Week 11 Prompt Response: The Appeal of E-books and Audiobooks

Maybe I am just more of a new age, techie guy, but I don't have an issue with e-books and audiobooks. I especially don't feel that they greatly impact the appeals of the particular genre they fall into. I will admit that I prefer to read actual books, but have read many e-books and find them just as enjoyable. The reason for this is that the genre of a book is contained within the story itself, not the format. It is for this reason that I think the appeals of a genre are minimally impacted when read in e-book format.

Granted, the ability to change font size (an awesome feature if you ask me) can affect the pacing of the a story in the sense that it may take you longer to read the book or the "pages" may break at odd times, but the events in the story still occur in the same order and that is what really affects pacing. In fact, I have been able to convince some of our more technologically resistant (and elderly) patrons to give e-books a try for this very reason. Sometimes we don't have a title they want in large print, but we do in e-book. The ability to change font size has led them to try a new format and enjoy it.

Overall, e-books actually enhance the appeals of their respective genres because they help the genre reach audiences that it wouldn't have before. I know of people that can't stand to read an actual book (shocking, I know), but really enjoy reading on a iPad or Kindle. As more and more books are released in e-format, these people are broadening their reading horizons. Which, in this librarian's opinion, is a great thing, indeed.

On to audiobooks. Now, I admit that I have limited experience with audiobooks, but I do think that they have more of a chance of negatively affecting the appeals of a story. When a book is read in book or e-book format, the reader imagines the voices of the characters and the emotion with which dialogue is delivered. Audiobook narrators take this aspect of imagination away from the listener. Sometimes this is good and sometimes this is bad. A great narrator can pull a listener in to the point that they feel they are a part of the story. Just the same, a bad narrator can ruin a great story. Also, audiobooks don't seem to lend themselves to be consumed in a single sitting, the way some books can be. This may ruin the appeal for some people. I just recently discovered that I enjoy listening to audiobooks in the car. However, I have to be careful I don't get too sucked in and stop paying attention to the road.

All in all, I think that e-books and audiobooks (especially those digitally downloaded) are future of public libraries and we need to leverage their growing popularity. We have the ability to market e-books and audiobooks in such a way that the appeals are not diminished. If we can accomplish that, then we will continue to be successful.

P.S. For those wondering, I don't think that e-books/audiobooks will ever "kill" physical books. I think it will develop into more of a TV/radio relationship.

Western Annotation: The Rustlers of West Fork by Louis L'Amour

The Rustlers of West Fork
By: Louis L'Amour







Synopsis: The trail-hardened Hopalong Cassidy is tasked with delivering a large amount of bank notes to his long-time friend Dick Jordan. Upon arrival at the Jordan's ranch, Hopalong discovers that Jordan and his daughter, Pam, are being held captive by a notorious group of outlaws, but Hopalong, no stranger to danger himself, isn't going to take this injustice lying down.

Genre: Western

Pace: Fast-paced

Characteristics that make it a Western:

• Hero is a loner, arriving to right wrongs and move on
• Descriptions of landscapes and terrain frame the book
• Fast-paced and action-packed
• Traditional story line centered on lawlessness of Old West

Read-a-likes:

• Any other L'Amour western (there are plenty to choose from)
• Butch Cassidy by William W. Johnstone
• Six Guns and Double Eagles by Ralph Compton
• High Wild Desert by Ralph W. Cotton

My Thoughts: It pains me to do so, but I have to only give this book the Rising Tide award. Confession time: I love reading westerns, especially Louis L'Amour. I actually own all of his books (but not read all of them); a collection that began many years ago. However, I as I have grown up, I have come to realize that the writing leaves much to be desired which is why I have to knock it down a notch. A few years ago, and I would have given this book a Highwater Mark. That said, I still love westerns. After reading more serious novel, it is nice to read something relaxing and fun, which L'Amour always delivers. The stories are fast and always entertaining, making up for their predictability. This particular book is the first in a series of four, and was originally published under a pen name, Tex Burns. If you enjoy daydreaming of the dusty old west and showdowns at high noon, then you will never be disappointed in a Louis L'Amour western. If you want to give one a try, just ask. I'm happy to recommend.

Book Talk, Book Talk, and one more Book Talk

I think that I probably approach writing book talks a little differently than recommended in our readings. I personally don't like to script myself to the point that it feels canned. I feel like I can be more enthusiastic if I deliver the talks a little more extemporaneously. That is why I just come up with a bulleted guide of the main points I want to touch on and let the rest come naturally. I understand that this wouldn't work for everyone, but it makes it easier for me. Naturally, it does lead to a few more takes if I mess up, but if I were giving this talk live there would be more audience interaction and the extemporaneous approach works better. The hardest part is not giving too much information away. I love talking about books, but often I discuss the book with someone who has already read it. I found myself wanting to say more than I could. Overall, I would prefer to do a book talk live than record one, but that's just me. See what you think;the videos are below. I discuss The Hound of the Baskervilles, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, and Black in that order.