I write a pop culture column for a mid-size paper and luckily publicists like to send me free books and press releases. I also read lots of magazines like EW, People (yes, People) and anything else I can get my hands on. I also read blogs – author Ann Leary led me to Lauren Lipton whose new book, "The Mating Rituals of the North American WASP" was very fun.
I'm reading 'The Alphabet of Light and Dark' by Danielle Wood. She won the Australian/Vogel Literary award a few years back and I am steadily making my way through their winners list. I am also reading 'Breath' by Tim Winton. I happen to love this Aussie author, but her just won the Miles Franklin literary award and if you want a great book by an Aussie this is it! Bought this copy at local bookstore, but follow book reviews in local paper and winners of Australian comps. Also buying plenty of books by authors that are promoted on their blogs.
I grabbed a copy of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers off a book shelf while I was vacationing in Rockport.
Loved it. Went to the bookstore and bought five more by Ms. Rivers. I love when I discover authors that blow me away. I make a point to start collecting everything they ever wrote. My favorite authors get their own bookshelf in my personal library.
I meant to say, I got Relentless from my local library. The next book on my list, Picoult's Handle with Care, I purchased from my local indie bookstore. That one I originally heard about from the author's site too.
I'm loving "Land of Marvels" by Barry Unsworth. I read about this book on the blog https://nocupcakesforyou.blogspot.com/ I also just got in the mail "New Found Land" by Rebecca Ray. I read a review of it in The Good Book Guide and it sounded great.
I found Graceling in a Young Adult section at Target. It was the only fantasy book other than Twilight. I thought it sounded interesting and was pulled in by the fact it was a debut novel.
The most random place in the world considering I'm a Barnes and Noble junkie.
I was reading Turn of the Screw. It was on my LOST reading list (from season 1, I believe). I'm working my way through all the books on LOST (not necessarily in order) while I wait for the next season.
I'm reading Lynn Freed's Reading, Writing, and Leaving Home: Life on the Page, and heard about it (I think) on our local ABC Radio National (Australia) Books and Writing Show some time back. Bought it at my local independent bookshop.
Usually pick up news about what to read from friends, the radio book show, reviews in newspapers/journals/blogs, or recommendations and references in other books.
I have a great friend who I affectionately call "The Library" because she's always passing great books along. If I like them enough, though, I go and by my own copies.
The book I'm reading now I read about in People magazine. I actually hear about most of the books I read there. Otherwise I find them just by walking around the bookstore.
Started "Fever" by Laurie Halse Anderson and just ordered "Winter Girls" by same. At the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference, Winter Girls was mentioned by Richard Peck. Reminded me I wanted to read Fever.
I moderate an online booktalk for Oklahoma State University Writing Project each summer. A fellow TC mentioned The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, and soon several of us had ordered the book. I live in the woods; most of my books come from Amazon. It became our summer book title, and I've bought copies for others to read. Love the book.
Other readers are the best source of titles for my own reading list.
Reading Fire. Heard about it (and Graceling) on twitter. Copy came from a twitter friend who went to BEA (I also went but wasn't able to get a copy for myself).
Lately most of what I read comes from twitter buzz.
I'm a freelance journalist who writes for the literary/books page at two different Cape Cod newspapers, so my reading list is pretty full of books by local authors or authors who are doing local book events.
I also read Shelf Awareness, check out the book selection in O Magazine, and visit my local independent bookstores' websites to see what they are recommending.
One of the best ways to find a good book, is to ask an independent bookseller for a recommendation. Those folks LOVE good books and they love to share their knowledge.
The last book I read was THE REALLY INCONVENIENT TRUTH by Iain Murry. Saw it on the new books at the library. The last fiction book I read was Suzanne Collins' HUNGER GAMES, heard about it from my friend who emailed me and said it was a real page turner, and I immediately reserved it at the library. After reading it, I'm planning on buying it.
I have made it my mission these next few months to read books exclusively written by authors I find on Facebook. All different genres, styles, different kinds of publishing methods. My latest selection is ALSO KNOWN AS HARPER by Ann Haywood Leal.
I'm reading a professional book required in the class I'm taking, then a book I just picked up at the store, Savvy and I look at suggestions on Goodreads.
I wanted to read a book about branding, so I just went to a secondhand bookstore and bought a book on the shelves: "A New Brand World" by Scott Bedbury.
