The following is a link to a publisher weekly article by Felicia Pride and Calvin Reid about publishers paying more attention to YA fiction featuring black characters http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6620241.html
Looks like there are some good titles due out in 2009, and I see a few titles I need to add to my
Books make great gifts post.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Holiday Venting
This holiday season is going pretty good so far but there are still a few things that make me want to scream
I hate when customers come up to the service desk and get huffy because they have to wait. Its not like the staff is standing around talking to each other no we are helping customer running around mutlitasking. I really hate it when these impatient customers try to bully us into finishing up with a customer by closing in on our personal space. You rude MF back the F up. Or when they scream does any body work here. I need some service. You're going to get some piss ass service now. You impatient prick
I hate when customers don't have their method of payment ready. They slow down the line, and the other customers start giving me the evil eye because the lines stopped. How hard is it to have a credit card, cash or check out. It gets worse when a check isn't filled out or a check writer wants to balance their check book right in front of my register. (Puff Puff Give MF you had your turn now move on)
I am so over customers asking if Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer is in paperback yet. And no I will not check. For those of you who aren't around books all the time. Novels usually follow a certain formula. Hardbacks are out for year give or take a month depending on how they sell, then the paperback edition comes out. If its a series like Meyer's Twilight books, once the new one comes out the one prior is usually released in paperback. However, this is not a strict rule, if the publishers can still make money on the hardcover they will delay the release of the paperback. So even through Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight Saga came out earlier this year Eclipse the third book is still only in hardcover. Every single day someone will ask is Eclipse n paperback. And it wouldn't be so bad if they believed me when I said no. Why would I lie? Or didn't ask me why. I have no idea, I don't have any inside contacts.
I hate when customers who aren't holiday shopping want to bi*ch about how busy it is. The holiday season is the same time every year. If you don't do the holidays and hate the lines wait until January to shop.
I hate customers who want a gift receipt for a $2.99 bargain book. Really, I mean come on really a gift receipt for a $3 book, I just don't get that.
Misc Rants
"But it was reviewed in the paper." And that's why we're sold out. And no we don't have any in the back. I hate when customers who only shop the children's section once a year won't listen to any suggestions when we're sold out of a reviewed book they were looking for. And yes it was probably a very good book and thats why it was reviewed and sold out. But we still have some very nice books. "No, I came in specifically for this book because it was reviewed in the paper." "I can't believe you don't have it" This customer likes to repeat it was reviewed in the paper every five sentences, like its going to make the book magically appear. If it did I'd probably hide it.
"I am looking for children's classics like Mark Twain for a nine yr old." Mark Twain is not a children's classic. Its a classic yes but children's classic, no. If the kid doesn't drop out before high school they will read Twian. When I suggest Hatchet or Phantom Tollbooth I get the eww whats that look. I want to say MF they're freakin children's classic.
To be continued
I hate when customers come up to the service desk and get huffy because they have to wait. Its not like the staff is standing around talking to each other no we are helping customer running around mutlitasking. I really hate it when these impatient customers try to bully us into finishing up with a customer by closing in on our personal space. You rude MF back the F up. Or when they scream does any body work here. I need some service. You're going to get some piss ass service now. You impatient prick
I hate when customers don't have their method of payment ready. They slow down the line, and the other customers start giving me the evil eye because the lines stopped. How hard is it to have a credit card, cash or check out. It gets worse when a check isn't filled out or a check writer wants to balance their check book right in front of my register. (Puff Puff Give MF you had your turn now move on)
I am so over customers asking if Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer is in paperback yet. And no I will not check. For those of you who aren't around books all the time. Novels usually follow a certain formula. Hardbacks are out for year give or take a month depending on how they sell, then the paperback edition comes out. If its a series like Meyer's Twilight books, once the new one comes out the one prior is usually released in paperback. However, this is not a strict rule, if the publishers can still make money on the hardcover they will delay the release of the paperback. So even through Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight Saga came out earlier this year Eclipse the third book is still only in hardcover. Every single day someone will ask is Eclipse n paperback. And it wouldn't be so bad if they believed me when I said no. Why would I lie? Or didn't ask me why. I have no idea, I don't have any inside contacts.
