Is there a plot database for books?

[Stainz]

What I'm wondering is, if there is some kind of database where I could search for key words to do with the plot of a novel?

I realize it would be HUGE, but it drives me crazy when I remember a book that I read a few years ago, but I can't think of the title or the author ...

I'm a voracious reader, and I've read so many books that after a while they just all blur together.

Anyway, maybe it's just wishful thinking, but a database like that would sure be nice for forgetful people like me!

S.

[AuntiePam]

I don't know of one, but if you can remember any characters' names, or some lines from the text, Amazon's new search feature might be helpful. I haven't fully explored it, but lately when I've done a search on an author, I'll get hits where the author's name was mentioned in another book. (Weird.)

Sometimes a Google search works. I've used it in a name-that-movie contest -- choose some key words from a plot summary or character names, and very often you'll get a good hit.

I'll be watching this thread, just in case there a database exists. It'd sure come in handy.

[DrewG27]

I've thought that All Media Guide, the company that owns allmovies.com, allmusic.com, and allgames.com should do an AllBook. With a bunch of good writers and editors it might be a very interesting and popular resource--I sometimes trudge around amazon.com just for the staff reviews.

[jsgoddess]

Does your local library have home access to a site called "NoveList"? That site allows you to search on plot points or to do "find me books like this based on x criteria."

Mine requires a valid library card.

[Stainz]

jsgoddess ... no, our local library isn't that advanced .. but thanks anyway.

The novel that is currently stuck in my brain is just paperback fiction ... about Las Vegas ... and a guy that figured out how to predict when a slot machine was going to pay out ...

Having recently been to Vegas, and since I'm also going through a bunch of my books to sell at a garage sale, it's really been bugging me that I didn't hang onto this book.

I work for the casino division of our provincial lottery corporation, and when I read this book a few years ago, I remember thinking I should get someone at work to read it as well, and tell me how plausible the technical explanations etc. were.

Oh well ...