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What to Read Next? Get Tips From Fellow Bookworms
For a bibliophile, there's nothing harder than deciding what to read next. Some of us have a system, while others follow their heart. So we asked our followers on Twitter and Facebook to share their tips and tricks and made a list of the most popular comments. Which ones resonate with you?
1. "Lately, I've been using the random sort feature on my Goodreads Want to Read list and letting that pick for me. So far, I'm having a lot of fun with it!" says Quailing.
2. "I always go with gut instinct at the end of a book. How do I feel? What emotions do I need to feed or balance? I used to make lists and try to stick with the lists, but I ended up not liking the books as much that way," says Cindy.
3. "I start reading three or so books and see which one I fancy reading most. Sometimes, I can't decide so end up reading multiple books at the same time," says Bill.
4. "I have a jar filled with the titles of all of my unread books. I give it a shake, pick out five, then pick out one from that five, and that's the book I'll read," says Zara.
5. "Oh, it's really easy. It's a three-step process: 1) I search my library for a book I really want to read. 2) I lay on the floor and cry as I realize three lives wouldn't be enough to finish them all. 3) I force myself to pick one wondering if I made the right choice," says Peppe.
6. "I try to follow this rule: One light read that keeps me turning the pages (thrillers, Grisham, Baldacci), and then a slower fiction that makes me ponder (Murakami, Kundera, etc.). I call this pattern 'one short-term' after 'one long-term' ride," says Eva.
7. "If it’s fiction, I read more works by that author. Or if it’s a one-off, I ease into the same genre or time period by a different author. I dislike jumping around. I get literary indigestion! But if I have to change gears it helps to read nonfiction in between—a good buffer," says Haworth.
8. "Actually, this decision is always the hardest for me. Sometimes, a book has such an impact that it takes some time for me to digest before I can start something new. And then, after a while, I am so annoyed that I can‘t decide what to read next that I simply take the next book that crosses my way," says Stephanie.
9. "I am reading myself through our library alphabetically. Right now, I'm at 'D' as in 'Douglas.' This makes me read all kinds of authors and genres that I would otherwise not know about or maybe not even choose. Pretty exciting," says Susanne.
10. "I stare at my bookshelves many times over many days until something grabs my attention. Sometimes, before a book I already own grabs me, I go to a bookstore and buy/start reading something new," says Lauren.
2. "I always go with gut instinct at the end of a book. How do I feel? What emotions do I need to feed or balance? I used to make lists and try to stick with the lists, but I ended up not liking the books as much that way," says Cindy.
3. "I start reading three or so books and see which one I fancy reading most. Sometimes, I can't decide so end up reading multiple books at the same time," says Bill.
4. "I have a jar filled with the titles of all of my unread books. I give it a shake, pick out five, then pick out one from that five, and that's the book I'll read," says Zara.
5. "Oh, it's really easy. It's a three-step process: 1) I search my library for a book I really want to read. 2) I lay on the floor and cry as I realize three lives wouldn't be enough to finish them all. 3) I force myself to pick one wondering if I made the right choice," says Peppe.
6. "I try to follow this rule: One light read that keeps me turning the pages (thrillers, Grisham, Baldacci), and then a slower fiction that makes me ponder (Murakami, Kundera, etc.). I call this pattern 'one short-term' after 'one long-term' ride," says Eva.
7. "If it’s fiction, I read more works by that author. Or if it’s a one-off, I ease into the same genre or time period by a different author. I dislike jumping around. I get literary indigestion! But if I have to change gears it helps to read nonfiction in between—a good buffer," says Haworth.
8. "Actually, this decision is always the hardest for me. Sometimes, a book has such an impact that it takes some time for me to digest before I can start something new. And then, after a while, I am so annoyed that I can‘t decide what to read next that I simply take the next book that crosses my way," says Stephanie.
9. "I am reading myself through our library alphabetically. Right now, I'm at 'D' as in 'Douglas.' This makes me read all kinds of authors and genres that I would otherwise not know about or maybe not even choose. Pretty exciting," says Susanne.
10. "I stare at my bookshelves many times over many days until something grabs my attention. Sometimes, before a book I already own grabs me, I go to a bookstore and buy/start reading something new," says Lauren.
How do you decide what to read next? Share your two cents in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Catch Up with These Series Before the Next Book Comes Out
The Top 10 Most Popular Books About Books on Goodreads
Monogamous vs. Polygamous Reading: Which 'Type' Do You Prefer?
Check out more recent blogs:
Catch Up with These Series Before the Next Book Comes Out
The Top 10 Most Popular Books About Books on Goodreads
Monogamous vs. Polygamous Reading: Which 'Type' Do You Prefer?
