How do you choose books?

[posey]

I just wondered what makes people choose a book?
Do you read reviews (on here, in the paper/magazines)?
Do you take recommendations from friends?
Do you browse the library/bookshelf and see if any book cover just jumps out at you?
Do you always look for your favourite authors, for new titles?

And finally, do you have a stash of "to be read" books by your bed? Do you get really excited when you've finished a book so you can choose what to read next? Or have you already lined up your next read?

Only asking because I've just finished a great book (borrowed from library after I read a review of it) and am now excited at the prospect of deciding which of the dozen or so books by my bed will be read next.

Just makes me happy

I have a big stash too and get excited about what I will choose next.

I take recommendations - from on here and friends.

I look for favourite authors,

Our library does good displays of paperbacks in themes, - so today they had novels and non fict. about the tudors (I got a novel about Jane Boleyn), or it might be new thrillers, women authors, creative writing, anything really, and I like to browse and pick up stuff I've not tried before.

covers are a big deal for me sadly - if the wrapper isn't asking to be opened I most likely won't. A couple of times a year I have a pile by the bed, just after Christmas and birthday :)
Recently joined the libray, borrowing 3 a time and leaving them in the bag by the bed and picking the next one out blind lol

I normally read the first paragraph just to see if I'm gripped... I get author-phases too. I buy loads of books, and dh is worse! Libraries are great of course, but I don't really like giving books back

Do you often not like books that you've borrowed/bought?

I remember reading in "84 Charin Cross Road" a great line where she says something like "you wouldn't buy a dress without trying it on first". I really get that, and now that money is a bit tighter, I will borrow from a library and if I really liked it, be tempted to buy it to keep

I rarely give upon a book, particularly if I've paid money for it, but am sometimes disappointed.
Last year I read a load of books which were just okay. This year has been a year of great reads. Don't know why.

That should be Charing of course

that's true Posey. When I was little I used to re-read books a lot (had time to), but hardly ever do now, apart from a few classics.

Someone once worked out how many books you are likely to be able to read in a lifetime - surprisingly few, given how many books there are out there.

The book club I do on here has been really good for getting me out of my comfort zone too.

sorry I kind of skipped ahead there - I was thinking whether having decided I liked a book in the library, it would be worth buying after, given I hardly ever re-read books now.

I don't struggle on if I'm not gripped fairly quickly, although mine are mostly library, so it doesn't really matter. But I haven't come across a book I've hated for a while now.

I do read reviews but I must admit the cover is a big factor for me too, even though I know it isn't any guarantee of quality. I do seek out particular authors but struggle to remember names sometimes. I have started a book journal to overcome this but never think to take it with me when book shopping/library

I get stuck in a comfort zone too. I overdose on genres and won't look at anything else. I've just come out of a World War Two theme and now seem to be entering a ghost story fest. I've got shelves of books waiting to be read but they won't be looked at unless they are in the zone.

I find I'm far more impatient with books. I used to pride myself on finishing every one but life is too short. I therefore tend to borrow rather than buy.

pull one of the shelf , read the first page, read a page in the middle if I don't know the author or it was not quoted/referred to in another book I read (and in that case I sought it out purposefully)

I tend to flick through a book and read a bit to see if it might take my fancy. I quite often make a quick note of something that takes my eye in the review sections of the papers but otherwise it's happenstance. I very, very rarely read something because it's the 'in' book of the moment. In fact I'm more likely not to read it in that case, peversely enough.

I know it may be hyper-fussy but I'm also very put off by tiny print or a typeface I don't like - can be competely turned off a book in this way then happily read it later in a different edition.

Sadly just about my whole house is full of my book-stash....I could probably spend the rest of my life catching up with all the books I own, without buying another. However, can't see that happening....

Riven - an appealing cover is othing to be about! I would definitelybe put off by certain covers (usually country cottage type watercolours!)

Evenkeel - absolutely agree re: no1 books. I don't think I'll ever read Stig Whatsisname books, never read the Da Vinci code...never say never about popular books but am often turned off by the hype.