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Have You Read ...

Looking for your next book?

“Let us put the book in your hands.”

Librarians at Houston Public Library will use your answers to create a customized reading list for you. Information will be kept in strict confidence between the patron and library staff.

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All fields in this section are required.

CONTACT INFORMATION
 

Name

Email Address
 

Are you a local resident and/or patron of the Houston Public Library?  Yes No
 

READING HISTORY
Please list a few of your favorite books and/or authors and what you enjoy about them.

 
Please list a few books or authors you have read and have not enjoyed, and explain why.

GENRES AND FORMATS

For each of the following, mark the button that indicates your interests.
Special Formats and Preferences
Audiobooks Multi-Book Series
Classic Titles Non-Fiction
Fiction Recent Titles
Kids' Books Short Stories
Large Print Teen Books
Other (please specify)
Reading/Lexile Level (if known)
 
Genres
Action/Adventure High Interest OK No Interest
Biography/Memoir High Interest OK No Interest
Fantasy High Interest OK No Interest
Graphic Books/Novels High Interest OK No Interest
Historical Fiction High Interest OK No Interest
Horror High Interest OK No Interest
Inspirational (Religious) High Interest OK No Interest
Literary Fiction High Interest OK No Interest
Mysteries High Interest OK No Interest
Romance High Interest OK No Interest
Romantic Suspense High Interest OK No Interest
Science Fiction High Interest OK No Interest
Thrillers High Interest OK No Interest
Westerns High Interest OK No Interest
 
 

TONE, STYLE, MOOD, AND LANGUAGE

Please mark your preference on the following scales, grading from 1 to 7 on each preference. If a scale doesn't matter to you, just leave it blank.
Happy, Light, Uplifting Dark, Ironic
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Easy Demanding
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Funny Serious
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Safe, Relaxing Suspenseful, Tense
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Familiar, Typical of its Type Unusual
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
One Plot Line Many plot lines
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Resolved Ending Leaves You Thinking
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Straightforward Language Lush, Poetic Language
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sentimental, Emotional Style Realistic Style
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Old-Fashioned, Traditional Modern, Contemporary
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 
How do you like books to be focused?
Please mark how important each emphasis is to you as a reader.
Focus on Characters High Interest Medium Low
Focus on Action and Events High Interest Medium Low
Focus on Issues and Ideas High Interest Medium Low
Focus on Language and Style High Interest Medium Low
 
What sort of humor do you prefer?
Please mark how important each type of humor is to you as a reader.
Quirky Characters High Interest OK No
Clever Dialogue High Interest OK No
Humorous Situations/Events High Interest OK No
Wordplay High Interest OK No
Slapstick/Physical Humor High Interest OK No
Dark Humor/Irony High Interest OK No
Absurd Humor - Bizarre or Surreal High Interest OK No
 
 
LENGTH
For each of the following, please indicate your preference for the length of a book.
Less than 250 pages Preferred OK No
250-500 pages Preferred OK No
Over 500 pages Preferred OK No

CHARACTERS

Please mark your preference for characteristics of the main characters about which you would especially like to read. Leaving items unchecked does not preclude them, but indicates no preference for or against.

 
Just a few characters Many characters
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Characters who are sure of themselves Conflicted characters
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 
 
AGE OF CHARACTER(S)
Under 12 35 to 50
Teens 50 to 65
20 to 35 Over 65
 
GENDER OF CHARACTER(S)
Male Female
 
ETHNICITY/NATIONALITY OF CHARACTER(S)
African-American Latino-American
Asian-American White
European Native American
Recent Immigrants Other
 
RELATIONSHIP STATUS OF CHARACTER(S)
Singles/Looking for love Married life/ Committed Gay/Lesbian
Introspection/Interior life Divorce/Widowhood Parenting/Family life
Group dynamics/social scene Friendship Odd couples
Professional relations Troubled relationships Enemies
 
OCCUPATIONAL FIELDS OR AREAS OF INTEREST OF CHARACTER(S)

SETTING

Please check any setting about which you would particularly like to read. Describe or specify the setting further if you like. Leaving items unchecked does not preclude them, but indicates no preference for or against.
United States Specify states, regions, or cities 
World Specify regions, countries, or cities 
Futuristic Places Describe futuristic setting further 
Fantasy Lands Describe fantastic setting further 
Historical Settings Specify historical eras and places 
 
DEMOGRAPHY
Cities Suburbs
Small Towns Farms or Ranches
Wild Places Among the working class
Among the Wealthy Among the disadvantaged
 

LIKES AND DISLIKES

Content of a certain nature is annoying or upsetting to some readers, while others enjoy these same elements. For each item that follows, please indicate whether we should avoid, include, or ignore (not consider) that element in making suggestions.
Sexual Themes Include Avoid
Explicit Sexual Content Include Avoid
Rough or Obscene Language Include Avoid
War Include Avoid
Violence Include Avoid
Death Include Avoid
Disease Include Avoid
Crime Portrayed Sympathetically Include Avoid
Dark or Cynical Humor Include Avoid
Technology Include Avoid
Anti-Religion Include Avoid
Pro-Religion Include Avoid
Right Wing Politics Include Avoid
Left Wing Politics Include Avoid
Addiction Include Avoid
Other
 
 

CONTENT

For each of the following subjects, please check "Interested" if you want a recommendation that includes the subject, check "Avoid" if you do not want to read about the subject. You may leave items blank to indicate no preference.
 
Animals Interested Avoid
Gardens Interested Avoid
Crime Interested Avoid
Disasters Interested Avoid
Men's Lives Interested Avoid
Women's Lives Interested Avoid
Minority Lives Interested Avoid
Romantic Relationships Interested Avoid
Childhood Interested Avoid
Coming of Age Interested Avoid
Families Interested Avoid
Senior Lives Interested Avoid
History Interested Avoid
Religion Interested Avoid
Computers Interested Avoid
Military and War Interested Avoid
Books Made into Films Interested Avoid
Nature Interested Avoid
Outdoor Activities Interested Avoid
Sports Interested Avoid
Science and Technology Interested Avoid
Politics Interested Avoid
Food Interested Avoid
Books about Books Interested Avoid
Other Cultures Interested Avoid
Humor Interested Avoid
Holidays Interested Avoid
Journeys and Travel Interested Avoid
Art Interested Avoid
Music Interested Avoid
Medicine and Health Interested Avoid
Other (please specify)
 
 

EMPHASIS

Please indicate the section of this form where your answers best reflect your current reading mood.
 
Reading History Genres and Formats
Tone and Style Length
Characters Setting
Likes and Dislikes Content
 
 
 
Anything else we should factor into our suggestions?
 

If you have any questions, or want to follow-up with us, please feel free to send us an email at readers.advisory@cityofhouston.net.

HPL is grateful to the Williamsburg Regional Library for the content of this online form.