book cross referencing

A lot of books i read make references to other books as well as references to the bible. I would like to find a reference source that have cataloged this information.

David Perrings

David,

I can't think of a reference book that might include this sort of detailed information. If the books you are reading are non-fiction then presumably these books are listed in the bibliography? Or maybe in the index? I must admit, in some cases I have resorted to collating the information myself, making a note of any reference as soon as it appears in the text. Sometimes makes for rather disjointed reading but ... rather

I know what you mean. I read books all the time which reference other books. What you're looking for would be great but i have never seen anything like it. It might work better as a web site though. Then it could be dynamic.

Being a list/reference geek, I think I've just found a new hobby.... :)

Inkdrinker,

'Fraid I'm one of those old-fashioned types that read in bed, hence I scribble my references on the nearest piece of paper as my computer is downstairs! I do put them into a word document later though!

Stjerome

A lot depends on the obscurity of the references you are looking up. If they are fairly straightforward, then you can get a long way with a dictionary of quotations, an atlas, and a one-volume encyclopaedia. But the internet gives you much better (and lighter) search tools. I keep a slow old laptop by my bed, largely for this purpose.

http://www.bartleby.com/ is very useful for looking up allusions in novels -- you've got the King James Bible, Shakespeare, Bartlett, Brewer, and various dictionaries, encyclopaedias and poetry anthologies, all searchable.

thoriold,

thanks for the tip.

david perrings

another link that i have found helpful is

http://www.giga-usa.com/quotes/topics/books_last_lines_t001.htm

david perrings

To get specific here, I just finished reading True Evil By Greg Iles. The book is set between Natchez and Jackson, Ms with some of it taking place along the Natchez Trace. At one point one of the main characters, while riding his bike on the Trace, sees a Park Ranger car which causes him to flash back to a woman Park Ranger he knew that used to work the Trace, but was now a novelist. Anyone for Nevada Barr?