How do you choose?

Fledchen · 04-05-2009, 06:35 PM

I have a dreadfully long list of books that people have convinced me that I simply must read at some point in my life. I frequently find myself struggling to figure out what to read next from this list.

What are your personal criteria for choosing the next book? Do you read whole series with no interruptions? Do you read a certain genre for a while and then switch? Do you use a random number generator?

ShortNCuddlyAm · 04-05-2009, 07:16 PM

This is coming from the perspective of someone who has several books on the go at any given time!

If I've started a series, I will start on the next in the series after I've finished the previous one. Otherwise I tend to go by what genre/author/subject interests me at that time. If some-one's jumping up and down and raving about a book, and I already have it, that might shove it higher on the list.

birdbrainbb · 04-05-2009, 07:47 PM

I choose by what genre/mood I feel like reading at the time. I tend to switch around a lot, especially if I just finished reading something kinda depressing-- like Empress (or the third Temeraire book). Then I make sure to read a humor/light-hearted book next so I don't get too depressed.

I generally don't read a series all at once, just because I tend to get burnt out really quickly. But sometimes if the series is really exciting, like the Temeraire series (before I got to the end of the third book, that is), I'll push through and read at least a few of the books in a row. Just depends on how I feel.

(I hope that wasn't too long-winded!)

sirbruce · 04-05-2009, 08:04 PM

I like the concentrate on a specific author and read their stuff chronologically and by series order when possible.

Currently I'm reading every last bit of Heinlein I haven't read before. Just some shorts and a couple of novels left. After that I'm not sure what to tackle next: Gaiman? Pratchett? Maybe the DF Jones Colossus series; those should be a quick read.

Elsi · 04-05-2009, 08:04 PM

I'm another of those people who tends to read more than one book at a time. Currently, I'm reading Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts and The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson. There are several other books that I have started, but set aside for some reason or another.

Because I'm in a book swapping group, most of the time I will select the next book to read from those that I owe to someone in the group. Which is currently the case with Blood Brothers -- I owe the trilogy to a swapper in Virginia. And when I finish it, I'll probably move on to the second book in the trilogy.

But sometimes I'm just determined I'm going to read something that just simply appeals to me.

ficbot · 04-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Right now I am picking short ones, to try and clear my backlog a little

FizzyWater · 04-05-2009, 09:03 PM

Unless an author's style or universe really grabs me, I find I do better if I don't read series books one after the other (assuming I'm discovering the series after more than a couple of the books have been published). My enjoyment of the subsequent books tends to go down if I read them too close together.

Same with genres (although it might be more like "sub-genres").

So, if I just read a gritty urban fantasy with a kick-a$$ heroine, I try to find something like a light romance next. Or maybe a cozy mystery. But if the styles between books are too similar, I tend to compare them, rather than just enjoy the stories.

In terms of how do I pick? Yikes.

I load up the Sony with as many books as it comfortably holds. Finish a book. And then I just start paging through the table of contents until I find one that catches my fancy. That's generally going to be a different "flavor" or genre than the last one, but beyond that, it's rather haphazard.

Of course, if a book I'm waiting for comes out, that's usually "next"! (Unlike some of the others here, I can't do two books at a time - although I can do an audio book and print...uh...e-...uh reading book...at the same time.

SteveK · 04-05-2009, 10:53 PM

FizzyWater - I also don't usually like to read multiple books in a series or even multiple books by the same author one after another. Also, I usually choose a different genre, so the next book will hopefully be very different than the one I just finished.

I know people that read numerous books by the same author, but I like to mix things up more.

Steve K.

Andybaby · 04-06-2009, 03:48 AM

i Ussually go from

New Author, Old Author, Old Author
and repeat. though not always, though i ussually alternate between a known author and an unknown atleast, unless the Unknown was OUTSTANDING, i would ussually read a know safe author. for me, authors that i have read before i read quickly, so i go from fast to slow, if i speed though a book, i will try to find a new author so the next one is slow.

so hard

If i read a book by a new author, I ussually look for a few more books by them and put them on the reader. then i go back and read something else from someone i love, Ussually Heinlein, Or Card, or Haldeman, and now Niven.

