Week 3 Prompt Response

1.      The book I would choose is “The Lunatic Cafe” by Laurell K. Hamilton. To find this book, I searched on NoveList Plus for the keywords “Laurell K. Hamilton Anita Blake book 4.” The top result was a graphic novel, but the next result was a novel (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020a). By looking at the series field, I determined that the second result was the book the patron was looking for because it said, “Anita Blake: vampire hunter, 4” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020a), which led me to believe it is the fourth book in the Anita Blake series.

2.      The book I would choose is “Bloodroot” by Amy Greene. I started my search by finding “Prodigal Summer” by Barbara Kingsolver on NoveList Plus. Since this patron mentioned liking the way the book was written and the way the author used language, I specifically looked at the Writing Style field of the description and saw that NoveList Plus described it as “Descriptive; Lush; Lyrical” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020b). I then looked at the list of read-alikes on the page for this book and perused the pages for some of those books looking for one with a similar writing style but that was also faster paced (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020d) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020e) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020f) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020g) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020h) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020i), because a faster pace was something else the patron had mentioned. I settled on recommending the book mentioned above because NoveList Plus described both books as “Lyrical” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020b) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020c) and NoveList Plus also described “Bloodroot” as “Fast-paced” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020c).

3.      The book I would choose is “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet” by David Mitchell. I searched for “Japan” as a keyword on NoveList Plus. I then noticed there was a “Location” tab on the page of search results which I could use to narrow the search results to books in which Japan is the location of the story and a spot where I could refine my results to only “Fiction” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020j). Since the patron mentioned that they like a lot of description, I also limited the search results by Writing Style and chose “Richly detailed” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020j). I perused the results page and chose this book above others primarily because it had a four out of five star popularity rating, which was higher than some of the other results, and it was not a later book in a series, which some of the other results were (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020k). This novel is historical (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020l), which the patron wanted. If I had needed to, I would have further narrowed my search results by Genre and chosen “Historical fiction” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020k), but I found this book before doing that step.

4.      The book I would choose is “Still Life” by Penny Louise. Using NoveList Plus, I looked up the book the patron mentioned loving and discovered that it is part of the Thomas Lynley Mysteries series (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020m). The patron mentioned that the John Sandford book she started to read was too creepy, but based on the description on NoveList Plus of this book, it seemed like something that could be considered creepy as well (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020m), so I thought the patron didn’t necessarily want a light cozy mystery either. NoveList Plus also notes that the book the patron enjoyed has a genre of “Police procedurals” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020m). I looked at the read-alikes list on the NoveList Plus page for the book the patron enjoyed (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020m) and at the pages for some of the books in that list in order to try to find another police procedural that did not seem too creepy, which is how I found the book I chose (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020n) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020o) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020p) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020q) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020r) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020s).

5.      The book I would choose is “The Passage” by Justin Cronin. I found one of the books the patron had mentioned, “World War Z,” on NoveList Plus and read the description of that book (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020t). I looked at the preview descriptions of the books in the read-alike list on this page to see which ones might be a good fit for what the patron was looking for, but even though a couple mentioned zombies, most of them seemed to be about other apocalyptic/threats-to-humanity type topics instead (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020t). So, I decided I would ask the patron if she thinks her husband would be interested in trying a book with a similar theme but that is not about zombies specifically. If she said yes, I would recommend the above book because, according to NoveList Plus, it shares the genres of “Apocalyptic fiction” and “Horror” and a tone of “Bleak” with “World War Z” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020t) (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020u). If the patron said no, I would continue to search for books more specifically related to zombies.

6.      The book I would choose is “The Rules of Magic” by Alice Hoffman. When looking at the NoveList Plus page for “World War Z” in order to complete the previous question, I noticed that one of the genres listed for that book was “Books to movies” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020t). I had not known that was a genre on NoveList Plus prior to seeing it on that page because this was my first time using NoveList Plus. Since this patron specifically wanted books that have been turned into movies, I did an advanced search on NoveList Plus only for books with the genre of “Books to movies.” Additionally, since the patron only wanted books from the last five years, I further limited my search results to books published between 2015 and 2020. I looked through the list of search results and noticed a Harry Potter book and “Five Feet Apart” at the top of the list (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020v), and since I know that those two books are not “Adult,” I decided to further filter my search results to “Adult” books only. I looked at the search results and saw the book I chose near the top (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020w). According to NoveList Plus, this book was published in 2017 and has a genre of “Books to movies” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020x), so it seemed like a good fit for what the patron wanted. NoveList Plus also states in the description of this book that it is a prequel (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020x), so I would let the patron know that as well.

7.      The book I would choose is “Run Away” by Harlan Coben. I performed a search on NoveList Plus for books with a genre of “Thrillers” since the patron said they love thrillers. I further refined my search results by limiting the Pace to “Fast-paced,” since that’s what the patron wanted. I didn’t see a specific way on NoveList Plus to filter out results that may include foul language and sex scenes, which the patron specifically did not want, but I did avoid books that said the Writing Style was “Gritty” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020z), because I thought that might mean foul-language was included. Looking through the search results, I did skip over books that were later books in a series as well, which many were (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020y), because I would not want to recommend a book in the middle of a series unless I knew the series did not need to be read in order. According to NoveList Plus, the book I chose has a genre of “Thrillers and suspense” and is “Fast-paced” (EBSCO Industries, Inc., 2020aa), which are things the patron wanted.

