Book Lists

The following is a collection of booklists put together by the First Floor staff. Check back often for updates and new lists. Enjoy!

New Arrivals

A selection of the latest titles to arrive on our shelves. Check back often for updates!

• Fiction Bestsellers
• New Fiction
• Nonfiction Bestsellers
• New Nonfiction

Our Newest Booklists

• African American Fiction by Local Authors
  Enjoy these fiction titles written by authors who grew up or lived in Pittsburgh.
• Apocalist Booklypse
  Humans are fascinated by end-of-the-world scenarios. Find your favorite doom or discover something new to worry about.
• Growing Up and Coming Out
  If they can do it, you can too.
• Read-Alikes: Art of Fielding
  These are all well-written, thought-provoking fiction titles. Some have a touch of baseball thrown in for a curve.
• Read-Alikes: Love in a Nutshell
  Romantic comedies with a touch of mystery are your craving? Then check these out . . .

General Fiction

• Art Fiction
  Fiction inspired by famous artists or their paintings.

• Beach Reads
  These great books are the perfect supplement to your 2010 Summer beach get-away!
• Books for Bibliophiles
  Fiction and non-fiction about books and reading.
• Books in Which Joseph Stalin Plays a Starring Role
  Explore fiction involving one of history's most infamous figures.
• Books that Blew Your Mind
  A list of books that move you.
• Caring Volunteers Aren't Only in Fiction . . .
  But we do like reading about them in novels. Try one and find yourself inspired to help someone this holiday season.
• Challenging Reads (In More Ways Than One)
  Not all books are received with open arms. The following selections have been challenged by courts, parents, publishers, and more for their controversial nature.
• Chinese American Fiction
  Past and present, youth and old age mix in these novels by Chinese Americans.
• Classic Tearjerkers
  If you need a good cry, re-reading these classic tearjerkers should do the job.
• A Concert of Fiction
  Whether it's popular or classical, historic fiction or chick lit, one of these titles should catch your ear!
• The Dripping Faucet of Our Doom
  Books with unusual titles.

• Eight Novels I Would Read if I Were You
  Spanning the globe with tales of love and death. Mostly death.
• Everything Old is New Again
  Classic tales get a 21st-century makeover. Try the homage, or cozy up with the originals!
• Experience Vietnam
  Stories, memoirs and poetry by and about the Vietnamese people.
• Families in Fiction
  These fiction titles celebrate the joys and sorrows of family life.
• Fiction and Cookery
  Cookery fiction is all the rage these days. Check out these titles that include cookery chick lit, romance, and mystery (some even come with recipes).
• Fiction With Science (That Isn't Science Fiction)
  Want to read fiction about science that isn’t considered “science fiction?” Try these titles!
• Fixer-upper Fiction
  From mysteries to romances, houses play a part in these titles.
• Football in Fiction
  With novels that include mysteries and romance, everyone can get into the spirit of the season... football season, that is!
• Germaphilia
  Germaphobe or Germaphile? You might decide to switch teams after you read a few of these fiction and non-fiction selections about the smallest troublemakers in the world.
• Girl Power! Historical Fiction about Strong Women
  Be inspired by these historical stories featuring strong female protagonists.
• God, Goddess and Godless
  Books about religion or the lack thereof.
• Going Places: Travel Fiction
  It's not where you're going, but how you get there in these novels.
• Heartwarmers
  Fight off the chill of winter with these heartwarming fiction and nonfiction titles.
• Illicit Fiction
  Transgressive fiction beyond Palahniuk, Burroughs and Bukowski.
• Immigrant Nation
  Classic and contemporary fiction about the immigrant experience in the United States.
• It Might Be, It Could Be, IT IS...
  ...a booklist of fiction with baseball themes.
• It's All Good!
  A New and Featured Africana book list.
• Jazz!
  Mysteries, historical novels, stories of love and comedy--check out these jazz-centric titles!
• King Arthur
  Experience the never-ending and immortal tales of King Arthur, his beautiful Queen Guinevere, and the many knights of the Round Table.
• Knockout Fiction
  Enjoy a variety of novels, short stories, and poems about the lives of boxers.
• Large Print Luminaries: A Sample Booklist
  Did you know that many of your favorite titles and authors, both fiction and non-fiction, are available in large print versions?
• Laugh it Off
  The Booklist with a Sense of Humor.
• Literature's Greatest Hits
  Ten classics.
• Love Your Librarian?
  Take home one of these titles which feature superhero, romancing, futuristic, time-traveling, spell-casting librarians!
• Make a Splash: Between the Rivers
  There's a wealth of culture and history waiting to be discovered between Pittsburgh's famous three rivers. The City's fascinating story comes alive at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
• Masterful Fiction by Hispanic Authors
  Famous and little-known, up and coming and classic, long and short stories—these haunting works are written about the Hispanic experience through the ages.
• Midwives
  Fiction and non-fiction featuring baby catchers.
• The Nearly Departed
  

  We've seen dearly departed narrators in film or on television. (Remember Sunset Boulevard and Ghost and Six Feet Under?) Enjoy these novels that come to us with a disembodied point of view.

