Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion
Member's Chat
>
How do you choose what to read?
I usually read something that has also been a movie.I also read something with a cool cover, or if the author has a cool name!
i choose what to read by how exciting it sounds on the back. but there have been times that i have been wrong and they have not been good
Ralph, interesting question. I love it that you use a random number generator!For me, its proximity. If I get a book on Paperbackswap, or a friend loans it to me, or it happens to be on the shelf at the library, that's how it gets into my hands off of my list. More rarely, if I read a really great review (in Hornbook or NYT) or something wins the Prinz/Newberry, I will special order it from Amazon. E.g., Neil Gaiman's Graveyard Book.
Since I'm a school librarian, my reading order is different from other people. I read from lists and the order is based on which books I can get my hands on first. The list I am currently working on is ALA YALSA Best Books for YA and the YALSA Quick Picks for YA (I combine them into one).
Jennifer: I love PaperBackSwap! What's your username on there?
What is PaperBackSwap?(my friends say that I live in a bubble.)
Darby wrote: "What is PaperBackSwap?(my friends say that I live in a bubble.)
"
It's a site where people post books that they don't want any more. You can go on there and request them and they get mailed to you. You also list your books and mail them to people when they request them.
You should sign up and tell them RGallagher referred you :D
I choose books that have a good author, friends have said are good, or ones that have good summarys on the back. I usually tend to read YA fiction.
I'm on a state committee that requires I read from a list of 300 titles appropriate for elementary/middle school. That's what I read first, then I look at reviews and take a lot of recomendations from students.
I swap books with some co-workers so quite a bit of my "brain candy"--popular/cheap paperbooks are from that source. I also have a friend who has diverse taste in literature so when she recommends a book I always read it~gets me out of my comfort zone. Recently in the pursuit of saving money I started putting more books on hold at the library based on recommendations from here or nominated book lists. When one of my held books is released I read it so no particular order.
![Melody [not just some girl you can sway] (melo-chan)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1285560989p1/1612224.jpg)
Darby wrote: "What is PaperBackSwap?(my friends say that I live in a bubble.)
"
Try BookMooch, it's better. ;)
Hmm. I often just go into the YA section in my library, sit down, and just make my way through the shelves until my mom comes in and nearly has a heart attack at the size of my stack. Also, I have a list of books from my to-read list that I take along with me to the library. I use BookMooch to get books that look interesting, or are from my favorite authors. I swap with my friends.
Lorraine wrote: "I'm on a state committee that requires I read from a list of 300 titles appropriate for elementary/middle school. That's what I read first, then I look at reviews and take a lot of recomendations f..."Hey how do you get involved on being on that kind of committee?
Try BookMooch, it's better. ;) "Oh I definitely disagree with that. Paperbackswap is clearly the best book swapping website. :) It's not even a contest!
I've used PBS but I still think BM is better. xD
I suppose I just like the set up. I don't really know, just a personal preference, I suppose.
OK. I was just wondering if there were specific reasons. But if it's a personal preference, then I get it. :P
Jamie wrote: Hey how do you get involved on being on that kind of committee? It's a committee of media specialists from around the state. I'm in Florida, but every state has something similar.
@ Ralph: I think I show up as Rennifred.@ Melody: I *want* to like Bookmooch better. I love the community, and the logo, and the blog, and everything. But for getting books I want and getting others to take the books I no longer wish to keep, PBS has been better for me. I like the fact that for both giving and getting, PBS distributes in the order things are posted/requested.
@ Darby: You should try both sites. You get new books for the price of postage + passing along things you no longer wish to keep. What could be better?
I'm scared to try bookswap sites they want me to donate 5 books to get started,so I can get one. Am I understanding this right? I could take used books to the local book store and get more than one book value. They are picky though about no dogears on pages or anything cause they resale them as used but want them in primo condition. Dose the swap sites have to be in perfect condition too? Just interested if it works out well.
PBS requires that the book not be water damaged, no torn pages, no stains, no writing or highlighting or cleaved spines.I don't think that is too much to ask. PBS also doesn't require a 'donation' of anything. You post the books you own, they get requested, you mail them out. You get a credit for mailing each book and you request a book from any member. I have mailed 202 books and received 298. I can't imagine NOT being a member of PBS. Getting rid of books I've already read for books that are new to me? How can you beat that?
