Week 6 Writing Prompt Integrated Advisory Re: Promoting Romance

Promoting Romance with Integrated Advisory

Romance Fiction is immensely popular, making up the largest share of consumer book purchases (Saricks 132).  Therefore, a library patron is very likely to request advice on locating print and nonprint materials in the Romance genre.  Providing effective integrated advisory services, opens all aspects of the library's collection to the patron (Dunneback, xi).  A library program inviting patrons to view popular television shows that reveal a strong book connection, effectively bridges the popular show with similar print materials, "Watching a show so inextricably entwined with books can also facilitate the transition from TV viewer to reader," (Lau).  In her article, "Getting Lost: Books, Television, and Integrated Advisory," Lau uses the ABC drama series Lost to connect viewers with read alikes by focusing on thematic parallels, noting book references in the show and of famous writers and thinkers mentioned in the show, drawing viewers to print materials, "In their efforts to gain insight into the labyrinth of Lost, fans read the books that appear onscreen or are referenced on the show, based on the assumption that the books complemented or interacted with the show’s plot or themes."  Book clubs, blogs and online sites offer fans a forum to discuss the books read as a result of the popular show, further engaging viewers with all inclusive library materials.  

Romance readers expect either a "happily ever after" or a "happy for now" ending, (Dunneback 184).  Because this ending is highly important to Romance readers, a subtle display dividing Romance print materials by either their "happily ever after" or "happy for now" endings and cross referencing those titles with audiobooks and videos that share the same ending style, may assist users in experiencing their favored Romance ending in an alternative format.  

Interactive displays provide patrons with readily available advisory services.  Romance fans value strong characters, "Characters play an important role in romance stories as readers frequently identify and empathize with the lead characters.  Readers often have strong opinions on the types of characters they will or will not read..." (Dunneback 199).  A lift the flap prominently located bulletin board display provides an interactive way for patrons to find their preferred character traits in all Romance medium options.  Similarly, a display highlighting the grabbing first lines of Romance books, e-books, audiobooks and movies is another interactive, easy to use tool to entice  patrons to explore Romance formats they may have not yet experienced.  The Magpie teen librarian created the below pictured display to attract teens to good reads. 

Works cited

Dunneback, Katie and Mary Wilkes Towner. "Everything Romance." Libraries Unlimited. 2010, p. xi-xvi.

Dunneback, Katie and Mary Wilkes Towner. "Introduction:  Integrated Advisory." Libraries Unlimited, 2010, p. 183-225.

Lau, Andrea. "Getting Lost:  Books, Television, and Integrated Advisory." Public Libraries Online, 30 April 2013,http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/04/getting-lost-books-television-and-integrated-advisory/.  Accessed 12 February 2018. 

Magpie Librarian. "Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover...But What About It's First Line?  A Teen Library Display," https://magpielibrarian.wordpress.com/2015/05/01/dont-judge-a-book-by-its-cover-but-what-about-the-first-line-a-teen-library-display/. Accessed 12 February 2018.

Saricks, Joyce. The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, American Library Association, 2009.

Gentle Read Annotation The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise

The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise  by Julia Stuart

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Author:   Stuart, Julia

Title:      The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise

Genre:  Gentle read

Publication:        2010

No. of Pages:     304

Geographical Setting:     London, England

Time Period:      Present-day 

Subject Headings: Tower of London, Zoo Keeper, Eccentrics

Appeal:  leisure pace, eccentric characters and whimsical storyline.

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Plot Summary

A witty account of the vibrant characters residing within The Tower of London, The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise paints a vivid picture of the heartaches and oddities of The Tower of London residents.  Stuart takes the reader on a comfortable journey through the hearts and minds of Balthazar Jones, a Beefeater, aka Yeoman Warder of The Tower of London, and his wife Hebe Jones, an employee of the London Underground Lost Property Office.  While Hebe and her coworker and close friend, Valerie Jennings effortlessly work to connect lost things to their absentminded owners (an ash-filled urn, 157 pairs of false teeth, a Russian typewriter, 16 jars of preserved ginger, a long black magician’s box and a false eye, among other unusual items), the two women discover love, cope with loss, and provide the reader with entertaining tales of their daily work.

