Showing posts with label book recommendation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book recommendation. Show all posts

Monday, April 4

Your Personal Readers' Advisory Librarian

 Have you ever been looking for your next book, but you don't know where to start?  What about finishing a series and you want another one like it?  You ask your friends.  You ask your librarian. Or maybe you don't want to ask because that last series you read was a a little risque and you don't want to admit how much you liked it.  Well, whatever the situation, we are here to show you how to find your next great read.  It's right at your fingertips at your library's website!

We're going to take you through this step by step and you are going to wonder where this wonderful tool has been all your life.  First, click on the link above and go to our website. 


Choose Explore  and then Novelist Plus  and then get ready to spend a little time doing what we like to call "book window shopping."  And make sure you've got your library card ready for the next step.










Type your library card number into the Patron ID box.  If you have any questions or problems with this step, call or visit your local branch.  Stop by if you don't have or have lost your library card too.  








Now that you're in, let's have some fun! Most of us have a favorite type of book that we like to read, so this is a great place to start.  Under the Recommended Reads List you can search by age and genre in fiction and non fiction.  There are even sub-genres for each one if you want to get more specific. 

There are also suggestions under I'm in the mood for books that are...  These are more specific and change periodically.  







Maybe you have a favorite author but have trouble keeping up with all of the books they have written or you can't remember the order of the books.  Just type in the name of the author in the search box on the home page and you can find all the answers you need.  Under the authors information you will see a list of their books.  Search by books and you can get them listed alphabetically or by date. Choose series and then you can see each series the author has written and the order of the books in it. This is great if you read anyone other than Janet Evanovich or Sue Grafton.  





Maybe you just finished an epic, life-changing series and are heartbroken because the next book isn't coming out for two years or worse is finished. You want to read another book or series like it ASAP. We've got you covered.  Search for the series on the home page and you will see that each book not only has Title Read-alikes but author and series also.  Plus, there are always suggestions listed on the right side of your screen.  There is bound to be something to help you out in one of those lists. 








 Here is a sample of a read-alike list.  You can even print it out and hand it to your favorite librarian along with your library card and just tell them to pick one and surprise you.  Who knows?  You might find your next favorite series.











If you are the independent type, you'll love this feature.  When you choose a book to see more about it, it tells you how many copies are available in our library system.  If you click on that blue box, it will take you right to our library system's online catalog so you can order a copy and have it sent to the library of your choice.  










Now one more thing before we finish up. If you get in this website and get lost and can't remember all of the wonderful books you found to read, this will be your best friend.  Go to the top and create an account.  Then, when you find a book you want to remember, click on the folder (where the arrow is pointing) and it will save it for you.  









So the next time you get on the Novelist Plus site, all you have to do is sign in and click on the folder in the top right corner and all those great books you want to read are right there waiting for you.  


We hope you will learn to love this site as much as we do.  It such an easy way to find your next book.  Happy reading!






Friday, October 9

Escape through Time

If there has ever been a time in my life where I wanted to escape the reality of today, it has been 2020. Seems like just as soon as I have adjusted to one thing and think, “Nothing else can happen,” something “else” comes along. One of my top methods of escape is reading and nothing breaks me out more quickly than a time travel novel. For many years, it has been a favorite subject of mine. My all-time favorite time travel novel is Jack Finney’s 1970 illustrated novel, Time and Again. If you are a time travel fan and have not read this book, I would highly recommend giving it a try. Finney followed up with From Time to Time in 1995, and while it is a good read, it does not surpass Time and Again in my opinion.

Time travel novels cover a wide range of storylines. Some are alternate histories like Stephen King’s novel, 11/22/63. There are mysteries, romance, historical fiction – there is a time travel novel out there for almost every genre. Even James Lee Burke has a hint of time travel in his newest novel, A Private Cathedral. There are many fans of Diane Gabaldon’s time-traveling series, better known as Outlander. If you are awaiting the next installment, perhaps you missed the 2017 Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, which is a collection of Outlander fiction. A personal recommendation: If you like the Outlander series, try The Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer. It is a novel about a neurosurgeon that time travels to Italy in 1347 during the time of the plague. 

Looking for something new to read that is different from your normal selection? Already a fan of time travel novels but do not know how to find another one? Click on the link below to our card catalog that lists 235 novels of time travel fiction. And if you happen to pick Jack Finney’s Time and Again, check back with me after you are finished. My sister and I always disagreed about the ending. You will know what I mean if you read the book. Happy reading!


CMRLS Adult Time Travel Fiction



Friday, December 13

Party Time at the Brandon Library!

The celebrations keep on coming here at the Brandon Library! On Thursday, December 19 at 10:30 a.m., our Genealogy Club and DNA Club are joining together for their annual Christmas Party! 

The Creative Crafters will also be having their annual Christmas Party on Thursday, December 19th at 6:00 p.m. 

While you're here, come check out our Staff Picks display! We at the Brandon Library want to share some of our favorite titles with you this holiday season. 

One of Shirley's picks is Gregg Olsen's newest book, If You Tell. "I love mysteries and thrillers," Shirley says, "and this book is fantastic on both counts. I couldn't put it down."


Check here for the Goodreads summary, or put this book on hold through the CMRLS catalog here!

Summer, on the other hand, is living for The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. She says, "I am totally obsessed with this series. I just finished it and I already want to read it all over again."

Check here for the Goodreads summary, or put this book on hold through the CMRLS catalog here!