Read a great book? One that stuck with you? Use it to inspire a book display or list! As an exercise to show that there are plenty of ways to approach a book, I have made multiple posts using one book to inspire a display.
You don’t even need to mention the book in the display. Pick one aspect of the book – setting, theme, character, and use it to fill in a display. A romance novel set in New Orleans can inspire a display about that city. A horror novel about a dysfunctional family? A historical novel about 14th century Japan? Fill it in with a mix of genres and a simple sign.
This is another way that you can use a popular/best selling title to create a display without using valuable space to promote a book that your patrons have already heard about. Advertise your holds list (no, not everyone knows how easy it is) and find some other books that can be tied into that great book you just read. Use a sign that says "Waiting for [popular title]? Try these while you wait!"
Here's an example using a very popular title that some of you may have read:
Right now, the book with the most holds at my library is The Women by Kristen Hannah. This is a coming of age book about a nursing student during the Vietnam War era. It's also about idealism, sacrifice, and commitment. A TikTok video referenced historical fiction and "boss women." Pull out any of those and you can have a book display. If your first choices get checked out, pick another aspect and fill it up again.
Please don't just use other novels by Kristen Hannah. Her novels are best sellers and don't need our help circulating.
Pull out books by Vietnamese and Vietnamese-American authors about the war to give your patrons another perspective.
Library Journal has some read-alikes for The Women.
Richland Public Library created a list of books written by Vietnamese authors.
A Goodreads list of books on Vietnam War from the Vietnamese perspective.
