How to find good reads

The feeling I get when I walk into the library is always dual; part of me feels hyperexcited at the number of books all around me and the other part dreads having to figure out which one actually does interest me.  You know — one of those amazing books where each page you turn, you’re excited because you are closer to the end so you’ll know the ending at long last, but at the same time, you are sad because you know once you’ve reached the ending, the book is pretty much over.  One of those books whose characters take on a life of their own in your mind and continue on living even after you’ve placed the book back on its shelf.  That kind of book.   So where are those books hidden?

• If it was a very successfull book, chances are some sequal of some sort will come out – check the internet to find out whether there is
• find a book by the same authors as the books you really enjoyed
• look at reviews written by your favorite authors to hint you at other authors you might enjoy
• look at the prizes at the back of your favorite books and try out other books who made the same list
• try book clubs at your university or library – and there’s different types, too : there’s the everyone-reads-a-book-a-month type and then discusses about it, and there’s the reader-to-reader style where everyone just shows up and talks about their coup de coeur
• check ratings in NY Times for the most popular and recent books out
• check amazon for your favorite books, then scroll down to the “you might also like” part
• ask your friends or use applications like the facebook social read that suggests you similar titles to what you read and enjoyed, and shows you what your friends recently reviewed
• find out if your library has one of those sections where they have guide books (basically compilations of book titles classified by genre and themes and subjects) to help you find your next read
• Also investigate whether your library publishes Read-Alike lists or if they provide Reading Maps for you to jump from book to book with tons of suggestions linking up books amongst each other