Choosing Your Next Book

[SFG75]

I'm curious about how other readers choose their next book to read. I have a list of candidates, a very long list, that I add to all the time. Do any of you all do that? I use interlibrary loan a LOT, and often have a huge stack of library books vying with my TBR stack (I call it Mt. TBR) for my time and attention. So, how do you determine which title is worthy of being the very next one?

I guess that I read a lot of reviews and that when I'm asked if I am looking for a particular one, I just pick the one that sounds intriguing to me at the time.

 

[Jemima Aslana]

I grab and read whatever I feel like at the time. Hence I, too, have many books in the reading process at a given time. Though usually I'll be focusing more on one book than the others. These weeks it's Dostoyevsky' Brothers, which I started last summer, but never got very far into. I picked it up again and now it suddenly appeals eversomuch more so I'm reading as much as I have time for which sadly isn't much these days with studying taking up much time.

 

[G4G]

I choose what books to read in various ways. If I find a writer i like, then I'll wear them out. Then I'll look for similar things by using something like the Oxford Good Fiction Guide. Or I'll go trawling the interwebnet for suggestions.

 

[abecedarian]

I choose what books to read in various ways. If I find a writer i like, then I'll wear them out. Then I'll look for similar things by using something like the Oxford Good Fiction Guide. Or I'll go trawling the interwebnet for suggestions.

I like various books about what to read too. Just this month I've been pouring over Book Lust and More Book Lust by Nancy Pearl. I also like to browse around on Amazon. I investigate those lists of suggestions in the sidebars. Or if I add a title to my wish list, I'll check out their suggestions of what other people who chose that book picked too. Then I'll go to the library website for my state's interlibrary loan system and see what I can have sent to my local library. It never ceases to amaze me the variety of reading material available, even in a back-water state like mine

 

[ruby]

I know what my next two books are going to be!

Its Martina Coles new book Called The Take! But its not out till the 6th of october!

Then i am reading Patrica Cornwells new book Predator!
Thats out the end of october!

 

[Halo]

My mood at the time usually dictates my next book. If I've just read something rather depressing, I might go for a comedy to cheer myself up. Or I might decide I feel like reading a fantasy, or a thriller.

The only times that my mood doesn't influence me is when:
(a) I'm reading a series and must read the next book to finish the series as soon as possible, or
(b) Terry Pratchett releases a new paperback. That always takes precedence!

 

[abecedarian]

My mood at the time usually dictates my next book. If I've just read something rather depressing, I might go for a comedy to cheer myself up. Or I might decide I feel like reading a fantasy, or a thriller.

The only times that my mood doesn't influence me is when:
(a) I'm reading a series and must read the next book to finish the series as soon as possible, or
(b) Terry Pratchett releases a new paperback. That always takes precedence!

I know what you mean about Terry Pratchett. I'm the same way when Sharyn McCrumb releases a new book in her Ballad series. In fact, I'm feeling withdrawl pains, so maybe there'll be a new one soon

 

[cshigh]

This is an interesting topic. I have a stack of books that I wish to read at some point. Some of them have been there longer than others. I like a little variety with my books, and I will try to read a book by a different author. Right now I am reading in cycles between about 5 different authors. It is hard for me to read 2 books in a row by the same author.

 

[Peder]

Right now, I'm selecting books from my TBR pile to get it a little shorter. But that pile was accumulated by ideas from all sources, including book forums, for any books that I thought I would like, fiction or non-fiction. Mood must be the primary thing that determines just which one I select from the pile. Some particular book just always stands 'way out as next, and I can't explain it any better than that.
Peder

 

[HermioneWeasley]

some books i've heard of and decided to raed, others i saw and decided to read. i take recommendations from people, and i belong ot a book club at school, and we decide on books to read.

 

[Wabbit]

Let me count the ways...

I have a huge, huge, HUGE book mountain. There are goats up there. So, depending on my mood, I will pick whatever book suits.

Recommendations and discussions on the book forum obviously help me choose my next book!

Reviews on book sites.

Amazon! Evil Amazon, but yet I do lover her. Just browsing around Amazon or listomania, people that liked this, people that brought this book also brought, and recommendations.

Friends recommendations.

Browsing around Ebay.

Wandering happily around book stumbling across something great and picking up whatever takes my fancy.

New books from authors that I have read before and liked.

 

[angerball]

I have a huge problem trying to choose my next book to read. I used to have a pile of about 60 books waiting to be read, but I have just moved to another country for a few years, and had to leave most of my books behind, so I'm sort of starting from scratch. In a way it's good, because I don't have a huge stack to choose from - just the few I have from the library.

I used to go through about 3 or 4 "false starts" before I found a book I stick with. It's like I want to read 5 different books at once, and I actually get stressed out trying to choose one. I just have to read the first few pages, until I find one that really grabs me for the mood I'm in.

I also love reading book reviews and recommendations (Amazon.com etc) - that helps narrow it down.

So many good books, so little time!