Welcome Guest Blogger Thea Harrison
Please give a warm jungle welcome to ultra talented paranormal author, THEA HARRISON! Thea and I met after I read her first book, Dragon Bound – and posted on Twitter – people had been raving about the Elder Races first book and I was delighted to discover they were right. Thea has a way of creating a world that is amazing. Welcome Thea!
What was the name of that book anyway?
I read a lot of books. In fact, I had taught myself to read by the time I was four, so when I hit the third or fourth grade, I had already read a lot of books. As you can imagine, the number has only increased with time. *cough* No need to mention how much time…
I have read so many books that, until I got wise to my own shortcomings, occasionally I have actually rebought books that I have already read.
Argh, right?
Let’s be honest here. Publishers and websites like Amazon don’t really help matters in this regard. Occasionally you’ll find a book release that states right on the cover that it has never been released before, or that it is a reprint. Nora Roberts’ publications come to mind, and frankly, that is refreshing. Most of the time it’s a buy beware kind of market. Now I always do a little research before I fork over money.
For example, take Dorothy Dunnett’s The Game of Kings, which is the first book in her fabulous historical saga called the Lymond Chronicles. (If you’re a fan of antiheros, historical sagas, and high drama, you might want to give this series a try.)
If you search on Amazon for the title of the first book, this is what comes up: http://www.amazon.com/The-Game-Kings-Lymond-Chronicles/dp/0679777431/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341460275&sr=8-1&keywords=the+game+of+kings. If you look at this entry, it says April 29th, 1997, both in the general search listing, and on the product page itself.
NOT QUITE TRUE, MY FEISTY INTERNET FRIENDS. The Game of Kings was actually published in 1961. I discovered the series in the 80s, and I devoured each one as fast as I could buy them. I loved them. I was breathless at the end of every one, and couldn’t wait to start the next. **I must say at this point, I have no idea how they would read now, so I don’t know how dated the series would feel to a reader in 2012. I would love to reread them again and find out how I would react to them now, as an older reader.**
I wish there was a way to organize the chaotic, half remembered, overstuffed library of half remembered plots, scenes, and things I have read in my brain. There are a lot of reader-oriented websites that can help with this, such as Goodreads and Shelfari, where you can add titles that you’ve read to your “bookshelves” and you can rate them, and share recommendations with friends. These sites are awesome and powerful, and they are a super way to connect with other readers. But they have their limitations too.
This is why I thought I would share another website with you, called What Was That Book? I’m intrigued and charmed by the concept behind this website. It claims, “This community reunites people with the books they’ve lost!” What an idea!
Have you ever had a half remembered phrase from a book, or perhaps a plot of something that you remembered absolutely adoring, but you cannot for the life of you pinpoint what the name of that blasted book was?
This website gives you a chance to recover those details. You can post a blog with the details that you remember, and people respond or not according to what they know. For example, one of the most recent postings starts like this: “There are three children’s picture books I would have read in the early ’90s (in America) that I have been trying to find for so long…here is what I can remember about them:…” The rest of that post is too long and detailed to copy here. And the person got four comments, the first of which hit the nail on the head and identified the books for the person who posted!
Eureka!
This website has its limitations too, such as how much information someone who is posting can offer, and who might be reading and responding at any given time. But I feel that it is a powerful addition to the many assets that are available to active readers who are online these days.
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For readers, have you ever rebought a book you have already read, or have you tried to remember the name of a story you read?
Comment for a chance to a story of your choice from my backlist of current publications. If you already have the all the novels and novellas on my backlist, you can always give your prize to a friend! The giveaway will end at Carly’s discretion. Thank you so much, Carly, for having me on your blog!
Don’t forget to visit CARLY at Thea’s Blog – for a chance to win a Serendipity Backlist title … and talk about When Life Gets in The Way … Click HERE!
VISIT THEA HARRISON
Twitter – @TheaHarrison
