Researching Authors on the Web
Resources marked with a library card require a valid EPL Card number for access from outside the library. These resources are not freely available on the Internet, but are premium sources purchased by the library.
- EPL’s Reader’s Advisory Bookmarks
- The Reader’s Services Department has compiled a list of links to many interesting sites for those interested in pursuing author and book information, sub-divided by broad category and/or literary genres. Thoses sites listed below are just a sample.
Author Biographies, Reviews, and Criticism
Find out more about an author, his or her life and times, visit an author’s own website, read reviews of an author’s works.- African American Literature Book Club
- Extensive index of profiled authors with links to biographical information and book annotations.
- AllReaders.com
- Comprehensive site with reviews, author biographies, plot breakdowns, and content assessment. Arranged by author within genre groups.
- Answers.com
- Useful for finding biographical and literary information about authors and books, along with many other topics of information. Has great links and is easy to navigate.
- Book Reporter.com
- Author profiles from the Book Report Network give brief biographical information, links to longer reviews of individual works, a list of the author’s works, and a photograph. Other features of the site include genre and subject lists and links to other features such as Authors on the Web and Author Yellow Pages (see below), as well as Teen Reads
- Authors on the Web
- Featured author of the month, author bibliographies and links to short biographies, photos, book reviews; links to author web sites. Also part of the Book Report network.
- Author Yellow Pages
- Directory of author web sites, listed alphabetically and by genre. Also includes links to authors’ publishers’ sites, and newsletters. One word of caution: it appears that the authors listed are all published by Harper Collins.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
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Access to more than 370 encyclopedias and reference sources you can use from the library or remotely 24/7. Topics covered: world history and culture, medicine and health, statistics, business, science, and, of course, literature.
- Literature Criticism Online
Full text of thousands of essays and commentaries on contemporary and classic literature. From the Gale 19th Century, 20th Century and Contemporary Literary Criticism volumes.
- Illinois Authors Directory from the Illinois Center for the Book
- An affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress lists author's works, links to websites where available, and email addresses.
- LitLine Illinois Writer's Directory
- Offers photos, lists of works, and career summaries for Illinois authors.
- The Internet Public Library Arts and Humanities
- Developed at the University of Michigan School of Information, this is an excellent directory of literature sites, with information on a wide range of authors from all around the world. Primarily classical authors rather than current popular writers.
- Novelist Plus
- NovelistPlus is a comprehensive site where a reader can learn about books and authors, get read-alike suggestions for favorite authors or titles, reading group guides, booktalks, and lists of suggested readings.
- Pronouncing Authors’ Names
- Simple guides to hard-to-pronounce author names, taken from the book Pronouncing Dictionary of Proper Names, 2nd Edition Onmigraphics Detroit MI, 1998.
- Reviews
- Links to full-length reviews of recently released books (2002-present) are collected for easy access.
- Voices from the Gaps- Women Writers of Color
- Biographical and critical information on North American women writers of color. Includes photos, where available, a selected bibliography, lists of works about the author, and related links to other sites containing information on the authors.
Reading Group Guides and Study Guides
Reading group sites offer reading suggestions, brief synopses of books, what others have to say, and questions to get your discussions started. Study guides provide comprehensive, chapter-by-chapter synopses, character analysis, author information, and introductory notes and comments, often quite extensive.General reading group sites
- amazon.com Reading Groups
- Amazon.com’s own reading group guides to a limited number of books.
- Book Browser
- Similar to the Amazon site with links to genre guides, critical reviews, reader reviews, etc.
- Go on Girl! Book Club, Inc.
- Great site for reading suggestions by authors of African descent. Lists represent choices of this nationwide book club with over 200 members in 11 states.
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The "well-read online community". Provides lists of book club favorites, with discussion guides and reviews from readers as well as critics.
- This website for the book Reading Group Choices, offers guides for a number of titles and gives publisher web sites where you might find a reading group guide. This site also offers suggestions for group reading and tips on starting and leading a book group.
- Reading Group Guides
- Reading group guides, advice and tips, good discussion questions, newsletter.
- PageTurner.net
- Reading group guides for African American literature.
- Book Movement
- Book club planner is a commercial site that sells books but provides links for recommended titles to the publisher’s reading group guides, author’s websites, and some book excerpts.
Study Guide Sites
- Cliffs Notes
- Excellent source of information on both books and authors for those preparing for exams, writing papers, or participating in class discussions. Familiar to many as the black and yellow striped pamphlets available in printed form since 1958, this free online resource was introduced in 2004. No registration needed.
- Spark Notes
- Written by Harvard students, these free study guides to classic literature are similar to Cliffs Notes. You must sign up for a free account to get some information, but most is freely available without registration.
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