Week 3 ~ Assignment 3

Conversation No. 1:

This customer read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and is now looking for another good story. I gather she is curious about popular books and is willing to try a title if it "draws her in."  Attracted to a strong, reflective, funny voice, she also pays attention to setting, though it's not the most important appeal. Tone is important to this customer. She follows Oprah's book listings, which she enjoys.
I would suggest Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific crest trail by Cheryl Strayed. It, too, features a reflective tone as the author gives voice to her internal struggles. There is an epic 1100 mile solo hike, so the setting is there, and it's an Oprah selection. Another I might suggest is Traveling with Pomegranates: a mother-daughter story by Sue Monk Kidd, where each confronts their respective challenges during a European trip. It, too, strikes a reflective, thought-provoking tone this customer may enjoy. While this was not an Oprah book it does have the cache of being written by the author of  The Secret Life of Bees.

Conversation No. 2:

This customer is looking for vampire books that are nothing like the slow- to-unfold Twilight series and its angst-filled teen love story. What good vampire books has the librarian read lately?
Well, the customer got me on this one, as my repertoire of vampire books is quite thin. So, off to NoveList Plus. I searched subjects/appeals and browsed through vampire titles. I further limited by appeal factors.
For something lighter minus teenage angst, I would suggest the first title in the newish Vampire Chef mystery series, Taste of the Nightlife by Sarah Zettel. A cozy, culinary mystery that is fast-paced, engaging and witty, and if she likes it she can move on to the second in the series, Let Them Eat Stake. For a classic vampire novel, I would suggest Bram Stoker's Dracula to give the reader a taste of how the trend arguably started.

Conversation No. 3:

This customer enjoyed Candice Millard's The River of Doubt and found the subject matter fascinating, fast paced, and an amazing true story. I gather that this customer doesn't necessarily want another book on Roosevelt's trek but might enjoy another similarly riveting narrative nonfiction.

I would suggest Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City: murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America,  based on its compelling, suspenseful tone. Additionally, I would  suggest Millard's latest book, Destiny of the Republic: a tale of madness, medicine, and the murder of a president. It, too, is a fascinating, true account of  the assassination attempt on President Garfield and the ensuing power struggle over his administration and his medical treatment. If the customer decides another precarious journey is in order I would suggest Scott Wallace's The Unconquered: in search of the Amazon's last uncontacted tribe,  also a suspenseful, compelling account of the National Geographic writer's trip into the depths of the rain forest.