How do you choose what to read next?

[L.Y.]

Emelie wrote: "Well, that is a hard question with to parts for an answer.

On my freetime reading, I read whatever I'm in a mood for, dosn't matter if I've read it before or if it's new. Anything can spurr me in..."

It must be awesome working in a library!

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Carol wrote: "I would think working as a librarian would create problem hoarder tendencies for me. You know, the latest release would come in and I'd be saying, "no, we can't make this available to the public until I read it." Then there'd be some books that would mysteriously never make circulation. Temptation! "


Exactly!

[Brandon]

I usually pic several titles and read the first chapter of many, until one sucks me in to its imaginative vortex. I read by mood, but sometimes it's hard to tell what mood you're in.

[Carolyn]

Mrs J - Love that photo - so true!

I'm a big library reader, so at any given time I have 10-20 books on my shelf from the library (and another 15-25 on reserve.) When I finish a book, I start first from my library bookshelf. While I try to read the oldest first, since they will need to be returned soonest, I have to admit that if it's a book by a favorite author or the next in a series that I've been eagerly waiting for, it linejumps and ends up being read right away. = ) If I have a batch that are all due the same time, then it is strictly a 'mood' call - what I'm in the mood to be reading at that moment.

I also have about 150 or so books that I own that I haven't read yet, but I'm 'saving' them for when I run out of books from the library, and for some reason can't get more (bad timing, holidays, power outage, the apocalypse, etc.)

[Snarktastic Sonja]

Do you ever find yourself paralyzed in indecisiveness picking out a book? Do you ever think you rely TOO much on what other people think? Do you wonder how you EVER found a book to read without the internet?

Ugh. I *need* a book to read. Preferably snarky without vampires!

(Cross posted in my two favorite groups. :))

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

There's a snarky lead thread, Sonja. I'm at work on phone and can't search.

[Sophie]

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Hope you're prepared to expand your TBR pile. =]

I'm about to give Kate Daniel's a try myself. Been putting her off long enough.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Thanks, Sophie!

[Sophie]

No problem. Now back to work with you, our diligent Mod! =]

[Snarktastic Sonja]

Is it really bad when I have been backwards and forward through that list and still can't find anything jumping out at me?

I really *sincerely* hate it when I get like this.

And, then, y'all get to listen to me whine.

[Carly]

Snarktastic Sonja wrote: "Is it really bad when I have been backwards and forward through that list and still can't find anything jumping out at me?

I really *sincerely* hate it when I get like this.

And, then, y'all ge..."

What type of book do you *want* to be reading? Any ideas you want to see or similar books you've already read?

[Sophie]

Just dug thought the listopia's, and surprisingly enough, there isn't anything there. Hunh.

Carly wrote: "What type of book do you *want* to be reading? Any ideas you want to see or similar books you've already read?"

Sometimes I find it helps to try 'something completely different', a book in genre I wouldn't normally read but which has a trope I like (ie. snark). Most times, say 78%, I'm pleasantly surprised.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

I have book cravings.
;)

Well....for re-reads anyway.

New books~ I choose by author first, then by cover.

[Jalilah]

Snarktastic Sonja wrote: "Do you ever find yourself paralyzed in indecisiveness picking out a book? Do you ever think you rely TOO much on what other people think? Do you wonder how you EVER found a book to read without the..."

Sonja,

Do you know about the Jane Yellowrock series? I think you would like it. You are a fan of Mercy Thompson right? There are similarities but I think Jane is snarkier.
The first 4 are:
Skinwalker
Blood Cross
Mercy Blade
Raven Cursed
Before the internet, (first Fantastic fiction but now mostly Goodreads) and being able order books on line at the library, finding the right books was pretty much hit and miss for me. Now I think I have become a book addict. I already start thinking about what I am going to read next before I finish the one I am reading and I always make sure I have the next one with me!

[Snarktastic Sonja]

Jalilah - I just finished the 2nd in that series - and the whole "anything in pants" thing that Jane has going on is annoying me. I want relationships doggone it! I do love Molly though.

I also read the first in the Charlie Madigan series, The Better Part of Darkness. Enjoyed it - just not sure I am ready to purchase the next.

I really REALLY need a break from vampires. They scare me. Even when they twinkle. er sparkle.