• New Books We Loved in 2010
  CLP staff recommends 2010 fiction and nonfiction we loved to read.
• Novel Appraisals: Fiction about Antiques and Collectibles
  Check out this limited edition series of rare and unusual books about the urge to buy, sell, collect, and evaluate objects.
• Novel Destinations: Scandinavia
  Welcome to Scandinavia, where the weather outside is chilly, skies perpetually grey, and the forecast is sinister with a chance of scattered murders.
• Novel Destinations: Scotland
  If you lean toward reading books that are overcast with a touch of gloom, nobility, and old-fashioned values, take one of these short trips to Scotland.
• Novel Destinations: In Search of Lost Relations
  Each of these stories concerns the mysterious search for lost relatives and friends, leading our heroes on a journey through the past, and to faraway locals such as the Ukraine, the Caribbean, Malta, Shanghai, and the Andes.
• Other Peoples' Diaries
  Get a sense of other peoples’ lives and experiences by reading these graphic novels and non-fiction diaries.
• Pas de Six
  Experience the passion and beauty of dance through these six works of dance fiction.
• Pittsburgh Born and/or Bred
  These authors have departed for many novel destinations, but at one time or another their haunts were right here in Pittsburgh. Check out these writers with strong Steel City roots.
• Poets in Novels
  Live the creative life through these novels featuring poets both real and imagined.
• Presidential Fiction
  Tired of all the fiction coming out of Washington, D.C.? How about some "real fiction" based on the lives of some of our presidents and their families?
• Prose by Pros
  Something marvelous happens when the poetically talented apply their skills to prose. The following collections of short stories written by poets are fine examples of this phenomena.
• Pulp Fiction to Enjoy Again
  Revisit some of the most famous hardboiled novels of the pulp genre.
• Re-explore Your Favorite Fantasies
  Re-explore worlds of magic and mystery in these classic fantasy novels.
• Repeat Performances
  A list of books we love to read again and again.
• Share the History - Stories Set in Pittsburgh's Past
  From the 18th through the 20th century, these novels focus on Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania's human history.
• Small Boxes Containing Smaller Text
  Scissors and highlighters in hand, these fiction and non-fiction titles hone in on the peculiarities and hilarity of classified ads.
• Staff Picks for the Best Fiction of 2009
  Do you have limited time for leisure reading? One of these titles is sure to please.
• Stage and Screen
  Fictional tales of actors and actresses.
• Stonewall Award Selections
  Explore nominees and winners of the American Library Association's Stonewall Award for excellence in gay and lesbian fiction.
• Teen Fiction
  Engaging titles for teens of all ages!
• This American Booklist
  Are you a fan of the radio program This American Life? Try one of these collections from past and present TAL contributors.
• Two Wheels, Not Four!
  Fiction and non-fiction titles all about bicycling!
• Upper Crust New York Fiction
  The setting: New York City. The characters: Wealthy elite. The plots: Decadently amusing.
• Weighty Tomes That While Away the Hours
  Choose a great big book that lasts awhile.
• What's Hot with Book Groups
  If you're looking for a thought-provoking read, try one of these books recently discussed at one of several local book groups that uses our Book Group Connections service.
• When You Call Me That, Smile!
  Relive the wild, wild West by re-reading these classic Westerns.
• You Could Start a Book Club!
  Seven titles all about books and book clubbers.

African & African American Fiction

• African American Mysteries
  Want to learn more about African American mysteries? From bomb-defusing journalists to investigators descended from Voodoo Queens, these books have it all!
• Fiction by African Writers
  A selection of titles by authors from all over Africa.
• Fiction by African American Writers
  Classic and contemporary titles.
• New and Featured African American Fiction
  A selection of recent titles that represent the variety of contemporary African American experience.