You can? I'm definitely going to be checking into that.Now, how do I choose books to read? A lot of ways.
~When I go to Borders, I carry a big o' notepad and fill it up with authors and book titles. I pick books that have titles or covers that catch my attention, then I read the back summary to see if it sounds interesting.
~I also check out authors that I've really liked.
~On goodreads when you're finished with a book, on the right of the screen will be a list of recommendations. I'll usually read the summary of a book and mark it as to-read if it sounds interesting.
~I'll read any book given to me or recommended to me by a friend.
~At the library, lately, I've been picking books in alphabetical order. I DO NOT recommend doing this because I've picked up a lot of books I didn't like. Then again, I've picked up books I have liked but never would have read if it had not been for this.
Mod
Angie wrote: "Choosing what book to read.... well... that is hard for me. I swear they come from everywhere. I read at least two books a month for book clubs. The I try to read a few books from series that I ..."Did you see that The Time Traveler's Wife is coming out soon?
Mod
First I begin by going to the bookstore. I create a list of about twenty books. Then, when I go to the library, I bring my list, and search on the computer. I usually only find a couple of the ones on my list, so I get those. Then I go downstairs to the young adult section and I choose a row to look on, and a shelf, and then I choose the best looking book on that row and shelf. My method is pretty random, but I have found a lot of good books this way!
Usually by the reviews and book clubs on this site. I also volunteer at the library and find that the reason I am so slow is because I stop to read the summery of half the books I shelf.
It depends on my mood when iam deciding which book i want to read. If i'm feeling like a quick enjoyable read or a more in depth kind of book. or if i feel like science fiction or not. I don't normally go according to peoples reviews because everyone has different tastes. I generally buy books by authors i have already read without to much thought. The main thing that gets my attention is the title of the book, which leads me to reading the summery on the back which ultimately makes up my decision for me.
The library is my home!I run though each shelf check if any book is out of place: Meaning a book was returned, i would check out that book.
Jillian wrote: "Hmm. I don't know. I used to be very picky about my books in how I chose them, but nowadays my tastes are so random . . .
My mood changes often, so I pick books depending on my mood."
i do that too.:)
My mood changes often, so I pick books depending on my mood."
i do that too.:)
I read 20+ book blogs and can't even begin to count how many of the books that are currently in my TBR pile are in there because of a recommendation. I also look at the "If you've read this, than you'll love this" type lists and get recommendations from those as well. And of course in the book store and library, if see a book with an interesting sounding title or it's from a genre i read, i'll take it off the shelf and read the back cover synopsis and if it sounds good to me, I'll buy it or check it out.
Willow is actually a fantastic book. I am reading it right now and I am enjoying it. The subject material is hard to deal with, but that's life.
Jillian,Wintergirls is very, very worth it. It may be only a few hours' read, but it's a very important "real life" read.
One of the things I like to do is read extremely different books from the one previous. Today I finished Blackout by Connie Willis, which is about historians time- traveling to World War II- era Britain and am following that up with the third Harper Blaine P.I. from Seattle who can see into the "Grey," or the world of ghosts, vampires and other dead folks. Underground
Further, I carry a list of the books I want in my wallet, so I can have it handy when I go to used/ new bookstores, I find more recs here on good reads and also use PBS, and I volunteer at the library. But this month I'm resolving to have a moratorium on requesting books, or checking books out of the library at all, so I can get around to reading some that I have bought.
Jillian wrote:Sometimes I wonder if my ultimate goal is to read as many books as I can before I die. -_-
Sounds like a great goal to me!
Lauren wrote: "I read 20+ book blogs and can't even begin to count how many of the books that are currently in my TBR pile are in there because of a recommendation. I also look at the "If you've read this, than y..."Lauren, I do the exact same thing! It's a neverending story as every time I read a book, I add three more to the list!