Here is my problem (especially when I have been on series' binges - and I have been since the beginning of the year): I want to be dumped into a story - not a world building - like Urban Fantasy does so well. BUT, I don't want Urban Fantasy - I want something more akin to High Fantasy - or Epic fantasy. Of course, those genres are more closely aligned with the slow build up and world building that I really don't like.

Oh, yes, I want to have happy little characters at the end of each novel.

I am absolutely terrified to land myself in another GRR (it is absolutely no accident that those initials spell GRR) Martin debacle.

I don't re-read well. At all. But I am just about to dive back into Ms. Mercy or Ms. Raine. But, what usually happens when I do that is that I don't like them as well the 2nd time around. And, I don't think I could bear to lose my love of these ladies. :D

Trouble maker. Yes, indeed, I am a trouble maker.

I think MrsJ says it perfectly: book fussies.

Thank you for listening. :D At least I know I am not alone.

[Sophie]

Is YA acceptable? There are a few that come to mind right away. When the book fussies (or is it crankies?) strike me, I turn to YA or cheesy romance to pull me out. They tend to be easy to jump into and easy to finish. Often they provide just the kick I need to get going on more, uh, substantial stuff (that sounds horribly snobby).

Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest series (snark)
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (fantasy, some romance & snark)

As for general Fantasy, I'd say:

Summers at Castle Auburn (romance, stand alone)
The Anvil of the World (snark & humour)
Then Illona Andrews has a more romance-y series that, as far as I know, does not involve vampires ( http://www.goodreads.com/series/46801... )
And Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal.

These all have HEA's to varying degrees.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Markhat series by --snark. Dumps you in the world, doesn't do a ton of exposition. Happy endings.Frank Tuttle.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Snarktastic Sonja wrote: "Jalilah - I just finished the 2nd in that series - and the whole "anything in pants" thing that Jane has going on is annoying me. I want relationships doggone it! I do love Molly though.

I also re..."

I got an odd suggestion for you: Riddle-Master: The Complete Trilogy

It's YA and old...but I really enjoyed it. It's part epic fantasy and part mystery.

[Snarktastic Sonja]

Carol -

I've looked at that. The length throws me off. Do the books get longer?

MrsJ -

I am going to be forced to visit a library. Can't get that one in digital format - and I would like to read it.

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

Yes, the last couple are book-like. I'm completely confused by length with the Kindle, but the Brown River Queen took the length of a flight from Madison to New York (about 2 hrs), so I'm sure it's book-length.

It does have vampires, though--in the background in some of the first couple, so maybe its out.

[Carly]

I recently read and adored (A Madness of Angels). It's incredibly creative, vampire-free, and definitely doesn't suffer from brevity. The protag can also be a little snarky when he's not busy being a cuckoo-lander ingenue or revenge-driven extremist. The writing style seems to be the biggest turnoff, but there's a sample on amazon.

[Jalilah]

Snarktastic Sonja wrote: "Jalilah - I just finished the 2nd in that series - and the whole "anything in pants" thing that Jane has going on is annoying me. I want relationships doggone it! I do love Molly though.

I also re..."

Hmmm...I am not quite sure I know what you mean regarding Jane. I do think she is eventually going to be with someone who is right for her, but it may take awhile. But yes, there are vampires. I don't like them much either, but I adore Jane.

How about Fairies?
Darkfever takes place in Ireland as the walls between Faerie and our world come down. It is easy to get into the world because it starts out like ours, but the magic and "other" comes in slowly. Mac, The leading character is from Georgia and comes to Ireland to investigate her sisters death but gets pulled into a secret hidden world. This series is hard to put down! I read it straight though but had to wait in agony for one year for the last book to come out so I could find out what happened. So if you start now you are lucky! One word of warning however, the leading character is really, really annoying. When the story starts she is spoiled and superficial. She completely changes as the series goes on.

[Olga]

Sonja, I agree with Carol: Frank Tuttle is good; lots of humor.
Have you tried Sharon Shinn, her Samaria series? It's pure fantasy, in a sense that it happens in an imaginary world. Every book is a stand alone, with a happy ending, and absolutely no vampires... or magic or any paranormal creatures. There are human relationships there and angels, but they're mortal. The most original angels I've ever read about. I love the series. It starts with Archangel.