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Use this Librarian created list to find great books! Also be sure to go to our Read Alikes page to find authors that write in a similar style or genre.
African-American
African-American Literature
Sites for comprehensive information on African-American literature and writers
African-American Fiction Writers
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African-American Literature Book Club
Increases knowledge of the diversity of African-American literature and serves as a resource and vehicle of expression for aspiring and professional writers. Website is a recognized source of critical reviews of books by and about African-American authors, contains book reviews, includes author profiles, provides a copy of their current newsletter, and offers writer's resources
Book Remarks
Promotes books written by or about African-Americans. This website promotes literary works which may reflect the African-American culture, publishes new releases by mainstream as well as self-published writers, offers monthly author interviews as well as book previews and reviews
MystNoir
Showcases the African-American contribution and presence in mystery fiction, features African-American amateur sleuths, P. I.s, and police detectives as well as their authors, highlights one title a month and offers book reviews of other titles, updates readers on latest mystery news as well as new, recent, and upcoming releases, and provides writer information for aspiring mystery writers
Online Guide to African-American Books
A listing of over 350 authors and titles for the mystery, Christian fiction, science fiction, horror, romance, short stories, and classic literature genres, includes a Young Adult and new releases link
Urban Fiction
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Alabama Authors
Alabama Authors and Their Works
An extensive listing compiled by the Alabama Library Association's Bibliographic Committee which lists the works of specific Alabama authors
Alabama Authors: A Selection of Fiction
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Award Winners
BookNews
This site lists awards for: American Library Association Award, Audie Award (Audio books), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Buckeye Children's Book Award, Caldecott Medal (American picture book for children), Christy Award, (Contemporary Christian fiction), Coretta Scott King Award, Edgar Award (Mystery), Hugo Award (Science Fiction), James Beard/KitchenAid Awards (Cooking), National Book Award, National Book Award for Young People's Literature, Nebula Award (Science Fiction/Fantasy), Newbery Medal (American literature for children), PEN/Faulkner Award (Fiction), Printz Award (Young Adult), Pulitzer Prize
BookSpot
This site lists awards for: Booker Prize Caldecott Medal (American picture book for children), National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award (books published in English), Newbery Medal (American literature for children), Nobel Prize for Literature, PEN/Faulkner Award (Fiction), Pulitzer Prize , Hammet Award (Crime), Bram Stoker Award (Horror), James Beard/Kitchen Aid Award, Spur Award (Western), Rita Award (Romance)
Christian Book Award
Christian Books
Lambda Literary Award
Gay/Lesbian literature
RITA Awards
Romance
Book Discussion Groups
Beauregard Parish Library
Provides reading group lists as well as links to websites devoted to reading groups and reading guides
Book Browse
Guides for those leading book discusssion groups indexed by title, author, and genre. Also includes advice and a forum to invite the author to your book group.
Book Club Classics
Designed to help book clubs be more effective by getting the most out of their selections with discussion questions and interesting links
Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2003
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2004
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2005
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2006
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2007
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2008
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2009
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2010
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Hoover Public Library Book Discussion Group 2011
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LitLovers
Find a book. Find a review. Find a discussion guide. Also has tips on starting a book club and making the most out of it.
Oprah's Book Club
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Oprah's Classic Book Club
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Penguin Putnam
Offers an extensive selection of reading group guides along with general reading group information
Random House
Offers reading group guides for a variety of different genres
Reading Group Choices
Recommendations for lively book group discussions along with book summaries and conversation starters
Reading Group Guides
Provides book synopses, discussion questions, and critical feedback
Chick Lit
Candy Covered Books
Lists and rates chick lit by book title, author, and cover. Each entry has a plot summary and reviews of the book.
Chick Lit
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Chick Lit Books
Reviews, interviews and sub-genres in the chick lit market
Chicklit
Online women's magazine that celebrates 21st century women's contemporary fiction and lifestyle
Lots of fun reviews of the latest in chick lit
Current Best Sellers
BookSpot
Offers bestseller lists from various sources
The New York Times
Complete bestseller lists
Publishers Weekly
Complete bestseller lists
Gay and Lesbian
100 Best Lesbian and Gay Novels
Voted on by a panel of judges including gay and lesbian writers and those in the publishing industry, along with viewers in the online world.
GLBT Literature
Devoted to literature about the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience. Lists recommended titles along with new publications in the genre.
Lambda Literary Association
Lists award winners and offers reading suggestions. Note: There is no search feature
Historical
HistFiction.net
Author Database with a list of works and other information, includes book reviews and a link to mystery and nautical fiction
Historical Fiction
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Historical Mystery
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Historical Novels
Lists over 3,500 historical novels by time and place
Historical Romance
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Overbooked
Lists author, title, and synopsis of novels receiving at least one starred review. Provides lists of Historical Fiction and Historical Crime Fiction.
Maritime Adventure
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Horror
Hellnotes
Fiction, movies, and art dedicated to the horror genre complete with author interviews, award news, and book reviews
Horror Writers Association
Offers reading suggestions and lists all awards and winners, as well as providing links to several other horror sites with reviews
If You Like Stephen King
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Inspirational
Amish Fiction
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Contemporary Inspirational Fiction
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Faithful Reader
Website devoted to the Christian novel with book reviews and upcoming titles, along with an author index and search capabilities
Fiction Finder
The American Christian Fiction Writers Association's guide to current and popular inspirational fiction with reviews, author interviews and much more.
