What should I read now?

By Lonica Rowley

One of the most common questions I get asked when it comes to literacy is often, "What should I read now?" Finding a good book can often be difficult. I usually look to a few places when looking for something new to read. If you find yourself with this problem, maybe these tips can help you:

1. Look for new releases and books on display. I often browse the "New" or "Bestseller" sections of the library or local bookstores. I actually think that bookstores (like Barnes and Noble or Borders) are great places to find books. I'll spend hours (just ask Scott!) looking through the books they have on display and writing down the titles so I can look them up at the library later. While some libraries do a better job than others, they usually tend to "catalog" books, rather than display them. By looking through book stores I often identify the same books showing up in many different places. Start looking at the airport, grocery store, or book stores and you'll start to recognize the same titles showing up over and over again. In many cases, I can assume that if a book is worth displaying in many different locations, it must be worth reading. Don't get me wrong, this technique (like all techniques) has lead me astray many times, but it has also helped me find a number of great reads. An additional advantage? Most of the displayed books also happen to be the books that people are currently reading and you can then participate in scintillating literary conversations!


2. Weed through book awards. Look to see who has won the Newberry, the Printz, or the Nobel prize (to name a few). Obviously, if these books were good enough to win a major award, they are also probably good enough to merit an attempt at reading. While I haven't been able to find one website that conviently lists all the winners, try this one to get a start.


3. Search for your favorite books on Amazon.com. If there is one thing Amazon has learned how to do, it's market. Amazon can be a great place to look for new reads. Rather than outright searching for something new, search for a book that you really like, or something to you would like to read more of. Click on the book you've selected and scroll to the bottom of the page. Notice the "customers who bought this also bought..." section? These people often like the same books you do, check out the selection presented to you by Amazon and see if anything strikes your interest. More than likely, something will intrigue you.


4. Request the help of professionals. Believe it or not, the librarians sitting at the "Information" desk in the library are more than willing to walk the aisles of the library helping you track down a book that is "Sort of like the novel I read back in college that I can't remember, but really liked..." They can offer all sorts of suggestions and will even provide a mini-booktalk. Telling you about the book and what you might expect from reading it.


5. Consult compiled book lists. I have yet to enter a library that doesn't provide a whole slew of bookmarks listing a number of books on a number of different topics. These books are selected by people who have read and appreciated their literary merits. If you are a fan of Jane Austen, there will be a list for you. If you love to read murder romance fiction, I'm sure there's a list for you as well. This website is one of the best I've found online for offering comprehensive book lists. Check out what they have to offer. You can search for book lists by author, genre, topic, setting, or audience. They offer a TON of selection. Perhaps the list of "Tearjerkers" is right for you. Or maybe you'd appreciate the list of "Cool Reads for Hot Summer Days." Whatever you're cup of tea, there's sure to be a book list avaiable for you.

However you go about finding good books to read, I hope that you do find the book that is just right for you. Don't give up! Just because you just finished reading "The Best Book Ever" doesn't mean that there isn't another one out there you'll wind up liking as much. Hopefully, these tips will help you find that next good book.