Indecisive

PieOPah · 08-13-2009, 11:49 AM

Before I bought a book reader, choosing my next book was a fairly straight forward thing.

I would have in my bag the book I was currently reading and as I was nearing the end, I would have the book I would next be reading. The next book was chosen at a whim one morning before work.

Now I carry with me hundreds of books at a time all on my Ebook Reader. This means that choosing the next book is always difficult. I just don't know what I want to read next. I'm not always in the mood for the books I want to read.

So, I have taken steps to reduce my indecision.

I have compiled a list of 20 books that I want to read for one reason or another (actually, it is a list of 19 books I want to read and a dud that I would prefer not to - this is to give me the chance to experience other books that normally I would avoid!)

This list only contains one book per author
There is the dud I would prefer not to read
When a book has been read, it is to be replaced by another (adhering to rule 1)

I then basically use a random number generator to pick the next book I am going to read. I am hoping that using this method will expose me to more books than I normally read - I have a habit of sticking to what I like and rarely experience much new.

So, here is my first list which will slowly evolve. I will probably only ever stick to 20 to choose from at a time, but I may replace some books for others depending on my mood (for example I have already read Pollen by Jeff Noon so would consider swapping that out for a different book if I wanted something added to the list).

Abarat - Clive Barker
Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
Reflex - Steven Gould
Another Fine Myth - Robert Asprin (Current Choice)
The Gypsy Morph - Terry Brooks
The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K Dick
Duma Key - Stephen King
Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs
The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Neuromance - William Gibson
Odd Hours - Dean Koontz
One for the Money - Janet Evanovich (I promised my wife I would try this)
Pollen - Jeff Noon
The Positronic Man - Isaac Asimov
Stark - Ben Elton
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson
Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (The dud to try something different)

DDHarriman · 08-13-2009, 05:27 PM

Hi

From the list, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K Dick" all the way, then... go to the next one you would like!

Best regards,

corroonb · 08-13-2009, 06:22 PM

I'd recommend Lord of the Flies, Day of the Triffids, Jekyll and Hyde and "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?".

Andybaby · 08-13-2009, 07:28 PM

I don't know why but I hated sheep, and philip k dicks writing style

looks like a good list.

PennyPie · 08-13-2009, 07:59 PM

I certainly agree with you...decisions, decisions, decisions!
I currently have 198 books on my Sony 700. It's been so fun searching & downloading & converting. And it's hard to pick the next. I have 'collections' of authors, as well as single works from various authors. I've finished the 3 'Dexter' books (which I highly recommend) Now I've started on the Sue Grafton series. Evanovich is another favorite & I've acquired her collection as well. Duma Key was a typical King novel....I barely put it down til it was finished! I tend not to jump around...just get thoroughly saturated by a single author. But the random method might be fun for a change.
Penny

MickeyC · 08-13-2009, 08:31 PM

Rather than 'Duma Key', I'd recommend 'The Stand' if you haven't read that one yet.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 08-13-2009, 08:34 PM

I'd go for Stark next

PennyPie · 08-13-2009, 08:35 PM

The Stand is probably one of my alltime favorites of King's. Re-Read it every few years.

PieOPah · 08-14-2009, 01:49 AM

I've read 'The Stand' a few times. I'm not sure whether or not I ever read the 'extended' version, but I did buy it from Fictionwise a while ago in preparation.

I am currently really enjoying 'Another Fine Myth' - a book I have kept putting off for something more familiar

This random selection could really work out

doreenjoy · 08-14-2009, 02:13 AM

Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs

'Cause you have so few female authors on the list...

PieOPah · 08-14-2009, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

'Cause you have so few female authors on the list...

It has never really occurred to me before how few female authors I actually have read before. Nothing sexist, just that my usual 'field' tends to be male.

I usually read Comedy, Horror or Fantasy which seem to be dominated by male writers...

Ea · 08-14-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieOPah

It has never really occurred to me before how few female authors I actually have read before. Nothing sexist, just that my usual 'field' tends to be male.

I usually read Comedy, Horror or Fantasy which seem to be dominated by male writers...

I tend to read more female authors than male, and I guess it's because they tend to more often have female protagonists, which I can probably more easily relate to than male. Nohting sexist in tha either. My guess is that it is not unusual.

Back to the topic; I recognise the problem. I try to keep a very short list of books (max 4) that I am currently reading, and I don't buy any new books until I will eventually start reading it.

PennyPie · 08-14-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

I don't buy any new books until I will eventually start reading it

But with SO much 'free' material out there, and the fact that I just can't help downloading, the # of titles just keeps growing!!!

Ea · 08-14-2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PennyPie

But with SO much 'free' material out there, and the fact that I just can't help downloading, the # of titles just keeps growing!!!

Yeah, you're right about that. And of course one has to download free stuff when it's available, or else it might disappear!