Inspirational Fiction

• African American Inspirational Fiction
  A selection of novels in which faith plays a role.
• Amish Romances
  This genre - sometimes called "bonnet romances" - is gaining in popularity. If you enjoy stories about faith, family and love told in a slow-paced style, you may like some of these titles.
• Blinded by the Light
  Spiritual memoirs to keep you company on your faith journey.
• Inspirational Christmas Reads
  These hopeful, heartwarming holiday stories are sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

GLBT

• Dashing Detectives
  Accusation and crime make these fascinating and suspenseful reads. Look for them and others in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's GLBT collection.
• Family Drama!
  Sometimes you can't save the drama for your mama. Especially if she is causing the drama in your life. These tales of broken families and the perils of childhood can be found in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's GLBT collection on the First Floor of the Main Library.
• Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror Can Be Gay Too!
  These tales of other worlds and the supernatural cross gender roles as well as reality.
• GLBT Fiction to Watch Out For
  They're here, they're queer, and they're ready to be read! Check out these bold new fiction titles from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's GLBT collection today.
• Growing Up and Coming Out
  If they can do it, you can too.
• Imaginary Life Can be Gay
  A list of new GLBT fiction featuring self-discovery, missing persons, and tortured pasts.
• Life Can be Gay
  A list of GLBT memoirs about how life can be hilarious and heartbreaking.
• Restless Romantic
  M/M romances from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's GLBT collection on the First Floor of the Main Library.
• Rousing Romances
  Lesbian love stories for the hopeless romantic and the hesitant heartbroken. Find these and more in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's GLBT collection on the First Floor of the Main Library.

Historical Fiction

• Blast from the Past
  An assortment of outstanding historical fiction.
• Holocaust Fiction
  Ponder these fictional stories about the horrors of the Holocaust and the people who witnessed and endured them.
• Civil War Fiction
  Looking for something a bit less popular than The Killer Angels or Gone with the Wind? Check out these titles…
• Fit for a Queen: Fiction Inspired by the Victorian Era
  These titles will steep you in the lore and romance of Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901).
• History Mysteries: 20th Century
  Get your U.S. History mysteriously.

Holidays

• Holiday Fiction
  Heartwarming tales for the holidays.
• Holiday Survival Guide: Stories
  In the mood for a holiday story? We offer a medley of new novels, well loved classics, short stories, anthologies, and one non-fiction winner.
• Horribulous Halloweenus Hilarious
  Horror can be so much more than just scary or horrifying. The following list of books will show you the other masks horror can wear.
• Humorous Holiday Books
  Shopping, baking, wrapping presents . . . take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season with one of these humorous holiday stories!

Horror

• Books About Sea Monsters
  This list of fiction featuring sea monsters ranges from the comedic to the horrific.
• Books That Make You Go "Eeew!"
  The grossest, creepiest books we can think of.
• Haunted Houses
  Horror aficionados love haunted houses because they reveal the lurking fear within the safe and mundane. Submitted for your approval are ten of the best haunted house novels of all time.
• Here lie frightening strangers, dark secrets, chilly nights, haunting ghosts
  From goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties, and things that go bump in the night - Good Lord, deliver us!
• Horror Beyond the Classics
  Less well known, but equally scary.
• Horror Short Story Anthologies
  Do you love a good scary story? What about several in one volume? These books will satisfy horror lovers who also love short stories.
• Oh That's Gross!
  Fiction to make your skin crawl and stomach turn . . .
• Oh, the Horror!
  Books to make your skin crawl.
• Monsters Ate My Classics
  This booklist highlights examples of the recent phenomenon of adding monsters to classic works of fiction.
• Scare Yourself Silly...Again!
  Scare yourself over and over again with these classic horror stories.
• Walks to Remember
  Maybe you should thinking twice about hiking after all.
• Zombie-licious
  Welcome to the world of the undead.
  