I'm reading "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains," a middle grade fairy tale from Laurel Snyder. I bought it ages ago, so I'm not sure where I picked it up, but I think Davis-Kidd (awesome indy in Nashville). Heard about it because Laurel and I both participated in the Class of 2k8, a group marketing effort for children's writers with debut novels in 2008.
Just finished "Pride and Prejudice" on my Kindle. FREE. Heard about it, um…?! 🙂
I buy from Barnes & Nobel and I just browse until I find a book with cover art that attracts my attention then I pick it up and read the back (or inside the jacket) and decide from there.
I discovered Mercedes Lackey that way. 🙂
It also helps that for 4 years of my life I worked at a B&N and at one time Walden's Books — LOVED those jobs!
A friend suggested Stackpole to me, and I just picked up Relativity at Half Price Books. I get most of my book recommendations from one friend, who reads voraciously and passes the good stuff along.
My husband came home with "Odd Hours," and think he got it from the grocery store. We knew it was coming out soon so we kept our eyes open. Dean Koontz has been one of my very favorite authors for the last 25 years or so. Because of this I try to keep up the publishing dates of new and re-releases of his wonderful work.
I found out about "Time Bandit" from the Deadliest Catch websites I belong to. From there I found the names of retailers in my area who sell the book. Barne's & Noble is the closest so I headed to the nearest one. When I got there I was told they were out of the book. The store clerk was gracious enough to find a copy at one of it's sister stores. That's where I made my purchase.
I also purchased collections of "The Far Side" by Gary Larson. I spotted them while I was looking for "Time Bandit." There were two large volumes of his hilarious work that I had to buy.
I just finished reading Magic Lost Trouble Found and next I plan to read the Demon Lexicon. I chose both of these books from pub rants. Kristen Nelson posted the query letters that captured her interest on her blog as examples, and they captured my interest as well.
I am reading "Now, discover your strengths" by Marcus Buckingham. I searched by his name on Amazon, because I had liked his other book "First break all the rules". So I found this on Amazon, but I bought it from our neighborhood Barnes and Noble.
I'm reading a Patrick O'Brian novel now; I originally discovered him browsing the shelves at my local (indy) bookstore. Prior to that I went through a stack of books which I picked up from dealers at a con — two each by Catherynne Valente, Ellen Klages and Ekaterina Sedia, and one by Benjamin Rosenbaum.
Almost all of the books I find I find via browsing at a physical bookstore.
I just finished the last of Kate Neville's books, "A Calculated Risk," after starting with her "Fire," in December. Just love her well-drawn adventurous sophisticated characters including the historical ones along with the span of 1,000 year time frame. She keeps it all going at once.
A close friend gave me a signed copy of "Fire."
Have moved on to popular European Sicilian mystery writer Andrea Camilieri. Any one of his books are humorous and unpredictable.
Bone Dance. After going to a talk by Bull and Shetterly at my alma mater, I swung by a local used book shop and bought the two books by them that I didn't already own.
I'm reading Empire of Ivory, fourth in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. I first learned of the series while wandering aimlessly on Wikipedia. The strong presence of non-human characters interested me. A few days later, I went to Chapters and came across a (surely very expensive) promotional display for the fifth Temeraire book's release. Oh, hey, I recognized that! I figured I'd give a breakout author a shot, and I'm very glad I did.
Reading THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE WOLF (heard of it through a friend, bought it on amazon.com), and listening to PRAYERS FOR SALE (heard of it and downloaded it from audible.com).
I'm reading "Gaudy Night", and picked it up at a rummage sale at a literary convention. And I'm finally reading it because I got sick and tired of friends telling me I'd LOVE the author's work. FINE, I thought, I'll read one and hate it and then I can tell them to GO AWAY. Alas, I liked it. But it didn't actually feature the main character much. So I'm still unsure.
Hmmm…I think my current book (Rereading "Blue Bloods" by Melissa de la Cruz – already finished the ones I spoke of last week), I borrowed from the library first, sort of dreading it. At this point I was hating Twilight (Oh, wait…that hasn't stopped since), and so anything vampire was hideous. But then I read "Blue Bloods" and it made vampires all right again. Can't wait for the next installment, "The Van Alen Legacy. 🙂
I'm reading Ally Carter's Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover and I heard about it on her blog – and bought it at Barnes and Noble when she was in town signing copies. 🙂
I get my book tips from bloggers and my book club. Very occasionally now from newspapers, but usually by the time the paper reviews a book, it's already on my radar.
Book bloggers are now my main source of book information! I find that fabulous.
My list includes New Spring, The Last Lecture, The Mercy of Thin Air, The Shack, Lireal and Vanishing Act.