Focus on Fiction
Sharing Christian fiction through author interviews, book reviews, and new release sneak peeks
If You Like Inspirational Fiction
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Latin American
Latin American Fiction
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Latino Stories
Links to Latino statistics and literature resources, including book reviews and Latino award-winning authors
Movies
Internet Movie Database
Offers searching by movie title, plot, character, actor/actress, and quotes. Also offers movie reviews and news.
Rotten Tomatoes
Searchable database of objective film and video reviews
Music
All Music Guide
Offers searching by artist, album, title, record label, and music style. Also offers music news and reviews.
Metacritic
Provides access to and summarizes the vast amount of entertainment criticism available online
Mystery/Suspense
Amateur Detectives
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Animal Mysteries
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Sponsored by the International Thriller Writers organization, this webzine is full of great links and scores of reviews
Bone Appetit
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Book Spot
Offers links to many different mystery sites with reviews, current mysteries, and mystery series
Cluelass
Lists upcoming titles and release dates in the Bloodstained Bookshelf
Cozy Mystery
Site for fans of the cozy mystery with reviews and an author index
Site for interesting crime fiction with excerpts and interviews
Espionage
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Historical Mystery
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If You Like Dan Brown
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If You Like Sandra Brown
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If You Like Agatha Christie
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If You Like Tom Clancy
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If You Like Mary Higgins Clark
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If You Like Patricia Cornwell
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If You Like Sue Grafton
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If You Like John Grisham
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If You Like James Patterson
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Maritime Adventure
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Murder on the Internet
Web resources for mystery and detective fiction including links to subgenre directories, reading lists, listservs, and many other links from the Springfield City(MA) Library
The Mystery Reader
Lists police/detective, thriller, suspense, cozy, historical, and romantic suspense mysteries along with new authors and news. Each entry includes title, author, and synopsis.
MystNoir
Showcases the African-American contribution and presence in mystery fiction, features African-American amateur sleuths, P. I.s, and police detectives as well as their authors, highlights one title a month and offers book reviews of other titles, updates readers on latest mystery news as well as new, recent, and upcoming releases, provides writer information for aspiring mystery writers
Police Procedurals
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Private Investigators
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Stop, You're Killing Me
Offers searching by series character and character's occupation, links to reviews, news, awards, and authors
Other Sites For Readers
Book Browser
Provides a listing of titles in very specific categories of a specific genre, plot synopses and reviews, as well as information concerning bestsellers, new releases, and recommended reading for any genre
BookSpot
Provides best sellers, book awards, book reviews, lists of lists, and a genre corner which highlights the best of the best in each genre
Fantastic Fiction
Bibliographies for over 15,000 authors and information for over 250,000 books that are searchable by author and title
GoodReads
Free social networking website which can be used as a reader's advisory tool to find recommended books, readalikes, and genre collections. "Imagine it as a large library that you can wander through and see everyone's bookshelves, their reviews, and their ratings."
Indie Next List
Monthly lists prepared by the American Booksellers Association which highlights the best of independent publishing. Great for finding that hidden gem in publishing.
LibraryThing
Free social networking website which connects you to others readers who are reading what you read. Can be used as a reader's advisory tool to find book reviews and recommended reading.
Overbooked
Resource for readers who want timely information about fiction and readable nonfiction.
Readers Advice
Continuously growing list of subgenres (460+) and authors (10,000+) with lists of titles for series and big name authors
Reviews of Books
Collections of book reviews from major online media sites that are readily available online. Also contains peer book reviews written just for the site.
Shelfari
Free social networking website for book lovers who want to be connected to other readers. Can be used as a reader's advisory tool to find book reviews and book recommendations.
Webrary
Offers a broad range of genres, characters, settings, subjects, and authors.
Paranormal Fiction
Paranormal Fiction
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Romance
All About Romance
For lovers of romance novels providing reviews, blog posts, and author interviews
BookSpot
Offers links to many different romance websites with current information on the romance genre, series, author links, and more
Historical Romance
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If You Like Sandra Brown
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Romance Reader
Offers many top 10, 50, 100 lists, etc. and lists authors, titles, and synopses as well as reviews
Romantic Times
Magazine of romance book reviews and author interviews
Romance Writers of America
Features a large searchable database with information on both current and past bestsellers. Also offers lists of award winners.
Slake
Newsletter with book reviews and a search capability that gives details about books, along with "rants" and "raves"
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Fantasy Book Critic
Thoughtful reviews make this one of the best speculative fiction blogs. The emphasis is on fantasy, but sf and horror are also reviewed.
If You Like J. R. R. Tolkien
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Locus Online
Online magazine of the science fiction and fantasy field with book reviews, award winners, and perspectives on the varied genre
SciFan
Lists author bibliographies, series chronologies, books on major genre themes, and new and forthcoming releases by month.
SF Site
Provides titles with excerpts and synopses
SFF World
News, reviews, fan forums, interviews and a place for fan writers to post their own work.
Uchronia
Bibliography of over 3,000 novels, stories, and essays covering alternative histories and the "what if's" of history
Southern Writers
Agee Films
Film production company that conducted a nationwide poll of the top 125 Southern books of all time.
Southern Literary Review
Celebrates the classic as well as the newer Southern authors through book reviews and author sketches. No search capability.
Southern Writers
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Southern Voices Authors
Hoover Public Library Southern Voices Conference
A listing of participants in both the past and present Southern Voices Conferences
Westerns
If You Like Westerns
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Overbooked
Booklist of mostly hardcover books about the American West that received at least one starred review from a professional review source.
ReadWest.com
A forever growing web directory of Western authors of today and of the past. Includes a monthly online magazine.
Popular Books in a Series
Kent District Library Database
What's Next? Series Database developed by Kent District Library is a series index for a wide variety of authors and genres.