I'm always looking for recommendations, and also look at the 'if you read this, then you'll like this' lists and then put them on my list. Then I check the reviews on different sites like here and Amazon and I always check the lowest rated reviews first and see what they have to say. And sometimes I compare low reviews to higher reviews and then go from there. If I don't like what they've posted about what the book contains, then I remove the book from my list.Sometimes that fails me though because I'll get a book where most of the low-rated reviews just say stupid things like: "Don't read this book. It's not as good as (this) book or (that) book." And I get no real helpful insight about the book.
I don't always like to go by author either. Because sometimes one book by an author, I'll love, but hate another. SMeyer for example. I liked Twilight at first (hate it now) and was excited for 'The Host'. The Host was sooooo boring. I couldn't get through the first 50 pages. It was just terrible. But other authors, I've loved one book and have read others and loved them too. Like LJ Smith for example. I first read her Vampire Diaries and really liked them. So I tried other series by her: The Secret Circle, Night World and just started Dark Visions and I love all of them. So going by author isn't always a guarantee for me.
I will look for an interesting cover and title. Then Ill read the back and if it sounds good Ill buy it. I also take recommendations from friends but I never buy it if it doesn't sound good to me.I rarely borrow books but I have once or twice from friends.
I rarely look at the reviews of books before buying them. I have yet to get to my to-read section on goodreads because I have a pile of books in my room I haven't read. Until I finish those my to-reads list is off limits :(
I'm a sucker for an interesting cover too. Even if the rating for it is poor, I keep going back to a book that catches my eye...If I like an author I will typically check out other books they've written. Like someone else said, that's not always surefire, but I remain hopeful!
I look at what others are reading too, for suggestions. Not that I need any more... My TBR is ridiculously long. But I really, really love books!
I have such a big TBR pile, that this month I decided I would get no books from the library, bookstore etc. So far, I've succeeded. And I plan to do this again this year, say in the fall, or maybe for three or four months, but not in a row! I've so far read eight books from my TBR pile this month, I'm reading a ninth and hope for double digits, at least!
I look on good reads and see what people have read that like the same as me
I have a whole system. :) I come up with about 20-30 books and audio books that I want to read. I then send them to my sister who reads the summaries and puts them in order for me. :P I love it! It makes it easy and it also makes it so I can talk to my sister about the books.
OooOOo cool ..... i have to wait for them to be free at the library
I read books my cousin has recommended to me right away. When I go to the library, I just look around and pick up books that look interesting. Then to get books on my to-read list, I request them at the library. I don't usually buy books, I would waste to much money, and bookswap seems pointless to me when I have an awesome library 15 minutes away.
yea I am the same and what is 50 cents compared to 30 dollars? except I will buy mocking jay i own the hunger games trilogy got to love it
I like reading nominees for this year's awards. The Andre Norton nominees always gives good suggestions. (That's how I found Flora Segunda which I thought was great fun). Also, if I enjoyed a book and it was nominated for an award, I read the other books on the list or past winners. Of course the books you recommend make my list too. (Thats how I found Everlost, Shiver, and Need all of which I enjoyed).
Kellee wrote: "I have a whole system. :) I come up with about 20-30 books and audio books that I want to read. I then send them to my sister who reads the summaries and puts them in order for me. :P I love it!..."
Great system Kellee :-) I wish someone could do the same for me. I'm always lost as to what to read next.
Roshini wrote: "Great system Kellee :-) I wish someone could do the same for me. I'm always lost as to what to read next..."I am very lucky :)
You should ask someone to do it for you- it never hurts to ask. :D
Kellee wrote: "Roshini wrote: "Great system Kellee :-) I wish someone could do the same for me. I'm always lost as to what to read next..."I am very lucky :)
You should ask someone to do it for you- it never ..."
I think I am going to. Especially now when I have this mile-long list and no idea what to read next! Thanks for the idea!
Roshini- If nothing else, I'm on Spring Break and I'd be happy to :) if you cannot find anyone else.
Young Adult Book Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Wintergirls (other topics)Blackout (other topics)
Underground (other topics)
I usually listen to recommendations and those that have higher recommendations I'll read sooner. Also when I can't choose which one to read I'll use a random number generator.