Library Thing

Two years ago I created a LibraryThing account and was absolutely thrilled to share my favorite books with other read-a-holics. Then I forgot about it. So now, after rediscovering LibraryThing, I'm excited about it again. The groups are entertaining and informative.

I just discovered the "What is Stephen Harper Reading" thread on the Canadian Bookworms group. The thread is based on the website of the same name created a while back by Yann Martel, author of Life of Pi. "For as long as Stephen Harper is Prime Minister of Canada, I vow to send him every two weeks... a book that has been known to expand stillness," he says on his web site. His site lists every book that he has sent Stephen Harper, so far. The Canadian Bookworm thread has inspired people to read the items on Yann's list as well as list the items that they have already read. The highest number read so far is 16 out of 81. (I have read eight, mostly because of school LIT classes.)

Quite often Homebound Readers will ask me to suggest something new for them, especially the mystery readers. I could go with a genre list or search E-Library's NovelList and hope for the best, or I could read what LibraryThing people say about particular authors. For instance I had planned on reading James Patterson since he seems to be really popular. The gist on LibraryThing is that his earlier works are good, but, as one writer puts it, "Now they are just like fast-food and leave a bad taste in my mouth." You can't get that kind of opinion on NovelList!