How do you choose your books?

[[deleted user]]

I tend to buy a lot of books from charity shops, choosing whatever happens to leap out at me. This makes for quite an eclectic reading list, but I've stumbled across quite a few authors this way, whose work I've subsequently sought out.

Of course, another way of looking at this is that it's quite a lazy way of choosing your reading matter. Rather than actually research an author, you're leaping on somebody else's coat tails - buying books that people have already chosen to read.

[Cecily]

Paul wrote: "...you're leaping on somebody else's coat tails - buying books that people have already chosen to read"

chosen to read - and get rid of afterwards! LOL

Seriously though, I buy quite a lot of my books from charity shops as well: a mixture of serendipitous whims, and one's I've heard of, but not bought new.

[Robert]

Charity shops are my favourite. I saw 2 hardback for pound wanted which read and ok
Other book to go with it great door stop of book
picked on whim is brilliant book. Now need to trawl shops for next instalment

[[deleted user]]

Another bonus with charity shops: 'old book smell'. You don't get that with Waterstones. Although, admittedly, 'new book smell' has its attractions.

[Ian, Moderator]

Smell that? You smell that? I love the smell of a kindle in the morning. Smells like victory.

[[deleted user]]

Ian wrote: "Smell that? You smell that? I love the smell of a kindle in the morning. Smells like victory."

Could be worse:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24741832

[Ian, Moderator]

lol - I've got a Dell laptop, but c.7 yrs old so no cat wee smell or thankfully any cat litter tray type pong.

[Olga]

Thanks all. I used feel unable to give my books away or get rid of them, even the ones I hadn't liked that much. But more recently I've ended up with so many books that I have started giving some of them away to charity shops, particularly if I bought them for research on a topic rather than personal interest.
Paul, I read the article about problems with that particular model of Dell... It makes one's mind boggle what could you put in a computer that would make it smell like cat's pee...

[[deleted user]]

Olga wrote: "It makes one's mind boggle what could you put in a computer that would make it smell like cat's pee... "

Well, I'm no expert, but I imagine that the cat got stuck in there when it went after the 'mouse'. But that's nothing. Apparently, my PC has got some sort of RAM in it.

[Olga]

True! I think you're right Paul! I believe mine has one too!

[Vanessa]

Generally I try and sought out my own books as I have very different to taste to those I know who read. Occasionally, someone will recommend something to me or it'll feature in a book club and if Im curious to try something I wouldnt normally pick up, I'll give it a go even if it's just to see what the fuss is about.

I only really go by covers when it comes to historical fiction/chick lit... in other genres it doesn't play as important a role. What does though is the description on the back/inside cover and then if a quick read of the first chapter draws me in, that usually seals the deal. I have to enjoy the style of writing!

I also have a few authors whose new releases I always read... but even then it comes down to if Im in the mood for that particular genre at the time and how much it costs.

[Olga]

Thanks Vanessa. I also find myself in a similar position with regards to people around me who read. Although I share some similarities in reading taste with some friends, because many of my friends are spread out over the world we don't always have time to talk about books, and the books that are readily available there might not have reached here (or in the case of my friend Iman, in France, not always translated.) I listen (and sometimes watch) review programmes and if I find descriptions and discussions interesting I might research the books more.

I like to read descriptions of the books. I've noticed that some authors only write one or two lines and then if there are no reviews or other comments, unless I know the author, I'm unlikely to buy it...