Morose brings depth to the story as Hebe grieves the loss of their young son, Milo, three years ago and Balthazar claims, only to himself, his responsibility in his son’s untimely death, creating seemingly unrepairable distance in their relationship.  Even their reliable 180 year old tortoise cannot offer reassurance.

With the arrival of the Queen’s animals to The Tower, Balthazar’s appointment of caring for the menagerie, and the residents’ pure dislike of tourists, Stuart provides a light-hearted and comical story.

Characteristics of the Gentle Reader Genre

·         Cheerful and hopeful with a reassuring sense of well-being (Saricks 94):  Stuart sprinkles humor throughout both the heartwarming and despairing moments, “After blowing her a kiss from the door, which confused the Yoman Gaoler who happened to be in his eye-line…” (100).

·         Colorful, down- home language (Saricks 96):  Stuart adds quirkiness to the many despairing moments throughout the story with repeated outlandish descriptions of ordinary items, “solitary teapot for one” (56), “keep the lovebirds separate, they hate each other” (64),  the Reverends’ “holy long fingers” (24).

·         Ordinary characters in ordinary situations (Saricks 96, 97):  Even though young Milo’s death weighs on the hearts of Hebe and Balthazar, his death is “only part of the natural events…and fit(s) within the boundaries of this genre” (Saricks 97). 

Hebe Jones adds a quirky element to the London Underground Lost Property Office, as she is routinely found within the magician’s box, her oasis (Stuart 39).  Valerie Jennings relieves job-related boredom and frustration by trying on various lost customs and accessories such as a Viking helmet, and the front end of a pantomime horse (Stuart, 134).

·         Book focuses on the relationships among characters (Saricks 97):  Stuart offers an essential map of The Tower of London as well as a Cast of Characters in the first pages of her book.  The many vibrant characters engage in dramatic relationships including:  Reverend Septimus, the Chaplain to the Tower, is attracted to the barmaid, Ruby Dore, and is a writer of erotic fiction; the Ravenmaster engages in extramarital affairs and will do anything to protect his beloved ravens; Arthur Catnip, the London Underground ticket inspector “of limited height” who coons over Valerie Jennings, finding her in a different costume upon each arrival. 

Similar Authors and Works

Quicksand by Steve Toltz (2015):  Liam, a struggling writer, enlists in the police academy for research for a book and finds himself failing as a cop.  He looks to Aldo, his best friend and a magnet for disaster, as inspiration for his writing.  While trying to sort out Aldo’s countless misfortunes, Toltz uses wit and humor to sift through the layers of friendship and faith.  The quirkiness of Quicksand characters and devotion to friendship thorough are similar to the character development in The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand: A Novel  by Helen Simonson (2010):  Like the eccentric characters in The Tower, The Zoo and the Tortoise, Major Pettigrew’s unforgettable sarcastic personality adds light humor to the comfortable paced novel.  In an English countryside, the retired Major meets Mrs. Ali, the village Pakistani shopkeeper.  The two bond over their loss of spouses and love of literature in a community were Mrs. Ali will always be a foreigner and Major Pettigrew, an honorable local. 

The Milk Lady of Bangalore:  An Unexpected Adventure by Shoba Narayan (2018):  In the same way that The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise gives readers an inside view of the challenges, comics and adventures inside The Tower of London, The Milk Lady of Bangalore offers readers a taste of Indian culture through the eyes of two unlikely friends; a big city writer from Manhattan, Narayan and the south Indiana village milk lady. 

Works Cited

Saricks, Joyce. The Readers’ Advisory      Guide to Genre Fiction, American Library Association,     2009.

Stuart, Julia. The Tower, The Zoo and The Tortoise: A Novel, Double Day, 2010.

Kirkus Style Review

Author:    Jane Knuth                 Title:      Thrift Store Graces: Finding                        God’s Gifts in the Midst of the Mess                 Genre:  Gentle Read/ Inspirational                 Publication:  Loyola Press, 2012                 Pages:   169

               

“Pieces of String Too Small to Save” – the personal stories of giving and receiving that unfold and immerse Jane Knuth in her long-time volunteer role with the St. Vincent De Paul thrift store in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  The small, concrete block building nestled among abandoned houses and a troubled neighborhood welcomes volunteers as students, customers as teachers and God’s gentle hand in providing unforgettable life lessons retold and shared in Jane Knuth’s Thrift Store Graces: Finding God’s Gifts in the Midst of the Mess.”

