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As we go through Joanne's series of videos, you have noted how her reading preferences and interests evolve over time. Share your observations and thoughts on her evolution as a reader, focusing on aspects such as setting, characters, and themes.

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I observed that her focus on setting and characters remains consistent throughout her reading journey. However, her preferences seem to shift from initially being skeptical of books written by male authors or set in the South to eventually appreciating them.

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Joanne gravitates towards books that explore family dynamics, especially those that feature strong, believable female characters. As time goes on, her descriptions of the books she reads become richer and more nuanced, reflecting her growth and evolution as a reader.

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We're only seeing a small number of her picks, so my view could be skewed. But it's interesting that she calls herself a "mystery reader", but we've only heard her talk about one mystery and even that one she focused on the aspects that weren't related to the mystery. Her two favorite books were literary fiction. So I think she shows that when readers tell us they are a certain kind of genre-reader, it doesn't always mean that they will only like that kind of book.

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One thing that struck me was Joanne's preference not just for characters, but for "strong female characters." To me as a listener for clues for "next book" options, that opens up a lot of books that don't share a similar setting or vibe, but nonetheless feature "A" setting, and one of those sfc's She also mentioned mysteries, and I'd think about stuff like Tony Hillerman's books, or especially the series continuation by his daughter, since that desert setting indigenous community is so heavily featured in those books.

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Strong female characters are very important to this reader.  A setting that she can relate to or is familiar with are also very important.
It seems she also likes books that have relevance to real life.

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It seems she has shifted from mysteries to books that focus family interactions, especially ones with strong women leads. Although North Carolina settings have always resonated with her, I think ecology/environmental themes are becoming more important.

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I found it interesting to see the arc of her reading life has similarities from childhood all the way through to the present. We know that the more we read and think about why we liked a book our likes become more discerning. With Joanne, I thought it was interesting to see that the basic things she liked as a kid, strong characters and setting move into more detailed information. Settings especially that connect to her own experiences and life are important. Characters are likeable and strong characters, especially strong female characters are important. I also thought it was interesting that she mentioned in 2018 that she doesn't often re-read a book, so one she re-reads is really meaningful to her.

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Real life and settings she can relate to are important to this reader.

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Strong characters is a thread that runs through Joanne’s reading selection.   She finds value in settings and complex relationships in the books she reads

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Joanne's reading life has grown from what she liked as a child which were mysteries and books with strong and likable female characters to relationship or family-based stories that are descriptive and lyrical enough to really draw the reader into the place and time in a visceral way. Nature seems to be a recurring theme and through these stories her reading life has deepened her sense of community and expanded her knowledge of ecology and of the North Carolina region where she lives.

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Setting and character are general - the examples we have listened to have all been in or close to North Carolina - it is not clear if Joanne would be interested in a book set in north Queensland (Australia) even if it had detailed descriptions of landscape and strong (?) characters. It sounds like it is a narrow geography which has the most appeal. Next book options could try other locations (but no idea if they would have success). Joanne also sounds like she does not like the idea of genre (with a comment something like it moved from genre to a book of substance), so it sounds like how the book is presented could influence her willingness to explore.

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It seems to me that this reader connects more to novels that feel instantly familiar to her, based on her personal knowledge of a setting or place in time. I found it really interesting that she states she never re-reads books except for (I think it was) Prodigal Summer. This makes me believe that there was something truly special in that book for her, that perhaps it was a turning point in her ecological journey.

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It seems to me that this reader loves novels that can seem instantly familiar to her. When the author is able to describe a setting or place in time that lets her build the visual landscape, letting her become more a part of the story. I also find it interesting that she states she never re-reads novels however she did just that for Prodigal Summer. This leads me to believe that this particular novel marks a turning point in her ecological journey as a reader.

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It seems to me that this reader loves novels that can seem instantly familiar to her. When the author is able to describe a setting or place in time that lets her build the visual landscape, letting her become more a part of the story. I also find it interesting that she states she never re-reads novels however she did just that for Prodigal Summer. This leads me to believe that this particular novel marks a turning point in her ecological journey as a reader.

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It looks like Joanne loves reading books with strong female characters in familiar setting for example: North Carolina, a place that's familiar to Joanne with natural landscapes and ecology in the centre of the books.

We can say that her reading preference didn't change much as she goes back to re-read "The Prodigal Summer" but she also likes reading mystery with good plot elements and strong female character as she has indicated with the book she has read " Bootlegger's Daughter".

