Library Lovers discussion
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message 51:
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Fishface
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Mar 27, 2023 08:56PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/onejob/comme...
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Fishface wrote: "https://www.reddit.com/r/CozyPlaces/c..."Could almost be my dream room except I now have a young tortie (gift? from neighbor grandchild) as well as my older blue cat.
Mod
I'm glad you put good in quotes since there is nothing wrong with fluff or adventure.
Also, I use an e-reader. I find it easier to see the writing.
Here is an interesting article about what goes into a bestselling book. Hint: most bestsellers don't have writing too challenging for anyone above a 9th-grade reading level...https://www.literaturelust.com/post/w...
I don't read Patterson, Evonovich or Roberts. Not very interesting authors for me. I do read a lot of 'fluff' but then I read some non-fiction and they are more challenging. If you can get your point over with simple words that is fine with me, but if it is too dumbed down I just stop reading.
Patterson. Tried some but just not my thing.Evanovich. Liked earlier books but not later ones.
Roberts. If J.D. Robb counts I still read her.
It seems things haven't changed much in the last 50 years. In the 1970's I knew some editors.
One gave writers readability guidelines for their audience, read the result, then said try again if result was not acceptable.
Another's job was to re-write nonfiction, especially technical and educational material, to a comprehensible level when the author couldn't do it themselves.
Material for general public: 5th grade. Preferably no sentences over 10 words. Avoid long multisyllabic words as much as possible unless they are common usage.
If target audience were mostly specialists in a field the level could be higher but still needed be readable. Reasoning was the more readable the text the more likely a busy professional would take time out of their day to read it.
Patterson doesn't even write his own books anymore. Each and every title with his name prominently displayed also has a "co-author." Basically, he has licensed his name to get on bestseller lists.
Book Concierge wrote: "Patterson doesn't even write his own books anymore. Each and every title with his name prominently displayed also has a "co-author." Basically, he has licensed his name to get on bestseller lists."I work in a Library and the people who have been taking out Patterson's books are not happy with them any more. His books have taken up a whole section of shelves. Putting them in order is a real pain.
Book Concierge wrote: "Oh, I want that desk!"It's available. You can find it by doing image search. Same company does other book themed items.
L J wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "Oh, I want that desk!"It's available. You can find it by doing image search. Same company does other book themed items."
But make no mistake --it'll cost ya.
Oh so true, even for people who just like books but aren't librarians!
Fishface wrote: "... at least it's not drugs"I say that to myself all the time! Not drugs or wine or drag racing....
Sign spotted at the Caro, MI district library:
Mod
"
Love it!
Great sign. Should be by every library.
Fishface wrote: "Linky
https://pin.it/2ofC8FN"
Yes. A library is a scary place to those book-banners who want to control much more than just what their own children read. Every reader on social media should repost this.
Bibles removed from elementary and middle school libraries for violence and vulgarity.https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/u...
Book banners were warned it would come to this. Evidently they thought, "Oh, they won't go there." Well, guess what folks, they did.
L J wrote: "Bibles removed from elementary and middle school libraries for violence and vulgarity.https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/u...
Book ban..."
Whatever happened to common sense. If you don't like a book, don't read it. DO NOT tell me what I and my family can read. People at this point are promoting ignorance. And all it takes is one person to complain and look what happens.
Yes, many of the Christian banners, and others, are *deliberating promoting ignorance.* They want to deny evolution, reproductive rights, climate change, gender diversity, anything that resembles 'wokeism' or anything else that contradicts their interpretation of the Bible. They don't want their children to learn about others' points of view. They want this whole nation to become a place where they can live comfortably with their beliefs.
(Be wary of conservative politicians who have lots of children as they may be among those who have the goal of outbreeding the rest of us....)
I love page a day calendars, learn a tidbit each day, but I don't like paying for an ephemeral. And I found out in book club about Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day, which is now on my wishlist.Do any of you know of any other books that would enrich me a snippet at a time? Most any topic would be fine!
Fishface wrote: "Rather disturbing article on the apparent attempt by big publishing houses to get rid of libraries:https://www.techdirt.com/2023/03/22/b..."
That was a bit long, so I didn't read to the end. Maybe I missed something. I read down to the picture of the book page. The page says that if you buy a book, you should not give it away or sell it. I'm wondering what they think we are going to do with the books after we buy them. Keep them or throw them in the trash? I can't possibly keep all the books I read. I read an average of 120 books a year. Most of us probably can't or wouldn't buy that many books every year. I heard an author speak who said he loves libraries. They accounted for almost 50 percent of his sales. I could go on but I think I am done with my rant.
Fishface wrote: ""Thanks for sharing this!
A hysterical letter from the eminent author
Fishface wrote: "A hysterical letter from the eminent author"omg, that's great
Steinbeck, right? I've forgotten how to read cursive well....
Fishface wrote: "A hysterical letter from the eminent author"This is wonderful. Many thanks!
Oh wow. Love it.
Fishface wrote: "Rather disturbing article on the apparent attempt by big publishing houses to get rid of libraries:https://www.techdirt.com/2023/03/22/b..."
I wonder if they really think that if people didn't go to libraries that they would actually purchase all the books they read, physical or Ebooks. I read about 125 books a year and there is no way I would be able to purchase that many books. I heard an author once that said he loved libraries as they accounted for over 60% of his sales.
This has been discussed in other groups that I belong to. Some people do purchase a hundred or more new books a year. I have no idea how. I'm not too worried about libraries in the US, but we do need to do whatever we can to support them. Encourage our friends to use them, circulate books that we're not sure we're interested in, publicly thank them (at board meetings, letters to the editor, nextdoor, facebook), fill out their surveys, participate in their programming, etc.
Of course I'm more worried about the diversity of collections in the libraries, esp. children's departments. Read, or at least borrow, all the challenged works you can manage. There are so many being published lately, including some joyful picture-books, which of course means that there's interest... and yet, places like Texas, Oklahoma (Tulsa, not OKC), and Florida are caving to the bible-thumpers. Other states, too, are fighting the battle, even New Hampshire.
Cheryl wrote: "This has been discussed in other groups that I belong to. Some people do purchase a hundred or more new books a year. I have no idea how. I'm not too worried about libraries in the US, but we do ne..."Most of the books, e and eaudio, I check out from library come from OKC Metro Library System. I make an effort to participate in their programs such as summer reading program that just started. Local library system? I think I get more from hoopla than library catalog.
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