My Favorite Bookish Websites
Since you’re looking at a website right now, I take it you’re familiar with the Internet. It turns out that in addition to memes and cat videos, the Internet has a lot of pretty neat sites about books and poetry. These are some of my top picks.
The Millions: This site consistently delivers smart pieces about literary fiction (and sometimes nonfiction too). Their staff tends to look at books through unique lenses, which is what has made this site a favorite of mine for a long time now.
Book Riot: What I love about Book Riot is that their staff values diversity deeply and that’s reflected in their content. Several pieces are posted every day addressing multiple genres and audiences. The essays and recommendations Book Riot offers are a great source for people who read widely and appreciate stepping outside their literary comfort zone.
The Guardian: I really like how the Guardian covers a wide variety of literature. They feature reviews, essays, and literary news. I enjoy the mix of things they post and how their site always has something that interests me.
New York Public Library Blogs: If you look closely at my weekly link roundup (and I’m sure you do), you’ll notice that I often include posts from the NYPL. I love reading thoughts from their librarians about a particular book and I enjoy seeing how people are using the library to further their interests or education.
The Rumpus: Though I enjoy their book reviews and author interviews, perhaps my favorite thing about this site is that they regularly feature and discuss poetry. I find poetry to be such an underrated art form, so I’m thrilled whenever I see it discussed.
SITES THAT HELP ME AS A LIBRARY CLERK
A series master list: Thanks to the Mid-Continent Public Library system, you can find complete lists of just about any children’s and YA book series. I use this great tool more than just about any other website. There are other series lists out there, but this is my favorite because it’s current and easy to navigate.
Book displays: I put together the book displays for my very spacious high school library. Because I have so much space to fill, I do several different displays each month. This collection of Flickr images always delivers inspiration. Plus, I love seeing how other library folks are using their creativity.
NoveList: You probably have access to this site through your school or public library. I’d be lost without it. It helps me immensely when it comes to readers advisory, gathering book titles for a specific genre display, and figuring out what adult books would be great for a high school audience.
WHERE I TURN WHEN I “NEED” NEW BOOKS
Powell’s: While their website doesn’t replace their gigantic store, it’s a nice option. Their prices are good, they often run sales, and you can sell them your used books for a fair price. If you’re looking for a hard to find title, turn here.
BookFinder: This is where I go when I’m looking for a specific edition or a very low price. BookFinder searches everywhere and looks for both used and new copies. This is a great way to save time (and money).
Book Outlet: Somehow I only learned of Book Outlet last year. That was good for my bank account, but bad for my bookshelves. This is easily the best site I know of to get super cheap, brand new books. I’ve done several orders with them and I’m always satisfied. If you see a book you want and they don’t have many copies of it, snatch it up. They tend to sell out fast.
Goodreads: I use Goodreads to track everything I read and to keep up with what my friends are currently reading. I also like this site’s user-generated book lists.
Awful Library Books: This site makes me laugh every single time. When they say “awful” in their name, they really mean it. Some of these books are just so horrifying that they’re hilarious. What’s not hilarious is how many of the books they feature are still on library bookshelves somewhere.
Librarian Problems: This is another good choice for those times when you need a laugh or two.
Rattle: This magazine features great poetry that’s actually readable. I’ve discovered so many wonderful poems thanks to Rattle.
Poetry Foundation: Their archive of poetry is the best around. My favorite feature is how you can search by subject. This site features nice critical prose, as well.
Verse Daily: Want to read a poem every day? Here’s the site for you.
So what did I miss? What bookish sites can you not live without?
germansingergirl
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
yousharknotpass
gummygunk
vaporwave
stormborns
