What makes you pick up a book? I’m not talking about favorite genres or authors. Rather, I’m wondering about things in the content of a book that make a certain reader want to pick it up. Sometimes these hooks are very strong for me — The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon had been recommended to me by a trusted source, and I acquired it with full intentions of reading it. But once I started reading it, and learned that it’s a book about books, well, I would have picked it up much sooner if I’d known that.
I feel like I have a ton of these hooks. Do I have more (or more varied) interests than everyone else most people?
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A (partial, I’m sure) list:
- detectives
- spies
- the Midwest
- knitting/fiber arts
- the South
- civil rights
- lyrical prose
- sustainable living
- cultures other than my own
- language(s)
- art
- epistolary form
- coffee
- foodie
- blogging/tech
- journalism
- books
- writing
- archaeology
- convents/cloistered life
That’s 20 hooks. And I made this list in about 5 minutes. How long is your list of book hooks, longer or shorter than my quick list here? What’s on your list? Do we have some of the same hooks? I wonder if the diversity of my interests is somewhat tied to my journalism background (know a little about everything) or if I am just a person of many passions. What do you think?
Maybe a better question: Based on this list, what books would you recommend I read?
20 comments
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October 2, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Roy Pickering
The Name of the Rose, though I’m guessing you’ve already read it.
October 2, 2009 at 12:25 pm
wordlily
I haven’t, but it’s on my list (and shelf) to read.
October 2, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Care
The Help by Kathryn Stockett?
October 2, 2009 at 1:00 pm
wordlily
Another one that’s on my wish list. Must. Read. Faster.
October 2, 2009 at 5:21 pm
bermudaonion
I have quite a long list of “book hooks” too. I had to laugh at coffee on your list – I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a book about coffee.
October 2, 2009 at 8:37 pm
wordlily
October 2, 2009 at 8:32 pm
softdrink
sustainable living – World Made by Hand (it’s fiction, though)
coffee – The Coffee Trader, Edward Liss
the South – The Well and the Mine
Have you read any of those?
October 2, 2009 at 8:37 pm
wordlily
Fiction is good! I like fiction. I haven’t read any of those, thanks, softdrink!
October 2, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Valerie
foodie …hmmm, that would be one of my hooks, too! Have you read any of M.F.K. Fisher? love her!
October 2, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Belle
What a great list – and such a great idea, making up a list of book hooks! I think I might do the same, and see what spills out for me! Have you read any of Kate Ellis’ Wesley Peterson mysteries? They’ve always got some sort of archeological angle entangled with a modern day mystery.
October 3, 2009 at 6:21 am
wordlily
Gah! I should have realized that this post would be adding to my wish list left and right! Like I need that! (But I am enjoying it!)
Valerie, Belle: No, I haven’t read the ones you mention. Added! I’d love to see your list when you get it done, Belle!
October 3, 2009 at 7:21 am
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
I’m not sure you have more diverse hooks than me, but they are very different to mine. I think the only ones we share are:
•cultures other than my own
•books
based on those I’ll recommend A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (as I recommend it to everyone!
October 3, 2009 at 7:28 am
wordlily
I added it to my wish list! So what are some of yours?
October 3, 2009 at 7:59 am
Gavin
Spies! Have you read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy or Smiley’s People by John Le Carre?
There is a surprise for you here.
October 3, 2009 at 8:36 am
Gavin
I love the book hook idea, will have to steel it for a post. The Midwest? have you read Willa Cather? My Antonia or Oh, Pioneers?
October 3, 2009 at 11:49 am
Jenny
Love the “book hooks” title.
It’s so interesting to see what time periods, themes, etc., attract different bloggers.
October 4, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Margot at Joyfully Retired
I like your list of book hooks. I’ve never looked at it that way before. I have quite a few in common with your list (detectives, spies, knitting, food). This past year I’ve been involved in two different challenges that involve reading books about food. There is an enormous number of books about food from fiction, non-fiction, and so forth, not counting cookbooks. In fact, there is a whole genre out there of mysteries involving food.
October 6, 2009 at 7:25 am
Beth F
I love your list: we overlap a lot: foodie, other cultures, fiber arts, coffee . . . I really need to steal your idea and do a similar post.
October 6, 2009 at 8:15 am
wordlily
I look forward to seeing your list!
October 16, 2009 at 7:31 am
How I Get Hooked on Books
[...] this idea from Memory (Stella Mautina) who borrowed it from Ms. Bookish who borrowed in from Word Lily. So basically, it’s an idea lots of other people had that I think is [...]