Mysteries & Thrillers

• Amateur Detectives
  Detectives come in all kinds of packages in these fun mysteries.
• Animal Mysteries
  From pet detectives to furry perpetrators, these animal mysteries will have you wagging your tail!
• Christian Mysteries
  Popular mysteries in the Christian fiction genre.
• Classic Whodunnits
  Even if you already know the ending, these classic whodunnits are worth another read.
• A Dash of Suspense: Culinary Mysteries
  Dig in to these mysteries dealing with all things culinary.
• Effective Detectives with Linear Perspective
  Featuring some awfully clever private investigators with unmatched craft and wit.
• Forces of Murder
  Discover new mysteries and thrillers wherein natural disasters form the backdrop for murder!
• History Mysteries: 20th Century
  Get your U.S. History mysteriously.
• Hold On!
  Mysteries at treacherous waterfalls, adventures in white water rapids, kayak trips down raging rivers, journeys on perilous waterways of all kinds—enjoy these exciting (and soggy) summertime reads.
• Holidays, Interrupted
  It's a not-so-merry Christmas in these mysteries and thrillers.
• How Does Your Garden Whodunit Grow?
  A tranquil garden is the scene of a shocking crime! Sleuths rake through clues and dig out "whodunit" in this group of botanically based mysteries.
• Librarians as Detectives
  Is your neighborhood librarian a closet sleuth? All of these mysteries feature librarians as the crime investigator extraordinaire.
• Librarians as Victims
  Who knew that people had such pent up frustration against their local library staff? Check out these mysteries where the prey is the town librarian.
• More Historical Mysteries
  Some feature famous characters, and all of these novels of detection are set in a time clearly distinct from our own. That's right—before cells phones, before computers.
• Mysteries...
  New mysteries, classic mysteries, nonfiction books about mysteries-- we've got it all right here!
• The Mystery of Nancy Drew
  Fiction and non-fiction about that famous girl detective!
• Mystery Parodies
  Choose an affectionate, tongue-in-cheek send-up of a classic detective tale for a tremendously entertaining summer read.
• Reluctant Mysteries
  Not much of a mystery reader? One of these books just might change your mind!
• Scandals in Scandinavia
  Think that life is calmer where it's colder? These mystery and suspense novels set in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Greenland will prove that theory wrong.
• Scandinavian Mystery Rocks!
  Great fiction not written by Stieg Larsson.
• Suspense Series
  There are tons of quality suspense series out there, but as every fan of a series knows, it's best to begin at the beginning. You'll understand the basic premise, discover unique personalities of the main characters, and learn interesting facts that may come into play in later books. Presenting the first volumes of several popular thriller series.
• Sweden Is A Mystery
  An increase of crime in Sweden has been credited with an increase in Swedish crime novel writing, and the quality of this infusion into the mystery genre cannot be denied.
• Watching the Detectives
  Graphic Novels about mystery and crime.
• Women Spy Novels
  The world of women operatives in fiction spans the globe and includes dangerous situations, covert operations, and extreme tactics.

Romance

• Chick Lit That Bites
  Vamp it up with these paranormal romances!
• Chick Lit That Inspires
  Light inspirational fiction for women.
• Chick Lit That Rocks!
  Books about strong women who overcome difficulties and learn something about life, love and themselves in the process.
• Classic Romances to Love Again
  These classic romances get better with every read!
• Holiday Romance
  Fall in love with the holidays.

• Hot, Historical Romances
  You may be able to predict the endings, but in these novels, it's the sensual way they get there that counts.
• Paperback Romance Roundup
  Ten more chances to fall in love with a love story.
• Romance Is In the Air
  A random collection of romances ranging from laugh-out-loud funny to box-of-Kleenex sad.

Science Fiction & Fantasy

• Apocalist Booklypse
  Humans are fascinated by end-of-the-world scenarios. Find your favorite doom or discover something new to worry about.
• Award Winning Science Fiction Visions of the Future
  See into the future with these Hugo and/or Nebula Award winning science fiction classics.
• Fairy Tales for Adults
  These fantasy picks use familiar childhood themes and characters to explore the complexities of adult life.
• Fantasy Fiction
  Must-reads from magical realms.
• Fantasy Stories to Read To Your Kids
  (That you'll enjoy too!)
  
• First Books in High Fantasy Sagas
  High fantasy sagas generally take place in fantastical worlds filled with swords and sorcery and epic struggles. They also usually span thousands of pages across numerous books. Here are the first books in some of the better known high fantasy sagas.
• Get Lost in Cyberspace!
  A cyberpunk booklist.
• Military Science Fiction
  Ten books about waging war and making peace in distant times on distant worlds.
• New Sci-Fi For the People of Earth
  Some of the most acclaimed recent Science Fiction.
• Revisit Other Worlds With Classic Science Fiction
  These classic science fiction stories can redeliver you to otherworldly places.
• Same as It Never Was: Historical Fantasy
  Fantasy fiction in a variety of historical settings.
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Classics
  Venerable Classics of Science Fiction and Fantasy.
• Science Fiction and Fantasy for Beginners
  A short introduction to the world of Sci-Fi and Fantasy
  
• Unusual Sci-Fi and Fantasy Titles
  Ten books that nobody else will tell you to read.
• Zombies of the 21st Century
  Finished all the standard zombie novels? Give one of these a try!

Short Stories

• I'm Reading Short Stories
  Think of them as mini novels, perfect for short trips and the pauses that happen naturally in life.
• Short Story Collections Connected by More than Their Binding
  The stories in these collections connect through character, place, and philosophical bent, inspiring a deep reading experience.