I hate when customers who aren't holiday shopping want to bi*ch about how busy it is. The holiday season is the same time every year. If you don't do the holidays and hate the lines wait until January to shop.
I hate customers who want a gift receipt for a $2.99 bargain book. Really, I mean come on really a gift receipt for a $3 book, I just don't get that.
Misc Rants
"But it was reviewed in the paper." And that's why we're sold out. And no we don't have any in the back. I hate when customers who only shop the children's section once a year won't listen to any suggestions when we're sold out of a reviewed book they were looking for. And yes it was probably a very good book and thats why it was reviewed and sold out. But we still have some very nice books. "No, I came in specifically for this book because it was reviewed in the paper." "I can't believe you don't have it" This customer likes to repeat it was reviewed in the paper every five sentences, like its going to make the book magically appear. If it did I'd probably hide it.
"I am looking for children's classics like Mark Twain for a nine yr old." Mark Twain is not a children's classic. Its a classic yes but children's classic, no. If the kid doesn't drop out before high school they will read Twian. When I suggest Hatchet or Phantom Tollbooth I get the eww whats that look. I want to say MF they're freakin children's classic.
To be continued
I Am So Over My anti picture book
I am so over books featuring penquins. Ever since the March of Penquins movie, they've been very popular. Penguins are very cute but the world is filled with many animals. Can't zebras, seals, hippos, baboons or kangaroos get some love?
I am so over Pink picture books for girls. I have to bite my tongue when customers ask for these books.
I am so over Pop up Books. Every holiday season four or five pop up books come out. I am like enough already. I always get customers who want to talk about them. "These books are always so amazing. Look at all the detail." I really don't want to hear how amazing these pop ups are, just buy the books. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't happen 5 or 6 times a week
The other day a new picture book came in that had 2 out of the 3 things I am so over. Pink! Its a pink penquin. (lovely) It's probably a very nice book but since its my anti picture book I won't be reading it anytime soon.
I am going to risk looking foolish here (if no one responds) and post a question. What is your anti book and why?
I am so over Pink picture books for girls. I have to bite my tongue when customers ask for these books.
I am so over Pop up Books. Every holiday season four or five pop up books come out. I am like enough already. I always get customers who want to talk about them. "These books are always so amazing. Look at all the detail." I really don't want to hear how amazing these pop ups are, just buy the books. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't happen 5 or 6 times a week
The other day a new picture book came in that had 2 out of the 3 things I am so over. Pink! Its a pink penquin. (lovely) It's probably a very nice book but since its my anti picture book I won't be reading it anytime soon.
I am going to risk looking foolish here (if no one responds) and post a question. What is your anti book and why?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Scat Carl Hiaasen
Scat by Carl Hiaasen Once again I have the Random House Rep to thank for this book. I probably would have missed out on this very fun and entertaining read if not for the ARC. Hiaasen first middle grade novel, Hoot it didn't do much for me. When customers ask about Hoot, I simply say its a best seller and award winner. Now I am looking forward to telling customers how much I enjoyed Scat.
Like many of Hiaasen's novels Scat is a mystery set in Flordia. Mrs. Starch a no nonsense biology teacher goes missing after a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. I loved the beginning, we are introduced to many of the main players Mrs. Starch, Nick , Marta and Duane aka Smoke. Hiaasen puts the reader in the classroom, you can almost feel the fear Mrs Starch puts into her students. The period ends with Duane aka Smoke threating the teacher and eating a pencil out of her hand. The next day Mrs Starch goes missing after a fire in the Black Vine Swamp. Duane is the obvious suspect . The obvious suspect is never guilty, Hiassen never really tries to convince the reader of Duane's guilt. 14 yr old Nick and Marta's try to figure out what happened to their biology teacher. Nick's father is serving in Iraq. Hiassen treats this storyline with care and love. There are some very interesting characters in Scat making for a very funny read. Smoke's father Duane Scrod Sr., is paranoid at times, burned down a car dealership, listens to classical music and owns a crazy Macaw bird that speaks three langauges. Then there's Drake McBride, a rich New York transplate who likes to part of a Southner, with snakeskin boots on his feet, a cowboy hat on his head, danged and pardner rolling off his tongue. Wendell Maxmo a substitute teacher, always teaches the same page depending on the day of the week and forces the students to stand up and sing. Anyone familiar with Hiaasen's writing knows how much he cares about the enviroment. I enjoyed learning a few new things. When I started this book I didn't know Scat is animal feces or that Florida has pathners, or so many Florida animals are extinict. I enjoy learning new things from a novel, as long as it doesn't feel forced or take away from the story line. Hiassen blends his need to inform and tell a great story very well.
