A while ago I used to run a ‘what was that book’ forum on the fan forum section of my website. I stopped running the forum but in the last couple of years I’ve been a member of a website called whatsthatbook.com which does the same thing. The idea is that people post their missing books (stories they remember but cannot place the title and author) and other readers comment to say if they know what the book was.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy doing this. It’s like a game and resource all at once.
My profile page on whatsthatbook is here and lists my replies to questions and my correctly identified books. Other authors may be amused to see which books of theirs people have forgotten!
I’ve noticed some books that often show up on sites like this:
The Changeover by Margaret Mahy
Everything ever written by Monica Hughes, but especially Keeper of the Isis Light
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Drinking Sapphire Wine by Tanith Lee
I once identified a book for someone on the basis of a description that “it was brown and was about a girl who could talk to animals”. Can anyone else place the book I’m talking about?
Now that’s just MEAN, Rhiannon. As if I didn’t have enough distractions
Now I just have to go and have a look. And I KNOW the book you’re talking about, but just can’t remember the title. Encroaching brain drain, obviously! Lx
http://www.scribblecitycentral.blogspot.com
Comment by Lucy Coats — February 19, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Oh dear, you’re not going to like my forthcoming post about LibraryThing then – another very beguiling distraction!
I can Facebook message you the book title I mean, if you like? How about another clue? The heroine’s most commonly used version of her name begins with D.
Comment by Rhiannon Lassiter — February 19, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
Must be Tammy Pierce and Daine in Wild Magic, no? The first Daine one was brown, as I remember. Or am I barking mad? Now a member of the site and waiting for one I can answer. Beat you to it? Thanks for commenting on Scribble City, btw. xL
Comment by Lucy Coats — February 20, 2009 @ 11:05 am
That’s right. You got that without needing many clues.
I hope whatsthatbook doesn’t siphon too much of your time away.
Comment by Rhiannon Lassiter — February 20, 2009 @ 4:14 pm