Secret Shopper
My reader's advisor, looking a little nervous, started things off by asking "What are your interests?" and "Who is an author you have read that you like?" She relied on Google searching, Goodreads, the library's catalog and her personal knowledge to find recommendations. For an author read-alike to Lorrie Moore she suggested Julian Barnes or Ann Beattie (whom I am now reading with pleasure). She suggested "To Sleep in the Stars" by Chris Paolini, a sci-fi award winner, to satisfy the interest I expressed in the genre. Things got a little sticky when I requested a romance novel. I admitted that I wasn't very familiar with the genre and consequently wasn't sure what to choose. My advisor did not seem very interested in recommending this type of book, saying that she did not read romance herself so couldn't offer any help. Rather than attempt a search or ask more questions (my suggestions for what she could have done better), she indicat...