Time to share
"Marta looked as if she might throw up again. The last time that had happened, Mrs. Starch had barely waited until the floor was mopped before instructing Marta to write a paper listing five major muscles used in the act of regurgitation. Nick and the other students had been blown away. What kind of teacher would punish a kid for puking?
Scat's release date is January 27. If you're looking for a fun new mystery to read or recommend until Scat comes out check out Put A Spell On You
Like many of Hiaasen's novels Scat is a mystery set in Flordia. Mrs. Starch a no nonsense biology teacher goes missing after a field trip to Black Vine Swamp. I loved the beginning, we are introduced to many of the main players Mrs. Starch, Nick , Marta and Duane aka Smoke. Hiaasen puts the reader in the classroom, you can almost feel the fear Mrs Starch puts into her students. The period ends with Duane aka Smoke threating the teacher and eating a pencil out of her hand. The next day Mrs Starch goes missing after a fire in the Black Vine Swamp. Duane is the obvious suspect . The obvious suspect is never guilty, Hiassen never really tries to convince the reader of Duane's guilt. 14 yr old Nick and Marta's try to figure out what happened to their biology teacher. Nick's father is serving in Iraq. Hiassen treats this storyline with care and love. There are some very interesting characters in Scat making for a very funny read. Smoke's father Duane Scrod Sr., is paranoid at times, burned down a car dealership, listens to classical music and owns a crazy Macaw bird that speaks three langauges. Then there's Drake McBride, a rich New York transplate who likes to part of a Southner, with snakeskin boots on his feet, a cowboy hat on his head, danged and pardner rolling off his tongue. Wendell Maxmo a substitute teacher, always teaches the same page depending on the day of the week and forces the students to stand up and sing. Anyone familiar with Hiaasen's writing knows how much he cares about the enviroment. I enjoyed learning a few new things. When I started this book I didn't know Scat is animal feces or that Florida has pathners, or so many Florida animals are extinict. I enjoy learning new things from a novel, as long as it doesn't feel forced or take away from the story line. Hiassen blends his need to inform and tell a great story very well.
Time to share
"Marta looked as if she might throw up again. The last time that had happened, Mrs. Starch had barely waited until the floor was mopped before instructing Marta to write a paper listing five major muscles used in the act of regurgitation. Nick and the other students had been blown away. What kind of teacher would punish a kid for puking?
Scat's release date is January 27. If you're looking for a fun new mystery to read or recommend until Scat comes out check out Put A Spell On You
Monday, December 1, 2008
I Share My Opinion (what's not urban lit)
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6573998.html written by Amy Pattee a assistant professor at Simmons College’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The article is about urban literature and if its appropriate for teens. After reading this, I had to remember to breathe.
I was kind of wary when Pattee says urban literature is know for it's provocative titles, which is so true but the example she gives -"Death Before Dishonor" is so weak. There are so many better titles she could have chosen. James Patterson's " Pop Goes the Weasel" is more provocative. Though, I nodded my head in approval when she outlines the history of urban literature. I also agreed when Pattee said urban novels are prone to grammicial, punctuation and spelling errors. Though from there we part ways.
Pattee considers Push by Sapphire an urban lit novel, and that is so wrong. Push is not urban lit. ( redundant on purpose) Push is a beautifully written contemporary realistic novel. It does not glamorizes the protagonist story. It simply tells the story of Precious Jones, a teenage girl who slowly begins to believe in herself and want more. No one reading Push is going to dream of being a pregnant 16yr old who is sexually abused by her parents. If Push is urban lit then so is Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Pattee goes on to say some of the African American YA novels are urban fiction.
