For the book-lovers among us...

[fajrdrako]

This morning an Israeli friend pointed me towards a terrific website: whichbook.net. You fill in the sort of thing you think you might feel like reading and it makes suggestions.

Would I ever follow one of their suggestions? Maybe, maybe not. I don't know how extensive their selection of choices is, but I love reading snippets about (or excerpts from) a variety of books I'd never otherwise hear of. I used to like doing book reviews for the newspaper because it introduced me to books and authors I'd never otherwise read - which has its downside too, since if I didn't like a book I was still obligated to finish it and write about it.

I set my controls to 'fairly happy, extremely unpredictable, a fair amount of sex and very unusual." My result:

Apocalypso
By Robert Rankin

Reader comment
An exuberant fantasy of old jokes, crazy ideas, running gags and unreliable anecdotes - if you like comic writing try this.


The excerpt: The man with the exploding beard was keeping his head down. Dr. Harney was gambolling aimlessly about making the sounds of a big brass band. Dilbert held up a fat finger. 'This is crap', he said. 'This fellow can't dance. Let's have him over here and see what he tastes like.' Er... offhand I think that sounds more surrealistic than funny, but maybe it needs context.

I like the idea, anyway. I could certainly waste time with this site.

Let's see, can I set it to "novels about sexy roguish outlaw heroes with cornflower blue eyes and an arcane way with literary quotes"?

Comments

[katkim.livejournal.com]

Hmm, well I like him, and his books. But I'm always a bit dubious rec'ing books to others, because it's so subjective *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, books are subjective, but it's always useful to hear what other people like. Because sometimes people like the same things, and recommendations are a hint in the right direction.