Week 11 Prompt Response

Ebooks and audiobooks are very popular materials at the library where I work. We have a large selection of audio books on CD, as well as being available for download to some devices. We offer downloadable ebooks, as well as Kindles that are pre-loaded with several books. All of these materials are checked out frequently. While traditional books are still being checked out often, these alternative formats are an important factor when considering what appeals to patrons.

Ebooks have the unique ability to allow readers to customize their book. Text size can be changed, sometimes the display can be changed from portrait to landscape, the font can be changed, etc. While this is great for many readers, it does take away some control over the reading experience from the author and/or publisher. Occasionally, authors will use text fonts and layout to evoke certain thoughts or emotions from the reader (E.E. Cummings famously did this with much of his poetry, but there are many others who are more...subtle in this practice).  With ebooks, the potential for authors to do this is much more constrained.

Audiobooks have a similar issue. Again, the author and/or publisher loses their control over the physical copy of the book, so things such as text fonts or layouts cannot be used to guide the reader's experience. Also, the narration greatly effects the story itself. If the narrator gives a lackluster performance during an emotional scene, some of the effect will be lost. Sound effects are also frequently used in audio books, which can effect the reader's experience.

I like to compare ebooks to alternative book formats, and audiobooks to adaptations of books. Ebooks are still stories told through text. Just like a Large Type copy of a book may change the font, spacing, and number of pages of a book, an ebook does something similar by having customizable settings. Audiobooks are not stories told through text. They are stories told through speech, which drastically changes the experience. This is similar to reading a comic book adaptation of a novel, or watching a movie adaptation. It may be the same story, and the adaptation may even be extremely faithful to the novel, but things change in the transition to a new medium. It's a very different experience.

When providing Reader's Advisory to patrons, it is important to consider the patron's preferences for formats and media. It is worth suggesting an alternative to what they are used to experiencing, but they may feel comfortable with the format that they know best.

Fantasy Annotation: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Author: Neil Gaiman

Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: June 3, 2014

Number of Pages: 181

Geographic Setting: Sussex, England

Time Period: Present Day

Series: N/A

Plot Summary: The narrator of The Ocean at the End of the Lane remains anonymous throughout the story, even though he is the main character. As an adult, he returns to his small childhood town in the countryside, and begins to reminisce about his childhood. This is where the actual story begins. Our narrator lives a fairly normal childhood until a man who was staying with his family commits suicide. Paranormal things begin to happen, and a new housekeeper, Ursula Monkton comes to live with his family. The narrator quickly discovers that she has ill intentions toward him and his family, but he is unable to prove this to his parents as Ursula fools all of the narrator's family to gain their trust. The narrator seeks help from a neighbor girl, Lettie Hempstock. With her help, the narrator seeks to uncover the truth of all the strange events that have been happening, and save his family from Ursula.


Appeal: The Ocean at the End of the Lane provides a fantasy story set in the real world, something that Neil Gaiman has mastered over his many stories. For those who want a fantasy story while being grounded in a familiar place, this novel is a must-read. In Gaiman's usual style, it is very dark and creepy, giving the reader chills while experiencing the author's expert fantasy narrative.

Three terms that describe this book: Creepy, Awe-inspiring, Supernatural

Similar Authors and Works:

Perfect by Rachel Joyce
This is not a fantasy story, but it does feature a child growing up in a harsh environment, and working through the pain. It also takes place in England, in a similar environment. This provides the setting and character motivations featured in The Ocean at the End of the Lane, while maintaining a more realistic story.

Fire and Hemlock by Diane Wynne Jones
While this book is targeted more toward Young Adult readers, it has many similar elements in the story. both stories are fantasy tales that take place in England, and feature children as the protagonists. The children in both stories have to save their families from an evil woman, and experience mystical events along the way. It is not quite as dark as Gaiman's works.

The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
This book is another fantasy story with dark themes. Perhaps a bit darker than The Ocean at the End of the Lane, this book is definitely a horror tale as well as a fantasy one. It is also set in England, and features a child protagonist, though it is set in the Word War II era.