Last 10 books Ive read

The Gripping Hand by Larry Niven
Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, Book 1) by Jack Campbell
Red Planet by Robert A. Heinlein
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card
The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven
Starborne by Robert Silverberg
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
The Yazoo Queen by Orson Scott Card
Saturn's Children by Charles Stross
Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A. Heinlein
The Sagan Diary by John Scalzi

Save for Saturn's Children, they were all 4-5 star books, I didnt really like Stross that much, but im willing to give him another shot as ive heard alot of good things, this time without the Chibi sex robots.

Stross, Bradbury, Silverberg, and Campbell were all new authors for me (maybe not bradbury, but first one ive read in a long time)

Detour · 04-06-2009, 04:12 AM

I'm of the "read them in order" group. Whether it's actually a series or just the published order of stand alone novels of a particular author, I like to go about it in order. For variety what I've been doing lately is listening to series in audio book format and reading the rest on my reader. I have about 60 hours a week (while working, so I actually get paid for that time, heh) I can devote to audio books, so I go through a lot of them.

If it's a favorite author's new release everything else gets put on hold. I research suggested books and series by scanning the reviews online, and start them when I'm in the mood for that genre if they sound good. I keep track of suggested books that sound good by using the wish list feature at amazon, fictionwise, audible, and my library. When I want something new I scan my wish lists first, then the NY Times book section to see what's new.

Sometimes I seem to get stuck in a rut where nothing seems good. This is usually triggered by reading something excellent where everything else pales in comparison, then I go back to an old favorite to reset my reading mood.

Currently I'm rereading George RR Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series on audio, and reading Garth Stein's "The Art of Racing in the Rain" on the reader.

Penforhire · 04-07-2009, 01:10 PM

I tend to exhaust a series or author and move on. as far as new stuff I look for recommendations from soneone who likesed something else I also liked. Or sometimes I'll check out an award-winning author I've never read. There are LOT of award winners

tech_au · 04-09-2009, 01:48 AM

I am having the same "what should I read next" feeling. My reading list seems to grow larger and never seems to shrink. I guess I am feeling a bit of freebie overload as I can't seem to say no to publisher's freebies from harper collins, sony, and random house over the last several months.
I don't usually read all of a series at once as you do get sick of them even if its your favourite. I tend to rotate through genres to keep up the variety.
I have tried to read more than one book at a time but can't do it.

pilotbob · 04-09-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech_au

I am having the same "what should I read next" feeling. My reading list seems to grow larger and never seems to shrink. I guess I am feeling a bit of freebie overload as I can't seem to say no to publisher's freebies from harper collins, sony, and random house over the last several months.
I don't usually read all of a series at once as you do get sick of them even if its your favourite. I tend to rotate through genres to keep up the variety.
I have tried to read more than one book at a time but can't do it.

Yes, I gave up on d/ling every freebee out there. I have made the mistake of reading some of them that now I regret. I figure, they will be free again or not.

BOb

tech_au · 04-09-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Yes, I gave up on d/ling every freebee out there. I have made the mistake of reading some of them that now I regret. I figure, they will be free again or not.

BOb

I am going to have to learn to be more ruthless when it comes to freebies

Publisher freebies will probably will get through but as I have found with unpublished author freebies you have to start reading about 3 or 4 of them before you find one that interests you. Out of about a dozen I have only really liked the DownTime scifi/comedy series and Mars Girl that I am currently reading.

Jill75 · 04-10-2009, 12:49 AM

I also tend to read what I feel that I want to read. If I feel like reading a Sci-Fi then I do that. But I have a stand by of books of other genre if I get tired of what I'm reading. I also have some inspirational books to keep me motivated through the day. Read what you like and not what is dictated in any order just to finish it.