World Fiction

• A Nation in Narrative--Indian Fiction
  See India through fictional stories that capture the liveliness, darkness, and complexity of a country with a rich cultural history.
• Around the World in 35 Books
  Your passport to a world of great fiction.
• Fiction by African Writers
  A selection of titles by authors from all over Africa.
• Fiction by Dutch Writers
  A selection of titles by Dutch authors.
• Fiction and More by Japanese Writers
  A selection of titles by Japanese authors.
• Fiction set in Ireland
  Fiction set in and around the Emerald Isle.
• World Fiction
  Great books in translation.
• Stories of Venice
  Experience the magical city of Venice.

Featured Authors

• Author Spotlight: John Irving
  John Irving is a celebrated novelist known for his masterful blending of the comic and the tragic in his endearing storytelling.
• Author Spotlight: Jodi Picoult
  Bestselling author Jodi Picoult is a wizard with domestic drama, combining aspects of legal thrillers and suspense novels with frank explorations of relationships within and surrounding families.
• Author Spotlight: Richard Russo
  Russo is a true master of character development, blending a deep insight of human nature with observations that are often hilarious and always heartfelt.
• The Dark Ladies of Fiction
  Five female authors who can take you to the edge and back.

Read-Alikes

• Captivated by The Da Vinci Code?
  A few more titles you might enjoy!
• Even More Da Vinci Code Read-Alikes
  In case you just can't get enough!
• Read-Alikes: Angelology
  If you like your fiction filled with religious themes, such as those in the Danielle Trussoni's bestseller Angelology, then these titles might tickle your fancy.
• Read-Alikes: Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1
  American writer Samuel Clemens wrote under the pen names Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass, Sergeant Fathom, and W. Epaminondas Adrastus Blab. But his most famous pen name is Mark Twain. Waiting for a copy of his unabridged autobiography? Read it already? For related reading, try one of these titles.
• Read-Alikes: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
  This list includes books that delve into the lives of Chinese immigrants adapting to Western culture, as well as titles that analyze parenting styles.
• Read-Alikes: Before I Go to Sleep
  If the thought of losing your memory, getting to start your life over, or forgetting who you are intrigues you, check out the following . . .
• Read-Alikes: Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
  Can't get enough of juicy behind-the-scenes restaurant books? Here are a few more to check out . . .
• Read-Alikes: Bossypants
  Before or after Tina Fey’s book, see if one of these titles tickles your funny bone . . .
• Read-Alikes: Caught
  Suspenseful tales about missing victims similar to Harlan Coben's latest title, Caught.
• Read-Alikes: Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
  If you like Chelsea Handler's crude and hilarious story-telling style in her latest book Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, then you might want to give some of these other nastily funny books a try.
• Read-Alikes: Dead in the Family
  If you've finished reading Charlaine Harris's latest Sookie Stackhouse novel and don't know what to read while you wait for the next one, then this list might help.
• Read-Alikes: Deception
  If you can't get enough of fast-paced suspense series, such as Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware novels, then give one of these books a try.
• Read-Alikes: Decoded by Jay-Z
  Want to delve deeper into what it all means to be part of the hip hop scene? Try these to get a taste of what it's like in their world.
• Read-Alikes: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
  Looking for a supernatural romance or a history of witches? Try these…
• Read-Alikes: Fantasy In Death
  If you enjoyed J. D. Robb's Fantasy in Death series, then you might enjoy one of these books.
• Read-Alikes: Freedom
  Believe the hype: Jonathan Franzen's latest novel Freedom is the literary real deal. Featured in this list are other literary novels with themes similar to those found in Freedom.
• Read-Alikes: Fly Away Home
  If you enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's touching latest, Fly Away Home, then you might also like these books.
• Read-Alikes: Food Rules
  If you like Michael Pollan's take on food, health, and the environment in books like Food Rules, then you might like to read some of these similarly themed titles.
• Read-Alikes: Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
  Delve deeper into the backstage of American politics and the 2008 presidential election with read-alikes for Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.
• Read-Alikes: Ghost Story
  Engaging tales of the supernatural . . .
• Read-Alikes: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
  If you enjoy intelligent mysteries like Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy, then you won't go wrong reading some of these read-alikes.
• Read-Alikes: Half-Empty
  Are you a fan of David Rakoff's humorous asides and sarcastic one-liners? Featured in this list are other novels and essay collections sure to make you laugh and grimace in equal proportions.
