If You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover...

Can you judge a book by its cover? Admit it: You've bought a book (or books) before because of an intriguing cover or a funny title. My shelves are packed with books I've yet to begin, which I bought because I liked the title. Right now, on the front of a double-stacked shelf is a book called Trespassers Will Be Baptized: The Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter byElizabeth Emerson Hancock. A "PK" myself, I couldn't resist. I also bought Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield for the same reason.

Don't get me wrong: Just because I haven't read these books yet, you shouldn't think I won't. There's fierce competition in my library.

Sometimes the picture on the cover draws me, and I know the author probably had very little input in that decision. I'm reminded of a friend Brenda, who used to cover her books with wallpaper so they would coordinate with her den sofa.

As a child who grew up haunting the school and public library, I know how wonderful those books with the worn, nondescript covers can be. I think the musty smell helps too. On the other hand, I also know that the matching faux-leather-bound classics are meant to sit on the shelf and behave.

Fortunately, I have yet to run out of books to read next--or books to buy next. Facebook's Virtual Bookshelf offers the option of listing the books you want to read. I hardly know where to begin. Fortunately, I have my sources! I'll tell you about a few of them--and their specific recommendations next time!

If You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover...