Book Selections

[DahliaDoll]

Greetings!

I'm interested in how you select what books you want to read, besides reading your favorite authors.

I usually look through the best sellers lists and read the summaries and reviews. I check out Ophra's picks sometimes. Occasionally I get recommendations from friends. I don't belong to a book club, so I don't have to read any specific books that I don't pick for myself.

 

[Lana]

I normally look at the cart at the library for the new releases or books highly recommended. Then when online through the library I put in different words of subjects I am interested in and see what comes up.

 

[PamelaG]

I have several favorite authors, and I read a great deal of historical fiction. I usually check out "Customers also bought or read" when I search for a book on Amazon. It will have a list of similar reads.

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I often look at the online catalogues for stores such as Target and BigW. They often have pages of new releases. I then go to the library website and have a look if they have it in stock.
My library will often offer suggestions from what I have read in the past.

 

[Lori K]

I typically read our book club selections. We all submit our suggestions along with reviews, and our club organizer comes up with a list of titles, from a variety of genres and making sure all members are represented in the selections. And, we have our list through the end of the year, so we can either reserve copies from the library or purchase copies new, used, print, or digital. While I would like to read more than this, my brain and concentration has not allowed me to return to my normal reading pre-loss of DH (10 years ago). It has just never returned to my previous level. So I take what I can and enjoy these selections as much as I can.

 

[Ahorsesoul]

I use to start at the letter A and browse the shelves until something caught my eye. One day I didn’t find a thing. As i rounded the corner of the last shelf a book fell off right at me feet. Ended up reading a whole series just from that one book. I have no reason why I pick a book. Once I find an author I like I read just about all of their books. Or at least until it seems like they seem to have turned their writing over to a ghost writer.

 

[halimer]

As a former librarian I used to read Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal and Kirkus reviews which led me down many different pathways.

Now I am still a voracious and I like to think somewhat eclectic reader. I read certain authors and certain genres - most recently dystopian fiction. I also check the NYT Best Sellers List and find I've read about 5 or 6 of both fiction and non-fiction. I love historical fiction - the more historical the better - and will go on binges reading books about specific periods - right now I'm into the Viking era, around 800-1000 CE. I'm reading both fiction and non fiction on the topic. Last year I was reading a lot about Neanderthals and human evolution in general.

What am I reading now? A book on Israel recommended by a friend, There is Nothing Here For You - a book on US politics that just caught my attention on the B&N shelves one day and I'm finishing the last of Bernard Cornwell's series on Uthred of Bebbanburg as well as a fiction series by Michael and Kathleen Gear about early native Americans.

My son and DIL let me choose a bunch of books for my birthday so I have 2 books on British history - I'm reading a lot of Dan Jones now - 2 cookbooks, biographies of Cher and Katenji Brown Jackson, and volume 5 of my latest dystopian thriller.

I occasionally read Jewish romances.

TMI??? Sorry you asked

 

[Lori K]

As a former librarian I used to read Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal and Kirkus reviews which led me down many different pathways.

Oh, that takes me back! All of those crossed my desk regularly, as well as Choice and Booklist.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

Most of my reading is usually about the American Revolution, genealogical research and Irish history. I like to read footnotes and bibliographies at the back of the books to get my next read.

 

[halimer]

Choice and Booklist.

I forgot those! Thanks for reminding me!

 

[Kate1964]

I typically read our book club selections. We all submit our suggestions along with reviews, and our club organizer comes up with a list of titles, from a variety of genres and making sure all members are represented in the selections. And, we have our list through the end of the year, so we can either reserve copies from the library or purchase copies new, used, print, or digital. While I would like to read more than this, my brain and concentration has not allowed me to return to my normal reading pre-loss of DH (10 years ago). It has just never returned to my previous level. So I take what I can and enjoy these selections as much as I can.

Lori K, I too can't read like I used to pre loss of DH. Sometimes I feel like my mind just won't take more in. Before Christmas I found I could read again, and I read about half a dozen novels, but then it turned off and I lost interest. I guess we have to take it when we can.

 

[Kate1964]

For non-fiction, I search the online library for subjects, like retirement or such. For fiction, I don't read that much, but I just peruse the aisles at the library and look for something that catches my eye.
I used to read a lot of westerns. I know, unusual for a woman, but the stories are full of action, and the women are always strong, and they get the guy at the end.

 

[missjane]

For non-fiction, I search the online library for subjects, like retirement or such. For fiction, I don't read that much, but I just peruse the aisles at the library and look for something that catches my eye.
I used to read a lot of westerns. I know, unusual for a woman, but the stories are full of action, and the women are always strong, and they get the guy at the end.

I like Westerns, too, sometimes.