Reading Profile

             In Neal Wyatt’s article, Surveying the field: RA by the numbers, Leslie Pearson explains their process of conducting readers’ advisory, asking patrons: “Tell me about the last book you read that you really liked, and what did you specifically like about it?” (Wyatt, 2021, p. 29), stating, “I use this to see if they read for character development, plot, setting, or language” (Wyatt, 2021, p. 29). I find Pearson’s readers’ advisory suggestion helpful, personally and professionally. I work at the tiniest branch in my library’s system; thus, I do not get many readers’ advisory or reference questions. I know that when I ultimately move to another branch, I will get more requests for book and genre recommendations. I can see myself implementing Pearson’s readers’ advisory strategy in my career as a librarian. Even if a patron’s answer does not directly line up with the elements of “character development, plot, setting, or language” (Wyatt, 2021, p. 29), from their response, I can extrapolate (asking more questions, if necessary) what about the book or books piqued their interest. 

             My favorite genres and subgenres of books include realistic fiction, domestic fiction, psychological fiction, or a mixture of the two, and young adult fiction. I think human psychology and interactions, particularly those more intimate familial dynamics, are fascinating, regardless of whether I am reading fiction or nonfiction. I also find the issues covered in young adult novels are still relevant to experiences I face or see others around me face today. Young adult novels I remember enjoying and that I think would still match what I like to read today include but are not limited to The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand, Hold Still, and, We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson, Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone, and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. Other books include Your Voice Is All I Hear by Leah Scheier, Boy at the Window by Lauren Melissa Ellzey, We Weren't Looking to Be Found by Stephanie Kuehn, and The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho. My least favorite genres include fantasy and adventure because I struggle to engage with imaginary settings or fast-paced experiences in the same way I do other genres. I dislike horror and supernatural genres because I spook easily and overthink situations. For me, such genres, whether in books or films, are stressful rather than exciting. Therefore, I try to avoid them when possible. 

 

My first foray from young adult literature to adult fiction included a selection of three or four books, two of which were Kristina Riggle’s The Whole Golden World and Anna Quindlen’s Every Last One, which I enjoyed immensely. From then, other books I have read and enjoyed include, but are not limited to, Sing You Home, The Tenth Circle, Handle with Care, and The Pact by Jodi Picoult, The Golden Child by Wendy James, The Night Child by Anna Quinn, The Choices We Make by Karma Brown, and Keep You Safe by Melissa Hill. Other books include The Secret Between Us and Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky, Mending Fences by Sherryl Woods and Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf. Today, I have an approximately twenty-page document of books I want to read or have already read, from which I took some of these books and authors listed above. The books on this list cover realistic fiction, often veering into the domestic and psychological, in addition to memoirs, books of poetry, and books comprised of personal essays. 

 

 

References:

 

Wyatt, N. (August 2021). Surveying the field: RA by the numbers. Library Journal, 146(8), 26–31.