I appreciated your annotation of this work. It's interesting that your fiction read alikes were all thrillers/suspense, and your non-fiction read alikes were serial killer biographies and a literary criticism of mystery books. You also mentioned in the characterization and story line of the work that this novel departs in certain ways from the typical suspense novel. I wonder what fiction or non-fiction works there are that could relate to these atypical elements of this work, such as "Maddie's awakening sexuality subsequent to her divorce" or her narcissistic personality. That might be appealing to some readers of this work.
Hi Daniel, I expect you're right about that aspect appealing to some readers; Maddie's narcissism was such a turn-off for me that I hadn't considered it. I guess in order to do a great job at RA I need to think about things I don't love, too. It also occurred to me that her character was not unlike that of male detectives in some hard-boiled or noir novels. I was hesitant to open that can of worms, though.
I love your annotation format, this was easy to read and concise. I appreciate that you included the publication date and the length of the book. I think that is an important factor for a lot of readers when deciding on what book to read next. I tend to think of each book I read as a commitment, and if I am not feeling up for much commitment I might choose a shorter book. In your response to Daniel above, I see that you had the same exact thought that I had while reading your character description. What if this was a male detective? From your description I would also struggle to like a character like this, but a lot of people do enjoy characters like Maddie. I just wonder as a whole if more people enjoy this type of character when it is a man versus a woman. Awesome job with your annotation! I really enjoyed it!
Thanks for your comments! I don't typically enjoy characters with these attributes regardless of gender, but I can definitely see some readers having a double standard when the character is a woman.
First, I love your formatting! It was easy to read, looked professional, and was well organized.
Second, I especially liked that you said stated it was hard to like the main character. Did this make it difficult to enjoy the story? Did you enjoy the novel? And is this a genre you normally choose to read?
I think the main characters can make or break a book. I have read novels with typical or average plots, but fantastic banter and character development which is the only reason I finished. I have already read amazingly plotted novels with less likable characters and it was hard to read. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard was one of them. Mare was a phenomenally created character, and yet not very likable and it made the ending hard to enjoy (Don't get me wrong, that series is well-written; just an example of a character we are not supposed to like which changes the feel of the novel.).
At times, yes, I did find it hard to enjoy the book. I love to read suspense and detective stories, so I think I was able to mostly overlook the characteristics I didn't like - but not completely. Thanks for your comment!
I really like the way you formatted your annotation. It’s attention grabbing and I think it could be used on a library’s Facebook page as well as a blog. I appreciate that you gave both fiction and non-fiction recommendations and read-alike authors as well. I once heard someone say “readers don’t just read books, they read authors.” Introducing a patron to a new author gives them many new book options.
I totally agree - I am definitely a reader of authors, and it's so exciting to find a new one to read (especially one with a sizable backlist!). Thanks!
It sound like Maddie might be more of an antihero than a hero with her negative personality traits. I know Wyatt and Saricks (2019) from our textbook describe antiheroes as having unsavory jobs, like thieves, but perhaps Maddie's bad characteristics could put her in that category as well. The audience is still rooting for her to succeed, but they don't necessarily like her or what she does.
Reference: Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd edition). ALA Editions.
Thanks for your comment. I hadn't thought of Maddie in the role of antihero, because she was working to achieve justice for the victims, but now that you sparked the thought, I can see it.
Like all your classmates have stated - I too love the formatting of this annotation. It's visually appealing and goes hand in hand with your concise and well written annotation. Full points! Keep up the great work!
Hi Amanda!
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your annotation of this work. It's interesting that your fiction read alikes were all thrillers/suspense, and your non-fiction read alikes were serial killer biographies and a literary criticism of mystery books. You also mentioned in the characterization and story line of the work that this novel departs in certain ways from the typical suspense novel. I wonder what fiction or non-fiction works there are that could relate to these atypical elements of this work, such as "Maddie's awakening sexuality subsequent to her divorce" or her narcissistic personality. That might be appealing to some readers of this work.
Again, excellent work with this annotation!
-Daniel Thurston
Hi Daniel,
DeleteI expect you're right about that aspect appealing to some readers; Maddie's narcissism was such a turn-off for me that I hadn't considered it. I guess in order to do a great job at RA I need to think about things I don't love, too. It also occurred to me that her character was not unlike that of male detectives in some hard-boiled or noir novels. I was hesitant to open that can of worms, though.
Hi Amanda!
ReplyDeleteI love your annotation format, this was easy to read and concise. I appreciate that you included the publication date and the length of the book. I think that is an important factor for a lot of readers when deciding on what book to read next. I tend to think of each book I read as a commitment, and if I am not feeling up for much commitment I might choose a shorter book. In your response to Daniel above, I see that you had the same exact thought that I had while reading your character description. What if this was a male detective? From your description I would also struggle to like a character like this, but a lot of people do enjoy characters like Maddie. I just wonder as a whole if more people enjoy this type of character when it is a man versus a woman.
Awesome job with your annotation! I really enjoyed it!
-Darla Rowe
Hi Darla,
DeleteThanks for your comments! I don't typically enjoy characters with these attributes regardless of gender, but I can definitely see some readers having a double standard when the character is a woman.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love your formatting! It was easy to read, looked professional, and was well organized.
Second, I especially liked that you said stated it was hard to like the main character. Did this make it difficult to enjoy the story? Did you enjoy the novel? And is this a genre you normally choose to read?
I think the main characters can make or break a book. I have read novels with typical or average plots, but fantastic banter and character development which is the only reason I finished. I have already read amazingly plotted novels with less likable characters and it was hard to read. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard was one of them. Mare was a phenomenally created character, and yet not very likable and it made the ending hard to enjoy (Don't get me wrong, that series is well-written; just an example of a character we are not supposed to like which changes the feel of the novel.).
Great job!
Hi Taylor,
DeleteAt times, yes, I did find it hard to enjoy the book. I love to read suspense and detective stories, so I think I was able to mostly overlook the characteristics I didn't like - but not completely. Thanks for your comment!
Is this typical of the suspense and detective books that you read, that the main character is not very likable, or was this the first?
DeleteHi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you formatted your annotation. It’s attention grabbing and I think it could be used on a library’s Facebook page as well as a blog. I appreciate that you gave both fiction and non-fiction recommendations and read-alike authors as well. I once heard someone say “readers don’t just read books, they read authors.” Introducing a patron to a new author gives them many new book options.
Hi Christina,
DeleteI totally agree - I am definitely a reader of authors, and it's so exciting to find a new one to read (especially one with a sizable backlist!). Thanks!
Hi Amanda!
ReplyDeleteIt sound like Maddie might be more of an antihero than a hero with her negative personality traits. I know Wyatt and Saricks (2019) from our textbook describe antiheroes as having unsavory jobs, like thieves, but perhaps Maddie's bad characteristics could put her in that category as well. The audience is still rooting for her to succeed, but they don't necessarily like her or what she does.
Reference:
Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd edition). ALA Editions.
Hi Jessie,
DeleteThanks for your comment. I hadn't thought of Maddie in the role of antihero, because she was working to achieve justice for the victims, but now that you sparked the thought, I can see it.
Like all your classmates have stated - I too love the formatting of this annotation. It's visually appealing and goes hand in hand with your concise and well written annotation. Full points! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDelete