The Real Story A Guide to Nonfiction Reading Interests

Subjects:

• Library & Information Science » Adult Services -- General
• Library & Information Science » Adult Services -- Readers' Advisory

Reviews:

• Despite the current popularity of nonfiction with patrons and reading groups, it's all too easy to draw a blank when a borrower asks, "What do I read next?" Cords, a Madison PL librarian who teaches "Reading Interests of Adults" at the SLIS, University of Wisconsin, Madison, provides a lifeline to those looking to go beyond fiction in providing readers' advisory services. By dividing her book into a broad spectrum of nonfiction classifications, from travel, crime, and history to life stories, investigative writing, and science and math, Cords effectively breaks down the whole genre into manageable chunks. Her elaboration of each niche goes a long way to explaining nonfiction's appeal and how it differs as well as parallels fiction appeal `actors....Cords's tone is friendly and engaging, offering exactly the kind of help you would hope for from a colleague. Her excellent introduction to nonfiction reader interests will be valued for answering reader queries as well as professional development. Recommended for all public libraries.
  —Library Journal August 2006
• The real story about the book, The Real Story, is that there is not another guide like it available. At a time when there is so much competition for customers, libraries must provide value-added services, like readers' advisory, to remain relevant in their communities....It is a must have guide for all library collections.
  —Collection Management 2006
• The Real Story is a unique handbook that helps readers' advisors recommend nonfiction titles to library patrons based on their preferred genre, subject, or writing style....While nonfiction's increased popularity is part of a larger media trend toward films based on true stories, documentaries, and reality shows, Cords encourages mixing fiction and nonfiction advisory because readers may enjoy both nonfiction and fiction on the same topic....The Real Story distinguishes itself by being the only non-fiction readers' advisory (RA) book that includes annotated recommended titles, explains each genre's development and appeal, and suggests related fiction titles....Reading The Real Story is an enjoyable learning experience. Knowing the appeal of nonfiction genres, subjects, and styles will help reference librarians immensely and will help their readers discover how exciting well-written nonfiction can be.
  —Reference & User Services Quarterly Spring 2007
• Starred Review [T]his is an outstanding work that has taken on the monumental task of bringing some order and understanding to the area of popular nonfiction titles. It has raised the bar to an extremely high level for any other author planning on writing about nonfiction readers' advisory. A must read for any librarian who recommends popular reading titles, it belongs at the reference and readers' advisory desks of most libraries.
  —Booklist/Professional Reading September 15, 2006

Table of Contents:

• Foreword by Robert Burgin
• Introduction
• Nonfiction Genres
• True Adventure
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• Survival and Disaster Stories
• Sports Adventures
• Cons and Card Games
• War Stories
• Intrigue and Espionage
• Historical and Exploration Adventure
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Reading; References List
• Travel
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• Armchair Travel
• Foreign Places and Exotic Locales
• Adventures
• Journey Narratives
• The Expatriate Life
• Travel Humor
• Literary Travel
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Reading; References List
• True Crime
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• Committing Crimes
• True Horror: Violent Crimes and Criminals
• Murder Where You Live: Family and Lover Crimes
• Wise Guys: Mafia Crime
• Murder's Not the Only Crime
• Horrific Historical Crimes
• Street and Prison Life
• Investigating Crimes
• Police Procedurals
• Unsolved Mysteries
• Courtroom Dramas
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Reading; References List
• Environmental Writing
• Definition Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• Natural Places
• Reflective Environmental Stories
• Back to the Land
• Potitical
• Animal Stories
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Readings: References List
• Nonfiction Subject Interests
• Science and Math
• Definition, Apeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• Deep Science (Story and Subject Matter)
• Investigative Science
• Adventures in Science
• Micro-science
• History of Science
• History of Medicine
• Scintists and Science Enthusiasts
• Literary Science
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Readings; References List
• History
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• Defining Times
• History's Darkest Hours
• Human Cruelties
• Natural Disasters and Disease Epidemics
• The Settings of History
• Micro-histories
• Ideal of History
• New Perspectives
• Secret Histories
• Immersion History
• Epic History
• Historical Biography: Caught in History's Web
• Individual Stories
• Group Stories
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Readings; References List
• Biography
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• American Presidents and Other Political Leaders
• Problem Solvers and Experimenters: Science Biography
• The Creative Life; Artists, Entertainers, and Writers
• Sports Biographies
• Outstanding In Their Fields: Professional Biographies
• Change-makers and Activists
• Historical Biography
• Better Together;"Buddy" and Group Bios
• Guilty Pleasures: Celebrities and Superstars
• Consider Starting with...
• Fiction Read-alikes: Further Readings References List
• Memoirs and Autobiography
• Definition,s Appeal, Oganization
• Memoirs
• THE SUBGENRES
• Coming of Age
• Self Discovery:Explrations in Identity
• Overcoming Adversity
• The Immigrant Experience
• Multicultural Experiences
• Working Life Memoirs
• Foodie Memoir
• Humorous Memoir
• Autobiography
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Readings; References List
• Relationships
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• All in the Family
• Challenging Family Stories
• Gentle Family Reads
• All You Need is Love
• With a Little Help from my Friends
• Community Life
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Reading
• Investigative Writing
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• in-depth Reporting
• Immersion Journalism
• Exposes
• Character Profiles: The People Are the Story
• Political Reporting
• Business Reporting
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; Further Readings; References List
• Making Sense
• Definition, Appeal, Organization
• THE SUBGENRES
• of Ourselves and Each Other
• Of Our Culture and Society
• Of Our Surroundings
• Of Our Histories
• Consider Starting With...
• Fiction Read-alikes; References List
• Appendixes
• Nonfiction Book Awards
• Internet Resources
• Political Pundits Overview
• Spirituality Writers Overview

PDF Catalogs:
LU Academic Library Spring 2008.pdf	LU Textbook Catalog Fall 2007.pdf
Readers Advisory Catalog 2007.pdf	LU Public Library Spring 2008.pdf