 on my profile.

I have had fun with the different applications on Facebook. I have used Little Green Patch and The Biggest Brain. My current favorite is Mousehunt. I also enjoy posting news articles and videos for songs that I enjoy on my profile. I have used both the search box and the 'people you might know" tool to add friends.

Edit: I realize after I posted this that I had forgotten to mention that I regularly use my mobile/smart phone to post things to Facebook and to follow what's happening with my friends.