Project Description
There are many ways to approach finding your next great book. This resource guide will share some tips, strategies, and resources that aim to make it easier for you when it comes to selecting a new book to read.
Selecting a book to read is its own journey. Browsing, self-reflecting, sleuthing, and building community are often part of the process. Self-reflection is an important aspect to choosing your next book. Asking yourself, What did I last enjoy reading? – or – What am I looking for in my next read? can be helpful in shaping your search process. Sometimes serendipitous discovery, right time – right place, is how you might discover the next book you are meant to read. Or – maybe your preferred method for choosing books is word-of-mouth, from a friend, colleague, radio show, or celebrity you follow on social media.
It is our hope that this list of resources will get you started on finding your next favorite book!
Novelist: Novelist is a subscription based database that you can access for free with your Altadena Library card! This database is design to connect readers with their next great book! Search their curated reading lists, browse by age of reader, or search by theme of the book. Always a great place to start.
Enki: Enki is a subscription based database that you can access for free with your Altadena Library card! This is a unique database, as it provides direct access to e-books, along with a search feature that allows you to browse books. Enki also includes self-published books and the Library Journal SHELF.
Flipster: Flipster is a subscription based database that you can access for free with your Altadena Library card! Your library card will provide you with access to 35 popular magazines, ranging in topics and interests. Often magazines review or mention new and exciting books to read. Magazines are a great place to browse and discover new books or topics of interest that can lead you to a new book.
What Should I Read Next? (www.whatshouldireadnext.com): This website allows you to enter the name of the last book/ author you enjoyed and to then pull titles/ authors that might be similar. This is helpful in building a list of possible books to read. This website does not give reviews of books but instead will link you to Amazon which then provides reviews. One unique feature to this website is their book club which can be found under their “blog”. Their book club is an entry point to learning about new authors and new books.
Literature – Map (www.literature-map.com): This is a unique website as it creates a word map based on your author search. How it works is the more people like an author and another author the closer the two move together on their Literature-Map. This mapping system is based on Gnooks, which is a part of Gnod’s Literature recommendation system. This website can be useful for building lists of author names to explore.
Gnooks (www.gnooks.com): Gnooks is a website that looks to connect you to new authors by asking you to submit three authors you enjoy. This website is another great option for those looking to build a list of new authors to explore. The website does not provide titles or reviews.
Fantastic Fiction (www.fantasticfiction.com): Fantastic Fiction is a great website for browsing new, noteworthy, and popular fiction titles. They provide a lot of search options; title, author, publication date, genre, award winners, and so much more. One great aspect is the use of clear large images of each book cover. This can be helpful in searching, when trying to remember a book you saw somewhere and you are trying to track it down based on image recall.
Book Spot (www.bookspot.com): Book Spot has a huge wealth of information all in one place. This website provides so many ways to search for books. One of my favorite ways to search on Book Spot is by reviews. Once you click this link you will be taken to a plethora of review platforms. While this website is not the most visually pleasing, it does a great job in helping to build your searching skills.
Which Book (www.whichbook.net): Which Book is an incredibly fun website to browse for books. You can search by the mood/ emotion you are seeking in the book. You can search by country of where the book is set. Want to look for books that reflect you – Which Book allows you to also browse character’s by race, sexuality, gender, age, and plot. Which Book is based in the UK, so while their public library linking system is super cool, but it only connects to public library systems in the UK. Maybe one day it will expand to the US.
Amazon: Amazon is a well known behemoth of data. The book browsing options do not require you to have an account to search. One of the best book browsing features that many folks find helpful are the personal readers reviews. Another browsing option many people find useful is to search titles viewed by other people. This feature shows you other books that might be similar, in topic, to the book you are considering.
Good Reads (www.goodreads.com): Good Reads is a great website for browsing titles and a great way to begin building your reading community. Many of the book browsing features do not require you to have an account to search. However, more robust searching can be achieved by creating a free account. One of the best features of Good Reads are the detailed reviews left by readers.
LibraryThing (www.librarything.com): LibraryThing allows you, once you set up your account, to browse titles, build a catalog of your personal book & media collection, and to rate and review books. You can download the LibraryThing app on your iOS or Android. LibraryThing provides detail pages on authors and their works and has thorough reviews and recommendations.
Los Angeles Times: For some book browsers, reading what is popular, or what everyone else is reading and talking about, is an important way to feel connected to their communities. The Los Angeles Times issues a weekly bestsellers list. Just be aware this information sits behind a subscription based wall and is not always easily accessible. If you have trouble accessing the Los Angeles Times bestsellers list just give the library a call and we’ll see how we can help.
New York Times: (Your Altadena Library card offers you free daily access to the New York Times!) If you’re looking to browse bestselling titles, as your starting point for finding your next great read, the New York Times Bestsellers list is a good place to start.
Indie Bound – Indie Bestsellers: Indie Bound’s Bestsellers List provides the browser a list of the latest titles that are hot sellers at local independent “indie” bookstores.
Literary Hub: Literary (Lit) Hub offers new and timely reviews of fiction and nonfiction titles. Great resource and an Altadena Library staff favorite!
Electric Literature: Electric Literature offers all things literary. Keep up on essays, news, and handy reading lists.
Alta: Journal of Alta California is an online magazine and a great resource that is centered on the best thinkers on California and current issues. This resource is a great way to find new voices through their reviews of websites, books, podcasts, and more!
NPR: NPR is a great resource for finding a book to read. The NPR book page provides links to their author interviews, allows you to find a book by subject, or to search by their many review platforms.
Book Reporter Network: Book Reporter Network was created with the reader in mind. This website aims to help readers who feel stuck on how to choose their next book. They offer reviews along with in-depth author profiles.
