Fiction_L Archives Read-Alikes vs. Related Reads Dates: 2/23/05,3:49 PM  through  2/24/05,2:12 PM  (5 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to February 2005 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: Cynthia Orr <[removed]@cpl.org>
REC'D: 2/23/05, 3:49 PM

At a recent workshop, we had a discussion about the terms "read-alike" and "related read." There didn't seem to be a consensus on what these terms mean, so I'm wondering what the Fiction-L world of readers' advisors thinks.

What do you think is the difference between a read-alike and a related read?

Thanks as always.

Cindy

Cynthia Orr
Collection Manager
Cleveland Public Library
17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44110
Phone: 216-623-2906
Fax: 216-623-2977
http://www.cpl.org

FROM: Lynne Welch <[removed]@oplin.org>
REC'D: 2/23/05, 4:12 PM

Read-alike: an item which creates the same mood, reading experience, and
atmosphere for the reader as another title, by the same or a different
author. Example: Amelia Grey's and Julia Quinn's Regency historicals both
have a slightly zany feel, a similar setting in the English Regency period,
and similar characters or character groupings - intrepid heroines,
confirmed bachelors who adhere to a code of honor, a gossipy newspaper
columnist who details the more outrageous exploits of society's darlings.

Related read: items which share elements of plot or setting but which are
not necessarily productive of the same appeal elements characterizing a
specific title. Example: Dan Brown's DA VINCI CODE and Lewis Perdue's
DAUGHTER OF GOD share similar plot elements, including Catholic Church
conspiracy, hunt for secret societies and treasure, but readers who enjoy
Brown will not necessarily enjoy Perdue because it is much more graphic in
its depiction of torture, much more violent in the collateral damage
sustained by innocents, and is basically one person's adventure (he is out
to avenge the kidnapping of his wife) rather than a shared collaboration
(Langdon & Sophie working together), with a deepening relationship between
the parties.

Just my $0.02 ~
Lynne
Lynne Welch - Reference Librarian
Herrick Memorial Library - Wellington OH 44090 USA
tel. 440-647-2120 fax 440-647-2103
email: <[removed]@oplin.org>
website: <www.wellington.lib.oh.us>

At 04:37 PM 2/23/2005, you wrote:
>At a recent workshop, we had a discussion about the terms "read-alike" and
>"related read." There didn't seem to be a consensus on what these terms
>mean, so I'm wondering what the Fiction-L world of readers' advisors thinks.
>What do you think is the difference between a read-alike and a related read?
>Thanks as always.
>Cindy
>Cynthia Orr
>Collection Manager
>Cleveland Public Library
>17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
>Cleveland, OH 44110
>Phone: 216-623-2906
>Fax: 216-623-2977
>http://www.cpl.org
>

FROM: Andrew Smith <[removed]@mail.wrl.org>
REC'D: 2/23/05, 4:34 PM

What occurs to me is that, for example, it is very easy to find mysteries
set in Scotland (which I would class as related reads). Finding other
writers who capture the tone, language, or characterization of an M.C.
Beaton or an Ian Rankin requires a more sophisticated assessment of the
appeal factors, knowledge and research of possible alternates, and the
ability to articulate the links between the two. That's what makes a
readalike.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Andrew Smith [removed]@mail.wrl.org
Readers Services Librarian
Williamsburg Regional Library (757) 259-4050
7770 Croaker Road
Williamsburg, VA 23188 www.wrl.org/bookweb
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005, Cynthia Orr wrote:

> At a recent workshop, we had a discussion about the terms "read-alike"
and "related read." There didn't seem to be a consensus on what these
terms mean, so I'm wondering what the Fiction-L world of readers'
advisors thinks.
>
> What do you think is the difference between a read-alike and a related read?
>
> Thanks as always.
>
> Cindy
>
> Cynthia Orr
> Collection Manager
> Cleveland Public Library
> 17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
> Cleveland, OH 44110
> Phone: 216-623-2906
> Fax: 216-623-2977
> http://www.cpl.org
>
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 2/24/05, 10:08 AM

>From: Cynthia Orr <[removed]@cpl.org>
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: Read-Alikes vs. Related Reads
>Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 16:37:07 -0500
>
>
>What do you think is the difference between a read-alike and a related
>read?
>

Looking at it from the perspective of an amateur historian (another of my
hats), I would say that a "related read" is a book that somehow connects to
the *subject matter* of the first one. For example, you might have a patron
who read Lucia St. Clair Robson's "Ride the Wind" (a fictionalized biography
of Cynthia Ann Parker) and asks for "more books about Indian captivities."
You would, perhaps, suggest Benjamin Capps's "A Woman of the People"--AND
Fanny Kelly's nonfictional "Narrative of My Captivity." A "readalike" is a
book whose style is in some way similar to the first, as in the broad
categories of "technothriller," "gentle read," or "Regency romance."

FROM: Kaite Mediatore <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 2/24/05, 2:12 PM

And Lynne's two cents is worth a mint! Excellent
definitions!
kaite
--- Lynne Welch <[removed]@oplin.org> wrote:

> Read-alike: an item which creates the same mood,
> reading experience, and
> atmosphere for the reader as another title, by the
> same or a different
> author. Example: Amelia Grey's and Julia Quinn's
> Regency historicals both
> have a slightly zany feel, a similar setting in the
> English Regency period,
> and similar characters or character groupings -
> intrepid heroines,
> confirmed bachelors who adhere to a code of honor, a
> gossipy newspaper
> columnist who details the more outrageous exploits
> of society's darlings.
>
> Related read: items which share elements of plot or
> setting but which are
> not necessarily productive of the same appeal
> elements characterizing a
> specific title. Example: Dan Brown's DA VINCI CODE
> and Lewis Perdue's
> DAUGHTER OF GOD share similar plot elements,
> including Catholic Church
> conspiracy, hunt for secret societies and treasure,
> but readers who enjoy
> Brown will not necessarily enjoy Perdue because it
> is much more graphic in
> its depiction of torture, much more violent in the
> collateral damage
> sustained by innocents, and is basically one
> person's adventure (he is out
> to avenge the kidnapping of his wife) rather than a
> shared collaboration
> (Langdon & Sophie working together), with a
> deepening relationship between
> the parties.
>
> Just my $0.02 ~
> Lynne
> Lynne Welch - Reference Librarian
> Herrick Memorial Library - Wellington OH 44090 USA
> tel. 440-647-2120 fax 440-647-2103
> email: <[removed]@oplin.org>
> website: <www.wellington.lib.oh.us>
>
>
> At 04:37 PM 2/23/2005, you wrote:
> >At a recent workshop, we had a discussion about the
> terms "read-alike" and
> >"related read." There didn't seem to be a consensus
> on what these terms
> >mean, so I'm wondering what the Fiction-L world of
> readers' advisors thinks.
> >What do you think is the difference between a
> read-alike and a related read?
> >Thanks as always.
> >Cindy
> >Cynthia Orr
> >Collection Manager
> >Cleveland Public Library
> >17133 Lake Shore Boulevard
> >Cleveland, OH 44110
> >Phone: 216-623-2906
> >Fax: 216-623-2977
> >http://www.cpl.org
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://fictionl.webrary.org
>
>



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