Comments Showing 101-150 of 189 (189 new)
message 101:
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Dorset
(new)
Apr 21, 2018 05:59AM
As an older reader, Kindle has changed my life. Never thought I would like it..now I have 2. I never, ever EVER go anywhere without a "library". I always have one book or series I'm working on, or if I'm stuck in an airport, school pickup, waiting room etc, and don't want to get too lost in a story, I can catch up on non fiction.
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honestly, when I finish a book, I just wanna switch the mood. the longer I take to get a new book in, the longer my last book-mood;s gonna last and sometimes make s me feel miserable. Therefore, the key rule is: as soon as I end a book I look for what my soul desires, pick a book and get going. I sometimes take a book from current read, if I'm not liking it so much and pick up multiple books. the goal is to keep reading!
Also, I switch between genres a lot. let's say if I'm reading a self-help book, I might start a fiction alongside if it's slow or if its fast I'll pick a funny or light fiction next. I keep switching. that keeps me hitched!
Rohini wrote: "I usually enter the bookstore and walk through all the aisles smelling the books, touching them, feeling them. I take them, see the cover, read the back-cover, then think, "Okay, I'll come back to ..." That sounds just like me! When I bring someone with me I'm always worried I'm tiring them out. I always ask "Are you tired yet"
If I can't choose a book off my want to read list, I go back and reread one of my favorites then I read another book by the same author. I always have an audio book and one that I read before bed or I have down time.
Though I don't entirely follow this method, I tried a few times to export my to-read list to Excel, add a column with the formula:Average_Rating/Number_of_Pages
and sort by that column in a descending order so the books with the highest value are at the top. Since I consider myself a slow reader, that formula is supposed to provide an "efficiency" metric to the books so I can find the best ones I want to read that will take me the shortest time to read. Obviously, other factors can be considered, such as how popular a book is or how serious was the last book I read, but I let my judgement take it from there.
Reading The Hollywood Commandments now, but just got like a half dozen books from Amazon. On National Book Day they had a books from around the world list for free. Also found a couple book Will in the World about Shakespeare. For a great price on BookBub. So I have a lot to read now....
I get most of my books from the library, four at a time, and try to make sure they are a mix of saga/chicklit and horror/thriller. I have bought a few books on recommendation and always support local authors, especially the 'Sea Scribes.'
I have a large local library system I'm totally hooked on. They have a large NEW shelf where I always look first. I have no particular system. I always gravitate towards favorite authors or particular topics. Books with odd green or violent red covers always attract me and I'll always check out books I'm not sure about but it's the library, so why not? I read and was amazed by The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore just because I thought the title was intriguing...public libraries let you do that.What I really want is a good app to let me know when new books by favorite authors are coming out. I use a combination of Goodreads, Amazon and Publisher's Weekly but they still aren't enough.
Rohini wrote: "I usually enter the bookstore and walk through all the aisles smelling the books, touching them, feeling them. I take them, see the cover, read the back-cover, then think, "Okay, I'll come back to ..."If this ain't my mood I don't know what is
While buying books i follow this 3 step process called SRC which stands forStory
Rating/Reviews
Cover
After doing a thorough investigation into this 3 things and If all these 3 things appeal to me then i buy the book
Borrowed books come before own books so I can return them quickly. Last year I started alternating new books and re-reads because I've always think about books I want to re-read, and it works very well. Apart from that, I go with gut feeling.
I have a list of books that I would like to read. But I don't read them in order. After I finish a book, I look at all the titles and pick out three that sound interesting for the mood I'm in at the time. Then I read there summaries and decide which one I want to read.
Since I have discovered Goodreads and online purchasing my world has expanded. I used to haunt used book stores and read the books I purchased there. Now I read three categories of books: books from lists of great books or online challenges, books that catch my eye on the Goodreads news feed, and books from online bookstores to find additional books by favorite authors that I was previously unaware of. From those, I decide which to read next by emotional appeal at the moment. Although, I seem to be buying about three books for every one I finish!!
I'm really glad to see that I'm not the only weirdo here! "We're all mad here", I guess!
Lately I pick my next reads by looking at my want to read list on Goodreads and then I pick books from there that I reserve at the library. Also, I try to pick a book a month from my shelves that I haven't read. Otherwise I end up with a whole bookcase of unread books and only reading library books.
I've been doing a lot of audio books on overdrive and hoopla so I add books I see I want to read on goodreads and if the one of these apps have them in audio I add them to my wishlist which I try to read the older books first, so then I either add them to a hold list if they are out (overdrive) or take them out. On hoopla I try to stagger them so I have time to listen to them, and Of course if its a series I try to read them within a period so that the story line stays current in my mind, lol.I also belong to a book club and have books and e books that I try to get through. I am constantly reading or listening to them, most of the apps have a timer so you can listen to them for a set time right before you go to sleep, so its like a bedtime story..