I buy ALL my books (and cd's and dvd's) because I support the authors and artists who have put in the time and effort to produce their works.
Mostly I see a title, turn the book around and if I like it, I buy it. Then their are a few recommendations by Oprah and the other day I searched for Stephanie Meyer on Wikipedia and discovered The Host (Guess what I'm buying next month!)
Last three books (Poison Study, Magic Bites, Kushiel's Dart) I've read are purchased from http://www.betterworldbooks.com, amazon-searched as best in latest fantasy (I've been reading up), usually chosen on "look inside" basis and sometimes on reviews. I just ordered "Magic Study" too since I liked the first book.
Before that, I bought a couple of books just because they were translated to Latvian 😀 (The House of Scorpion and Bradbury's Leviathan)
Candace says
I write a pop culture column for a mid-size paper and luckily publicists like to send me free books and press releases. I also read lots of magazines like EW, People (yes, People) and anything else I can get my hands on. I also read blogs – author Ann Leary led me to Lauren Lipton whose new book, "The Mating Rituals of the North American WASP" was very fun.
Tabitha Bird says
I'm reading 'The Alphabet of Light and Dark' by Danielle Wood. She won the Australian/Vogel Literary award a few years back and I am steadily making my way through their winners list. I am also reading 'Breath' by Tim Winton. I happen to love this Aussie author, but her just won the Miles Franklin literary award and if you want a great book by an Aussie this is it! Bought this copy at local bookstore, but follow book reviews in local paper and winners of Australian comps. Also buying plenty of books by authors that are promoted on their blogs.
Ben-M says
how did you hear about it?
I realised I'd seen it several times on people's must-read lists.
where did you buy/borrow/acquire/steal it from?
Bought online, since the local brick & mortar bookshop would have had to order it in anyway.
Anonymous says
I grabbed a copy of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers off a book shelf while I was vacationing in Rockport.
Loved it. Went to the bookstore and bought five more by Ms. Rivers. I love when I discover authors that blow me away. I make a point to start collecting everything they ever wrote. My favorite authors get their own bookshelf in my personal library.
Lorrie T. says
I meant to say, I got Relentless from my local library. The next book on my list, Picoult's Handle with Care, I purchased from my local indie bookstore. That one I originally heard about from the author's site too.
Anonymous says
Candace,
Read this quote: I write a pop culture column for a mid-size paper and luckily publicists like to send me free books and press releases.
I know who you are! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Anonymous says
I'm loving "Land of Marvels" by Barry Unsworth. I read about this book on the blog https://nocupcakesforyou.blogspot.com/
I also just got in the mail "New Found Land" by Rebecca Ray. I read a review of it in The Good Book Guide and it sounded great.
Kourtnie McKenzie says
I found Graceling in a Young Adult section at Target. It was the only fantasy book other than Twilight. I thought it sounded interesting and was pulled in by the fact it was a debut novel.
The most random place in the world considering I'm a Barnes and Noble junkie.
Anonymous says
Amazon recommendation; bought it there, too.
Is it just me, or does it take Amazon an incredibly long time to ship out books now that they're pushing Kindle?
Reba says
Reading Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk. Borrowed it from a friend who had borrowed the first in the series from me.
verification: hypead – a lost epic adventure of ancient Greece which everyone shortly realized was overrated.
Kathy Fawcett says
I was reading Turn of the Screw. It was on my LOST reading list (from season 1, I believe). I'm working my way through all the books on LOST (not necessarily in order) while I wait for the next season.
Oh, I picked it up from the library.
the wordy gecko says
I'm reading Lynn Freed's Reading, Writing, and Leaving Home: Life on the Page, and heard about it (I think) on our local ABC Radio National (Australia) Books and Writing Show some time back. Bought it at my local independent bookshop.
Usually pick up news about what to read from friends, the radio book show, reviews in newspapers/journals/blogs, or recommendations and references in other books.
Nanci says
Just started an Ellery Queen book. Got it from my sister who got it from the second hand book store.
Lazy Writer says
I have a great friend who I affectionately call "The Library" because she's always passing great books along. If I like them enough, though, I go and by my own copies.
Lisa R says
The book I'm reading now I read about in People magazine. I actually hear about most of the books I read there. Otherwise I find them just by walking around the bookstore.
Mindi Scott says
THE MORGUE AND ME.
