How do you decide what to read next?

[RabbitPies]

I'm drowning in books,having had 50 or so second hand books given to me recently. And I have about 800 unread books on my Kindle. I'm not complaining as such,but I'm terribly indecisive,and can't decide which to read first.

Does anyone else have this "problem"? And if so how to you resolve it?

Oh and there's another 30 or so in the bookcase which I've yet to read.

Usually whichever one our book group is reading.

I have a think about what mood I'm in, whether I've been reading too much of one genre and need a change (I went through a long Scandinavian crime phase, for example, and it was negatively affecting my mood), what I have bought recently (most enthusiastic for a book when I've just bought it) and what I bought a while back but haven't got round to reading yet.

When I discovered an author I hadn't come across before earlier this year I ended up reading all 11 books in the series one after the other. If a new Terry Pratchett is out, that will be bought and begun on the release date.

I recently read 'Anno Dracula' by Kim Newman because I was given it for my birthday in October and I thought I should go for that when I was a bit stuck. Really enjoyed that one. I'm currently reading 'The Secret History of the World' by Jonathan Black, which I'm finding fascinating.

But mood is usually the key for me, along with enthusiasm for a subject if non-fiction.

I am very, very fussy. So I don't get much choice! So I read them in the order I get them and hope against hope I'll have another one ready to go as soon as I've finished one.

I usually stand in front of my bookshelf with my kindle and sort of stare at them both for a while. It's usually guided by how busy I am, so if I am busy with uni/DC etc then I will focus on my easier reads section, if I know I need some extra stimulation then I focus on my classics or Russian lit section that ican devote sustained time to.

Also guided by book club and any fiction that would aid uni. I do usually decide the next one before I have started the current read too, so today I started Pride and Prejudice but I already know what I am reading next because of book club in the second week of Jan.

I take part in the book vipers reading challenge on goodreads and have a challenge with friends for 2014 so have mostly picked from my shelves what I want to read for each category but it is flexible.

I also stare at the bookcase and the Kindle for ages. I find it much harder to browse through what I have on my Kindle though so read less on that.

If DH is going to be away (for work) in the next few days then I can only read books that are not crime or thriller (weirdly I was fine before I had children but now I hate being in the house at night when he's not around and books disturb me easier).

Otherwise I follow my mood of "easy reads" or books that require more concentration depending on how I'm feeling.

Hmm, I use the library mainly and tend to select a mix of fiction and non fiction and maybe travel.

Then I select from that for aaaaaggees reading whatever takes my fancy, lighter if I'm tired or under pressure, denser if I'm more energetic or really like the writer.

I can also totally get sidelined by random kindle purchases though, usually deals but I find it harder to get into a book on the kindle. You've no sense of how long it is, how it is pitched (cause you can't see the cover) and you can't flick it either. Frustrating. But it is so handy for those big books that are hard to read and so handy for bus! So of course it's currently loaded with massive tomes (pillars of the earth, 1Q84, bring up the bodies etc etc) .

Book club
Library selection stands - I became a convert to these when I lived in a small nothingy suburb with a tiny library which had a truly amazing librarian(s). I read so much stuff I would never even have looked at just by taking whatever they had chosen.
Book review sections in the paper. Periodically I make a list of stuff that looks interesting and read a few before I lose the list again.

When I've really enjoyed a book I read the reviews on Amazon retrospectively and find other recommendations mentioned in the comments. You tend to see the same titles come up again and again and I've found some brilliant books that way.