Something that I genuinely had to do for my sanity was delete my TBR on goodreads. It was a mess of books I wanted to buy but hadn't, books I had but hadn't read, books I DNFed, and honestly it got me so stressed it was unreal. I ended up deleting all of the books from that and now I only have currently reading and read. I feel like it's a lot less stressful for me at least, and now I don't list books I've not read.
I stare at the books on my shelf, the books in the library, the books in the bookstore... and wait for them to talk to me.
I get all of my books at the library so when it's time to pick another one, I choose the book that's near it's due date. I check out books all the time and keep them at my desk so that I have other books ready once I finish one.I also keep two book list: my Goodreads list and my handwritten list where find books through Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, and Book of the Month. When it's time to pick a book, I alternate between list.
Elise wrote: "If I have no plans for what to read next, I use a random number generator for my book shelves on here. Makes things kind of exciting."I did not know about the generator. I'm going to check it out!
I am reading my autographed copy of Dead Wake by Erik Larson.It is a first edition and why I did not read it before escapes me. It is wonderful!!! Thank you Mr. Larson.
Megan wrote: "Random sort is a thing???"I know!
Theresa wrote: "I like variety! I can't read the same author back to back or most times not even the same type of book. So if I have to read a certain book for a club or a giveaway book I always at least give myse..."My rule is that I can't have the same author twice on a Read list on Goodreads, so 19 books must separate authors!
I also like variety so try to alternate between mysteries, contemporary fiction, historic fiction (different eras can't be back to back), non-fiction, etc. Wow I have lots of rules but sometimes the library's availability throws a wrench into the whole plan!
Lori wrote: "My reading habits have changed considerably since I was a young child. I used to be a one book person; i.e, I cannot read anything, but the book I am currently reading. Well that totally changed in..."This sounds soooo like me, although I have been a 3 or 4 or 5 book at a time person for as long as I can remember. I, too, have the before-bed read on my nightstand and the "main book" that follows me in my purse or my bag or just around the house. Sometimes I sneak in an extra popcorn or throwaway book (usually a legal or thriller) that just catches my attention or to give myself a mental break.
How do I pick a new one? Look at my shelves and see what jumps out at me or visit the library or my favorite used book store in search of something specific. Of course, while I'm looking for something specific, a whole bunch more jump out at me and those inevitably come home with me, too.
While I also prefer physical books, I am working at getting used to my Kindle. It's a great tool, but it really is not the same.
I go to a bookstore and see what interests me then I go and look for it in a used bookstore or the library. I have some authors I love and I look for when their new books are out. I then put a hold on them at the library. I used to buy them new but I save a lot of money this way. I have a large bookcase full of books I want to read but I keep finding ones I like elsewhere :( I will get to those books someday.
Jeff wrote: "I made a Google Sheets database that has the lists of all Pulitzer, Man Booker, and National Book Award winners, great books lists such as The Time 100, The Modern Library 100, and BBC's 100 Greate..."Now, this comment from Jeff sounds more reasonable. It should be placed on the top ten list above.
There are so many great and fabulous books out there, random pick will take you through a very, very long path. Not time for that.
Reviewing the listopias in Goodread had helped a lot.
I always have many, many new books at my finger tips (the results of being an addict). When I'm ready to start a new book, I grab three or four that are calling my name, grab them, lie down and see which one sings the loudest. It's pure instinct and listening to the books. If I have a tie, I read them both at the same time (well, not literally the same time--I alternate until they are done).
I pick my books pretty randomly, but it also is mood dependent. I always have multiple books of varying genres open concurrently, that way, when I get tired of one, I can pick up another.
Did anyone figure out how to random sort? Because I'm pretty sure that's not a thing.
Yes, go to My Books. Then hit the want to read on the left and go to the very bottom. You will see a rectangular box with an arrow. In that scroll down to random. Hope I explained that well.
Oh God I have so many newly bought books that are waiting their time to be read but when the time comes for me to pick up one and start reading it is never enough and I end up in making my way to a book shop and buying another new one. It is such a pleasure . Much bigger than buying any other stuff like clothes, shoes, perfume... How do I make up my mind when I am inside the book store? I have my Wish to Read List on Good reads that is getting longer and longer. Usually this is my guide when choosing. However, recently I started facing a problem - all my Want to Read Books appear to be not sold in any bookshops. I will need to start buying from Amazon which I actually do not like as visiting library/bookstore is my biggest pleasure.
Amanda wrote: "I love the idea of reading alphabetically through authors. Also love the random sort feature, didn't know that was a thing until now!"I know right? I always say sometimes there's something so liberating about eliminating choice. I know that could be a dangerous idea but in the case of books, you take all the guesswork out and just read what's "next"!
