A web of literary conceit

Everything's on internet and I quite like it. With regards to books, I can order them, read about them and sometimes even read the original texts online. At this rate, I'll soon be drinking my coffee online too.

Now don't get me wrong. My relationship with my paper-bound friends is stronger than ever and my bedside table constantly looks like a library annexe, piled high as it is with categories of books-to-be-read, books-I'm-reading, books-I've-already-read-but-like-to-read-a-few-pages-of-every-now-and-then, and books-I-should-be-reading.

However, you just can't beat the speediness of internet in that it's the fastest way to catch up on the latest information. And here I must admit from where I get my dose of the latest goings-on in the world of books.

The mater of all sites
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/

An established branch of the UK Times newspaper, the Times Literary Supplement website is the hub of finely-written, thought-provoking, well-analysed book reviews. Although archives can be accessed only by paid subscription, the current articles provide enough words for thought. The site is neatly divided into subject categories ranging from history, music, the performing arts, science and literature, religion, and criticism. Even though the TLS has been around for over 100 years, it remains a sturdy source of fresh reviews and articles.

The write album
http://www.complete-review.com

Describing itself as "a literary saloon and site of review", this site really is pleasantly exhaustive in its selection of reviews and boasts 2008 books under review. Interestingly, it even includes reviews of books which haven't been translated into English (yet). The home page leads to two branch sites. One is titled the Quarterly Review, and serves as the home for an in-depth book-discussion group dealing with issues which cannot be addressed in the main site. The second is entitled the Literary Saloon and acts as a platform for opinionated commentary and news from and about the main website.

Doing time online
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com

The good thing about a site which is themed is that its choice of book reviews is specific. Although there are many such sites I find this one thorough in its selection. Indeed it boasts thousands of reviews or mysteries and thrillers of all categories. You can search for a book by author and by book title and spend 60 seconds with crime writers.

Edgar Allen Poem
http://www.constantcritic.com

The reviews in this site are without a doubt constant as they are updated three times a week. A branch of the Fence site which publishes a biannual journal on the arts, this site is dedicated to poetry and operates on a simplistic, yet sufficient layout. The poetry reviews are written by three different critics, Jordan Davis, Joyelle McSweeney and Ray McDaniel, whose names each appear in the thought bubbles on the home page and serve as links to their respective reviews. The site is still young and the poetry and poetry-related books reviewed are all fairly recent, yet the views are original and the writing, especially that of McDaniel, is almost poetic.

Oh blogger
http://www.booksinq.blogspot.com

A behind-the-scenes look at a book-review editor's world, this site has a lively bunch of contributors, namely Elizabeth Fox, John Brumfield and Frank Wilson, who are all gifted with a jolly sense of humour. booksinq.com is cleverly interactive and contains a feed where people can post items such as links to the latest reviews. Many of the articles are original such one on the Periodic table of printmaking, a project promoting science and the arts. Many features are also rather hilarious and one recent post had me in fits: "Lite verse with no cholesterol or Trans Fat by 33 already dead Poets, six unknown anyway."

On your bookmarks
http://www.readysteadybook.com

Very appealingly laid out, this site is, as its statement promises, "unfailingly resourceful and informative... day after lively day". It has a section for the books of the month and a link to a Today in Literature page which, as its name proclaims, provides information about anything to do with literature linked with that particular day. In addition to articles on books and book reviews on fiction, history, philosophy and poetry, the site also recommends some well-chosen blogs.

Going Forwards and Bacchus
http://www.decanter.com

Besides catering as on online shop for wine, offering courses on wine appreciation, organising its own decanter events, as well as updating its visitors with the latest wine news, this site has a rather interesting section dedicated to books on wine you can find online. Although not prolific, the list of book reviews available provide an eclectic array of wine-related subject matter from books on running a wine business, to recipe books, travel books and even the intriguing, if dubious, wine diet book.

Each of these sites has contributors who are obviously so enamoured by books that their writing makes you want to read more and more books, or at least buy them, look at them and perhaps even talk to them.

• Ms Stivala has an MSc in comparative and general literature from Edinburgh.