Category: Everything Else

Book Lamp is a new site which uses a scientific approach to compare books. By analysing numerous different aspects of both content and writing style the site compiles over 30,000 data points for each book. These are then processed to obtain the “book’s DNA” which then can then be used to compare it to other books.

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I decided to test the system by entering my favourite book, A Fine Balance.

Book Lamp came up with the following suggestions:

1. Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry
2. Absent by Betool Khedairi
3. The Lilac Bus by Maeve Binchy
4. A Beggar at the Gate by Thalassa Ali
5. Everyman Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
6. Slow River by Nicola Griffith
7. A Room with a View by EM Forster
8. Song of the Cuckoo Bird by Amulya Malladi

It is no surprise to see another book by the same author at the top of the list. I’m reading it now and can confirm that it is almost as wonderful as A Fine Balance.

I was surprised to discover that the second book on the list was one I hadn’t heard of and so I decided to test the site by ordering a copy of Absent. As you can see from my review yesterday I really enjoyed it. I can see why it managed to top the list and as I was reading it I smiled as I spotted the similarities. The writing was of a similar quality and pace, the book focused on people living in a country under turmoil and there was even a seamstress in the first chapter! I’m very pleased that Book Lamp brought this book to my attention.

Most of the other books on the list intrigue me, but I fail to understand why The Lilac Bus ranks so highly. I enjoyed Maeve Binchy as a teenager, but think of her books as warm romances and so struggle to see how they can be similar to life during Indian Emergency. Perhaps I’ll have to read a copy and find out why it has been included.

Have you read any of these books? Do you think I’d enjoy them?

The main problem with the Book Lamp site is that it doesn’t contain a full range of books and authors, but as new books are added every day I’m sure it wont be too long before all my favourites are added.

What do you think of Book Lamp?

Did you discover any new books thanks to its recommendations?

Do you think you’ll use it to discover new books?

I have hundreds of unread books in my house so do my best to avoid buying new ones, but sometimes other bloggers write reviews so compelling it is impossible to ignore them. I try to resist the temptation, but that positive review eats away at me until I have a copy in my hands. The power of the blogger means that this can sometimes be weeks, months, or even years after I first read the review, but once a trusted source has raved about something I always have its title in my mind.

Here are the books I’ve bought in the last few months, along with quotes from the bloggers who persuaded me to part with my cash:

 

 Galore by Michael Crummey

I loved this book for its tall tales, its surprising twists, and the characters which people its pages.  Caribousmom

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 The Human Bobby by Gabe Rotter

Literally we did not put the book down until we turned the last page two hours later. A Reader’s Respite

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 That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott

Thanks to numerous ravings from Australian bloggers on Twitter.

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 Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson (Audio)

But somehow Jackson has differentiated herself from the masses by her unique and achingly human characters. You’ve Gotta Read This!

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The Death of Grass by John Christopher

Will we do anything in the world to protect our friends, families and loved ones? Even if it means compromising on the ideals we’ve always believed in? Another Cookie Crumbles

Yes, I know she wrote the review nearly two years ago, but I only bought the book last month – I had hoped I’d find a copy in the library, but had to admit defeat and buy a copy as I really want to read it!

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 Villain by Shuichi Yoshida

This atmospheric, and intricately woven, novel carries us over the passes we have traveled in our lives, both real and imaginary. Dolce Bellezza

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 The Piano Man’s Daughter by Timothy Findley

Bought thanks to ravings from Pink Sheep Cafe.
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I don’t think I’d have come across many of these books without bloggers. I’m grateful they have expanded my reading horizons and improved my overall enjoyment of the books I read.

Have you read any of these books?

Which do you think I should read first?

 

 

 

Today Book Blogger Appreiciation Week is encouraging bloggers to find out a little more about each other via a series of interview swaps. My interview partner is Carolina from Eclectic Book Readings.

Carolina reads a wide variety of different genres and can be found reading anything from YA to the classics. She lives in Portugal  and can be found on twitter @eclectic_reader. I hadn’t heard of her blog before I was assigned her as an interview partner, but I’ll definitely be returning. I’m sure a lot of you will love her blog, so please head over and take a look.

Inspired by a wordless interview with Shaun Tan and Simon’s Book Taste Meme I thought it would be nice to keep words to a minimum and Carolina kindly agree to answer all her questions with the use of photographs. Here are her photographic answers to my questions:

How would you describe your blog?

 

Can you show your taste in books with a
single image?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which is your favourite book?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are your book shelves well organised?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Where do you like to read?

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

What is it like where you live?

 

 

 

 

 
A big thanks to Carolina for answering my questions! I particularly like her reading taste photo – so dark and atmospheric. I fancy reading a book like that right now…

Head over to Carolina’s blog to see my answers to her questions. 

 

 

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Today marks the start of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, a time to celebrate the hard work of bloggers from around the world.

The book blogging world is growing all the time so it is increasingly hard to feel part of the community. Luckily there are a few bloggers out there doing everything they can to build relationships between bloggers.

My post A Beginner’s Guide to Joining the Book Blogging Community explains some of best ways to form bonds with other bloggers, but today I’d like to highlight those doing a fantastic job, making our online experience warm and welcoming.

 

Beth Fish Reads

Beth and I started blogging at a very similar time and so I have enjoyed watching her blog grow and blossom into the amazing place it is today. We don’t really have the same taste in books, but I love the way she does everything possible to unite bloggers of all reading tastes. She is always helpful and encouraging to new bloggers and is a constant source of bookish information on twitter (@bethfishreads).

She links bloggers from a wide variety of genres with her weekend cooking feature and always seems to be encouraging bloggers to join in with community events. She is at the heart of the book blogging community.

Leeswammes’s Blog

Judith is the centre of the European book blogging community. She organised the Book Bloggers Abroad feature that showed how life is different for bloggers from around the world, started a Literary Giveaway Blog Hop and is a member of the Independent Literary Awards.

She is always a positive voice on twitter (@leeswammes), encouraging friendly interaction and unity. And the best thing? She has an almost identical reading taste to me, so I trust every single book recommendation she suggests.

Kittling: Books

If you want to know what is going on in the blogging world then I recommend following Kittling: Books. Every week Cathy does a fantastic weekly link roundup detailing all the major events of the past week. She also seems to know just about everyone, thanks to her wonderful Scene of the Blog feature. I recommend following her!

International Reading Challenges

I also love anything that encourages people to read books from outside their own culture. Hello Japan!, The South Asian Review Database and Nigerian Literature Fridays are some of my favourite current initiatives.

Blogging is a wonderful hobby, but it is so much more enjoyable when we all work together, sharing the joy of books.

Thank you to Amy and all those who organised the wonderfully positive Book Bloggers Appreiciaition Week!