How do you choose a book to read?

[Jenn Lynn]

I have a very hard time choosing a new book. I tend to stick with the same things and same authors. I like when people recommend books because then I get new ideas.

Maybe I am just afraid of buying a new book and it will be awful!

How do you decide what to read?

 

[tkyes]

I read whatever ones my mom gives me when she's done reading them.

Asking here is a good idea - or maybe go to the barnes and noble website and check out some "best sellers".

I too need to break out of my usual reading genre, but have a hard time doing it as well.


tamie

 

[gina2000]

I go to the library and browse. It gives me the luxury of hating a book without paying for it. I also go to a local bookstore or online and take a good look at their inventory AWAY from the bestseller category. I read reviews and then choose to buy or borrow the book.

 

[stinkerbelle]

My mom passes alot of books my way.

other times, I go to Barnes and Noble with some serious time to kill. I grab at least 10 books, hunker down and read at least the first 10 pages of each. Whichever I likes, I buys.

But I totally judge a book by it's cover...that's how it gets into my "to be read" pile while at the store...that and titles...something has to jump out at me from the rack.

but reading a bit of each (not just the back of it) gives me a good idea if I can get into it or not.

My mom gave me one book...holy crap, it's taken me like 2 weeks to read the first chapter! it's just dreadfully boring.

 

[Angel717]

One of my favorite activities is browsing through the book store. I usually read a book I think I'll like based only on the summary in the jacket or back of the book. Most of the time, I have enjoyed the book but there have been some disappointments. I tend to not finish the book or force myself to finish if I'm not really into a book (and I like to"get lost" in a book ). Ian McEwan's Atonement comes to mind. I had heard raves about it, but I had to force myself to finish it.

I've also read books based on friend's recommendations, how popular the book is (best sellers) and those that have been - or will be - made into a movie. One of the best books I've read in a long time was Mystic River and that was because the movie intrigued me.
I also tend to find as many books by the same author and read all of them.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'm also a fan of the loved the movie read the book.I started reading the HP books after seeing the first film and I read everything from legal thrillers to vampire novels(but I do read classics too )

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Just as in life, I judge a book by it's cover.



Just kidding. I always try to get to know someone before I hate them.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

It is assigned to me for school

 

[lsyorke]

I usually go by authors, but (I know this is weird!) i also look at the font!! There are certain types of fonts that I just can't stand to read!

 

[Danauk]

I tend to go by the blurb on the back and what the cover looks like. Also there are a few authors I like so if I see one of their new books out I will get them.

 

[Magickndm]

I look for the name Stephen King. Or gorey pictures on the front....

 

[NMAmy]

I read pretty much anything and everything so we do the library a lot. We already have so many books at home that we have to do a big purging every once in awhile and donate them.

One of my best resources is the Librarians' Recommendations shelf at the library. I just browse through there when I don't have specific books in mind and I've read some great books by authors I hadn't heard of before. If you need a recommendation--ask the folks that work around books every day!

I also find new books I want to read by checking Amazon's new books list and then putting them on reserve (online) from the library. They email me when the books are in and I just stop by and pick them up.

DH & DD hardly ever pick out their own books. They both say I'm better at finding something they'd like than they are. Complimentary...or just trying to get out of making another stop on the Saturday morning errand ride?

 

[#1 DOUG Live Fan]

I usually do a search at Amazon for an author I enjoy and then check out other similar authors that they recommend. I succumb to the pressure of judging a book by its cover, as well. I also like to read reviews readers give on books. If enough people say it didn't hold their attention, I will skip it.

Liz

 

[grinningghost]

I stay away from the Best Sellers list.

 

[klmklm]

try searching on Google for the phrase, "if you like"
this should turn up several library services which suggest new books based on books you have liked in the past

 

[klmklm]

or, try this: online book club, sends you excerpts of new books by e-mail
http://www.dearreader.com/join_a_club.html

 

[MeanLaureen]

I wait until someone posts a "Who is your favorite author" thread and then I stock up

 

[Kitty 34]

My one sister usually will tell me that I will LOVE a book. She knows exactly what I like, not sure why. She knows my taste!!

 

[JVL1018]

AOL has 2 message boards for readers that I will lurk on every so often.
Every couple months or so, I go there with a pen and paper at my desk, and read and read and read through the posts. Any books that sound sgreat, or that many people recommend, I jot down.
I usually get 20-30 books this way, and then I read them, and go back for more when I'm about done.
I also have 3 friends who are voracious readers, as I am, and who have similar tastes and I take their recommendations.

 

[clutter]

I search Amazon. Find books I like and look at similar recommendations. Research award winners (I like mysteries, so I look at the Edgar Award winners, for instance.) then go to links at amazon for those. Then I borrow new authors from the library to try them out. I've read some really interesting books along the way, I must say.