• Read-Alikes: The Happiness Project
  Have you finished reading Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project, but you're still not happy? Then try some of these titles!
• Read-Alikes: Heaven Is for Real
  Looking for proof of what comes after? These should help 'enlighten' you.
• Read-Alikes: Hell's Corner
  David Baldacci's latest suspense-thriller, Hell's Corner, deals in assassins. Check out this list for even more titles saturated with assassinations.
• Read-Alikes: The Help
  Explore the intertwining themes of race and class in works of fiction similar to Kathryn Stockett's The Help.
• Read-Alikes: 1Q84
  If you enjoyed the alternate realities in 1Q84, try one of these.
• Read-Alikes: Land of the Painted Caves
  Can't wait for the latest installation in the Earth's Children series? Maybe one of these will fit the bill until your hold comes in.
• Read-Alikes: Love in a Nutshell
  Romantic comedies with a touch of mystery are your craving? The check these out . . .
• Read-Alikes: The Magician King
  Are you a grown-up fan of the Narnia series or Harry Potter? Then these books may enchant and delight you.
• Read-Alikes: Mini-Shopaholic
  Are you a fan of the zany shopping misadventures of the characters in Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series? Then you might like some of these books, which are similar to Kinsella's latest piece of shopping anxiety fiction, Mini-Shopaholic.
• Read-Alikes: Mockingjay (The Final Book of the Hunger Games)
  While you're waiting for Suzanne Collins's third book in the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, try one of these dystopian page-turners.
• Read-Alikes: The Night Circus
  Other magical stories for The Night Circus fans . . .
• Read-Alikes: One Day
  After you've enjoyed the humorous heartache of David Nicholls's latest love story, One Day, try one of these read-alikes.
• Read-Alikes: The Passage
  If you enjoyed Justin Cronin's much-hyped book The Passage, then this list of post-apocalyptic novels might appeal to you, too.
• Read-Alikes: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
  The following novels contain the wit and magic that you enjoyed in Aimee Bender's novel, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.
• Read-Alikes: The Psychopath Test
  Can you be sure the person you just spoke with isn't hiding an antisocial personality disorder? Truth is, you can’t. These books, though, might help make spotting a psychopath easier.
• Read-Alikes: Room
  The following booklist features books with themes similar to those found in Emma Donoghue's claustrophobic bestseller, Room.
• Read-Alikes: The Secret Life of Bees
  If you enjoyed the diversity and magic of The Secret Life of Bees, try one of these titles on for size.
• Read-Alikes: Sh*t My Dad Says
  This booklist highlights books that deal with interesting dads, and at least one originated on the internet. In other words, they all have something in common with Justin Halpern's bestselling book, Sh*t My Dad Says.
• Read-Alikes: Sister
  If you liked the themes in Sister, try these . . .
• Read-Alikes: A Stolen Life
  Real life stories and novels of kidnappings and stolen innocence.
• Read-Alikes: This Beautiful Life
  Novels about the tragedy and drama of family life.
• Read-Alikes: Tom Clancy
  If you like political intrigue and/or the adventures of Jack Ryan, you might enjoy these titles in a similar vein.
• Read-Alikes: Towers of Midnight
  Fans of high fantasy should be pleased by these books similar to the latest addition to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, Towers of Midnight.
• Read-Alikes: Twilight Series
  Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series has become a cultural phenomenon, but it's really just the tip of the iceberg for modern stories about vampires. If you're finished with Twilight but (un)dying for more, you might want to check out some of these books.
• Read-Alikes: Unbroken
  Follow up Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption with thrilling tales of undaunted courage.
• Read-Alikes: Women, Food, and God
  Geneen Roth's book Women, Food, and God explores the relationship between emotions and overeating. This list recommends similarly themed books.

Graphic Novels

• Best Graphic Novels by Famous Prose Authors
  Prose-to-graphic-novel adaptations are the new hot trend in publishing. Find out why-with graphic novels by fiction writers you already love.
• Don't Bug Me - I'm Reading People's Diaries
  Get a sense of other people's lives and experiences by reading these graphic novels and non-fiction diaries.
• From Aardvarks to Bunnies and Back
  An essential list of independent graphic novels.
• Get Real: Graphic Novel Memoirs
  Starring real people or their fictional graphic alter-egos, these graphic memoirs come with a healthy dose of real life.
• Love, Heartbreak, and Tights
  This list contains a random selection of graphic novels where romance plays a part.
• No Superheroes!
  Graphic novels for adults and young adults.
• Surreal Graphic Novels
  These graphic novels blend reality, hallucination and visual delirium to create captivating, disorienting tales.
• Watching the Detectives
  Graphic Novels about mystery and crime.