Book Club Observation

            Book clubs are a great way to externally engage readers in a book. When a person reads a book alone, they have a very personal experience with the narrative. The reader takes in thoughts, concepts, emotions, and events from the book, and from there the reader may think about the story more, and form further thoughts and opinions. While this is good, it can be taken further when two or more people read the same book. Each person will read the same material, but they may feel different feelings, think different thoughts, and form differing opinions. People can then share these thoughts, feelings, and opinions, and form a greater experience as a result.

            I observed a book club meeting for the book In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick. This book club was held at the Tippecanoe County Public Library, and was led by one of the librarians there. I chose to simply observe, and not participate, as I have not actually read the book. I did know the premise of the book before observing, but not much else beyond that. About fifteen people were in attendance, excluding myself. This book club selects a variety of books, however they are usually “safe” picks that most people would be interested in, they avoid picking books that appeal to a niche audience. Light snacks and beverages were provided as well.

            The book club started with a brief introduction, and then the leader started by asking if anyone was surprised by the events of what they read. The format of the meeting would be that the leader would ask a question to set the discussion on a certain track, and members would talk the discussion where they wanted. It seemed to be fairly relaxed, as the discussion did not have to stay on the same topic the whole time. The librarian would gauge when the discussion had pursued a topic to its full extent, or however far the group wanted to take the topic. The librarian would then ask a new question to start further discussion. The librarian herself did not put in too much of their own thoughts, but she did once or twice throughout the meeting. I believe that the librarian refrained from providing their input, unless no one else touched on a matter that they felt was important.

            The questions asked included “Were you surprised by the events of this section?”, “What did you think of their decision to avoid seeking shelter on one of the islands?” and “What are you expecting to happen next?” The last question was also accompanied with a polite request for those who may have read ahead to avoid answering the question. While some questions may have been yes or no questions, such as “Were you surprised by the events of this section?”, they encouraged people to answer further, such as “Yes, I was surprised that only one person thought to grab navigational equipment with them when they escaped the sinking ship”. Every attendee spoke at least once, though some did speak much more than others. Even so, no one stole the spotlight for too long, and the librarian tried to give people who hadn’t spoken much a good chance to talk. Overall I felt that it was a very well-executed book club, and the attendees seemed to enjoy it. 

Special Topics Paper: Graphic Novels

In my Special Topics Paper I explained what graphic novels are, and how they may be used in reader's advisory. I first explained that graphic novels are not a genre, they are a medium. Graphic novels can contain stories of many different genres, ranging from romance to science fiction to mysteries. Thinking of graphic novels as a genre can lead to some poor recommendations, so it is important to remember this.
    I then covered different kinds of graphic novels, including comics books, manga, comic strips, and original graphic novels. In summary:

Comic books: Serialized stories originally published in a magazine format. Later, several issues will be bound together in a book format, which is what libraries typically use.

Manga: Similar to comic books, but East Asian in origin. They are also serialized first in a magazine format, and then republished later in a book format. However, then are read in "reverse", as East Asian languages read from right to left. This, and differences in art and cultural themes, set manga apart from comic books.

Original Graphic Novels: Stories that are published in a book format, without having been serialized beforehand.

Comic Strips: Very short stories serialized in newspapers, and then republished in book format. Some do not consider comic strips to be graphic novels, due to the large difference in length (Comic strips are usually a few panels long, which does not fill even one page of a comic book or manga).


    After discussing what graphic novels are, I discussed how they can be used for integrated reader's advisory. Graphic novels are a mix of visual and print media, so they can be used to recommend books and movies, and vice versa. People who enjoy superhero movies will likely enjoy superhero comics, and people who enjoy romance graphic novels may enjoy romance novels. I also discussed using programs in the library to promote graphic novels, such as superhero movie nights, anime and manga clubs, and Free Comic Book Day.