Now Read This: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1978-1998

Now Read This #1

by Nancy Pearl

Recommending books to readers of contemporary mainstream, or literary, fiction is perhaps the most challenging of all endeavors for readers' advisors. Pearl and her co-authors attempt to ease the process with this helpful guide to the most elusive genre. Covering 1,000 novels, many of them award winners, the book organizes titles according to their major appeal characteristics (e.g., language, setting, story, and character) as delineated by Saricks and Brown in their standard text, Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library, 2d ed., (ALA, 1997). For each book there is a plot summary, indications on the book's suitability for book discussion groups, and recommendations of similar titles. Awards are cited as well, and all titles mentioned are indexed by title, author, and subject. Describing some of the best literature published in the United States and abroad in recent years, this book is an essential guide for readers' advisors, and a helpful collection development tool.

Genres: Books About Books, Nonfiction, Reference

432 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1999

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dated but useful guide to, well, mainstream fiction. Pearl wrote Book Lust and it's companions, so she knows of what she writes.