Author: Mary Roach
Title: Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers
Publication Date: 2003
Number of Pages: 304
Geographic Setting: Roach covers practices in Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, as well as current practices regarding the different uses of cadavers in the United States.
Time Period: Mary Roach researches what happens to cadavers donated to science in the present (present being 2003 when the book was published) and the past going back 2,000 years.
Subject Headings: Human experimentation in medicine. Dead. Human dissection.
Type: Science
Series Notes: This is a stand-alone book.
Book Summary: The subject of human cadavers and archaic medical practices is not usually thought of as humorous, but Mary Roach combines facts and humor in Stiff.
Medicine has made great strides since the days of surgeons performing operations with no anesthesia and low mortality rates. Presently, those who donate their bodies to science are well-respected by the medical students that hone their surgical skills on cadavers. Not only do cadavers help in the medical field, but in others such as the automotive industry- cadavers were once used as human crash test dummies.
Roach believes that cadavers deserve the utmost respective for advancing humankind's endeavors.
This book is appealing because one does not need to have a vast understanding of science to appreciate it. Roach explains it in a way that is easy to understand. Not only easy to understand, but she uses humorous footnotes to keep the tone informative, yet light.
There is no vulgar language or sex, the only violence would be seen in the archaic medical practices that were used in the past.
Reading Elements: Learning/experiencing: Roach brings to light a subject that is not often discussed in the media. There is a rich history of cadavers that had advanced over time. People may not know the areas that cadavers have helped advance.
Writing style: Informative and humorous
Pacing: Roach begins by discussing the mood and attitude of those working with cadavers in present time. She then flows back into history and propels the reader forward in time with stories and facts.
Tone/mood: The text is informative and the subject matter could be viewed as macabre, but Roach peppers this with humor.
1-3 Annotation: Human cadavers have powered medical advances for centuries. Human bodies have endured post-mortem surgeries, car crashes, and dissection with a respect and gratitude from the living that benefits from what the cadavers teach us.
Similar Works: Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales by William Bass
The Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead by Heather Pringle
Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab by Christine Montross
Name of Annotator: Kelly Kindle
Friday, March 30, 2018
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Week 11 Prompt
Ebooks and audiobooks are a part of our landscape, and this has appeal for some readers, while it repels others. With ebooks, there is an ease for readers, especially voracious readers or those who are traveling, as you can store many books in one device. This is also true for audiobooks, where many books can be stored on a phone within apps such as Audible/OverDrive.
Inevitably, there will be resistance to change and those who prefer the feeling of a book in their hands. While this is true, I do not think that reading a book on a device affects knowledge of the genre, per se, but it may change someone's reading habits. Instead of perusing through a bookstore and spending time choosing a seemingly perfect title for yourself, a device will tell you what to read next based on your previous choice. While the choice is not taken away from you, of course, it can replace discussion with a friend about what they recommend.
But, it cannot be denied that ebooks are alluring in several ways. Besides excellent storage in ebooks, readers are able to change the font and color of the text. While I do not think it changes the tone of the book (that comes through in the way it is written, not on the device on which you read it), I do believe it changes the pace. As Kate Dunneback stated in her article, E-books and Readers' Advisory, ebooks often times do not show page numbers, so the reader does not know how many pages are left to read. It is not the same as having a physical book in your hands; knowing you only have 50 pages left so you stay up late to read it because you *have* to know how it ends! When I read on my device, I have to make sure the lighting is perfect, especially when reading in bed so I do not disturb my husband. On the flip side of that, it is nice to have that option so I do not have to have a lamp on to see, illuminating the whole room. Also, perhaps because I am not terribly technologically savvy, I sometimes have a hard time keeping my place or going back to a page to reread a section. I sometimes will press something on the screen by mistake and end up getting a dictionary definition for the word "the"- these instances are what I find to be aggravating about reading on a device. One part of the ebook experience that I like on my Kindle is seeing the parts of the book that have been highlighted the most by other readers. It gives the book a sense of community for me that I do not have when reading print material.