Reading should be an enjoyable time and not a chore to finish a book.

04-05-2009, 06:35 PM	#1
Fledchen Guru Posts: 663 Karma: 84658 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minnesota, USA Device: PB360+, Sony950, VR Stream, iPod Touch, iPad	How do you choose? I have a dreadfully long list of books that people have convinced me that I simply must read at some point in my life. I frequently find myself struggling to figure out what to read next from this list. What are your personal criteria for choosing the next book? Do you read whole series with no interruptions? Do you read a certain genre for a while and then switch? Do you use a random number generator?

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04-05-2009, 07:16 PM	#2
ShortNCuddlyAm WWHALD Posts: 7,879 Karma: 337114 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mitcham, Surrey, UK Device: iPad. Selling my silver 505 here	This is coming from the perspective of someone who has several books on the go at any given time! If I've started a series, I will start on the next in the series after I've finished the previous one. Otherwise I tend to go by what genre/author/subject interests me at that time. If some-one's jumping up and down and raving about a book, and I already have it, that might shove it higher on the list.

04-05-2009, 07:47 PM	#3
birdbrainbb Addict Posts: 287 Karma: 2191035 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Anaheim, CA Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle Paperwhite 5	I choose by what genre/mood I feel like reading at the time. I tend to switch around a lot, especially if I just finished reading something kinda depressing-- like Empress (or the third Temeraire book). Then I make sure to read a humor/light-hearted book next so I don't get too depressed. I generally don't read a series all at once, just because I tend to get burnt out really quickly. But sometimes if the series is really exciting, like the Temeraire series (before I got to the end of the third book, that is), I'll push through and read at least a few of the books in a row. Just depends on how I feel. (I hope that wasn't too long-winded!)

04-05-2009, 08:04 PM	#4
sirbruce Provocateur Posts: 1,859 Karma: 505847 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Columbus, OH Device: Kindle Touch, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, iPhone 3GS	I like the concentrate on a specific author and read their stuff chronologically and by series order when possible. Currently I'm reading every last bit of Heinlein I haven't read before. Just some shorts and a couple of novels left. After that I'm not sure what to tackle next: Gaiman? Pratchett? Maybe the DF Jones Colossus series; those should be a quick read.

04-05-2009, 08:04 PM	#5
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	I'm another of those people who tends to read more than one book at a time. Currently, I'm reading *Blood Brothers* by Nora Roberts and *The Hero of Ages* by Brandon Sanderson. There are several other books that I have started, but set aside for some reason or another. Because I'm in a book swapping group, most of the time I will select the next book to read from those that I owe to someone in the group. Which is currently the case with *Blood Brothers* -- I owe the trilogy to a swapper in Virginia. And when I finish it, I'll probably move on to the second book in the trilogy. But sometimes I'm just determined I'm going to read something that just simply appeals to me.

04-05-2009, 08:11 PM	#6
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Right now I am picking short ones, to try and clear my backlog a little

04-05-2009, 09:03 PM	#7
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Unless an author's style or universe really grabs me, I find I do better if I don't read series books one after the other (assuming I'm discovering the series after more than a couple of the books have been published). My enjoyment of the subsequent books tends to go down if I read them too close together. Same with genres (although it might be more like "sub-genres"). So, if I just read a gritty urban fantasy with a kick-a$$ heroine, I try to find something like a light romance next. Or maybe a cozy mystery. But if the styles between books are too similar, I tend to compare them, rather than just enjoy the stories. In terms of how do I pick? Yikes. I load up the Sony with as many books as it comfortably holds. Finish a book. And then I just start paging through the table of contents until I find one that catches my fancy. That's generally going to be a different "flavor" or genre than the last one, but beyond that, it's rather haphazard. Of course, if a book I'm waiting for comes out, that's usually "next"! (Unlike some of the others here, I can't do two books at a time - although I can do an audio book and print...uh...e-...uh reading book...at the same time.