Another aspect to finding great books to read involves building a community. Your community can look different depending on the amount of time you have available, your comfort level, and the specificity of the type of books you are seeking. You probably already have a community that supports you in your reading choices and you just never knew it -or – thought of it that way!
Here are a few ways to approach community building, as part of selecting your next favorite book.
Your Librarian: Next time you are visiting your local library, stop by the information desk and ask your librarian to recommend a book. Library workers are passionate about books, music, movies and we love to help folks find a great book to read! Just ask.
Your Local Bookseller: Don’t be shy to ask your local bookseller to recommend a book. Booksellers know their inventory intimately and can often easily recommend several titles on any topic, subject, or mood you’re looking for. Many bookstores also display Staff Picks with great reviews from staff on books they love. Vroman’s Bookstore has a great Staff Picks display wall. Check it out next time you visit.
Your Friends & Family: Looking to diversify your bookshelf, ask your friends, colleagues, neighbors, or family to share what they are reading and enjoying. Reading choices are personal and often can serve as a connection point.
Your Librarian (virtually): Many libraries offer online options for connecting with your local librarian to get support in finding your next book. Check out Altadena Library’s new Discover Your Next Favorite Read! to get a personal list of recommended books from your Altadena Library. Altadena Library also offers rotating public staff reading lists to help you find your next book. This feature can be found at the top of the catalog. Here’s a quick video that shows you how to find these lists.
Your Bookseller: Independent bookstores often offer online reviews and staff curated lists to help choose what to read next. Check out Indie Bound, which offers Indie Next List, this list is curated by local indie booksellers across the US to help readers find their next book to read. If you have an independent bookstore you love, look up their website and check to see if they offer help online with finding a new book to read.
Most Recommended Books: Most Recommended Books will send you one email a week with three recommended titles to read. Super easy!
Book Clubs (IRL & Virtual): Book Clubs/ Book Groups are great ways to discover new books. There are a wide diversity of book clubs to choose from. Many book clubs are based on topic/ subject, genre, author, time period, popularity, etc. Book clubs can be informal/casual while some are structured/ formal. There really is a book club for everyone. You can even start your own! – If you are interested in starting a book club and would like some tips we’re happy to help share what has worked for us!
- Local Library: Almost every local library offers a book club. The Altadena Library offers two book clubs for adults; No Guilt and True Crime All the Time.
- Or Community Book Clubs: Newspapers (Los Angeles Times), local bookshops like Skylight and The Last Bookstore, and Literary Orgs like PEN America all offer book clubs.
Author Talks (IRL & Virtual): Author talks are a great way to expand your reading list while also participating in a literary community. Authors often include in their discussions books and ideas that have influenced their work.
- Pasadena Literary Alliance: Explore new authors and find new books by attending Open Books-On Location virtual author talks. Or you can also find them on the Altadena Library YouTube page.
- Aloud: The Aloud author lectures are typically held at the beautiful downtown LA library.These days, lectures can be accessed online.
Book Talk Circles (IRL & Virtual): Book Circles can be a more informal alternative to a book group. Often at book circles folks will come prepared to share one book title they have enjoyed. This is a great way to get book recommendations. Sometimes they are run as “Book Pitch Parties” where it’s a little more formal and folks have to “pitch” a title. The Friends of the Altadena Library (FOAL) hold an annual Book Pitch Party.
Book Swap (IRL & Virtual): Another way to learn about new books to read is through a book swap. Everyone is asked to bring 1-3 books they have recently enjoyed and then they “swap” them and choose 1-3 new books that someone else brought to the gathering. This is a great way to build community and expand your reading list, at no cost.
- LAPL Library Foundation holds and annual book swap called, the Book Drop Bash.
- The Free Black Woman’s Library holds regular Book Swaps, as well.
Instagram: Following your favorite authors on Instagram is a fantastic way to discover new books to read. Not only do authors post their own books – they also share books they are reading personally, or teaching, as many authors are also professors. This is one of the easiest ways to build a dynamic ‘to-be-read‘ list!
Instagram also offers Bookstagram, a tagging tool #bookstagram to help people find new books to read. Some noteworthy Bookstagram accounts to follow are: @SubwayBookReview, @WellReadBlackGirl, @BraveLiteraryWorld, @ReesesBookClub, and so many more!
Twitter: Similar to Instagram many of the authors you love are active and engaging on Twitter. They share books they love and they give voice to other authors by retweeting or giving a shout out. Dive in and start exploring!
Podcasts: Podcasts are a great platform for finding books, meeting new authors, or exploring new areas of interest. Many podcasts cover topics in a deep meaningful way and through the interview process new books, ideas, and references are covered. Most podcasts have websites, which provide detailed show notes with all the references covered in each episode. Here are some podcasts to explore to get you started:
the Book: A good place to find your next read is from other books. Authors often reference, quote, or pull influence from other books and incorporate it into their writing. Annotating while you read, either in the book, on an index card, or in a journal is a great way to keep track of all the great references and recommendations.
Publishers: Each publisher has its own mission and values statement that guides their choice, in who and what they publish. Check out who published the last few books you enjoyed and then refer to their website to see what new and upcoming books they will be releasing. Some local (SGV) based publishers include:
Some California based publishers include:
Bibliography/Notes: At the back of many books you’ll find a list, typically organized in chapter order, that identifies or cites all references that influenced the author’s work. Sometimes it’s called the “Notes” section. This is a great resource for exploring new ideas, new authors, and new books to read.
We hope you have found these resources helpful and you feel well on your way to finding your next favorite book! Is there a resource you don’t see on the list, that you love, and think should be included then please share it with us at hello@altadenalibrary.org.
This resource will continue to expand and will include additional resources on more specific areas for book searching like, LGBTQ+ books, BIPOC titles, True Crime & Mystery, Cooking, and more, so keep visiting this page!