               To find books for myself to read, I don’t typically use any Readers Advisory websites/tools. I used to be a cataloger in a public library, and during that time I found many books I was interested in reading simply by reading their descriptions as I cataloged them. However, now that I’m currently not working in that type of position, I often just peruse retail websites such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon for things to read. Another way I find books for myself to read is by hearing about them on NPR or from a family member. From time to time, I will look at Goodreads to see whether a book I’m already considering reading has positive or negative reviews, but I seldom use Goodreads to actually find the book in the first place. I also sometimes specifically search for books that have won awards, because I’m often interested in reading those types of books. Looking at the list of resources listed by Mary K. Chelton (2012) in “Readers Advisory Tools for Adult Readers: A Five-Year Retrospective Selected Bibliography, With a Few Earlier Exceptions,” I saw that she lists several resources related specifically to “Awards, Prizes and Notable Lists” (pp. 8-10), which are resources I could definitely see myself using. Additionally, after using NoveList Plus for the first time for this assignment, I could definitely see myself continuing to use it to find books for myself or for patrons in the future if a library I work at subscribes to it, because I thought it was very user-friendly and seemed to recommend really good read-alikes.

Works Cited

Chelton, M. K. (2012). Readers Advisory tools for adult readers: A five-year retrospective selected bibliography, with a few earlier exceptions. [Files - Canvas]

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020a). Results for: Laurell K. Hamilton Anita Blake book 4. Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/results?vid=2&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bquery=Laurell+K.+Hamilton+Anita+Blake+book+4&bdata=JnR5cGU9MCZzZWFyY2hNb2RlPUFuZCZzaXRlPW5vdnAtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020aa). Run away (Mar 2019). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=63&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10759979&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020b). Prodigal summer (Oct 2000). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=4&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=038330&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020c). Bloodroot (Jan 2010). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=5&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=332580&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020d). Anthill (Apr 2010). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=7&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=345209&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020e). The history of bees (Aug 2017). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=8&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10567321&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020f). The overstory (Apr 2018). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=9&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10638509&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020g). Where the crawdads sing (Aug 2018). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=10&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10685203&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020h). Swamplandia! (Feb 2011). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=13&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=377341&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020i). The stars are fire (Apr 2017). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=14&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10557187&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020j). Results for: Japan. Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/results?vid=1&sid=8c21a0e6-5992-4662-a0ad-227365bd6a7f%40pdc-v-sessmgr05&bquery=japan&bdata=JnR5cGU9MCZzZWFyY2hNb2RlPUFuZCZzaXRlPW5vdnAtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020k). Results for: Japan Japan Richly detailed . Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/results?vid=25&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bquery=Japan&bdata=JmNsaTA9RkM1JmNsdjA9KE5GK0ZpY3Rpb24tTm9uZmljdGlvbitPUitORitGaWN0aW9uKSZ0eXBlPTAmc2VhcmNoTW9kZT1BbmQmc2l0ZT1ub3

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020l). The thousand autumns of Jacob De Zoet (Jun 2010). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=30&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=348937&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020m). Well-schooled in murder (Jun 1990). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=34&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=029417&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020n). A possibility of violence (Jul 2014). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=35&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10320510&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020o). Roseanna (Jan 1965). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=36&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=056130&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020p). Blind goddess (Jun 2012). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=37&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10116357&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020q). Still life (Jul 2006). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=38&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=143394&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020r). Haunted ground: a crime novel (May 2003). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=39&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=072231&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020s). Cover her face (Jan 1962). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=40&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=036059&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020t). World War Z: an oral history of the zombie war (Sep 2006). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=44&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=145609&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020u). The passage (Jun 2010). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=48&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=348866&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020v). Results for: GN Books to movies. Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/resultsadvanced?vid=51&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bquery=GN+Books+to+movies&bdata=JnR5cGU9MSZzZWFyY2hNb2RlPUFuZCZzaXRlPW5vdnAtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020w). Results for: GN Books to movies Limiters set. Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/resultsadvanced?vid=52&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bquery=GN+Books+to+movies&bdata=JmNsaTA9UkwmY2x2MD0xJnR5cGU9MSZzZWFyY2hNb2RlPUFuZCZzaXRlPW5vdnAtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020x). The rules of magic (Oct 2017). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=53&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10575955&db=neh

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020y). Results for: GN thrillers Fast-paced . Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/resultsadvanced?vid=54&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bquery=GN+thrillers&bdata=JmNsaTA9UkwmY2x2MD0xJnR5cGU9MSZzZWFyY2hNb2RlPUFuZCZzaXRlPW5vdnAtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d

EBSCO Industries, Inc. (2020z). Unsolved (Jun 2019). Retrieved from NoveList Plus: http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.ilibrary.org/novp/detail?vid=59&sid=ff89c8cf-dba0-44a9-990e-8107590c1159%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9bm92cC1saXZl#UI=10776412&db=neh