book suggestions

If there’s one thing we love, it’s recommending books. A walk through our main & lower levels will reveal a dozen or more themed book displays featured throughout, which we change and update frequently. There’s also our “Reader’s Depot” on the main level, which features the current NYT Bestsellers Lists, release dates for upcoming titles, read-alike lists, and more.

Anyone going through the Checkout area has seen our Staff Picks wall. This wall is filled in daily with books our staff members have read and enjoyed. There’s ALWAYS something good to read there!

You may not know that there is also a “Staff Picks” page in our catalog. Staff members have put together some themed book lists there for you to peruse. You can browse these Staff Picks right from home, and if you see something you like, reserve a copy online!

If you’re reading this blog, you already know there are a ton of reading suggestions here. Elsewhere on social media, our Tumblr is full of book lists & book news, too. And of course, you can always come right out and ask us for reading suggestions. Or let us know about a book you enjoyed. We love getting book recommendations almost as much as giving them!

Find your next read by searching the NoveList database on the CPL website. On our front page, Just mouse over Research, click on Reading Resources, and then select NoveList. After you enter your Cheshire Library card number you will be at a screen that features ‘Recommended Reads Lists’ in the left hand column.

You can choose from: Best of 2012 Fiction, Canadian Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction A to Z, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mysteries, Romance, Science Fiction, Thrillers and Suspense, and Westerns.

Each category is then broken down into subtopics. For example, Mysteries had 15 subtopic lists, from Classic Mysteries to Police Procedurals to Paranormal Mysteries and more; and Historical Fiction has 24 subtopic lists. NoveList provides a short description and book reviews for each title.

When you find a title that interests you, you can click on ‘Check the Library Catalog’ to find out if the library owns it, and if it is available. If the book is checked out you can place a hold on it and we will contact you via email or telephone when it’s your turn to borrow the book.

You can also create your own account on NoveList, where you can keep track of books you have read, books you’d like to read, and other notes pertaining to your reading experience.

Reading lists are also available for younger age groups: teen, age 9-12, and age 0-8.