"Teen street lit also often includes warnings about the harmful consequences of destructive or criminal behavior. And some mainstream publishers are now offering a “safer” variety of teen street lit, such as Scholastic’s “Bluford High” and Harlequin’s “Kimani Tru” series—but beware, young connoisseurs of urban lit may find these more restrained stories babyish or inauthentic."
I have read some Kimani Tru novels and they are not urban lit, if we are sticking to the already established defintion in the article. Kimani Tru novels feature black teens sometimes but not always living in urban areas, doing what all teens do coping with family, friends and life. I have not read any of the Bluford High books but I am go out on a limb here and say they are not urban lit. The other YA novels Pattee names do not fit the pre established urban lit criteria either. If Tyrell by Coe Booth and The Hoopster by Alan Lawren Sitomer are urban lit then so are The First Part Last by Angela Johnson and Game Walter Dean Myers.
I am so upset by this article, Pattee seems to be calling most contemporary YA fiction featuring African American characters urban literature. She's teaching and influencing the buying habits of future librarians. There are negative connotations assicoated with urban lit (or maybe that's just my bias) when some of Pattee's student begin working they may think twice about giving a book like Hot Girl by Dream Jordan or Indigo Summer by Monica Mckayhan a chance.
Their eyes were reading smut I am linking to this 2006 NYT opt piece by Nick Chiles because it fits in with this post plus its a great article and I don't know when I will get a chance to share it again. It still makes me laugh, its either laugh or cry.
I was kind of wary when Pattee says urban literature is know for it's provocative titles, which is so true but the example she gives -"Death Before Dishonor" is so weak. There are so many better titles she could have chosen. James Patterson's " Pop Goes the Weasel" is more provocative. Though, I nodded my head in approval when she outlines the history of urban literature. I also agreed when Pattee said urban novels are prone to grammicial, punctuation and spelling errors. Though from there we part ways.
Pattee considers Push by Sapphire an urban lit novel, and that is so wrong. Push is not urban lit. ( redundant on purpose) Push is a beautifully written contemporary realistic novel. It does not glamorizes the protagonist story. It simply tells the story of Precious Jones, a teenage girl who slowly begins to believe in herself and want more. No one reading Push is going to dream of being a pregnant 16yr old who is sexually abused by her parents. If Push is urban lit then so is Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Pattee goes on to say some of the African American YA novels are urban fiction.
"Teen street lit also often includes warnings about the harmful consequences of destructive or criminal behavior. And some mainstream publishers are now offering a “safer” variety of teen street lit, such as Scholastic’s “Bluford High” and Harlequin’s “Kimani Tru” series—but beware, young connoisseurs of urban lit may find these more restrained stories babyish or inauthentic."
I have read some Kimani Tru novels and they are not urban lit, if we are sticking to the already established defintion in the article. Kimani Tru novels feature black teens sometimes but not always living in urban areas, doing what all teens do coping with family, friends and life. I have not read any of the Bluford High books but I am go out on a limb here and say they are not urban lit. The other YA novels Pattee names do not fit the pre established urban lit criteria either. If Tyrell by Coe Booth and The Hoopster by Alan Lawren Sitomer are urban lit then so are The First Part Last by Angela Johnson and Game Walter Dean Myers.
I am so upset by this article, Pattee seems to be calling most contemporary YA fiction featuring African American characters urban literature. She's teaching and influencing the buying habits of future librarians. There are negative connotations assicoated with urban lit (or maybe that's just my bias) when some of Pattee's student begin working they may think twice about giving a book like Hot Girl by Dream Jordan or Indigo Summer by Monica Mckayhan a chance.
Their eyes were reading smut I am linking to this 2006 NYT opt piece by Nick Chiles because it fits in with this post plus its a great article and I don't know when I will get a chance to share it again. It still makes me laugh, its either laugh or cry.
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