Choosing A Book

When you choose a book to read, how do you go about it? Do you pick the book because you like the author? Or you’ve read countless of reviews raving about the book? Or maybe you just like the look of the book’s cover? Maybe you are a ‘judge a book by its cover’ kind of person?

Whatever it is, the whole truth will be revealed once you start reading the book. The cover of the book may look nice or the book is hugely popular but after reading page 1, you just go, ‘Ugh! What a horrible book!’ Well, there you go.

I’ve read somewhere before that if you want your book published, your book has to pass the Page One Test. Meaning that the publisher will read only page 1s of all the drafts he receives and then he will decide which are good ones and which are merely wasting his time. So, aspiring authors would have to make an extra good impression right on page 1.

I guess that’s the way we buy our books too. When we see a book that strikes our fancy, we read page 1 first to see if we can go on to page 2. If you go beyond page 5, then it’s time to buy the book. Remember to hold the book properly, though if you’re not planning to buy it. Don’t vandalize the book. I’ve seen too many poorly handled brand new books in bookstores. Be considerate and think of the next person who might buy the book. We all like brand new books, don’t we? They should also LOOK like new, right?

Nevertheless, here is a list of recommended authors whose books that you might like. I don’t quite remember from where I got the list. Probably from The Star’s Tots To Teens!

1. Susan Cooper
2. Diana Wynne Jones
3. Garth Nix
4. Ursula Le Guin
5. Terry Pratchett
6. Brian Jacques
7. Alan Garner
8. Madeline L’Engle
9. Susan Coolidge
10. E. L. Konigsburg
11. Beverly Cleary
12. Elizabeth Enright
13. Sarah Dessen
14. Judy Blume
15. Patricia McLachlan