Like many of you reading this post, I have book catnip--the kind of book I turn to over and over because something about the story satisfies. Of course, I’ve always used NoveList to help me find the "kind of book" I wanted to read. As a NoveList power user, my previous techniques tested the limits of NoveList’s more obscure field codes. I searched using AB (description), RV (reviews), and TX (all text) for several terms. My searches might be as follows:
RV "final girl"
RV survivor AND suspense
RV "lone survivor" AND suspense
RV "last survivor" AND suspense
RV "only survivor" AND suspense
If I didn't get enough books, I would then search for the same terms using the AB and/or TX field codes. Lots of work!
The addition of themes to NoveList changed my reading life. I absolutely love them. Instead of creating long searches for the "kind of book" I want read, I search using a NoveList theme for an on-target list.
As you can see from the searches above, one of my go-to themes is final girls. These ladies take on and defeat everything from serial killers to supernatural monsters. Here's an oldie but goodie: Judas Child by Carol O'Connell.
Kim Burton enjoys reading about evil corporations. These companies value you -- your labor, consumption, unwitting complicity, and sometimes bodily components are cash money to them. Go team! One of Kim's all-time favorites is Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.
Elizabeth Coleman particularly enjoys books with the comedy of manners theme. Pick up one of these if you want a peek into the lifestyles of the rich, famous, and fairly ridiculous. Patrick deWitt’s French Exit is a great example.
Clayton Boyer is all about the suburban malaise. These characters don't know what went wrong in their quest for the American Dream. Clay recommends that you try Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
Cathleen Keyser is always on the lookout for body horror novels. These are all about the disturbing and gruesome things that can happen to your body whether by others or by supernatural means. Little Heaven by Nick Cutter is a winner.
Want to change your reading life? Find your book catnip on the complete list of themes.