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How did you find your next book
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Bit of a mixture really.I read quite a lot of non-fiction these days which seems (to me at least) easier to get an idea of whether it will be any good or not.
Almost invariably from forums. Reader recommendation and interactive authors.
What Kath said.Word of mouth from people who I know I share the same tastes in books with.
Michael wrote: "Bit of a mixture really.I read quite a lot of non-fiction these days which seems (to me at least) easier to get an idea of whether it will be any good or not."
I would expect you'd do searches on specific topics, Mike?
Recommendations, word of mouth seem to be the most popular then...
Yep, seems to be, Victoria.I know several of our authors have had one of their books (or several of their books) enjoyed by a groupite who really enjoyed it and talked about it, then a load of us just HAD to read it.
Oh and our authors talk about each other's books that they've enjoyed as well, of course.
Several years ago I invented this little Christmas habit. Each year I would buy the missus all of the Booker prize shortlist novels for the previous year plus one. That way we were buying them as paperbacks, not hardbacks.
Apart from the gory ones. The Mem doesn't like those.
I would have a wonderful time hunting through the bookstores trying to get them all on 2 for 3 deals. Then I would wrap them up in a huge tower and suffer through my one and only phobia (sellotape) to wrap them as prettily as possible.
I think she appreciated the fact that I had to go looking for them. There was effort involved, not just buying petrol station flowers on the way home cos you happened to need diesel.
Anyhoo, the problem with this was that we were filling up our bookshelves at a rapid rate of knots. Some of the books were great, some ... less so.
A few years ago we discovered the kindle, so my Christmas present for that year was ... a classic kindle plus a little note inviting her to download them all for herself.
Who says the spirit of romance is dead, eh?
I have a stack of books lined up, all recommended when I asked for recommendations in the fantasy thread
Patti (baconater) wrote: "I would expect you'd do searches on specific topics, Mike?"Sometimes, yes, though I might have to start with Wikipedia to get an idea of what to search for.
Will wrote: "Several years ago I invented this little Christmas habit. Each year I would buy the missus all of the Booker prize shortlist novels for the previous year plus one. That way we were buying them as..."
I like that, it took my husband some time to bring me around to the idea of a kindle as id always been a paper back or hardback kind of girl, though you can only store so many books!
Oh Will, just before (maybe six months or a year?) before I got my kindle I decided I was going to set aside all our extra gold card baggage allowance to be used on books to take to Nigeria. Two 23kg bags. So I trawled through the Internet and bought practically every booker short list and orange prize winner and all sorts that I could get my hands on. Managed to read quite a lot of them and was mightily disappointed in just how many turned out to be crap. Well, my opinion of crap, anyway. I did find a few gems, though.Them I got my kindle and started trawling for downloads.
Then our group was born.
Haven't trawled for books since.
To think that for years my biggest complaint was that I had nothing to read. That's like THE scariest situation in the world to be in.
I buy books just in case by tbr list shrinks too much :-)
Patti - yes, the Mem and I have been surprised at how many of the shortlisted books weren't actually all that good.And how many other good books (in our opinion) didn't get shortlisted.
We've largely given up on reading all the shortlisted books, now. Instead we've gone back to being picky.
Yeah, I'd really begrudge the suitcase space I'd waste on not so good books.
Jim wrote: "I buy books just in case by tbr list shrinks too much :-)"Yeah, like that's a worry. :P
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Jim wrote: "I buy books just in case by tbr list shrinks too much :-)"Yeah, like that's a worry. :P"
I suppose it's more that I'll never see that book again and never at that price. Which is why I tend to lurk in second hand bookshops rather than new ones :-)
I tend to lurk in places like The Works, which sells remaindered books 3 for a fiver. Sometimes there's something worth adding to my creaky pile of unread paperbacks (I ran out of shelf space years ago, even doubled up!)
I either read books by the authors in this group, books recommended by the group, or books by people who approach me for a review
I browse Waterstones.And then go and buy second hand on ebay, usually.
