Find a new book to read
By Catalogs Editorial Staff
A new book to read is a ticket to the edge of your seat
Nobody ever says ?Gee, I?d love to read something mediocre, perhaps even terrible?. Stories are a joy to lose yourself in, provided their not just great, but right up your alley because we all have different tastes.
Today, great stories are more accessible than ever with digital versions, audio for MP3 players and countless street and online stores. Still, finding a great new book to read is a challenge.
Sometimes there?s just too much to choose from to tell what?s good. Other times it seems like everyone in the world is reading the same hyped title that you?re just not that interested in. This simple guide will help you find the next gem.
- Find a few reliable sources.
- Read up on titles that peak your interest.
- Stay connected with publishers, authors and resources that you like.
- Keep reading and more great reads will come your way.
SOURCES
GoodReads is an online community of readers and authors. Signing up is free and once you have an account, you can catalog and review all of your favorites. Users then find similar titles by going to an author’s page and seeing what other titles appear on the same lists. This method works well if you want to find a new book to read in a preferred niche or style of writing.
*For example, if you enjoy David Sedaris, you?ll probably like the hilarious memoir “Let?s Pretend this Never Happened” (2012) by Jenny Lawson.
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BookWire is a site focused almost exclusively on new authors and titles, as well as eternal bestsellers like ?What to Expect When You?re Expecting?. Find reviews, non-fiction and novels, interviews and the next treat for your to-read pile by searching your genre.
WhichBook uses a vast selection of factors to characterize novels so readers can find close matches to what their looking for. Fair warning: this site is super fun and kind of addictive. Simply choose four of the factor sliders on the left of the home page to indicate your preferences. Examples of factors to choose from include happy vs. sad, funny vs. serious, or conventional vs. unusual.
Book Clubs
Join a book or make you own. They typically meet once a month to discuss a novel over wine, cheese and friendly conversation. If you want to modify this model, take the club online so readers everywhere can join. Use a blog, Facebook and/or Twitter so everyone can chat and read. Invite the author to participate. To test the waters, check out Oprah?s Book Club 2.0. The current selection is ?Wild? by Cheryl Strayed.
Award Winners
Awards like the Newberry, Pulitzer and National Book Award do the sorting for you, and make it simple to find a new book to read. These stamps of approval mean a great deal to readers who value well written stories, beautifully crafted plots and unforgettable characters. The types of titles that win vary widely from memoirs, to historical fiction to contemporary adult stories.
The New York Times publishes a weekly list of best sellers in fiction, non-fiction and children?s titles. These lists are partially dominated by popular teen series like “The Hunger Games”, mainstream authors like John Grisham, and instant hits like “Fifty Shades of Grey”. But you?ll also find eclectic tales like “Gone Girl” and “Unbroken”.
Be Nosy
Peek over at what the gal at the coffee shop is reading, or what your co-working keeps in her hand bag. Peruse friends? shelves or friend them on social sites like GoodReads.
Bookmark the blogs of authors or sites of publishers you like, or friend them so you can stay up to date when they have a new work published. For good karma, when you finish a great story yourself, tell people about it!
References:
Internet Public Library (IPL.org)
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