Where's the random button?? I'd love to try it out.
Oh guys, I found it! It is not per say, a button, it is in the "To Read" section. In the bottom of the screen, in the roll down button of the option, "sort", you will find 'Random'.
Rohini wrote: "I usually enter the bookstore and walk through all the aisles smelling the books, touching them, feeling them. I take them, see the cover, read the back-cover, then think, "Okay, I'll come back to ..."Same! It's so depressing to leave a bookstore without any books. And not being able to buy books for being a broke most of the time.
Rohini wrote: "Oh guys, I found it! It is not per say, a button, it is in the "To Read" section. In the bottom of the screen, in the roll down button of the option, "sort", you will find 'Random'."Thank you! I found it too.
Derek wrote: "I am an english speaker living in a non-english speaking country, so book shops are out for me. I tend to browse through what others have found good or interesting in Goodreads, Amazon etc. To make..."Absolutely agree Derek. Always write an honest review, even and sometimes especially if its negative. No need to be rude, just say what you think.
Mostly a mood reader. Borrowed books have to be read fairly quickly because the people who lent them usually excited to hear what you think. If im really stuck I'll ask my husband who will then pick the one on my shelf that he is tired of seeking still sitting there year after year. To be honest they have often turned out to be the best reads.
I am surprised by the top 10 answers because no one mentioned GR groups or recommendations. A couple of folks did mention GR challenges in the comments. I am in several GR groups, some of them have featured reads or BOMs. I read at least one of those each month. And I read books that fit GR challenges. When I finish a book I enjoyed, I look at the "Readers Also Enjoyed" books at the top of the page and see what else I may have in my TBR. And I leave room to pick books off the shelf or my Kindle that peak my interest. In that mix, I can find books that fit my mood.
Quailing said he/she uses the random sort feature on goodreads want to read list. Where do I find that?
A week ago I couldn't decide what to read. I took six book down my shelf that took some of my attention, and then I read the first page of all six books. Sometimes it helps, but it didn't do this time, so I called a friend and read the titles to her, told her to choose the one that popped to her. That worked! Especially because letting somebody else choose, you might feel a bit of regret, that she didn't pick a special one. That's how I found out what to read next after my friend's pick ;)
When I was younger, I used to linger in bookstores, booksales & libraries for hours. If the spine/front of book caught my eye, I would read the back cover. If it interested me, I would read the first page. If I ended up reading the entire chapter or more, that book would come home with me. Now, I try to look for books that have common themes/tropes that I like. I still go into bookstores, except this time I will open a book and read a random page.
I also check out the recs on Goodreads.
Sometimes reading by serendipity is great - what I find on the free shelf on holiday, for example, or something on the "new" shelf at the library. This can lead me into all sorts of different ideas and authors. That's why (though I have a kobo) I think it gives me too many options as I try to pick the perfect book.
Since there isn't a bookstore around my house that I know of, I usually do research online and beg my parents to buy me books from Amazon. Lol I usually look for fantasy books since it is my favorite genre.
Apart from reading in Spanish, my mother tongue, and English, I started last year to read also in German and French to further develop my language skills. So I pick a book in any of these languages and I'm not "allowed" to read something else in that same language until I have completed a book in the other languages too.This only applies to fiction books, I read most of my non-fiction in English.
I do not search the shelves in libraries, fiction or nonfiction I have the books on hold, I wander in used bookstores, often finding titles I already have and why have not read it? I am most pleased in discovery, authors or works I have never thought of, and sometimes I decide to take out several of that author in order to find patterns, skills, at the end I often get works that build on previous reads- I do this with philosophy and art... I try to read many cultures, African, Asian, Indian, Japanese...so translations are fine...
When I was still working, I would have one book--either fiction or memoir, nothing related to my work, because that would keep me awake--and I would read before going to sleep. Sometimes I was dead tired, but I still couldn't unwind without reading, so even if the book was going to fall out of my hand after ten minutes, I would read once I was in bed. Now that I'm retired, I read 6-8 books at a time, and most of them are review copies. I have a book blog that doesn't make money at all, but I do get thousands of dollars' worth of free books each year, which makes my life brighter. I read 4 or 5 galleys at a time, and I make a point to mix genres so that my subject material doesn't get too dark; I also try not to have two books with the same setting or same protagonist's name at a time so I don't get mixed up. I also read at least one book that I already own, because once I starting getting the review copies, I could see titles from my own collection staring back at me; here I was, retired finally, and yet I still couldn't read the books I was looking forward to for so long? Oh heck no. So now it's a combination of review copies and older books that I already have and have wanted to read for a long time.