Seventeen years of volunteering introduces Jane Knuth to a vibrant clientele, each bringing God’s much needed graces into the small shop and beyond.  From listening to client stories and desperately trying to see the truth therein, “People need to be believed,” to hardening her heart against implied threats and the theft of her wallet, Knuth depicts the trials and triumphs with light-hearted humor and a good dose of faith as she struggles to act out of love despite confusion and frustration.  A semi-voluntary pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Bosnia offers greater challenges, and arguably opportunities, as Knuth endures “morose, trudging prayers” throughout a two hour muddy mountain climb only to be rewarded with “tomfoolery.” 

A sequel to Knuth’s Thrift Store Saints, Thrift Store Graces is a patchwork for Knuth’s touching experiences in both her small Michigan town and her pilgrimage to war zone Bosnia.  A leisurely read with compassionate characters and unexpected humor, Thrift Store Graces reminds readers to listen, “All I [Knuth] know for sure is if I try to act out of love for the person, if I attempt to listen and have sympathy for their situation, then it usually works out for the best.”

Another timeless, unhurried and uplifting tale of Knuth’s life lessons given and received from unexpected sources in unforeseen settings, Thrift Store Graces pulls the reader into the gift of a “jumble of community.”

Week 5 Prompt- Book Reviews

"The Billionaire's First Christmas" by Holly Ryner

Both the Amazon review and the blog review of "The Billionaire's First Christmas," by Holly Ryner provide a casual, patron-friendly view of the novel.  Saricks reminds us that acquiring a thorough understanding of fiction materials is essential for effective readers' advisory services, "...understanding fiction is the backbone of our work....to be the knowledgeable resources that readers expect and deserve," (10).  Professional and nonprofessional book reviews assist librarians in understanding the fictional material from multiple perspectives.  The Amazon and blog review of the novel both use common language to express the general elements of the novel.  While the blog review contains more detailed information and would likely be of greater assistance to the library collection development staff, both reviewers write their opinions of "The Billionaire's First Christmas" using simple and concise language.  As a public consumer, I find both reviews to be helpful tools in gathering general information as to whether this book should be included in my personal collection.  As a library professional, the reviews may be comparable to patron responses to the book and relay a glimpse of the potential public opinion of the book if it were to be added to the collection.  I would also seek professional reviews before making a selection decision on this title for the library.  Overall, I feel both reviews are reliable, but, incomplete for purposes of collection development. 

"Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt

Professional reviews provide greater detail of the literary elements in the novel, but, also offer helpful background information on the author.  The New York Times review by Michiko Kakutani, provides the reader with helpful information on Frank McCourt's professional background and book preparations, "Frank McCourt, who taught writing for many years in the New York public school system, waited more than four decades to tell the story of his childhood, and it's been well worth the wait," (nytimes.). Kakutani also lists book titles that share the excellence exemplified by McCourt in her review, helpful information for the readers' advisory librarian.  A negative of Kakutani's review is the length of the synopsis.  While highlighting the focus points of the storyline benefits the reader, a very thorough description of the story's events may be excessive.  

The Kirkus and Library Journal Review are succinct, but lack background information on the author, similar titles and even the tone and appeal factors of the book.  These reviews provide a substantial synopsis and only a couple of lines expressing their opinions on the book.  The School Library Journal Review excels at offering a brief synopsis, information on the author's writing style, and prediction on the readers' response to the memoire.  These reviews provide sufficient information on "Angela's Ashes" for collection selection.  I would  add this book to the collection, but, would consult more than one review before making such determination.

Book Reviews and the Library Collection

Book reviews quickly describe, summarize and criticize a literary work, "They [book reviews] offer a brief description of the text's key points and often provide a short appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of the work," (Purdue Owl).  The book analysis provides helpful information on content, style and merit in addition to a brief summary of the storyline.  Reviews that do not print negative remarks, are an incomplete analysis and do not offer a true appraisal of the "strengths and weaknesses of the work," rendering themselves only minimally helpful in book selection.  Because online book selection is increasingly common and book reviews are readily available online, reviews are an easily accessible tool for all readers.  Reading a grandmother's Amazon review of a book she purchased for her grandchild is a valuable opinion.  The consumer reviews  provide a wide array of insight and opinions and are helpful, overall, in gathering a better understanding of the book before purchasing.  

