In terms of reader recommendations, there is an embarrassment of riches on the JPL site. Not only do we have old standbys like Novelist, but we also have the newly christened "Personalized Booklist" service, which is powered by real JPL librarians! Do you have a favorite method for looking for read-a-likes (whether for patrons or yourself)? Please give us your thoughts!
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I love Amazon for read alikes for a number of reasons. 1. It is fast. As powerful a tool as Novelist is, the speed in which we can access it makes it practically useless when you are working the reference desk with someone in front of you and three people behind them. 2. You get good choices. Using the "customers also bought" line and the listmania features often will give you the perfect read-alike. I have used this for myself extensively and have been very pleased with the results. 3. You get ideas that are outside of the box and a larger range of choices. Because it is open to the public and anyone can post lists, you get some items that may not seem perfect, but are. 4. It is updated more frequently. I love Robert Jordan and love Robert Jordan read-alikes, but Novelist hasn't updated their Robert Jordan essay in many a moon. What good is it to me if I have read everything on the list already? Using the database in Novelist gives me more ideas, but have I mentioned how slow it is?
ReplyDeleteHow many times does a parent ask me for help finding their child a book that is similar to "Name that Author or series". I like to use a resource that few know about on our own website in the "JPL for Kids" link.
ReplyDeleteOn the home page click JPL for Kids
Click Resources for Parents and Teachers
Click ATN Book Lists (under the Parents Heading)
There are numerous Read-Alikes based upon if you like a certain title or author. Fantastic when you are stranded in the Children's Department with no Children's expert in sight!
Here is the link http://nancykeane.com/rl/#Readalikes
I use Amazon also, but I also like to use fantasticfiction.co.uk as a resource. Again, it's fast, and the AUTHOR gives suggestions on other authors to read as well. I also like fantasticfiction.co.uk because it will list series titles in order.
ReplyDeleteYuri Jewitt, Library Associate
West Regional Library
Not necessarily a searchable database, but a good source of reading lists for teens can be found here: G:\YOUTHSER\Teen Reader's Advisory. If you don't have access to youthserv your teen or children's staff does. Bookmarks include Twilight readalikes and others such as teen romance, street lit, etc.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my all-time favorite websites for read-alikes: http://www.literature-map.com/
ReplyDeleteThe suggestions “float” around the original items like amoebas in a petrie dish. It’s highly amusing, especially to kids, although adults enjoy it, too. And some of the suggestions are definitely things I never would have come up with!
Pubyac is the listserv for children and teen librarians. Lots of readalikes have been posted in the archives.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pubyac.org/archives.htm.
A Read-A-Like is a book that has a similar mood, subject, style, or tone to that of another book. There are numerous sites that give suggestions on these books. Just about every library seem to have one.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in magically haunting titles like Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series you might find these websites helpful. http://www.rhpl.org/index.php
http://thereadingzone.wordpress.com/about/
http://www.pisd.us/Library/SummerReading/jhreading.htm
Hazzel Sutton
There's always the catalog. I check for more by the same author and do key word searches, but then I read very little fiction!
ReplyDeleteI use Amazon to see what others purchased in addition to the title that they read.I also use Novelist if it is currently updated. Sometimes it is not updated with the newest books, and is sometimes frustrating, and have to turn to Amazon.
ReplyDeleteJust came across this site today...
ReplyDeleteRead-alikes for christian/inspirational fiction
http://acfw.com/readers/authorcomparison.shtml