Picture it: it’s the end of the pandemic and you’re at a party. Amongst drinks, laughter and discussions of the latest binge-worthy Netflix series, the conversation flow suddenly veers hard to the left with those dreaded words:
“So have you read anything new?”
Your palms grow clammy— or perhaps that is the condensation of your slowly-melting negroni. Your friends are harping left and right about the latest Giller Prize shortlist to sizzling romps by self-published Amazon sensations, and you, so wrapped up in the new season of Love is Blind, have nothing to say.
Stop.
Talking books doesn’t have to be a matter of a miles-long #tbr list and giving up your nightly Netflix. With a bit of clever thinking, you’ll soon be able to keep up with the latest book gossip, find some binge-worthy books, and no longer find yourself tongue-tied.
Start With Your Tastes
Pick a genre and stick with it. Love a good rom-com with a relatable heroine, and a steamy leading man? Then romance books will have your name written all over them. Or do you spend all your time binging true crime podcasts? Because in that case, mystery and thriller books are your new loves. Talking books doesn’t have to be the chore it was in high school English class, so think about the kinds of stories you like and see if you can find anything like that in your local bookstore. This leads me to…
Booksellers and Librarians Are Your New Best Friend
With nearly 300,000 titles published every year, it is downright impossible to keep track of what’s good. While booksellers and librarians don’t know about every title, they certainly have their finger on the pulse of publishing and can not only tell you what books to read, but lead you to your new favourite book. Bring them a list of your favourite movies and TV shows, and they’ll be sure to have at least three recommendations fitting the mold.
Take Yourself on a Date
While you’re at the bookstore or library, take some time to browse the shelves. In this case, judging a book by its cover is a good thing, so if a title interests you, pull it out and read the back cover blurb. Make note of what catches your interest and what has been put on display by staff. Don’t be afraid to browse the shelves and get out of your comfort zone. A die-hard contemporary thriller lover might find their new favourite in genre-straddling titles such as Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us and Verity.
Get A Goodreads
Remember that list you made on your book date? It’s time to take it to Goodreads, a book reviewing platform run by Amazon. Here, you’ll get everything from millions of fan reviews on books from Big Five publishers to independent sensations, as well as user-curated lists of books with titles like The Movie Was Better Than The Book to Teenagers…IN SPACE! Use this service to get a good idea of what readers really think, while getting more recommendations than you can dream of.
Binge on Book-to-Screen
Talking books doesn’t mean giving up Netflix. With a wealth of adaptations populating streaming services, you can go right from show to book. Loved the Witcher? Then pick up the books by Andrzej Sapowski and see where Geralt of Rivia really started. The Haunting of Hill House was originally published by Shirley Jackson in the fifties— maybe horror is your new genre of choice. Use these as a jumping-off point for more titles that didn’t get an adaptation and soon you’ll have a wealth of knowledge under your belt.
Daniela Ricchezza 