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A lot can change a readers interests over time, especially changes in personal circumstances, big life events, and current affairs. Joanne very much has interest and emotion tied up with the location she lives and grew up in too.

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Joanne has a deep connection to the settings in the books she likes. She seems to like to be able to be personally familiar with the settings as that makes her enjoy them more. I think as anyone gets older their preferences and interests will change. My reading habits certainly have.

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Joanne seems to like reading about places she knows, and activities she can relate to. unsure if she would be happy reading something set elsewhere (even if a similar feel to the writing)

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While Joanne appreciates a good plot, what touches her is a setting she can relate to, preferably a strong female protaganist, and a realistic well developed cast of characters.

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It is clear that Joanne loves the characters and settings of her books and as her reading develops so to does her love of the perfect setting description and feeling like she is familiar with the setting. Her reviews were more in depth in her younger years, however, the elements that make a good book for her have not changed. With experience she has become so good at sharing her appreciation of books and sharing her book experiences with other readers.

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Reflection on Joanne’s Reading Evolution

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Reflection on Joanne’s Reading Evolution

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Joanne’s reading preferences still have an important focus on both a familiar geographical setting and the stronger female characters.

I feel her choices reflect complicated and at times traumatic but real-life themes. She also seems to like a blend of genres mentioning romance and saga themes as well as mystery.

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Joanne's experience of a wider range of books, has helped her tastes evolve and learn what she enjoys most. She also seems to appreciate themes that relate to her real life and the world climate. This suggests as her life experience grows and evolve so would her interests.

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Joanne's experience of a wider range of books, has helped her tastes evolve and learn what she enjoys most. She also seems to appreciate themes that relate to her real life and the world climate. This suggests as her life experience grows and evolve so would her interests.

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A strong sense of place evoked by favourite children’s books has influenced Joanne’s reading life as an adult. While she still enjoys books with mysteries at their heart, character and setting have played a larger part in her enjoyment of reading over time.

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Setting is very important to Joanne In Bootlegger's daughter she loved North Carolina. In Where The Crawdad's Sing she loved the marshes. She also likes strong, likeable characters that she can engage with i.e. Prodigal Summer. In this review she kept saying she would have dinner with all of the characters. I feel that most of the aspects that she likes about books are the same, just the subject and place have changed.

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I think as Joanne ages and her life/experiences change so does her reading likes and dislikes.

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Whilst her reading tastes can evolve through the books she reads, Joanne's taste in literature can also be influenced by her external life. Our reading can reflect our moods and growth in our own life which could be a factor in how her reading interests have changed.

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Joanne's reading preferences include settings she is familiar with and characters she admires. What is interesting is that books she has read in the past and their settings and characters have become part of Joanne's life experience and have influenced her enjoyment of other books many years later. For example, the familiarity of the strong character in Island of the Blue Dolphins has influenced her appreciation for the main character in Where the Crawdads Sing, even though she read the first book as a child.

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Joanne likes strong, real characters, and a really strong sense of place with evocative writing. She mostly read books by women and is open to more diverse authors.

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Joanne likes strong, real characters, and a really strong sense of place with evocative writing. She mostly read books by women and is open to more diverse authors.

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Joanne relates to books with a familiar setting and strong characters. This was evident even in the childhood books Joanne mentioned and has stayed a feature as she has aged.

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She prefers books that are realistic and have relatable or familiar settings, situations, characters, or places. As her life changes, so does her book tastes

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I think Joanne is really drawn to strong characters she can relate to, i.e. the people in North Carolina. She seems especially proud of this aspect and I think the personalities of people in this area are really close to her heart.

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I think the reason Joanne likes strong characters in the NC area is because she sees herself as person of perseverance from this part of the country. She becomes the character she is reading about:)

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Her experiences in life and realizing different interests.

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Her experiences in life and realizing different interests.

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She like strong women characters and setting. She begins with mysteries and politics within and external storyline. Later she is observing social dynamics and subtler internal storylines.

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I think Joanne has deepened in her reading over time. She continues to go back to familiar settings but her preferences and ever her delivery of those show an increased understanding of herself and what she enjoys. She has leaned into reading works that bring pleasure and inspire her to imagine real-life relationships and likely influences the IRL relationships she makes and keeps based on those reading experiences.