I heard about it because my crit partner is the author. I got my copy as a gift from him! 🙂
Jeannine Norris says
Started "Fever" by Laurie Halse Anderson and just ordered "Winter Girls" by same. At the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference, Winter Girls was mentioned by Richard Peck. Reminded me I wanted to read Fever.
anniegirl1138 says
I heard about it (The Strain) online, The Swivet, I think, and read about it in The Globe and Mail.
I borrowed it from the library and returned in three weeks later having only managed the first three chapters. Nice idea. Not very well written.
sharonedge says
I moderate an online booktalk for Oklahoma State University Writing Project each summer. A fellow TC mentioned The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, and soon several of us had ordered the book. I live in the woods; most of my books come from Amazon. It became our summer book title, and I've bought copies for others to read. Love the book.
Other readers are the best source of titles for my own reading list.
Anonymous says
Reading Loretta Mason Potts by Mary Chase. I found it on Peter Siruta's blog Collecting Children's Books and I got it through inter-library loan.
dawtheminstrel says
A fellow writer whom I met at a workshop reviewed it on his blog. I bought it in paperback at my local B&N.
S. Mozer says
Reading Fire. Heard about it (and Graceling) on twitter. Copy came from a twitter friend who went to BEA (I also went but wasn't able to get a copy for myself).
Lately most of what I read comes from twitter buzz.
Laurie says
I'm a freelance journalist who writes for the literary/books page at two different Cape Cod newspapers, so my reading list is pretty full of books by local authors or authors who are doing local book events.
I also read Shelf Awareness, check out the book selection in O Magazine, and visit my local independent bookstores' websites to see what they are recommending.
One of the best ways to find a good book, is to ask an independent bookseller for a recommendation. Those folks LOVE good books and they love to share their knowledge.
Zeig-Zag says
The last book I read was THE REALLY INCONVENIENT TRUTH by Iain Murry. Saw it on the new books at the library. The last fiction book I read was Suzanne Collins' HUNGER GAMES, heard about it from my friend who emailed me and said it was a real page turner, and I immediately reserved it at the library. After reading it, I'm planning on buying it.
Robin Cain says
I have made it my mission these next few months to read books exclusively written by authors I find on Facebook. All different genres, styles, different kinds of publishing methods. My latest selection is ALSO KNOWN AS HARPER by Ann Haywood Leal.
Temoca says
I'm reading a professional book required in the class I'm taking, then a book I just picked up at the store, Savvy and I look at suggestions on Goodreads.
mvs says
I wanted to read a book about branding, so I just went to a secondhand bookstore and bought a book on the shelves: "A New Brand World" by Scott Bedbury.
Kristin Tubb says
I'm reading "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains," a middle grade fairy tale from Laurel Snyder. I bought it ages ago, so I'm not sure where I picked it up, but I think Davis-Kidd (awesome indy in Nashville). Heard about it because Laurel and I both participated in the Class of 2k8, a group marketing effort for children's writers with debut novels in 2008.
Just finished "Pride and Prejudice" on my Kindle. FREE. Heard about it, um…?! 🙂
karen wester newton says
GalleyCat had a post on the author.
T.Wolfe says
I buy from Barnes & Nobel and I just browse until I find a book with cover art that attracts my attention then I pick it up and read the back (or inside the jacket) and decide from there.
I discovered Mercedes Lackey that way. 🙂
It also helps that for 4 years of my life I worked at a B&N and at one time Walden's Books — LOVED those jobs!
Gwen says
A friend suggested Stackpole to me, and I just picked up Relativity at Half Price Books. I get most of my book recommendations from one friend, who reads voraciously and passes the good stuff along.
Wendy Withers says
I'm reading Widdershins by Charles de Lint. I was browsing through a used bookstore and grabbed it up.
Claire says
My husband came home with "Odd Hours," and think he got it from the grocery store. We knew it was coming out soon so we kept our eyes open. Dean Koontz has been one of my very favorite authors for the last 25 years or so. Because of this I try to keep up the publishing dates of new and re-releases of his wonderful work.
I found out about "Time Bandit" from the Deadliest Catch websites I belong to. From there I found the names of retailers in my area who sell the book. Barne's & Noble is the closest so I headed to the nearest one. When I got there I was told they were out of the book. The store clerk was gracious enough to find a copy at one of it's sister stores. That's where I made my purchase.
I also purchased collections of "The Far Side" by Gary Larson. I spotted them while I was looking for "Time Bandit." There were two large volumes of his hilarious work that I had to buy.