Works Cited

Kakutani, Michiko.  "Generous Memories of a Poor, Painful Childhood." The New York Times, 1996, www.nytimes.com/1996/09/17/books/generous-memories-of-a-poor-painful-childhood.html. Accessed 5 February 2018.

Saricks, Joyce G. The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. 2nd ed., American Library Association, 2009.

"Writing a Book."  Purdue Owl Writing Lab, 2018, 

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/704/1/.  Accessed 5 February 2018.

Adventure Annotation- Fault Lines by Thomas Locke

Author:   Locke, Thomas

Title:      Fault Lines

Genre:  Adventure

Publication:   2017     

No. of Pages:     400

Geographical Setting:   Satellite Beach Community, Florida; Milan, Italy  

Time Period:      present

Synopsis

A prequel to Trial Run and Flashpoint, Fault Lines authored by Thomas Locke, uses Charlie Hazard, an ex-military Ranger specializing in security, to demonstrate submission and trust when he willingly follows Gabriella McLaren, a lead psychologist of a team working to establish a means of “separating the human consciousness from the physical body” (Locke 127), to an undisclosed location and then through a series of uninformed events.  Charlie’s classic hero’s natural leadership, intellect, skill and strength assembles a small, honorable team to defend the scientists and their objective against the aggressive attacks from Combine, an international unit interested only in “global power, profit and dominance” (Locke 119,123).

Appeals

Rule of Three: “The three words that best capture the appeal of the book” (Saricks 25):

Pacing: Urgent. The main characters constantly discover enemy insights, plot defense or attacks, scheme protection and destruction and advance their overall goals, in this fast paced adventure storyline, resting only for the occasional cup of coffee.

Tone/ Mood: Alarm.  Distinguished from the traditional dark tone of Adventure Genres, Fault Lines offers a lighter tone of alarm softened by Italian sarcastic humor.

Characters:  Focused. Charlie Hazard, Risk Containment Specialist, Gabriella McLaren, Psychologist, Julio, a troubled teen and countless minor characters, maintain undeterred focus as they develop intense trust in others, work in tandem to achieve personally defined success and ultimately “find what is lost” (Locke 276).

Characteristics of the Adventure Genre

·         Pacing is brisk and story unfolds within a short timeframe (Saricks 17).  Charlie Hazard deflects assailants en route with Gabriella to the unknown location, escapes an assault on his home and defends the scientists against multiple attacks on the Italian villa.  The entire story unfolds within a few weeks.

·         Storyline emphasizes action through a desperate mission with deadly risks (Saricks 17).  The first chapter reveals a possible danger in the mysterious Gabriella, leading an alert and submissive Charlie Hazard into unknown peril, evident by an assailants attack and then being the subject of a psychological “experience” led by Gabriella.  Charlie Hazard, alongside a small group of security specialists, confront dangers and defend the scientific research underway.

·         There is an identifiable, strong, honorable male hero (Saricks 18).  Charlie Hazard, a military Ranger, gained the respect and trust of soldiers, who referred to him affectionately as “Eltee,” a rare title among military leaders (Locke 64).

•     Detailed foreign settings emphasize the underlying sense of danger (Saricks 20).  Charlie Hazard describes the “polished, rich and pristine” penthouse laboratory of the McLaren Teaching Hospital with extreme detail (Locke 19).  When the scientific team and elite security flee to Italy, foreign obstacles, the local mob and Ukrainians, threaten the mission (Locke 173).

·         Conversational language and military jargon pull the reader into the hero’s plight (Saricks 16).  The elite security specialists use military terms when preparing tactics such as, “Green Zone” (Locke 68), “deadheading” (Locke 163) and “Give me your RP in the one-niner-two grid,” (Locke 100). 

  Read Alikes

Deep Black Biowar by Stephen Coonts: An NSA Operative and a Delta Force Trooper seek to under the disappearance of germ warfare scientist Dr. James Kegan.  In the wake of a newly released killer fever outbreak, the elite forces overcome terrorist threats and attempts at biological warfare.

Larry Bond’s First Team:  Soul of the Assassin by Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice:  CIA elites, Ferg and the First Team chase an assassin, in hiding for the past 10-years and known as “T-Rex” in Italy and then Russia, where a biological weapons research scientist works to succeed with the most lethal terrorists cells known.