Since I have two small children and I tend to fall asleep the second I sit down in the evening, I have done most of my reading with audiobooks; I listen in my car, when I am doing housework, or when I go for a walk. I am in full agreement with what Kaite Mediatore said in her article Reading With Your Ears- "Imagine sitting in rush hour traffic and not getting frustrated. Or walking an extra mile and not realizing it. Or folding the laundry and not feeling bored." This is the power of audiobooks. It is an efficient and easy way for me to hear books I want to read. I use the Audible app, which I find to be easy to use and I have never had a problem with it not keeping track of where I am in the story. I can pick right up where I left off (this is also true with a basic bookmark in print material!). I have listened to several lengthy books and trilogies, such as Needful Things and The Bill Hodges Trilogy, both by Stephen King. I am a huge fan of King, so this is a great way for me to stay as current with him as possible. Without listening to the audiobooks while on-the-go, it would have taken me months to get through these stories. King narrated Needful Things, which I thought was excellent. Will Patton has narrated several of Kings' books, and he is excellent; his voice is soothing and his voices and acting are perfect.
There are positive characteristics of ebooks and audiobooks, but also drawbacks. Most of this comes down to the preference of the reader. While the preference of the reader is paramount, it is also important for librarians to be able to recommend these mediums based on the needs of the patron, as well as have a basic understanding of the electronic formats on which they are used.
Dunneback, K., & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(4), 325-9.
Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers' Advisory and Audio Books. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 42(4), 318-23.
Inevitably, there will be resistance to change and those who prefer the feeling of a book in their hands. While this is true, I do not think that reading a book on a device affects knowledge of the genre, per se, but it may change someone's reading habits. Instead of perusing through a bookstore and spending time choosing a seemingly perfect title for yourself, a device will tell you what to read next based on your previous choice. While the choice is not taken away from you, of course, it can replace discussion with a friend about what they recommend.
But, it cannot be denied that ebooks are alluring in several ways. Besides excellent storage in ebooks, readers are able to change the font and color of the text. While I do not think it changes the tone of the book (that comes through in the way it is written, not on the device on which you read it), I do believe it changes the pace. As Kate Dunneback stated in her article, E-books and Readers' Advisory, ebooks often times do not show page numbers, so the reader does not know how many pages are left to read. It is not the same as having a physical book in your hands; knowing you only have 50 pages left so you stay up late to read it because you *have* to know how it ends! When I read on my device, I have to make sure the lighting is perfect, especially when reading in bed so I do not disturb my husband. On the flip side of that, it is nice to have that option so I do not have to have a lamp on to see, illuminating the whole room. Also, perhaps because I am not terribly technologically savvy, I sometimes have a hard time keeping my place or going back to a page to reread a section. I sometimes will press something on the screen by mistake and end up getting a dictionary definition for the word "the"- these instances are what I find to be aggravating about reading on a device. One part of the ebook experience that I like on my Kindle is seeing the parts of the book that have been highlighted the most by other readers. It gives the book a sense of community for me that I do not have when reading print material.
Since I have two small children and I tend to fall asleep the second I sit down in the evening, I have done most of my reading with audiobooks; I listen in my car, when I am doing housework, or when I go for a walk. I am in full agreement with what Kaite Mediatore said in her article Reading With Your Ears- "Imagine sitting in rush hour traffic and not getting frustrated. Or walking an extra mile and not realizing it. Or folding the laundry and not feeling bored." This is the power of audiobooks. It is an efficient and easy way for me to hear books I want to read. I use the Audible app, which I find to be easy to use and I have never had a problem with it not keeping track of where I am in the story. I can pick right up where I left off (this is also true with a basic bookmark in print material!). I have listened to several lengthy books and trilogies, such as Needful Things and The Bill Hodges Trilogy, both by Stephen King. I am a huge fan of King, so this is a great way for me to stay as current with him as possible. Without listening to the audiobooks while on-the-go, it would have taken me months to get through these stories. King narrated Needful Things, which I thought was excellent. Will Patton has narrated several of Kings' books, and he is excellent; his voice is soothing and his voices and acting are perfect.
There are positive characteristics of ebooks and audiobooks, but also drawbacks. Most of this comes down to the preference of the reader. While the preference of the reader is paramount, it is also important for librarians to be able to recommend these mediums based on the needs of the patron, as well as have a basic understanding of the electronic formats on which they are used.
Dunneback, K., & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(4), 325-9.
Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers' Advisory and Audio Books. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 42(4), 318-23.