Nonfiction

• Animal Magic
  Animals impact our lives in incredible and amazing ways. These titles celebrate the friendship, depth, and variety that living among animals brings to humans.
• Believe It: Books on Faith
  Interested in how different people express religious beliefs, or the lack thereof? The books on this list can get you started.
• Batter Up! Ten Books About Baseball
  Now that spring has returned, the boys of summer aren't far behind. Read up on the history, present and future of our national pastime while you wait for the season to start.

• Blogs to Books
  You loved them on the internet, now love them on the printed page! Plus never-before-seen hilarity!
• Books for Bibliophiles
  Fiction and non-fiction about books and reading.
• The Feminine Mystic: Books About Feminine Spirituality
  Explore these memoirs and nonfiction selections from writers who define the divine with a feminine pronoun.
• Funny People With Great Attitude
  Wisdom and wit combine to produce thought-provoking laughter.
• Get Creative at the Library!
  The library has great books and DVDs to help you get creative!
• Go Green With a Kitchen Garden
  Plan and plant a kitchen garden for the most local, freshest food possible.
• Holiday Celebrations: Cooking & Decorating
  A variety of books to help you celebrate the season.
• Holiday Miscellany
  Historical holidays, humor and a graphic novel: at least one of these will get you in the mood for the holidays!
• Investigate the Code
  Captivated by The Da Vinci Code? Now do the research!
• Japan: People and Culture
  An introduction to Japanese and Japanese American culture.
• Large Print Luminaries: A Sample Booklist
  Did you know that many of your favorite titles and authors, both fiction and non-fiction, are available in large print versions?
• The Latest in Home Repair
  Whether you want tips, techniques and instructions, or a readable history of the underlying areas of a home, you'll find the latest New and Featured titles in home repair and decoration.
• The Lighter Side of Real Life
  These accessible nonfiction reads will make you think, laugh, and otherwise appreciate the delightfully quirky world around you.
• A Little Crafty, a Little Crazy
  Crafting for grownups.
• Midwives
  Fiction and non-fiction featuring baby catchers.
• Miserable Childhoods
  These authors vie for most compelling miserable memoir.
• The Mystery of Nancy Drew
  Fiction and non-fiction about that famous girl detective!
• Nautical Nonfiction
  Pirates, ghosts, crab fishing, exploration, survival, all happening on the open seas.
• On Pins and Needles: Books About Acupuncture
  Curious about acupuncture? These books can give you a good overview or offer specific suggestions for using acupuncture to deal with various health concerns.
• Pittsburgh Baseball and Hockey
  Tales of Pittsburgh baseball and hockey legends, from past and present.
• Pittsburgh Sports - Yinz Love the Stillers
  Long live the Black and Gold!
• The Pleasure of Poetry
  Selected volumes designed to captivate your soul and senses.
• Poetry on Poverty
  Poets render the hardships and beauty of poor and working class life into a variety of powerful styles.
• Poets Write Personal Prose
  Reflections on parents, pacifism, gardening, and more.
• Redd-up Reads
  Ten Books to Help You Get and Stay Organized.
• Small Boxes Containing Smaller Text
  Scissors and highlighters in hand, these fiction and non-fiction titles hone in on the peculiarities and hilarity of classified ads.
• Therapeutic Massage: There's So Much to Learn!
  Learn how to massage. Learn about using massage to address specific health concerns. Learn about various types of massage therapies. And more!
• True Life Women
  Everyone has a story; some are just stranger than others.
• Two Wheels, Not Four!
  Fiction and non-fiction titles all about bicycling!
• Unforgettable Memoirs
  Lose yourself in some of this year’s most compelling non-fiction.
• Ukraine
  You won't find direct flights from the Steel City to Eastern Europe, but you can surround yourself with Ukrainian novels and films right here at your library.
• Words, Words, Words
  National Poetry Month only happens in April, but dedicated poets work all year long. This list collects highly recommended guides to writing poetry.
• Writer's Guide to Writing
  If you're hard at work on your literary masterpiece, these titles will inspire your pen to glide and your keyboard to clack.
• Yoga Books: To Your Health!
  Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has a large and interesting collection of books on yoga. Check them out!
• Wish You Were Here: Travel Memoirs
  See the world through another's eyes.

