My first book talk (well book POST) is for Saltwater Buddha: A surfer's quest to find Zen on the sea by Jaimal Yogis. I will be working with appeal factors. YAY.
It appears to be a fast paced novel. The chapters are short, and written like diary entries, most sections of a chapter are only one or two pages long. This would make for a breezy read, and a reader could finish much of the book in a few hours. I think another major appeal factor for this particular title lies in the learning/experiencing factor. We follow the author across several countries and along the way learn both about surfing and Zen Buddhism, through the eyes of a person learning and experiencing and growing through this experience. There are also passages about the art of meditation and letting go, so someone interested in the spiritual nature of Buddhism would find a lot to learn here. The tone is conversational. Written almost like a memoir, the author writes in a style that is speaking directly to the person reading the book. The text is not dense or heavy or literary, but more simple and straight forward, matching the short passages. It appears to be a book that could also be read in short segments, while sitting at a bus stop or waiting for something. A reader could carry this one along and enjoy it in segments. I also think that someone interested in character would also like this book because it is the author's own story and tale, making him the most important character of the book. You learn about his family and friends through his eyes, and witness his growth and change through the course of the story. It would appeal to someone who is interested in biography and memoir, even though it is housed in the 294 call number area.
Looking at the book as a whole, I think it could appeal to a wide variety of readers.
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