Historical Fiction Annotation
Synopsis of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The story of the Nightingale begins in the year 1995 with an old woman ruminating about her past but quickly goes back in time to France at the beginning of World War II. It follows the lives of Vianne, her husband Antoine, their daughter Sophie, and Vianne's seemingly ne-er do well sister, Isabelle. Vianne and Isabelle have a strained relationship due to events that transpired after their mother died when they were young, and they have lived apart since Vianne was a teenager. As World War II unfolds around the world, Isabelle is expelled from a school for girls and Antoine is sent to fight for France. Isabelle and Vianne are reunited and they still feel the tension after years of unresolved conflict, and sour feelings about their father who did not seem to care for them after their mother died. Soon after they are reunited, the Nazis occupy their small French town and the women's lives spiral down a path of war and survival. Amid the brutality of the War, the women are pushed to their limits and beyond, which allows them to see each other in a different light. The sisters are not content to lay idly by while others suffer at the hand of the Nazis, so they help to save those that would otherwise be persecuted. They are always walking the line between their heroics and caution. Isabelle the Nightingale helps people cross from France into Spain in the cover of darkness. Vianne fights her own battles at home trying to survive for her child and a town that needs her. This is a story of War, compassion, heartache, brutality, and the enduring bond of two sisters that lasts throughout decades.
Elements of Historical Fiction
Setting: The novel takes place mostly in France in the duration of World War II. It gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like for the people who lived there during that time. The country and the people are described, as well as the route the Nightingale took from France to Spain in her effort to help people escape.
Tone/Mood: While this book has aspects of romance and suspense, the tone is somber due to the subject nature. It is somber, and the reader is immersed in a time of great distress, but hopeful for the characters' future.
Storyline: The characters are living during World War II. The novel focuses on the relationships between the sisters, their love interests, and other family ties, but the War itself is almost as equally in the forefront.
Characterization: Isabelle and Vianne are not real people who lived during the time, but they accurately portrayed as women living in the 1940's during war and oppression. It is known that they speak French with each other, but due to the book being written in English, that is the language that is used for the reader.
Pacing: The story is told from the first occupation of France through the end of the War. This is several years' time. The book is long, 440 pages, which gives the author time to delve into the characters' lives and the events of the War.
Read-alikes
The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Book Club
I work in an elementary school library where I am the assistant to the librarian. I belong to a book club that is informal and mostly made up of teachers and other educators. We usually meet every 2-3 months for the discussion and the meeting is held in the library where I work. There are a few members of the book club that attend every meeting, but it is usually a different mix of people; some people cannot make it or choose to not participate, while others participate every few months- whatever schedules allow. We always meet at lunchtime. While there is no one in charge of the group, per se, someone volunteers at the previous meeting to be in charge of taking a poll for what we have for lunch at the next meeting. An email goes out to all the members of the club with a few options for lunch that are close to the school. Majority wins, we give the volunteer our order, the school pays for the lunch order, but we reimburse them by paying for our own orders on the day of the meeting. The atmosphere of the book club is relaxed and inviting. Before the meeting starts, there is a lot of chatter, people catching up with each other, and getting their food together.
There is not a leader of the group. Once everyone is situated, the conversation usually begins with someone saying, "So, what did everyone think?" We begin by taking turns giving our basic opinions of the book; "I liked it" or "is was boring" or "I liked this character." All, some more than others, give their opinions without judgment. At our most recent meeting, we discussed a thriller where the protagonist had a mysterious past, the book had several disturbing scenes and a twist ending. We had a fulfilling discussion about about the main character's past and how that molded her present. This aspect of my book club is reminiscent of a quote from Bill Goldstein's article Reads Well With Others, "Book club discussions tend to focus on how the plot or characters relate to our own lives or perspectives" ("Reads" 32) While I believe that all of the members of the group participate during the discussion, I would not say the participation is equal. I think some members are more comfortable speaking in a group than others. I tend to be more open with my opinions in a book club setting and I enjoy engaging with others to see if their thoughts align with mine, or get fresh opinions on what we have read.
A few meetings ago, the members of the book club compiled a list of books that we could potentially read. Everyone gave their opinions and a list was made with the title of each book and a synopsis. The person who had been in charge of lunch for that meeting made an online poll where the members voted on which books sounded the most interesting to read. The top three selections were decided to be the books for our next three meetings. Several different genres of books were in the running, but ultimately, thrillers won the top 3 spots. After the last meeting, a few of us voiced that maybe we could give thrillers a break and focus on something lighter. We will vote again at the next meeting. Knowing far in advance is helpful, as many of us get copies from the library and we need to hold popular titles. A few aspects of my book club are in agreement with the I Love Libraries website's article "Structuring a Meeting;" we choose 2-3 titles at a time and so far, we have not chose any megahit "favorites." According to the article, we should mix up genres to keep things interesting- a point of which I agree. ("Structuring" 2015)
Goldstein, B. (2005). Reads Well with Others. Publishers Weekly, 252(21), 30-34.
