Best sites for bookworms

After much squabbling amongst the literati, Julian Barnes has been awarded the Man Booker Prize for his novel,‘The Sense of an Ending'. While accepting his prize, Barnes drew attention to the vulnerability of the book in its ‘physical form' as a consequence of the increased popularity of the e-book.

Like so many of the arts, the book world is having to adapt to life online. It is to be hoped that, as the radio was not displaced by television and television has not been displaced by the internet, there is still room for the beloved book in the modern world. Here is a selection of book-friendly websites taking advantage of the internet to keep the business of past and present literature thriving.

THE GUARDIAN - BOOKS
www.guardian.co.uk/books

No other literary magazine is required when you have the Guardian to play with. Packed with excellent book-related content in the shape of constantly updated news, reviews, criticism and blogs, you could easily lose hours in this place. The Guardian even ran its own ‘Not the Booker Prize', the result of which was decided by Guardian readers themselves.

BOOK RABBIT
www.bookrabbit.com

A social networking site for bookworms, where you can share your passion for books with other readers, authors and publishers. Discover new books and authors as you connect with others who share your literary tastes. Write reviews, join in discussions and recommend books to other bookrabbiters.

THE GUARDIAN - CHILDREN'S BOOKS
www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site

For young readers, and actually written by young readers, the Guardian Children's books section is so good, it deserved it's own mention! Dynamic, colourful, fun and packed with quizzes, competitions, pictures, videos and audio extracts - if this doesn't get your children reading, then nothing will.

BOOKISH
www.bookishengland.co.uk

This endearing site professes to sell anything book-related, and they really mean it. There are books to buy on the site, but there is also artwork that has been made out of old books, accessories and clothes inspired by books, and a general outpouring of love for beautiful bookishness all round.

UNBOUND
www.unbound.co.uk

Authors (both established and new) pitch their book ideas onto the site. If you, the reader, like what you see, you can pledge your support and help fund the book's completion. By pledging your support you will receive privileged access to the author's ‘shed', where you will get to read draft chapters, join in plot discussions and more. More than anything, Unbound allows the reader to directly influence what is being published.

ABE BOOKS
www.abebooks.com

A brilliant site if you are interested in old books. Launched in 1996, AbeBooks is an online marketplace where you can buy new, used, rare and out-of-print books, as well as cheap textbooks. They will connect you with thousands of professional booksellers around the world and there are millions of books on the site. Type in the most random book you can think of; it will be there.

PERSEPHONE BOOKS
www.persephonebooks.co.uk

Persephone Books reprint neglected classics by twentieth century writers, mostly by women. Their website is a good reflection of the thoughtful nature of what they do: attractive and intellectual publishing, with a strong undercurrent of girl power. There are currently 96 titles already published; look out for the likes of Diana Athill and A.S.Byatt lending their heavyweight support to this interesting enterprise.

THE BOOKTRUST
www.booktrust.org.uk

The Booktrust is an independent UK charity with one main aim: to get people of all ages and cultures reading. Their website is filled with information about the various projects and campaigns devised by the Booktrust to spread access to the written word. Find advice and guidance on all sorts of reading concerns, such as disability reading and reading to your kids at bedtime.

18 October 2011

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