Computer and Library Learning (Archived)

If you are looking for something to read – whether it is something similar to a favourite novel or something completely different -  NoveList Plus is a great resource for book recommendations (as is NoveList K-8 Plus for children's books).   To use either version of NoveList,  you will need an active Toronto Public Library card .

In NoveList, you can search for books  by title, author, series or by a specific subject.  The Advanced Search allows for searching by a specific age range, reading (lexile) level, grade level, and/or author's nationality.  After you find something that interests you, a link to TPL's catalogue will show you, with just a click or two, if the book is available through the library so you can place a hold.

NoveList contains both fiction and non-fiction books and has recommended readings lists for many genres and themes. On the home page, there are some suggested popular titles as well as some recommended "read-alikes". 

If you want something similar to a favourite book, search for that book and have a look at the 'read-alikes' that NoveList recommends.  Just hover your mouse pointer above the cover image for information on a book.   If you want more suggestions, you can search by the subject of the book as well as by appeal features such as storyline (such as character-driven), pace (such as fast-paced), tone (such as heartwarming), and writing style (such as descriptive).  These appeal features are often more accurate than subject when searching some something similar to a particular book.

NoveList ia great resource when you want to find a complete list of books written by a particular author as well as for figuring out the order of books in a series.  Use the folders and My NoveList to keep track of books you find.  More information on using folders and My NoveList is available in the Help section.

The Toronto Public Library website is another great resource for finding book suggestions.  Have a look at our The Buzz..About Books blog, as well as the We Recommend, Bestsellers and Award Winners pages.  There is also our Ask A Bookhead online book recommendation service.

Some books to help you find something to read are:

• Read this Next: 500 of the best books you'll ever read by Sandra Newman
• Book Lust by Nancy Pearl
• 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxall

Of course, you can always ask library staff in your local branch for suggestions. 

Happy Reading!