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I love my little local independent bookstore. I learn about regional authors that way often. But I also compulsively browse Amazon.com. And of course there are always friend recommendations.
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mef
- Thursday, May 24 2007
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Newspaper reviews DEFINITELY loom large -- I definitely pick up info about books I want to read from newspaper reviews. I get the Sunday Times (London) because I live in the UK, and rarely a week goes by that I don't clip something from the book section.
For the rest, there are the book reviews on the radio -- there are some shows dedicated to books on BBC Radio 4 ("Open Book" and "A Good Read", for starters), as well as the general arts review programs which include books, and the audio books they broadcast.
Note that you don't have to live here to hear these programs (excuse me, that would be programmes) if your computer has speakers -- go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 and look for the "Listen Again" feature.
Other that that, it's word of mouth, mainly, including Shelfari discussions.
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mef
- Thursday, May 24 2007
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p.s. How did the read-in go in Atlanta?
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The Atlanta Read-In didn't draw as many on a weekday as we had hoped -- about 50. But it was some of the main Georgia authors, bookstore owners and NBCC critics. NBCC representatives met with AJC editors/publisher. AJC has sent a report to cover the BEA in New York.
Also, the National Book Critics Circle has been invited to hold four panel discussions on book reviews at BEA.
Where people learn about books may be changing, but the IMPORTANCE of books is strong.
NPR and Bob Edwards on American radio covers books, but I discover more books on morning TV.
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mef
- Monday, May 28 2007
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I was clipping an item about a book just now, and remember that you'd asked about where we hear about books: this was an interview with an author (Peter Ho Davies) in The Big Issue, which is a little weekly newspaper sold by homeless people here (I wonder if you have it where you live?).
Anyway, if The Big Issue can continue to have book review pages -- it does, although very short ones -- surely a major regional newspaper like the Atlanta Journal Constitution ought to be able to!
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So true, Mef. And since the Read-In, the Atlanta Journal has increase book features. So, it was a success after all.
I wasn't familiar with The Big Issue. That would be a great vehicle for America's homeless. I hope it jumps the pond.
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Update on Atlanta Journal book page situation. The newspaper did away with the book editor position as well as the book page. Book features will continue in the Sunday Arts & Books section, though many will be AP reviews.
Teresa Weaver, the book editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution whose job is being eliminated at the end of June, is joining Atlanta Magazine as book editor, effective July 1. She will write a monthly book column called the Shelf that makes its debut in the September issue and will work also on book excerpts, book-related features and the books portion of the annual summer reading issue.
Weaver worked at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for 18 years, the past 9 as book editor.
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I get the weekly emailed version of the NY Times book reviews, which is great, plus whatever I stumble across in the library. I listen to a lot of books on CD, which is a great way to find new authors that I might not otherwise take the time to sit and literally read (and leads to finding books that I'd RATHER sit and read than have "read to me"!). And the occasional word of mouth never hurt, either!
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Excellent Question. With tens of thousands of new books being published each year, it's hard to keep up. I look at the New York Times book section on the web daily; I used to read the paper version of the weekly book review but now I just scan the electronic one. This has some disadvantages, though, as you miss out on ads for new books.
Bookstore browsing is another method I use, and also library browsing. Our public library has shelves for new fiction and new nonfiction. I find a lot of new books that way.
Finally, knowing my favorite contemporary authors, I will just put their names into Amazon.com to see if they have a new book out. Here's a curious example: I really like the work of the Pulitzer Prize-winner (and Georgia native) James Alan McPherson. I have been checking Amazon for months now; it keeps saying that a new book will be released soon, but it never comes out. I don't want to pre-order, because who knows when I will get the book? So I'll just keep checking...
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Jessica
- Wednesday, October 31 2007
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I get a magazine called BookPage, it has reviews of all new books. There is a website too. I also get BookMark magazine, which is similar and has a ton of great books with reviews.
I also check out amazon and check out other people's recommendations.
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Nanci6
- Sunday, November 4 2007
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Powell's -City of Books in Portland, Oregon - has a website. You can sign up for a number of daily book reviews to be sent to your email address. They carry used, as well as new - so they will offer the used copy when you type in a title. They have a range of books reviewed - some are submited by customers and sometimes they offer archived reviews. I recently read an Edith Wharton review that was published in 1906. Fascinating...
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Ang
- Sunday, November 4 2007
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Nearly every book I read is recommended to me by well-read friends. Once in a blue moon I'll wander into a bookstore and just buy something off the shelf because the cover looks interesting.
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