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Reading for Fun: Home

A guide to finding something great to read.

Quick Library Catalog Search

 

Find books, e-books, DVDs, and more in the Seattle Central College Library Catalog or other libraries' catalogs.

Search Tips

Titles:
Don't start with an article (instead use, People's History of the United States, not A People's History of the United States)

Authors:
Enter last name, first name (Zinn, Howard - not Howard Zinn)

Keywords:
Use a topic to find books (colonial history)

Welcome

How do I choose a great book to read?

  • Ask everyone you know what good books they've read lately and why they liked them. Write down titles.

  • Read a few reviews. Reviewers disagree on even the best books, so get a few opinions.

  • Read a few pages of a new book before you decide.

Where do I find books?

The reading habit can get awfully expensive, but it doesn't have to. Before buying, look for books at your library and trade with friends. Yard sales and used bookstores are great bargains too.

How much should I read before I give up?

If you're reading for fun, don't torture yourself with a book you don't like! According to Nancy Pearl,

"If you’re fifty years of age or younger, give a book 50 pages before you decide to commit to reading it or give it up.  If you’re over 50, which is when time gets even shorter, subtract your age from 100—the result is the number of pages you should read before making your decision to stay with it or quit."

 

Recommendation Lists