How do you chose what fiction book to read?

[ItsaCATnotalabrador]

I buy most of my fiction from a charity shop that sells books for 10p-50p so I go in every so often and stock up on ones with covers I like and titles that appeal. Sometimes I'll recognise the name of the book or the author. I dont put much thought into it because at 10p it doesnt matter if I give up after the first few chapters.

My friend however enjoys the process of picking a book almost as much as reading it. She puts a lot of thought and even research into each book she reads.

How do you select a book?

YANBU - Just pick one that appeals
YABU - I enjoy my reading time so want to get the most out of it as I can so no crappy books please.

I just pick one that appeals, researching books sounds too much like school work.

I have a general idea of the kind of fiction I'm likely to enjoy, so if looking for a novel, I tend to browse and read parts to see if it catches me.

Sometimes I read a novel a day so whatever's to hand. If I had a charity shop like yours I'd definitely follow your approach to have several appealing ones at home at all times.

It depends. Sometimes I'm in the mood to browse and will pick one that looks interesting based on an assessment of the author, subject matter, cover etc.

Other times I'll have a specific book in mind because I've seen it reviewed or someone has recommended it to me.

And sometimes something catches my eye and it's spontaneous.

Really I shouldn't be buying books at all bases on the size of my 'To Read' pile, but I always say reading and book buying are two distinct hobbies!

I often choose books from charity shops too and totally agree with what you said about giving up on it if you can't get into it . . . these ones get donated back to the charity shop

There are a few authors I really like so I usually buy new copies of those

I'm fortunate that my sister and a couple of friends have similar tastes so we often swap books and they often buy me books for birthdays/Christmas

I read the description and a page or so to see if the book feels like something I might want to read. If it gets my attention easily and I like the writing style, I usually go for it. And, yes, if I know the author and like his/her books, then that too is a factor.

I’m much more likely to pick up nonfiction on spec. Fiction will either be recommended on the 50 Bookers threads, a book club choice, or read about in an article (booker prize etc). I run a Wanted Books list on my phone so will sometimes order one of those, or pick it up if I see it. But even that list is heavily weighted towards nonfiction.

I have been much less likely to use the library recently due to job issues - that was where I picked up fiction on a whim.

I read really quickly. I seek out book series so I have a run of books to read before I have to choose again.

There are genres I know I’m not interested in, so I don’t even consider those. Within genres I like, if it’s by an author I love I buy/borrow (I use the library a lot) it. Otherwise, I read page 75, and if I like it, I get the book. Works more often than not.

Do you mean in a book shop, or how do you know what you want to read next from books you already own, and may have already read?

I think we shop for books very differently, OP. I will absolutely browse in charity shops, or Oxfam Books and the like, but generally I'll be on the lookout, whether in a new bookshop or a secondhand one, for the work of authors I like, or topics that interest me if non-fiction. I went into a local bookshop last week to pick up a book I'd ordered (the artist Dora Carrington's letters), and came away with the new Lily King, Heart the Lover (because I'd loved a previous novel of hers) and a deeply odd, critically-acclaimed novel by someone I used to know.

The house is full of books, and there's just an urge that arises to reread an old favourite, and I will then tear the place apart looking for it. Someone mentioned Barbara Kingsolver the other day, and as a consequence, I've reread three of her novels in a row.

Yes, I will also always read a few random sentences on a page from the middle of an unfamiliar book if I'm deciding whether or not to buy it.

I'm more like you in that I tend to buy books from charity shops, although I will go for authors I've read before or who I think are the types I will like.

I've come across some new stuff that way and its worked out well. If you over research what to buy its a bit like knowing too much about a film before you go in to see it.

I don’t read as much as I used to, so it’s important to me to get the right book. I tend to stick to authors I know and love - then if they’d let don’t have any, I’ll read the back of a book to see if the synopsis appeals. I used to stick to Dean Koontz, Sydney Sheldon, Patricia Cornwell & Martina Cole. I’ve recently added Lisa Jewell and Claire Douglas to my list!

I read through the description and have a quick flick through, but I'm very certain about what genres I like and won't look at anything outside of those really. I do have a list of authors I'm sure of and those I'd always avoid. I know for example I'm just never going to enjoy a Marian Keyes, so I won't even bother to read the back of the book.

I look at the cover, read the blurb on the back and see if its a story that will interest me, if I think yes i will buy it, if not I won't.
I read quite a lot and there are a few authors I like and know their style of writing so tend to pay more attention to those.
I also did book swaps with my mum and sister, once we had all read them they got passed to the next person or donated.
I have a Kindle these days so tend to have a look through the freebies online and download the ones i think i will like, i also use the kindle unlimited feature.
For books that cost pence you could take a chance and re donate if they aren't for you.

I buy a lot of new and used books on Amazon (I live in France so no English bookshops), if it's an author I'm not familiar with I'll have a browse though the reviews. In bookshops or charity shops I might read a page or two.

I maintain a list of "books to read" on Pinterest and I add books on if I'm attracted by a review, or a recommendation from a friend, or I know another book is coming out by an author I like . Currently got 164 on there 😮

Im a careful selector! I go by personal recommendations and a lot of insta, so I follow a lot of book reviewer accounts and then download books I haven't read when they are grouped with ones I like! Also Google book prize lists, read summaries and download quite a bit from there. I also don't like certain genres so stick to what I do like mostly which is family saga/drama, fantasy, dystopian stuff, historical fiction and the odd dectective one. Can't stand chic lit and samey crime fiction. But time is very precious to me and Im not skint, so I'd rather read an excellent book that cost £6 than 6 rubbish ones for £1 each.

You've given me a great idea as I have a bad habit of buying the books I want to read and then struggling to get through them. Maybe maintaining a list is one way to keep track of them!

I also have a "books I read" list and gain great satisfaction by transferring a book from one to the other! (although not all the "books I read" books came from the "books to read" list, some were more spontaneous!)

I also dont keep fiction books.

Once Ive read them, unless they are very, very special and Im likely to read them again (not many), I just pass them on. If you visited me, you'll see a pile of maybe 10 fiction books and that's it. My son's room looks like a library (he likes to keep his books in his room) but I dont see the point of keeping books that you wont read again unless there are specific reasons.

I keep non-fiction for as long as they are useful. Having said that I have a couple that were extremely hard to find so I'll probably keep those forever.

Where I live I can borrow books to read on my Kindle through my local library, and I almost exclusively read on my Kindle these days. Because they are library books I'm not investing anything other than time into the books, so I don't feel bad if I return a book if I didn't finish it because I didn't enjoy it. Having said that, that rarely happens. I read a lot and I'm a fast reader, so I can get through a book that's OK even if I don't love it pretty quickly without feeling like I'm wasting my time, and most of the books I read I do enjoy. I listen to a couple of reading podcasts and I get some good ideas from them. I also have a pretty good idea of the genres I enjoy. No fantasy or romance, no science fiction although a little bit of magical realism is OK. I tend to prefer books set in the present rather than historical fiction. Novels don't have to be highbrow literary fiction, but I do need a little heft to the writing. I love novels about dysfunctional families and found family.

I like trying out novels that get shortlisted for literary prizes like the booker. They always include a range of different writing styles and storylines, and are well written (according to the judges and critics at least). It’s a great way of discovering new authors too

favourite writers
favourite theme and genres
list of the "number ones" in book shops and random books from the shelves

Even when I buy online, I always read a page in the middle to see if I like the writing style

I don't have time to read much more than these quick search.
I don't want to spend time I could be reading a book by researching books I could read. I waste enough time on MN😂

I do spend some time picking, but that's not always reliable!

I read the blurb, see if it has any recommendations on the front from a reliable source, perhaps I recognise the author.

Last year my biggest fail was reading "Girl, Woman, Other" which had so many prizes and recommendations listed on the front. I actually found it so badly written that a lot of it was painful reading.

There are so many good books out there that I feel annoyed when I waste time reading a not so good one, but I hate not finishing so feel obliged to continue!

This week I picked up "A killer revenge" from a charity shop which sounded like a good thriller. It is well written, and I'm quite enjoying it, but what the blurb doesn't make clear is that the book is practically a p0rno!! I sit in the lounge and read with my kids often (setting a good example!) but have actually had to leave this one in my bedroom and have a different downstairs book! 😂😅

I keep a reading log of everything I've read.