I hope this helps the sales department. 🙂
Anonymous says
I just finished reading Magic Lost Trouble Found and next I plan to read the Demon Lexicon. I chose both of these books from pub rants. Kristen Nelson posted the query letters that captured her interest on her blog as examples, and they captured my interest as well.
Anahita says
I am reading "Now, discover your strengths" by Marcus Buckingham. I searched by his name on Amazon, because I had liked his other book "First break all the rules". So I found this on Amazon, but I bought it from our neighborhood Barnes and Noble.
Cathy says
The Falling Woman, by Pat Murphy. My husband recommended it. He bought it at the thrift shop. I found when I opganized our bookshelves last weekend.
Sarah says
I am reading Storm Front, the first book in the Dresden Files. I heard about it from my friend's Twitter post!
Yonatan Zunger says
I'm reading a Patrick O'Brian novel now; I originally discovered him browsing the shelves at my local (indy) bookstore. Prior to that I went through a stack of books which I picked up from dealers at a con — two each by Catherynne Valente, Ellen Klages and Ekaterina Sedia, and one by Benjamin Rosenbaum.
Almost all of the books I find I find via browsing at a physical bookstore.
Lynn F. Casella says
I just finished the last of Kate Neville's books, "A Calculated Risk," after starting with her "Fire," in December. Just love her well-drawn adventurous sophisticated characters including the historical ones along with the span of 1,000 year time frame. She keeps it all going at once.
A close friend gave me a signed copy of "Fire."
Have moved on to popular European Sicilian mystery writer Andrea Camilieri. Any one of his books are humorous and unpredictable.
Lynn F. Casella
suzie says
Reading Hush, Hush (coming out in oct), got it at BEA 🙂
suzie says
reading columbine next, heard about it when it hit the NYT list and borrowed it from janet reid
Anonymous says
Bone Dance. After going to a talk by Bull and Shetterly at my alma mater, I swung by a local used book shop and bought the two books by them that I didn't already own.
Heidi C. Vlach says
I'm reading Empire of Ivory, fourth in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. I first learned of the series while wandering aimlessly on Wikipedia. The strong presence of non-human characters interested me. A few days later, I went to Chapters and came across a (surely very expensive) promotional display for the fifth Temeraire book's release. Oh, hey, I recognized that! I figured I'd give a breakout author a shot, and I'm very glad I did.
Carrie says
Reading THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE WOLF (heard of it through a friend, bought it on amazon.com), and listening to PRAYERS FOR SALE (heard of it and downloaded it from audible.com).
camelama says
I'm reading "Gaudy Night", and picked it up at a rummage sale at a literary convention. And I'm finally reading it because I got sick and tired of friends telling me I'd LOVE the author's work. FINE, I thought, I'll read one and hate it and then I can tell them to GO AWAY. Alas, I liked it. But it didn't actually feature the main character much. So I'm still unsure.
Audrianna says
Hmmm…I think my current book (Rereading "Blue Bloods" by Melissa de la Cruz – already finished the ones I spoke of last week), I borrowed from the library first, sort of dreading it. At this point I was hating Twilight (Oh, wait…that hasn't stopped since), and so anything vampire was hideous. But then I read "Blue Bloods" and it made vampires all right again. Can't wait for the next installment, "The Van Alen Legacy. 🙂
Mystery Robin says
I'm reading Ally Carter's Don't Judge a Girl by her Cover and I heard about it on her blog – and bought it at Barnes and Noble when she was in town signing copies. 🙂
Charlotte says
I get my book tips from bloggers and my book club. Very occasionally now from newspapers, but usually by the time the paper reviews a book, it's already on my radar.
Book bloggers are now my main source of book information! I find that fabulous.
Andre says
My list includes New Spring, The Last Lecture, The Mercy of Thin Air, The Shack, Lireal and Vanishing Act.
I buy ALL my books (and cd's and dvd's) because I support the authors and artists who have put in the time and effort to produce their works.
Mostly I see a title, turn the book around and if I like it, I buy it. Then their are a few recommendations by Oprah and the other day I searched for Stephanie Meyer on Wikipedia and discovered The Host (Guess what I'm buying next month!)
Ieva says
Last three books (Poison Study, Magic Bites, Kushiel's Dart) I've read are purchased from http://www.betterworldbooks.com, amazon-searched as best in latest fantasy (I've been reading up), usually chosen on "look inside" basis and sometimes on reviews. I just ordered "Magic Study" too since I liked the first book.
Before that, I bought a couple of books just because they were translated to Latvian 😀 (The House of Scorpion and Bradbury's Leviathan)