04-05-2009, 10:53 PM	#8
SteveK Addict Posts: 272 Karma: 1017902 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Kindle PW, PW2, Kindle3, Kobo Glo, tablets, phone	FizzyWater - I also don't usually like to read multiple books in a series or even multiple books by the same author one after another. Also, I usually choose a different genre, so the next book will hopefully be very different than the one I just finished. I know people that read numerous books by the same author, but I like to mix things up more. Steve K.

04-06-2009, 03:48 AM	#9
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	i Ussually go from New Author, Old Author, Old Author and repeat. though not always, though i ussually alternate between a known author and an unknown atleast, unless the Unknown was OUTSTANDING, i would ussually read a know safe author. for me, authors that i have read before i read quickly, so i go from fast to slow, if i speed though a book, i will try to find a new author so the next one is slow. so hard If i read a book by a new author, I ussually look for a few more books by them and put them on the reader. then i go back and read something else from someone i love, Ussually Heinlein, Or Card, or Haldeman, and now Niven. Last 10 books Ive read The Gripping Hand by Larry Niven Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, Book 1) by Jack Campbell Red Planet by Robert A. Heinlein Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven Starborne by Robert Silverberg The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury The Yazoo Queen by Orson Scott Card Saturn's Children by Charles Stross Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A. Heinlein The Sagan Diary by John Scalzi Save for Saturn's Children, they were all 4-5 star books, I didnt really like Stross that much, but im willing to give him another shot as ive heard alot of good things, this time without the Chibi sex robots. Stross, Bradbury, Silverberg, and Campbell were all new authors for me (maybe not bradbury, but first one ive read in a long time)

04-06-2009, 04:12 AM	#10
Detour Lurker Posts: 20 Karma: 91 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ankh Morpork Device: Sony Reader PRS 500/505 (blue) / iPhone / Kindle (gave away)	I'm of the "read them in order" group. Whether it's actually a series or just the published order of stand alone novels of a particular author, I like to go about it in order. For variety what I've been doing lately is listening to series in audio book format and reading the rest on my reader. I have about 60 hours a week (while working, so I actually get paid for that time, heh) I can devote to audio books, so I go through a lot of them. If it's a favorite author's new release everything else gets put on hold. I research suggested books and series by scanning the reviews online, and start them when I'm in the mood for that genre if they sound good. I keep track of suggested books that sound good by using the wish list feature at amazon, fictionwise, audible, and my library. When I want something new I scan my wish lists first, then the NY Times book section to see what's new. Sometimes I seem to get stuck in a rut where nothing seems good. This is usually triggered by reading something excellent where everything else pales in comparison, then I go back to an old favorite to reset my reading mood. Currently I'm rereading George RR Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series on audio, and reading Garth Stein's "The Art of Racing in the Rain" on the reader.

04-07-2009, 01:10 PM	#11
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I tend to exhaust a series or author and move on. as far as new stuff I look for recommendations from soneone who likesed something else I also liked. Or sometimes I'll check out an award-winning author I've never read. There are LOT of award winners

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04-09-2009, 01:48 AM	#12
tech_au Oz Bookworm Posts: 516 Karma: 4056 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650	I am having the same "what should I read next" feeling. My reading list seems to grow larger and never seems to shrink. I guess I am feeling a bit of freebie overload as I can't seem to say no to publisher's freebies from harper collins, sony, and random house over the last several months. I don't usually read all of a series at once as you do get sick of them even if its your favourite. I tend to rotate through genres to keep up the variety. I have tried to read more than one book at a time but can't do it.

04-10-2009, 12:49 AM	#15
Jill75 Zealot Posts: 135 Karma: 150 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	I also tend to read what I feel that I want to read. If I feel like reading a Sci-Fi then I do that. But I have a stand by of books of other genre if I get tired of what I'm reading. I also have some inspirational books to keep me motivated through the day. Read what you like and not what is dictated in any order just to finish it. Reading should be an enjoyable time and not a chore to finish a book.