How to Recommend a Book
Ha. The “Tip” column in the New York Times Magazine from Oct. 24 is “How to Recommend a Book.” Malia Wollan talks with Joyce Saricks, a 30-year veteran reference librarian in suburban Chicago who is well acquainted with the “art” of book recommendation. “When a book truly captures your heart, it’s hard not to gush about it: You must read this book! But, Saricks says, ‘Saying that pretty much guarantees they’re not going to like it as much as you did.’” (How many of you still can’t find a place in your heart for The Overstory, my own YOU MUST READ THIS book? And have I really converted anyone into a Carol Shields fan?)
The short column then goes in to how to ask probing questions when someone is seeking a book recommendation and that, really, “when people are asking for reading recommendations, what they’re looking for, at least in part, is an opportunity to talk about books with someone else who loves them.”
Dingdingding! I actually don’t really like book reviews all that much. (So says the person who used to write book reviews in Ireland.) I love thumbing through different publications’ “reviews,” but it’s more to get ideas or see what’s new. I guess if you’re here, I hope you see this Instagram account more as a conversation about books and less as an #AmysPicks thing. (Although thank you to those who have told me they look here to get ideas before heading to the library or book store. #flattery)
Best way to have a book recommended to you? Get yourself a (free) library card, head to your (free-to-enter) library, spend 10 minutes (freely) perusing the stacks…and then take home oodles of books (for free). Sometimes books have a way of recommending themselves.
Now: Who will be the next celebrity to start “recommending books”?! My vote is Elon Musk. (And I just asked my husband to “without thinking, blurt out a name of a celebrity!” without providing him the book recommendation context. He replied, “I don’t know…um, Reese Witherspoon?” Quick study.)
originally published on instagram