“Structuring your meeting.” I Love Libraries, 2015, www.ilovelibraries.org/booklovers/bookclub/structure-meeting.
There is not a leader of the group. Once everyone is situated, the conversation usually begins with someone saying, "So, what did everyone think?" We begin by taking turns giving our basic opinions of the book; "I liked it" or "is was boring" or "I liked this character." All, some more than others, give their opinions without judgment. At our most recent meeting, we discussed a thriller where the protagonist had a mysterious past, the book had several disturbing scenes and a twist ending. We had a fulfilling discussion about about the main character's past and how that molded her present. This aspect of my book club is reminiscent of a quote from Bill Goldstein's article Reads Well With Others, "Book club discussions tend to focus on how the plot or characters relate to our own lives or perspectives" ("Reads" 32) While I believe that all of the members of the group participate during the discussion, I would not say the participation is equal. I think some members are more comfortable speaking in a group than others. I tend to be more open with my opinions in a book club setting and I enjoy engaging with others to see if their thoughts align with mine, or get fresh opinions on what we have read.
A few meetings ago, the members of the book club compiled a list of books that we could potentially read. Everyone gave their opinions and a list was made with the title of each book and a synopsis. The person who had been in charge of lunch for that meeting made an online poll where the members voted on which books sounded the most interesting to read. The top three selections were decided to be the books for our next three meetings. Several different genres of books were in the running, but ultimately, thrillers won the top 3 spots. After the last meeting, a few of us voiced that maybe we could give thrillers a break and focus on something lighter. We will vote again at the next meeting. Knowing far in advance is helpful, as many of us get copies from the library and we need to hold popular titles. A few aspects of my book club are in agreement with the I Love Libraries website's article "Structuring a Meeting;" we choose 2-3 titles at a time and so far, we have not chose any megahit "favorites." According to the article, we should mix up genres to keep things interesting- a point of which I agree. ("Structuring" 2015)
Goldstein, B. (2005). Reads Well with Others. Publishers Weekly, 252(21), 30-34.
“Structuring your meeting.” I Love Libraries, 2015, www.ilovelibraries.org/booklovers/bookclub/structure-meeting.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Special Topics Paper
I work in an elementary school library. We recently finished reading a series of award-nominated books to second and third-graders; The Show-Me Readers Award nominees (for us in the Show-Me state- Missouri). The award is geared toward grades 1-3 and the purpose is to promote literature, literacy, and reading in Missouri, and also to recognize favorite authors and illustrators. There are certain criteria that nominees have to meet, such as they must be published in the United States, be an easy read-aloud with literary value, and appeal to young children. We read the books to the students and have them vote on their favorite. They quite enjoy the process.
The Special Topics paper coincided with the end of the the voting in our library for the Show-Me award. This led me to think about awards that are bestowed in the United States that are considered prestigious. The research into this topic led me to how people feel about awards; mainly the thought of "What are they good for?" On a positive note, I read that awards are good for the author's book sales, and it helps them with future publication. On the flip side, some feel that awards cannot please everyone; with every award that is bestowed, people will feel that certain authors were slighted, and that other "big name" authors monopolize the award scene.
There are quite a few book awards given in the United States. Every search I did on awards seemed to pull up another one of which I had not previously discovered. It would be quite an undertaking to discuss them all. I chose to write about two adult fiction-centered awards and one for children- The Man Booker Award, The Nobel Prize for Literature, and the John Newbery Medal. Each award has its own distinguishing characteristics and the award-winners, and often, the nominees, enjoy increased book sales and accolades.
The Special Topics paper coincided with the end of the the voting in our library for the Show-Me award. This led me to think about awards that are bestowed in the United States that are considered prestigious. The research into this topic led me to how people feel about awards; mainly the thought of "What are they good for?" On a positive note, I read that awards are good for the author's book sales, and it helps them with future publication. On the flip side, some feel that awards cannot please everyone; with every award that is bestowed, people will feel that certain authors were slighted, and that other "big name" authors monopolize the award scene.
There are quite a few book awards given in the United States. Every search I did on awards seemed to pull up another one of which I had not previously discovered. It would be quite an undertaking to discuss them all. I chose to write about two adult fiction-centered awards and one for children- The Man Booker Award, The Nobel Prize for Literature, and the John Newbery Medal. Each award has its own distinguishing characteristics and the award-winners, and often, the nominees, enjoy increased book sales and accolades.
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