The Helios Conspiracy by Jim DeFelice:  Investigating the death of his lover, rogue FBI agent, Andy Fisher discovers Chinese government involvement and wide spread conspiracy attempts to steal the technology used by Icarus Sun Works to harvest solar energy and transfer it to electric energy for public utility use.

Works Cited

Locke, Thomas. Fault Lines, Revell, 2017.

Saricks, Joyce. “At Leisure:  The Rule of Three.” The Booklist, 1 October 2009, pp.25

Saricks, Joyce. The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, American Library Association, 2009.

Week Three Readers' Advisory Prompt Response

Week Three Prompt Response (Cont'd)

6. Patron seeks recent literary book that has been turned into a movie.

Hidden Figures (2016) by Margot Lee Shetterly portrays three female African American mathematicians employed at NASA, crossing the traditional professional gender roles.  The novel was made into a motion  picture in 2017.

Live By Night (2016) by Dennis Lehane describes the dangerous and riveting life of a petty thief turned rum runner in the Prohibition Era.  Live By Night was released in theaters on January 13, 2017.

12 Strong (2017) by Doug Stanton launches the true-life story of the Horse Soldiers, an elite special force, quest against war-engulfed Afghanistan immediately following the events of 9/11.  12 Strong is set to be released as a motion picture on January 19, 2018.

Every Day (2013) by David Levithan is a creative and engaging story of a teen who wakes up every morning in a different body, faced with a different life, every day.  A copes and endures by avoiding attachment and interference, until he wakes one morning and meets someone he truly wants to know.  Every Day is scheduled to open in theaters February 23, 2018.

7.  Patron seeks a thriller novel that does not contain foul language and sex scenes, but is fast paced.

Seven Wonders (2014) by Ben Mezrich is a complex adventure thriller similar to Indiana Jones and The DaVinci Code style of plot.  Jack Grady, an anthropologist, searches for his brother's killer, uncovers a road map that may lead to the Garden of Eden and reveals the mystery that links the Seven Wonders of the world.  Conspiracy, mystery and truths propel this fast paced storyline.

The Thieves of Darkness: A Thriller (2010) by Richard Doetsch tracks Michael St. Pierre, a reformed master thief as he sets off to rescue his friend from death and imprisonment in a desert prison.  The fast paced, complex storyline propels the race for ancient artifacts, the sought after freedom from the Middle Eastern prison and St. Pierre's transition from criminal reform back to lawlessness to save his friends.  This book was listed as a "clean read" on Goodreads.  

Week 3 Prompt Response

Week Three Prompt Response - Reader's Advisory

1.  Patron just completed the third book in the Anita Blake series and would like to read the next book in the series:

The Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton is a popular urban fantasy series consisting of 28 books, to date.  The third book, entitled Circus of the Damned (1995) is followed by The Lunatic Café (1996) where Anita is dating a werewolf who questions his own self-respect.  The mystery thickens when the city's shape-shifters suddenly start disappearing.  Anita is confronted with requests to investigate the disappearance of George Smitz's wife, a person murdered by a shapeshifter, and the disappearance of shapeshifters and seeks to determine if these events are related and who or what is behind them.

2.  Patron seeks a book with a writing style similar to Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, but, would like a book that contains a faster pace.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver uses a descriptive and detailed writing style to establish the characters and plot; a protector of wildlife, Deanna Wolfe, and her meeting and relationship with a pragmatic hunter, the relationship of two farming families amid their struggles with arguing neighbors, pesticides and invasion and detachment from their beloved natural environments.

Something Rising (2010) by Haven Kimmel Cassie Claiborne witnesses her mentally fragile mom after her dad acquires a new wife, and her sister, Belle, balances delicately between brilliance and fragility.  Cassie, frustrated with so many needing her care, finds respite on the pool hall, where she learns restraint and control and seeks to right unjust wrongs.  Kimmel provides a descriptive, lyrical style (similar to Kingsolver) that briskly sweeps the reader into Cassie's adventures as she undertakes the role of the good daughter in her small Indiana town and then sets off for excitement in New Orleans where she meets vivacious characters adding humor and a quickened pace to the story.

