How do you pick the books you're going to read?

[Anonymous]

Just by reading the back? Sticking to the best seller list? Reading reviews? Reading the synopsis online? How does your selection process work?

[Anonymous]

Goodreads feed.

[Anonymous]

I look at covers and authors. If it's an author I know I like, I read the inside flap. If that seems good I take it out. If it seems boring I don't. If someone suggests a book I look at the inside flap and if it seems good I flip through it to see if there's enough dialogue. I hate when books just have two pages describing how the moon shines through the window.

[Anonymous]

By how attractive the cover is, really.

[Anonymous]

I have a list of books that I want to read on Goodreads. Anytime I get a recommendation or see something about a book that sounds interesting I add it to my want to read shelf. Then, as I'm finishing up a book I start to check out the list and if I have time I will pop by a book store to read a few pages of my top selections and pick the one that I am feeling most into at that time. This is something that gives me a lot of pleasure, especially when the book I pick ends up being great.

[Anonymous]

I read reviews—in newspapers, magazines, Amazon, DCUM. I like a mix of history, literary fiction, memoirs, adventure stories.

I also read summer reading lists from private/prep schools. They usually have excellent choices!

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to focus on what's on my book shelf.

[Anonymous]

I go based on books I’ve seen circulating the bestseller lists for a long time, Reese’s book club, and recommendations from friends with similar tastes.

But I’m basic in that regard, I’m mostly reading books most readers have read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to focus on what's on my book shelf.

But how did they get there?

[Anonymous]

I go through spurts of purchasing, where for a few months I end up book shopping or browsing a lot, and probably buy 20-30-40 books. Then after that I read a mix of new and what's on my shelf.

I try to switch up genres so I don't get bored from reading. When I started on self help books they were excellent for a few years, but I tired of them and quit reading for awhile altogether. Now I have a main book, 2-3 others on the go, and pick with a purpose in mind - do I want to learn something, feel relatedness, have fun, relax, think, experience something, expand my perspective, etc.

I pick books mainly from browsing, then recs on here or similar places, then review lists.

[Anonymous]

I have hundreds of books on my to read list. I'm always adding anything I hear of that sounds interesting.

I am in a book club and read almost all of those books.

If a book seems popular and like a lot of people like it, I usually try to read it.

Some authors I like, I read more of their books.

Sometimes I try to read seasonal books. I have read the Guest List for Halloween and this year I want to read Frankenstein. I similarly like summer beach reads and winter holiday type series - Winter Street series, Winter in Paradise series, etc.

I have the following reading new years "resolutions":
-read at least 24 books (aim for 2 a month)
-read one long book that I've been too intimidated to start
-read a book that has been on my to-read list for more than 5 years
-read a book I own and haven't read yet
-read a book published this year
-read one classic
-read at least one non-fiction book
-read a book club book that I missed at the time

[Anonymous]

BookTok recommendations

[Anonymous]

A mix of social media, following authors and imprints I love, and goodreads.

[Anonymous]

I tend to read prize finalists -- Pulitzer, National Book Award, Orange, Booker, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm trying to focus on what's on my book shelf.

But how did they get there?

i tend to pick up books that have won awards, but haven't read them all.I need to stop collecting.