Updating MVC Model List using Knockout.js - asp.net-mvc-4

Question

I am working on an app which connects to XSockets via WCF and am able to get the data on the client side. I want to display this data using Grid.Mvc and have seen samples of using knockout.js, but I am not sure how to push this into my IEnumerable model so that I can see the View updated.
I have tried using the following code
#{
var initialData = new JavaScriptSerializer().Serialize(Model); }
$(function() {
ws = new XSockets.WebSocket("ws://127.0.0.1:4502/Book");
var vm = ko.mapping.fromJSON('#Html.Raw(initialData)');
ko.applyBindings(vm);
//Just write to the console on open
ws.bind(XSockets.Events.open, function (client) {
console.log('OPEN', client);
ws.bind('SendBook', function (books) {
jQuery.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "#Url.Action("BooksRead", "Home")",
data: JSON.stringify(books),
dataType: "json",
contentType: "application/json",
success: function (result) {
//This doesnt work
/vm.push({Name:'Treasure Island',Author:'Robert Louis Stevenson'});
//vm.pushAll(result)
},
error: function (result){},
async: false
});
});
});
I am always receiving a null value for the parameter in the the BooksRead JsonResult method.
The model is a simple one
public class BookModel
{
public string Name {get; set;}
public string Author {get; set;}
}
I am returning a BookModel IEnumerable as my Model from the home controller on load and would want to insert new books into it as I receive them in the socket bind. This is because I am using it to generate the grid.
#Html.Grid(Model).Columns(c =>
{
c.Add(b => b.Name).Titled("Title");
c.Add(b => b.Author);
})
I would appreciate any pointers and guidance as to how I can go about achieving this.Many thanks
UPDATE
I am now able to get values in the controller action method after removing the dataType & contentType parameters from the ajax call. The controller method is as follows
public JsonResult BooksRead(string books)
{
BookModel data = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<BookModel>(books);
List<BookModel> bookList = (List<BookModel>) TempData["books"];
if (bookList != null && data != null)
{
bookList.Add(data);
var bookString = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(bookList);
return Json(bookString);
}
return Json("");
}
I have added a vm.push call in the success handler and am passing the result value to it, but it still doesnt seem to add the new book in the Model. It seems I am doing it the wrong way as I am new to knockout js, jquery & ajax and trying to learn as I go along so please pardon my ignorance
UPDATE 2
I have made a few more changes.Like Uffe said, I have removed the Ajax call. I am adapting the StockViewModel from the StockTicker example to my BookViewModel and have added a parameter to the ctor to take in my IEnumerable model. This works & the item is added. The AddOrUpdate is working fine too & the objects are added to the collection but how can I get my model to be updated in the grid.
#{
var initialData = #Html.Raw(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(Model));
}
$(function() {
vm = new BookViewModel(#Html.Raw(initialData));
ko.applyBindings(vm);
ws = new XSockets.WebSocket("ws://127.0.0.1:4502/Book");
//Just write to the console on open
ws.bind(XSockets.Events.open, function(client) {
console.log('OPEN', client);
ws.bind('SendBook', function (msg) {
vm.AddOrUpdate(msg.book);
});
ws.bind(XSockets.Events.onError, function (err) {
console.log('ERROR', err);
});
});
});
The ViewModel is as follows
var BookViewModel = function(data) {
//this.Books = ko.observableArray(data);
this.Books = ko.observableArray(ko.utils.arrayMap(data, function(book) {
return new BookItem(book);
}));
this.AddOrUpdate = function(book) {
this.Books.push(new BookItem(book));
};
};