My Absolute Darling (2017) by Gabriel Tallent is a teenage survival story of Turtle Alveston, who, at 14, finds comfort as she wanders in the Californian forests, away from the despair of her mother's death and the impact of her tortured, charismatic father.  With an urgent pace and striking language, Tallent brings the reader into Turtle's emotional struggles and evolution as she wards off attempts of friendship and encounters someone she actually wants to know.  Tallent's novel includes characters with an environmental connection, a fast pace and descriptive language, aligning with the patron's request.

3.  Patron seeks descriptive writing style in a historical fiction novel set in Japan.

The Teahouse Fire (2006) by Ellis Avery takes place in 19th century Japan.  Avery uses an engaging writing style to compare two drastically different lives, the daughter of a respected tea advisor, Yukako and Aurelia, a French orphan.  When Yukako finds Aurelia hiding on the family's land, the Shin family adopts Aurelia.  Lively and lushly detailed, Aurelia tells the story of the two women as they navigate Japan in a time of extreme transition, when Japan accepts western influences. 

The Pure Land (2007) by Alan Spence portrays Thomas Glover, a young entrepreneur in 19th century Japan eager to take risks and make profits, secures a job in Japan just as the west is exploring the hostile east.  Unwise involvement in local politics stirs clan violence.  Glover finds and loses love, impacting future generations.  

The Dragon Scroll (2005) by I.J. Parker is a suspenseful mystery novel highlighting Sugawara Akitada, a low-level government clerk in the Ministry of Justice, and his investigation into the disappearance of a series of tax convoys.  Adventure and political Ingrid moves the story quickly as Akitada and his few alliances seek to uncover the town's secrets.

4. Patron seeks a read alike to the mystery, Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George, that is not as "creepy" as books written by John Sandford.

Background

Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George, is a suspenseful, violent novel about a missing student engulfed in sexual bullying an blackmail.  Using compelling writing, George lays out the independent school atmosphere and unspoken code forbidding students from reporting peer misconduct.  When a 13 year old classmate goes missing and is later found dead, investigators struggle to collect evidence among the silent student body.

Read Alike Suggestions

When gathering information from the patron, I would ask specific questions regarding his/ her description of "creepy" in an effort to limit the undesired features in the suggested read alike books.  

Promise Not to Tell (2018) by Jayne Ann Krentz is a thriller mystery that sews together cult culture, murder, secret messages and lost fortune.  When Virginia Troy, a gallery owner and cult massacre survivor, discovers the suspicious death of a client artist, Hannah Brewster, and paintings that she left behind, Virginia questions the cause of death.  With the help of Cabot Sutter and Max Cutler, both cult massacre survivors, they discover secret messages and a trail to a lost fortune, hidden in Hannah's painting. 

To Dwell in Darkness (2014) by Deborah Crombie is a suspenseful mystery where Duncan Kincaid, from the Scotland Yard headquarters, investigates a public explosion.  A young man, believed to be only a protestor who only set off to engage a smoke-bomb, is the victim.  Kincaid sifts through his discovery and finds turns and twists and the disappearance of a mysterious bystander.  When Kincaid's former boss is attacked, Kincaid considers the connection to the public bombing.  Including descriptive, compelling language and a detailed handwritten map, the story comes to life.

A Banquet of Consequences (2015) by Elizabeth George portrays the investigation of the murder of a prominent English feminist writer.  With a complex storyline that includes a tangled web of family dysfunction, suicide, murder, poisoning, lesbian relations and a graphic description of rape, shocking twists and connections are revealed throughout the lengthy novel.  George lushly describes the characters, adding light humor in Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers.

5. Patron seeks book for her husband who is interested in zombies and has enjoyed The Walking Dead and World War Z. 

When engaging in a reader's advisory conversation with this patron, I would seek additional information such as whether her husband has read all of The Walking Dead series books, if not, is he interested in reading more in the series, and what features, in particular, her husband enjoyed in The Walking Dead and World War Z?

Read Alike Suggestions

 The Rage by Pierre Boisserie is a fast paced, violent and compelling graphic novel illustrating the impact of a pandemic virus and spreads throughout the world, but, only affects children, turning them into mindless, blood-thirsty killers.  

A.D. After Death (2017) by Scott Snyder includes both comic, prose and illustrations is a three-part epic describing the world subsequent to a genetic cure for death.  One man questions eliminating mortality and in the process confronts his past and own mortality.