How do you choose which books to read? do you go by the cover art? title? do you only read certain authors? or do you go on other peoples recommendations? What makes you decide 'i'm going to read that book'

For me i would have to say i definitely judge books by their cover, if it catches my eye from on the shelf i'll read the blurb and then if it sounds good i'll read it. I also go on recommendations from other people.

These days I read what I'm sent to review, really. I get all sorts of genres (I say no to things I'm definitely not interested in), but yeah, I barely have time to read all the review-requested books I have to read.

I used to just meander around the library - usually sticking to the fantasy/sci-fi section - and pick up random books until I found something I was interested in (which I decided on by reading the back blurb).

I look at the "spine art" technically most of the time, an author I've read before will get me to look at it but probably my final decision hinges on the blurb.

I don't often read book recommended to me by my friends because I read a lot more than most of them and have probably read it already.

i go off the cover first, then the blurb. After that if i'm interested I'll flick to a random page in the book. if i catches me then I'll read it. It also depends very heavily on my mood and what i read last.

i very occasionally go off a recommendation but book choice is so individual that I rarely like what's reccomended to me.

I'm a bit haphazard with my choosing method. When I find an author I like, I look for all their books to read. Sometimes I hear of a book from a friend or in the media. I check out the New York Times bestseller list every so often. Then there's my book club which chooses a book every month - this is a good venue for me as they tend to be books I wouldn't normally read. I also find interesting books to read at my local Dymocks by reading their staff recommendations.

Hi all,
My book has just been released by Harper Collins and I'm hoping some of you might fancy it. But I don't know how to really make it known here in the site. It's The Gene Thieves (by Maria Quinn) nominated as a near-future thriller. I'd at least like your opinions as to whether the cover is enticing enough to make you pick it up. I'm also interested as to whether you go specifically to 'science fiction' sections in book shops. It's hard to get the genre displayed in 'new releases.' Thanks, Marai

mostly i go by recommendations, but if i'm just randomly browsing i'll read the blurbs of covers that catch my eye.

I'm the same, I am totally mood driven when it comes to reading. I have about 7 books going at the same time and choose which one I will read according to how I feel. It is very rare that a book captivates me so much that I have to read it consecutively and even rarer that I read it in the one sitting....I used to do this before I had kids and had the luxury of being able to sit up all night reading! I go off the blurb and the "feeling" the whole book gives me. I don't ever read reviews (until afterwards anyway) and if a book has a page of reviews before the first chapter I tend to get suspicious...

Again, I'm mood driven. I'll start thinking about my next book before I've finished what I'm currently reading! I tend to research a lot more on the internet nowadays for reviews and opinions. I can be sucked in by a fancy cover or a big name though.

i'm the same as you carin. definitely mood driven. i have books that i bought years ago that i havent read yet because its never felt right. i also read reviews on the net. and i go heavily by what my friends recommend also.

Unless I'm in the mood for a particular type of story, I choose by title, cover and blurb. If the title sounds interesting I'll look at the cover. If the cover looks interesting, I'll read the blurb and so on until I've either read the whole book or put it back on the shelf.

Depends on whether I'm looking at ebooks or actual books. :P For the latter...Generally it's cover, glance at the blurb, then a (gentle) flip test. Strangely enough (or maybe not so), weird font/spacing can completely put me off reading the book. Wonder if I'm the only one..

it's a horrible habit but usually by cover and then blurb. Sometimes, I search the internet for good books or my friends recommend some to me.

A book with a great plot would intrigue me, whether it has been told by word of mouth or by its blurb.

And by the way, I'd just got my own book published, now available at Amazon and Barnes&Noble, its title is Over Mount Fuji. I'm not interested in making money, but like a wide readership. I would like to know how best to make it available to all, online, FOC. Thanx for your thoughts.

@Helena: Why's it a horrible habit? I know they say don't judge a book by its cover, but some covers truly are gorgeous..XD

When I'm searching for a book I like to read I generally find one that looks bright or girly. A cover that captures my attention is usually the only type of book I will consider reading unless someone has bought me the book for my birthday, or if I am advised it is a good read.

I must say I don't like reading books where the pages are yellow or old looking. I like white pages with bold writing that is easy to read. Yes that's right! I won't read a book if the pages don't look good. Anyone else like that? Or am I just a bit weird?

Wendy wrote: "I must say I don't like reading books where the pages are yellow or old looking. I like white pages with bold writing that is easy to read. Yes that's right! I won't read a book if the pages don't look good. Anyone else like that? Or am I just a bit weird?"

-points upward- Similar to this? XD I don't mind old books, though. :) "Strangely enough (or maybe not so), weird font/spacing can completely put me off reading the book. Wonder if I'm the only one.. "

usually i choose from my favourite authors favourite authors and so on, sometimes while browsing i may get a feeling about a book and pick it up, this has only happened twice, once with pat rothfuss' the name of the wind and the other time with trudi canavans the magicians apprentice, both authors i had never heard of but i just felt the urge to pick these books up, turns out they have become two of my most favourite novels of all time

First I look at the cover, then I read other people's reviews, then if it seems good I will read an excerpt, then if it has ticked all the boxes I will read it.

I generally like books with a dark cover, or shinY! Who doesn't love a shiny cover? ha-ha

Hi folks, thought I'd drop in to your group. I tend to pick my books by my favourite authors but a lot of times its the cover that grabs me, then a browse though the book, if I'm undecided I will usually check out other readers reviews online to help me decide. Places like this are a big help to me and I suppose all book lovers :)