See the ‘movie,’ buy the book

Forget scanning back covers or even consulting the book reviews to find that next great read. In fact, forget reading altogether. The latest way to choose books is by watching animated excerpts narrated by the authors. They’re now available anywhere you -- and your PC -- are.

Authors and publishers have discovered a new way to promote literature. A service like VidLit (vidlit.com) turns pithy selections from books into short, funny Flash films to attract readers online.

Native New Yorker Liz Dubelman, VidLit’s creator, says the idea sprang from her own experience in the literary world.

“I used to go to a lot of book readings,” she says, “and I noticed that not a lot of people would show up.”

She says she thought the Web would be a perfect vehicle for promotion, and she came up with the idea of “high-tech slide shows” that would entice readers, then direct them to sites where they could buy featured books.

They’re getting serious play. About 1 million people viewed the film for Ellis Weiner and Barbara Davilman’s 2004 book “Yiddish With Dick and Jane” (Little, Brown, $14.95) in just two weeks, she says.