How do you choose your next book to read?

Question

I know reviews can be useful but when I visit a bookshop apart from a few authors whom I know I haven't a clue where to start. Any thoughts please? I tend not to read fiction but would like to try some now.

Answer 1

If you're looking for a new genre to get into, start with a few of the bestsellers, however DON'T rely on them - I know many books that should be 'best' and are pushed aside by those with better marketers.

Take in everything about the book - the blurb, read a page in the middle somewhere - and if you're going to buy something then do a little research first. Find a review site online (there are plenty out there - just have to do a little digging - believe me it's worth it, I've discovered gold by reading reviews). Heck, it could be so easy (sometimes) as typing "title AND review" into your search engine. But don't go by one review - take a look at a few to get a more rounded and less biased review.
Also there are some series (like the sci-fi/fantasy 'Masterworks' series, which lists I think the top 100 novels in the genre ranging back many years) that can make your journey much easier.

I'm personally a pretty shallow reader at times.....sometimes judging by the cover, feel, and work put into its presentation. Certainly these things speak a bit about the kind of quality work you're buying, but go with your gut and you should be right.

Good luck!

Answer 2

In a bookshop the different genres are usually grouped together. These could be mystery, thriller, war, science fiction, fantasy, horror, humour, westerns, romance, crime, and everything else gets dumped under general. Look in the sections that interest you for a witty title. I usually find this indicates a good book (although many authors complain the editor made them change their preferred title).
Then read the blurb on the back or inside the front bookcover to see if the plot and the characters sound interesting.

Answer 3

Earlier this week, I asked a question about the BBC Big Read list. These are the 200 best-loved books of the British public. If you're stuck for fiction you could try looking there for a bit of inspiration.
I know what you mean though. I can take up to an hour mooching around my local library to make a decision about what to read next.

Answer 4

Ask someone who works at the bookshop if they could recommend authors similar to those tha you have read in the past. Perhaps someone with a similiar style, or someone who writes in the same genre, or regarding the same topics.

You can also search Amazon and see what other books other readers who have brought certain books have purchased to read.

Answer 5

Wow. U CAN'T CHOSE the next book u wanna read. Just go with ur intuition if ure borrowing. If ure buying, try something on a theme u think u might hate or by an unknown author. Ull be pleasantly surprised. Don't read reviews before uve read the books unless ure supremely unbiased.

Answer 6

I always go for the ones that don't obviously stand out, so I head away from the bestsellers stand, saying that though I have not long finished the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown but in my defence I have wanted to read that book for ages, long before the film and the hype came out! The other Dan Brown books aren't bad either!

Answer 7

You can start by looking in the best sellers section - pick up a few books with interesting titles and read the back cover to see what it's about - if it still seems interesting to you - go ahead and buy it and read it - you can do this in any section of the book store and still come up with something good to read

Answer 8

I belong to several online book groups, and I usually choose based on the members' recommendations. Yahoo has some good groups, but there are others -- google "online reading groups." Also, at the library, I look at the new books shelf. I'm usually able to find plenty of interesting books there. Good luck!

Answer 9

Go for the bestsellers. I recommend the Harry Potters, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and the Northern Lights series...I'm on the second one and it's a bit strange but good I suppose. It really depends on your personal tastes...

Answer 10

I go to the library and look on the "Recently returned books" shelf and pick one with a nice cover or interesting title. I reckon if someone else has just read it then it is worth a try. Sometimes the book is awful, mostly they are readable and sometimes they are wonderful and well worth purchasing.