Pixie Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 I am planning to go to the local used bookstore tomorrow. I have a $45 credit there. Does anyone have suggestions on how to browse when I really don't have a particular book or author in mind? I will be sure to check out the fantasy and sci-fi section, but it's huge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Oh my, what a good question! To which I don't have a good answer, unfortunately. When I see an English lit section in a secondhand bookshop, I go through all the titles, but that might not be possible in a bookshop where there are English titles only Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 My method runs thus: Scan the spines in the desired sections (in my case, Science Fiction & Fantasy first, then Horror, then Fiction, then Literature and Literary Criticism) for recommended authors and inspiring titles; pick the above off the shelf to evaluate the cover, inspect the blurb and read the "Praise for" bits at the beginning. Lastly, open somewhere down the middle and get a feel for the style. If all of the above go well, take to the till ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie Posted July 7, 2010 Author Share Posted July 7, 2010 Oh my, what a good question! To which I don't have a good answer, unfortunately. When I see an English lit section in a secondhand bookshop, I go through all the titles, but that might not be possible in a bookshop where there are English titles only True. All the books at this store are English titles only, but there is a classics section which I may browse through. I already have a lot of the classics, though. Hmmm, might check for some Nabokov I don't already have, though. My method runs thus: Scan the spines in the desired sections (in my case, Science Fiction & Fantasy first, then Horror, then Fiction, then Literature and Literary Criticism) for recommended authors and inspiring titles; pick the above off the shelf to evaluate the cover, inspect the blurb and read the "Praise for" bits at the beginning. Lastly, open somewhere down the middle and get a feel for the style. If all of the above go well, take to the till ! Hmmm, this method seems like it might work. I don't have a lot of horror on my bookshelves, so that may be a section to check out as well. When I do read horror, I prefer it to be really creepy, rather than heavy on the hack and slash gore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 I agree with Giulia. Head straight for your favourite genres first. Maybe you'll find a title by an author you already like, or a book might jump out at you (not literally) that was recommended by somebody here. Have fun and be sure to tell us what you buy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie Posted July 7, 2010 Author Share Posted July 7, 2010 I will definitely have fun, Kylie, and tell everyone what I picked up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Hmmm, this method seems like it might work.If browsing were a sport, I'd be a pro ! I don't have a lot of horror on my bookshelves, so that may be a section to check out as well. When I do read horror, I prefer it to be really creepy, rather than heavy on the hack and slash gore.Ditto if you want to open a nice shiny new thread in the Looking for a Book section, I'm sure recommendations for really creepy fiction would pour right in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandMan Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 I just leave it to fate, look at the spines and see what catches my eye. Although I usually end up with a well-thumbed X-files novel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 What is a good way to browse? Act nonchalant. (but not too nonchalant, because you could be mistaken for a shop-lifter . . .). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixie Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 What is a good way to browse? Act nonchalant. (but not too nonchalant, because you could be mistaken for a shop-lifter . . .). Tip taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Maybe you'll find a title by an author you already like, or a book might jump out at you (not literally) that was recommended by somebody here. ! My god I wish that would happen. Randomly placed motion sensors hooked up to miniature catapult systems behind certain books. Amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Oh, I love the way you think Noll! I'm trying to work out ways of incorporating that idea in my future bookcases. I know a good engineer who would probably love to try to rig something up. In fact, he's already working on a miniature catapult! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 I book browse in exactly the same way as Guilia! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 ... a clear case of great minds thinking alike, obviously ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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