I have a fodler on my computer for my current ebook library, and then I have a folder for all the ebooks I have, and I just sort of try to ignore it. It's not completely logical, but it means I can keep a realistic list of books I plan to read.

BlackVoid · 08-14-2009, 03:19 PM

I feel your pain, I have 100+ unread books on my reader.....
How to decide? If I can't I start reading short stories and non-fiction. Anything I do not like after 100-500 pages (depending when I get fed up) is deleted.

But still, it is hard to decide when you have so many books with you. Also easy to give up on books.

08-13-2009, 11:49 AM	#1
PieOPah Addict Posts: 398 Karma: 914 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505	Indecisive Before I bought a book reader, choosing my next book was a fairly straight forward thing. I would have in my bag the book I was currently reading and as I was nearing the end, I would have the book I would next be reading. The next book was chosen at a whim one morning before work. Now I carry with me hundreds of books at a time all on my Ebook Reader. This means that choosing the next book is always difficult. I just don't know what I want to read next. I'm not always in the mood for the books I want to read. So, I have taken steps to reduce my indecision. I have compiled a list of 20 books that I want to read for one reason or another (actually, it is a list of 19 books I want to read and a dud that I would prefer not to - this is to give me the chance to experience other books that normally I would avoid!) This list only contains one book per author There is the dud I would prefer not to read When a book has been read, it is to be replaced by another (adhering to rule 1) I then basically use a random number generator to pick the next book I am going to read. I am hoping that using this method will expose me to more books than I normally read - I have a habit of sticking to what I like and rarely experience much new. So, here is my first list which will slowly evolve. I will probably only ever stick to 20 to choose from at a time, but I may replace some books for others depending on my mood (for example I have already read Pollen by Jeff Noon so would consider swapping that out for a different book if I wanted something added to the list). Abarat - Clive Barker Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay Reflex - Steven Gould Another Fine Myth - Robert Asprin (Current Choice) The Gypsy Morph - Terry Brooks The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K Dick Duma Key - Stephen King Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson Lord of the Flies - William Golding Neuromance - William Gibson Odd Hours - Dean Koontz One for the Money - Janet Evanovich (I promised my wife I would try this) Pollen - Jeff Noon The Positronic Man - Isaac Asimov Stark - Ben Elton Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis Stevenson Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (The dud to try something different)

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08-13-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi From the list, "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Philip K Dick" all the way, then... go to the next one you would like! Best regards,

08-13-2009, 06:22 PM	#3
corroonb Addict Posts: 317 Karma: 1232685 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Aura, Nexus 9	I'd recommend Lord of the Flies, Day of the Triffids, Jekyll and Hyde and "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?".

08-13-2009, 07:28 PM	#4
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	I don't know why but I hated sheep, and philip k dicks writing style looks like a good list.

08-13-2009, 07:59 PM	#5
PennyPie Cocoa & Toast...mmmmmm... Posts: 275 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio Device: Sony PRS-700, iPhone	I certainly agree with you...decisions, decisions, decisions! I currently have 198 books on my Sony 700. It's been so fun searching & downloading & converting. And it's hard to pick the next. I have 'collections' of authors, as well as single works from various authors. I've finished the 3 'Dexter' books (which I highly recommend) Now I've started on the Sue Grafton series. Evanovich is another favorite & I've acquired her collection as well. Duma Key was a typical King novel....I barely put it down til it was finished! I tend not to jump around...just get thoroughly saturated by a single author. But the random method might be fun for a change. Penny

08-13-2009, 08:31 PM	#6
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Rather than 'Duma Key', I'd recommend 'The Stand' if you haven't read that one yet.

08-13-2009, 08:34 PM	#7
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	I'd go for Stark next

08-13-2009, 08:35 PM	#8
PennyPie Cocoa & Toast...mmmmmm... Posts: 275 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ohio Device: Sony PRS-700, iPhone	The Stand is probably one of my alltime favorites of King's. Re-Read it every few years.

08-14-2009, 01:49 AM	#9
PieOPah Addict Posts: 398 Karma: 914 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: UK Device: Sony PRS-505	I've read 'The Stand' a few times. I'm not sure whether or not I ever read the 'extended' version, but I did buy it from Fictionwise a while ago in preparation. I am currently really enjoying 'Another Fine Myth' - a book I have kept putting off for something more familiar This random selection could really work out

08-14-2009, 02:13 AM	#10
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs 'Cause you have so few female authors on the list...

08-14-2009, 03:19 PM	#15
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	I feel your pain, I have 100+ unread books on my reader..... How to decide? If I can't I start reading short stories and non-fiction. Anything I do not like after 100-500 pages (depending when I get fed up) is deleted. But still, it is hard to decide when you have so many books with you. Also easy to give up on books.

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