Alphabet of Hooks
- A udience participation Get the audience to repeat the title or key phrase from the book like a refrain. The repetition alone will help sell the book; giving the audience a part to play is even better.
- B oring, but...start with dry facts, and then jump to a shocking event.
- C liffanger The classic hook. Bring the audience to the edge, and then stop.
- D ialogue Copy dialogue from the book and read it with the audience. Talking with, not at, the audience will increase the energy level in the room.
- E mpathy Ask questions to put the audience in the shoes of the character. If the theme of the book is loneliness, then build the book talk using a series of rhetorical "How does it feel?" questions.
- F irst sentence Read only the first line for a short, but effective book-hook.
- G ross-out Read or describe the goriest, grossest scene in a book.
- H eadlines Refer to an article in the news, then link it to a book.
- I f/then Present the booktalk in the conditional mode; let the audience think of other possibilities.
- J ump-cut Jump quickly from one scene to another; let the audience deduce the connection.
- K now a secret Talk about it and around it, but don't tell it.
- L inking Link the book to a popular movie with a similar theme or setting.
- M ystery Turn the book into a game of Clue, and invite the audience to play.
- N ext line Read a dramatic scene from the book; stop just before the punch line.
- O .Henry Create one set of expectations, then pull the rug out with a trick ending; save a vital piece of information for the very end.
- P rops Use an object to lead into a scene.
- Q uestions Ask a series of these to set a mood or pique curiosity.
- R eaction If you want a reaction, do something to create it - plan not only what you want to say but also the kind of reaction you want to inspire.
- S ounds Use sound effects (snap your fingers, clap your hands, stamp your foot, etc.).
- T hemes Talk about several books that share the same theme (one of the books should be well-known).
- U nderstatement Present strange happenings in a deadpan manner.
- V ictory Describe how the reader would “win” by reading this book.
- W hat if? Present the moral dilemma facing the central character.
- X –ray Talk about the underlying meaning or theme of the book.
- Y ou Relate the book to events in the listeners' lives.
- Z any Find a way to capture your audience by amusing them