Emily Martin of Book Riot has an article on their site with suggestions for other titles to read for those excited about Together, a body horror film out in theaters. Her list includes three strong titles, including one by Eric LaRocca who is definitely an author your library should have on its shelves.
Body horror is a subgenre which focuses on the mutilation, transformation, mutation, or degradation of the human body. It's often graphic and disturbing with intense descriptions which will unsettle readers.
Lists like these are great to use as a start for a book display. You can take the theme and then see what books your library owns that might fit. You don't need to limit yourself to the titles on any one list or follow the theme exactly. The object is to help books in your collection find their readers.
RA for All Horror - New Book Bonus Annotations: Chapter 13: Body Horror
Penguin Random House - Bone-Chilling Body Horror Books
Goodreads - Body Horror Books
Book Riot - 9 Body Horror Novels by Women about Losing Control
The Guardian - Five of the best body horror novels
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh- Genre Guide – Body Horror
If you wish, create a passive program by asking patrons to submit their Best of 2025 (so far) entries either in person, through email, or as comments on a social media post. That can become another display down the road.
An easy way to get a jump start on a display is to take some of the lists that are put online and adapt them to your collection. Just borrow the title and see what fits that you already have on the shelf. Book displays are a marketing device for your collection and not a test. I am going to try to list a few each week, along with any advice for adapting them.
For this week, we have -
Booklist remains one of the sites that I check constantly. They feature great reviews and there is a focus on books, readers, and readers advisory.
The book was inspired by Aleksis Kivi’s classic Finnish novel Seven Brothers (1870) but takes place firmly in the modern era. The language is rich and sensual. Readers will be drawn into the forest with the sisters as their story is the primary focus of the novel. An unnamed narrator tries to write down their story after seeing them in the market but the book clearly belongs to the seven sisters and their distinct personalities and desires.
It's delightful to read a book with so many relationships between women that have nothing to do with romance or relationships with men. The sisters fight, play, and work together as their differences combined with the harshness of the forest make those differences more distinct.
It's also about siblings, rivalry, loss, grief, and the myths we grow up believing. I love reading books based upon Scandinavian fairy and folk tales. For read alikes, I would suggest The Witches at the End of the World by Chelsea Iversen (Sourcebooks) or Motheater by Linda H. Codega (Erewhon Books).
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When librarians involved in readers advisory trainings advise library workers to avoid putting bestsellers on a display, there is often a lot of pushback. No one is suggesting that you not buy the most popular authors or those breakout hit titles. What is being suggested is since book displays are a form of marketing for your collection, it makes no sense to waste that space and effort on the titles with long wait lists and a solid fan base. If you have a long list for Rebecca Yarros, you don't need to promote her books. (Other than using them as a source for "read this while you wait for ..." displays.)
Remember that what needs attention at one library will be different at another. There can be genres, authors, and titles that fly off the shelf at one library but languish at another. I can't tell you which titles need attention at your library but whomever runs reports for you can do that. Because it is your collection and your library, you will need to adapt whatever collection marketing ideas to your library.
Rather than worry about creating something super creative with a snappy sign, start with some reports that list titles which haven't circulated in awhile. Look at what new releases haven't found their reader yet. Make a sign that says NEW! or FICTION! or CHECK US OUT! and put up your display. What gets books checked out is the face out and the creation of a smaller collection on the display.l Someone on staff may find a book they love on that display and can hand sell it to a patron who needs a great read. By investing some attention in in those titles, you will have given them another chance before they are deselected.
I also suggest that libraries invest in easels for their shelves. At the end of your shelves, put one title on an easel. Titles faced out like that will get attention and will likely find their reader. It's a low effort way to promote your collection that everyone in your library can fill them in when they pass an empty easel. It's not a huge investment but will have a great payoff as far as getting titles in the hands of readers.
I will be attending the American Library Association Annual Conference in Philadephia. My hope is to post some content related to what I participate in and learn while I am there. I am participating in two panels. One is The State of RA Today, presented by Booklist. I have the pleasure of presenting with some of the best reader advisory experts around. Susan Maguire from Booklist is also very passionate about books and readers.
If you are in attendance, come and say hello!
