![]() |
|
|
|
|
ARRTWorks
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the new ARRTWorks! In this and future issues, we’re planning to feature more program information, book suggestions and practical solutions you can use at your library. If you have any recommendations for what you want to see in future ARRTWorks editions, please send your ideas and comments to amortensen@skokielibrary.info. Book
Discussion Best Bets As its name implies, the discussion focuses on literary fiction. Previous titles read by the group include Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland, Amsterdam by Ian McEwan and Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell. A portion of each meeting is devoted to swapping tips, tricks and best practices. Some of the ideas recently shared include: The popularity of holding discussion sessions off site—Park Ridge Public Library took advantage of their “One Book, One Village” selection, Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea, to schedule a meeting at a neighborhood tea shop, much to the delight of patrons. The challenges of attracting younger readers to book groups—Skokie Public Library’s new “Lit Lounge” program targets 20- and 30-somethings by communicating with them via Facebook and Meetup.com, focusing on “edgier” titles (Miles from Nowhere by Nami Mun, City of Thieves by David Benioff, etc.) and meeting at local restaurants where participants can eat a meal or grab a drink (an added incentive because many participants head to the discussion directly from work).
Titles that
would make good discussion selections—Batavia Public Library had great success
with Olive Kitteridge, despite the unsympathetic protagonist, while
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee (which itself was read at an ARRT discussion)
involves disturbing subject matter that nonetheless offers many possible
points for discussion. What is
the ARRT Steering Committee Reading? Fly by Wire: The Geese, the Glide, the Miracle on the Hudson by William Langewiesche (2009) This is a short, feel-good book about a plane crash. It combines the suspense of how-are-they-going-to-survive with the comforting knowledge that they do. The author also provides examples of similar situations in which the pilots' responses led to everyone's death, which makes the Hudson River story even more remarkable. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson (2010) It’s not out in the U.S. until later this spring, but if you can, get your hands on a U.K. copy of this satisfying conclusion to Larsson’s “Millennium” trilogy. Even though the author intended the series to be longer, he wraps up loose ends, redeems the good guys and dishes out just desserts to the bad guys. Readers who’ve gobbled up this series—and fallen for its unlikely heroine, Lisbeth Salander—won’t be disappointed. (Before giving it to patrons, keep in mind that the series—beginning with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo—should be read in order.) Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls (2009) The author of The Glass Castle continues the family saga with a true life novel about her amazing grandmother. Lily Casey Smith's adventures in the American Southwest take her from breaking horses to teaching in remote schools to running a ranch where she raises her two children. Half Broke Horses will appeal to fans of The Glass Castle and those who enjoy historical tales about strong women.
Mennonite in
a Little Black Dress
by Rhoda Janzen (2009) |
Murder in the Palais Royal by Cara Black (2010)
Readers who
love female private investigators will love the new Aimee Leduc book. As
usual, French private investigator Aimee is running around Paris trying to
find who shot her partner Rene Friant and is setting her up for the crime.
Like the female private eyes of Grafton and Lipman, Aimee is feisty and
refuses to be stopped, even if she puts her life in danger. However, only
Aimee runs around Paris in high-heeled boots and designer clothes. This is an
atmospheric series that evokes the spirit of Paris while making the reader
feel like they are in the City of Lights. Aimee is a charming character, and
the story never stops. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (2010) This first entry in a new series by Fforde (The Eyre Affair) is a satire set in a zany dystopian future, where humans are classified by their color perception (think Monty Python crossed with George Orwell by way of Sherwin-Williams). It takes some time to become immersed in this world, but things grow more amusing, fast-paced and poignant as the story progresses. What
are the ARRT Steering Committee Members Up To These Days? A few ARRT Steering Committee members contributed to Nann Blaine Hillyard's Perspectives column, “The Expanding Scope of Readers’ Advisory.” I contributed to the column by writing a brief essay called “Beyond the Book: Listeners’ and Viewers’ Advisory Resources” which mentions some advisory resources for films and music. I noted that Listeners’ and Viewers’ Advisory is still a developing science and skill (hmm—sounds like where Readers' Advisory was 22 years ago when I started my library career)! I also mention at the end of the article that if anyone has any wonderful, invaluable resources for Listeners’ and Viewers’ Advisory (including audiobooks for those listeners who choose books by narrator), to please send them to me (bkruser@nileslibrary.org). I promise I will then compile them and write a much larger article next time with all the compiled resources! Karen Kleckner of Deerfield Public Library and Rebecca Vnuk (Past Chair of the ARRT Steering Committee) also contributed to Nann’s article with an essay called “Readers, Writers, Books, and Blogs.” The essay opens with a question—Where are your patrons getting current information about their favorite authors or topics? If the answer is “online,” Rebecca and Karen provide many suggestions and online resources to catch up on for librarians still accustomed to using print resources. They explain RSS feeds and suggest some blog readers. They then hone down to some excellent blogs to help Readers' Advisors to choose the most valuable out of the millions of blogs out there. By the way, the title of this essay is also the name of their program they did at the recent ILA Conference and will be doing again in March as an ARRT program. I'm sure the March program will be just as entertaining and informative as ILA—and maybe they both found even MORE great blogs to share! Mark your calendars for March 31st—visit www.arrtreads.org for more info! Rebecca Vnuk also wrote a feature article called “Jack of All Trades Readers’ Advisory: How to Learn a Little About a Lot.” She comments on the realities of Readers’ Advisory—that knowing the theory and the right questions to ask will only get you so far. Because, in reality, not every patron looking for a good book is willing to spend 20 minutes with you to answer all your questions about mood, theme, character, etc. And, patrons do still believe that all of us have read every book in our collection and should be ready with a recommendation for a “good book” at a moment's notice. Rebecca offers concrete advice to provide service. She also offers what she calls “The Top Five of the Top Five” which are the top five genres and the five things you need to know about them! This list itself is definitely worth the price of the journal! ARRT
Steering Committee |
|
|
This page is
designed and maintained by the Rolling Meadows Library
Please direct questions and comments to:
Mary Constance Back, ARRT Homepage Coordinator
mary.back@rmlib.org
URL
http://www.rolling-meadows.lib.il.us/ARRT/
Copyright © 2000 Rolling Meadows Library
This page was last updated on 07/22/2010.