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This book provides a straightforward approach to finding and recommending good novels based on what sparks a reader's interest. With emphasis on award-winning fiction, the guide features more than 500 novels published between 1990 and 2001. This companion title uses the same easy-access organization used in the original "Now Read This: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1978-1998." The book features four main sections, each of which corresponds to one of the four appeal characteristics established for mainstream fiction: setting, story, characters, and language. Books in each section are arranged alphabetically by author and include title, publisher, date of publication, and number of pages, followed by a brief summary of the plot, secondary appeal characteristics, subject headings, and suggestions for further reading. A new feature includes use of "YA" to denote books that are particularly good for young adult readers. A new section on fiction trends has also been added. Appendixes include: How to Create a Dynamic Book Club; Book Awards; and Bridges to Genre Fiction. Includes an author/title index (which also includes titles from the first book), and a subject index. (AEF)

This advisory resource provides a method of understanding the criteria that a reader uses to judge a novel, and recommends titles that fit those criteria. Each book was assigned a primary appeal characteristic of Setting, Story, Characters, and Language. Some were also assigned a secondary appeal characteristic. The book is divided into four parts, corresponding to the four appeal characteristics. Each entry starts with the book's author, title, publisher and date of publication, and the number of pages in the book. This is followed by a descriptive annotation, appeal characteristics, and subject headings. The annotation notes if the book is an Oprah Winfrey selection, and novels that make good book club selections are marked with an icon. When the book is a translation, the original language is noted and the translator's name is given in the annotation. Both fiction and nonfiction books, as well as a few poems, are included in a section that contains suggestions for further reading. An appendix describes several book awards. Contains title, subject, and author indexes. (AEF)