Food and Cooking

• All About Beer
  If you like drinking beer and thinking beer, then these books are for you.
• Baking Bread
  A selection of cookbooks dedicated to that most basic and yet most gratifying food, bread.
• Better Living Through Baking
  Cakes, cookies, bread, mmm...
• Cooking by Hand
  Take it slow. Wander through a farmer's market, knead a batch of bread, mince fresh garlic, brine pickles, plant herbs. Explore cooking from scratch and its satisfying rewards.
• Family Meals
  Enjoying a home-cooked meal is a great way for a family to spend time together. Find ideas in these cookbooks from our extensive collection.
• Food Consciousness
  Books about how and why we eat the way we do.
• Food for the Spirit
  Recipes, essays and memoirs that remind us of the inextricable connection between food, spirit and health.
• Food Through the Ages
  Read about the origins and history of all of your culinary favorites.
• Food Writing
  Like to read? Love to eat? Try a book about food.
• French Culinary Classics
  French cuisine is among the most delightful to eat, but some of the most diffuclt to reproduce. This list will introduce you to some of the classic guides in this area.
• From the Ocean
  Not an ocean in sight, but fear not, wonderful sea inspired meals can be prepared at any skill or sea level.
• Go Veggie, Go Vegan
  Learn all about vegetarian cooking.
• Healthy Cooking, Healthy Eating
  Books to help you eat well.
• Holiday Celebrations: Cooking & Decorating
  A variety of books to help you celebrate the season.
• Holiday Helpers
  Food to help you celebrate.
• Mangia! Italian Cooking
  Take a look at these cookbooks for help in creating authentic Italian cuisine.
• Our Most Rustic Cooking Method — Open Fire
  Fire up your grill, kettle, or pit, and prepare to savor smoky home cooked flavor.
• Picnicking for Everyone!
  Eat al fresco with tips and recipes from one of these books.
• Pies
  Judging by the volume of cookbooks on the subject, the food trend of the year may be pies!
• Pizza! Pizza!
  Learn to make this Italian-American favorite.
• Oh So Good Meals!
  Check out these cookbooks to find new meal ideas for a great breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.
• Putting Up
  A sampling of new and classic books on canning, preserving, and pickling techniques—just in time for the fall and winter months.
• Quick and Easy Cooking
  Good food... in a hurry.
• Raw Foods
  Incorporating more unprocessed and uncooked plant food into your diet can be the first step to living the raw foods way.
• Savory Pastries & Sweet Desserts
  You can make wonderful pastries, cakes, cookies, and other special treats at home with the help of these cookbooks.
• Soups and Stews
  Borrow one of these cookbooks and create a pot of steaming soup to warm up those chilly nights.
• Sweet Treats
  Check out these delicious reads to warm your heart and soul this Valentine's Day.
• A Taste of India
  Indian food is notorious for its bountiful flavors. However, reproducing those flavors can be difficult for the home chef. These cookbooks will provide you with a guide.

Travel

• Armchair Travels: India
  Explore and discover India with these books.
• Armchair Travels: Pakistan
  Explore and discover Pakistan with these books.
• Beach Travel
  Guides to great beaches, near and far.
• Going Places: Travel Fiction
  It's not where you're going, but how you get there in these novels.
• In Your Own Backyard: Travel in and Around Pennsylvania
  Can't get away this summer? Explore Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia & Ohio.
• It's Summer Somewhere
  Keep a summer state of mind all year long with these titles!
• Stories of Venice
  Experience the magical city of Venice.
• Travel - the Unique, Unexpected, and Unforgettable
  For adventures and experiences beyond the ordinary, try these travel books!
• Traveling in Ireland
  Learn about the sights, hotels, and restaurants of Ireland.
• Wish You Were Here: Travel Memoirs
  See the world through another's eyes.

Zines

• Biking Zines
  A sampling from the Bikes category of the adult zine collection. They touch on bike repair, bike trips, BMX bike culture, and women and cycling. Enjoy!
• Health Zines
  Zines are a great source of information about health issues. There are also a number of zines that feature compelling stories of people's personal experiences with illness. These are just a few health zines in the zine collection at CLP.
• Leave the World a Better Place
  These zines deal with social change and are located in the Zine Collection on the First Floor of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main.
• Travel Zines
  These zines contain stories about various kinds of traveling. Find them in the Zine Collection on the First Floor of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main.
• Zines
  A zine is a self-published, noncommercial publication about anything by anyone. Consult these feisty, fun guides, anthologies, and zine-made-books for information and inspiration.
• Zines about Education
  These zines address issues of education, teaching, and schools, and are located in the Zine Collection on the First Floor of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main.
• Zines at Work
  Find these zines about various occupations in the Zine Collection on the First Floor of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Main.

Libros en Español

• Novelas de escritoras mexicanas contemporáneas
  No pierdas la oportunidad de leer las obras contemporáneas, de 4 escritoras Mexicanas.
• Novelas de la escritora, Isabel Allende
  Disfruta la lectura de 9 obras literarias de la famosa escritora, Isabel Allende.

This page was updated on: 6/1/2011