I like to get recommendations and I like to chat to the authors about their books. I used to look for nice covers in bookshops, but these days I tend to read the synopsis more carefully.
Kevin wrote: "I like to get recommendations and I like to chat to the authors about their books. I used to look for nice covers in bookshops, but these days I tend to read the synopsis more carefully."Interesting point, what is a nice cover and I guess a nice cover is subjective..
Will wrote: "I browse Waterstones.And then go and buy second hand on ebay, usually."
I pretty much do this then buy on Amazon for the Kindle version which usually brings up a load of we recommend titles.
I also browse the Kindle sales and in the past year this forum for my new books. Since joining Netgalley I browse there and if refused go to Amazon to wishlist it.
I like to be totally random and do the Goodreads Giveaways. I have found a couple of good ones that way. One I recently reviewed, Searching for Amber, and the Chinese history one that's currently on my reading list. I also find books round the house in odd places. The Confessions of an English Opium Eater was hidden behind a cactus in the bathroom. I am about ten pages further on than the last time I tried.
That's so cool, Lisa! I grew up in a big house in Canada and spent my childhood discovering books all over it.My best find was my dad's hundreds of old pulp science fiction/fantasy magazines.
I have a massive number of books I downloaded for free on my kindle (it was a bit of an obsession when I first got my kindle, I think I'm over it now.... maybe...) which I'm reading my way through slowly. Almost everything I buy now is either by an author in this group, recommended by someone in this group, or recommended by a friend.
Patti (baconater) wrote: "That's so cool, Lisa! I grew up in a big house in Canada and spent my childhood discovering books all over it.My best find was my dad's hundreds of old pulp science fiction/fantasy magazines."
I would love that! I am a real fan of the old pulp sci-fi. The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits on TV, old B movies and definitely magazine versions of similar. We have a few 1950s and 1960s PBs and some of my Dad's old sci-fi collection too.
✿Claire✿ wrote: "I have a massive number of books I downloaded for free on my kindle (it was a bit of an obsession when I first got my kindle, I think I'm over it now.... maybe...) which I'm reading my way through ..."Me too Claire. I keep looking and thinking "Why did I download that?" I will work through them eventually.
Lisa, you've got to read our Darren's stuff.You'll love it.
Lisa wrote: "✿Claire✿ wrote: "I have a massive number of books I downloaded for free on my kindle (it was a bit of an obsession when I first got my kindle, I think I'm over it now.... maybe...) which I'm readin..."Ha! I've given up on wondering. I've had a good cull.
Open. Read a few sentences. Delete. Open. Read a few sentences. Delete.
Repeat ad nauseam.
I wish there was a little spot or something next to each book on my Kindle to say if it was free / discounted / full price (I know I could create collections for that, but I'm only going to say "I wish there were spots next to the book to indicate which collections they were in...")
Tim and I are trapped in loops.Yay!
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Lisa, you've got to read our Darren's stuff.You'll love it."
I must check it out :)
Lisa wrote: "Patti (baconater) wrote: "Lisa, you've got to read our Darren's stuff.You'll love it."
I must check it out :)"
You might his book links in his author thread. Or not.
His thread is kinda surreal. Not my fault!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I'm not the one shouting about lamb.
How's about lambs liver with bacon and onions? :D
Oh yum! Now i'm hungry and its nearly bedtime.
So am I... and I am trying not to get any fatter. :P
I've given up on the not getting fatter thing.
I think that is a good idea. Especially when bacon and Magnums are available :) Oh and Maryland Cookies. I can't stop at just one...
I have fruit, so that's a healthy diet. Isn't it?
Wine is fruit, cider is fruit, brandy is fruit... Fruit is GOOOD! :)
I like the way you think!
Victoria wrote: "Thanks for all your responses."Were any of them even remotely of use?
Darren wrote: "Victoria wrote: "Thanks for all your responses."Were any of them even remotely of use?"
Yes, personal recommendations and reviews appear to be the most popular way that people identify their next book.
Many thanks
Victoria