I have found stuff I have liked by:
Mostly Novels:
1 - asking for somebody similar to an author I liked when I read all they had at that bookstore by the first author - done with all the John Irving and wanted someone else with a wacked sense of humor, they had recommended Kurt Vonnegut
2 - Listening to an interview and excerpt of a novel on National Public Radio [93.9FM, 820 AM], e.g., Jane Hamilton
3 - One author mentioned other authors in his/her book
4 - heard of book/author before, never read [may have seen movie] saw in library while looking through books on tape titles [e.g., One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest]
Mostly Poetry:
5 - Looked through titles in a bookstore, found ones with interesting titles, flipped through to check out
6 - Heard someone read as feature or at open mic, got book directly from author
7 - read some in class, got more on own
