Contents [Hide] 1 Choose a Genre 2 A Few   3 Personal Favourites

Book Buying Tips

Buying books  should never be hard. Think about it - the back tells you exactly what to expect, the inside covers tell you what other people thought of it, you can start reading it before you buy it (even online), and best of all - you never have to try it on! Okay, I know not everyone loves to read, but that's only because you aren't buying the right books! I'll admit, I'm a real bookworm, but in my experience every non-reader can enjoy a book (at least once and a while) if they only know what to look for. This guide is designed to help readers and non readers alike find a good read for the beach, your morning commute, your before-bed ritual, or your dreaded book report.

Choose a Genre

Think about the last book you read that wasn't total torture. Was it a mystery ?Romance novel ?Short story collection ? Choosing a general topic or genre is a really good place to start looking for your next book. Finding something to read that interests you is the key to enjoying reading. There are (literally) hundreds of different genres out there, but I've listed the most basic and most popular to help you out. If you're interested in something you don't see listed here, don't fret! When it comes to reading material, the options are limitless.

Classic: Classic books are generally very old and well renowned, like A Tale of Two Cities . You'll often find these titles on high school and college required reading lists, so you may have already read a few! Though classics are incredible works of art, they tend to be less enjoyable to the general public. If you aren't already a reader, you may want to start somewhere else.

Modern Classic: Ooh my favourite! The modern classic genre is a little ambiguous - there is no definitive time period in which classics are considered "modern classics." These stories are very well regarded, and usual have a complex theme. You'll probably recognize a lot of these titles, even if you've never read them (like Gone With the Wind ).

Fiction: Fiction is more of a classification than a genre, since it is so broad. Fiction stories are fantasy, or imagined. The vast majority of pleasure reading is fiction, like The Giver ; most of the genres listed here are fiction for that reason.

Non-fiction: Non-fiction stories are true stories. For example, biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, textbooks, history books, etc. Many people are truly fascinated by real life experiences, like those discussed in Tuesday's with Morrie , and thus read nothing but non-fiction. However, most prefer the excitement of fantasy. 

Memoir: Memoirs are a lot like autobiographies, but much less comprehensive. A memoir can span just a few days, a handful of experiences, or the better part of a lifetime. A memoir doesn't necessarily tell the author's life story, but gives you a few hints and then lets you decide for yourself, like Eat Pray Love .

Romance: Romance novels are some of the best selling books on the shelves. These love stories are usually very dramatic, but quick reads nonetheless (like The Notebook ).

Mystery: Mysteries are great for non readers. They are usually fast paced, very entertaining, and not too challenging. Mysteries range from completely believable to wildly complex, like The DaVinci Code .

Coming of Age: Coming of age stories are also really good for non readers. They tend to be slower and deeper than mysteries and romance, but you're usually left with a sense of accomplishment when you finish (and sometimes a warm fuzzy feeling). This generation's favourite is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 

Science Fiction: Science fiction can be really cool - even if you aren't into science at all. These are basically believable thrillers, or really exciting fantasy that's explained and reasoned. When the author convinces you (which is the science part) that the plot is possible, the book is instantly much more exciting (and sometimes frightening). A good example of this would be Jurassic Park .

Historical Fiction: Historical fiction stories are usually about a certain time, place, or event. Although the characters and storylines are imagined the context is factual, so it's more or less a fiction/non-fiction crossover. These stories usually give you a bit of a history lesson, like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn .

Collection: This genre is pretty broad; a collection could be a book of poems, short stories, novellas, etc. This is for the person that has a hard time finishing books. You can usually read one of the works (or more) in one sitting, so you can pick it up and put it down as you please. Try a collection that is published frequently, like the annual O'Henry Prized Stories .

As I mentioned before, these are only a fraction of the categories out there. You should also know that most books fall into several categories, after all, EVERYTHING is either fiction or non-fiction to begin with and then something more specific after that. For example, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn  is fiction, historical fiction, modern classic, coming of age, and all sorts of categories that I haven't even mentioned (like young-adult). 

A Few  

• Ask someone! Ask your favourite teacher or your best friend what they might recommend for you. You'll be surprised what sort of gems you find this way!
• Look for best-sellers. I try not to read the "trendy"  books or "cool" books, but there's a reason they're best-sellers. People really like them! You don't always have to buy the book everyone else is reading, but it's a good place to start until you figure out what it is you like.
• Try book lists. They sound really nerdy and sort of juvenile, but this is how I've found most of my favourite books. Classics, Books to Read Before you Die, Best Mystery Books, Favourite Trashy Novels....There are literally thousands of lists, so it's just a matter of finding the right one.
• Search by author. If you really loved a book, look for what else that author wrote. Some genres, like science fiction and romance, are basically ruled by just a handful of authors. Not all authors are that consistent, but it's worth remembering the names on your favourite books.
• Judge the book by the cover. Man, I hope my English teacher never reads this. The cover of the book is usually somewhat (and ONLY somewhat) reflective of the author's style. If it grabs your attention, the story might too. Likewise, a cover with a trashy cover of nearly nude coeds probably doesn't contain any life changing philosophy.

Personal Favourites

I'm a real bookworm. I have done a lot of reading (I mean A LOT) and I'm still finding new favourites (and least favourites) as I go. You may have noticed that I included an example in the description of each genre above - I have read, enjoyed, and would recommend each of those books. I've listed several more books, followed by their authors, below for anyone just looking to browse. This is a fairly eclectic list, so not all titles will appeal to everyone. The names in bold are authors I especially like, or have found consistently wonderful. 

• East Of Eden  - John Steinbeck 
• A Separate Peace  - John Knowles 
• The Bell Jar  - Sylvia Plath 
• The Five People You Meet in Heaven  - Mitch Albom 
• My Sisters Keeper  - Jodi Piccoult 
• The Trouble With Lemons  - Daniel Hayes 
• The History of Love  - Nicole Krauss 
• House of Leaves  - Mark Z. Danielewsi 
• Skinny Dip  - Carl Haiissen 
• The Andromeda Strain  - Michael Crichton 
• Drowning Ruth  - Christina Schwarz 
• Life of Pi  - Yann Martel 
• The Good Earth  - Pearl S. Buck 

Avid reader? New reader? Please share your opinions! Tell us all what books you liked and didn't like, or your best strategy for finding good books. ShopWiki articles can be started, edited, and written by anyone, so start sharing!