Episode 86: How do you choose your next book?

[Thomas]

On this episode of The Readers we discuss our reading horizons and then explore the age old reader's dilemma, what to read next. Simon, being a good little soldier, had his next book all lined up, whereas I could only narrow it done to three. So we talked about how we choose what to read next and touched on the dreaded reader's block.

How do you choose your next book? Do you like to stay in a groove or mix it up? Do you binge read? And how do you deal with reader's block?

[Louise]

I have 3 parameters:

1 Pressure: I choose a library book that is due soon and can't be renewed OR a book club book OR a book for a Goodreads Challenge I'm behind with

2 Interest: I choose a new book I just got or a book I've had for a while that's been brought back to my attention by a podcast/blog etc

3 Impulse: I browse through my shelves and bookcases until something catches my fancy

[Elizabeth☮]

I typically have a giant pile from the library so I consider due dates, but also what strikes me as a faster read than another book. My two year old often goes through the pile of books and chooses the one with the most appealing cover and hands it to me.

I have a tendency to read a lot of fiction so I try to throw in either a non-fiction selection or something of a different genre every now and then.

I don't read books from my own shelves as quickly as books I borrow either from the library or friends.

[Jenn]

I have hundreds of books of my own but also hit the library every week so I try to balance the two. What I try to do is alternate - one library book, one of my own - and usually just go for whatever is the next book in line on the shelf, unless I'm in a particular mood for a particular book or type of book. For example, I'll be on vacation next week so I tried to pick out a handful of my own books that I've been meaning to get to (and that aren't too intense for the beach!).

[Ruthiella]

I am involved in so many on-line book group reads, so that is what determines the majority of what I will read next. It is always a happy coincidence when the group read turns out to be something I already own and/or something I have been dying to read anyway.

If I encounter reader's block, I usually turn to magazines to tide me over until it passes.