how do you decide?

[subterranean]

How do you decide what books to read? Did you decide to read a book cause of its genre, author, someone suggest it to you or perhaps you read a review about it then you found it interesting?

When I saw those lists of great authors in this site, I realized that there are many authors whom I never read any of their works. And of course the names on that list are not all, there are like hundreds or more great authors. I often got many suggestion to read this book or that book, but sometimes I got dissapointed cause the books turn out to be not very interesting, and I felt like I've wasted my time

[den]

I usually read a book because I know (at least a bit) about the author first. I'm in the process of collecting all of Aldous Huxley's works because I admire the man who wrote, but he also covered a vast array of `genres': existentialism to eastern philosophy.

Yeah he's written some crap books too that I'd never recommend. But knowing what was going on in his life when he wrote them, kind of explains to me why they were `off' his regular quality.

[azmuse]

i read the mists of avalon years ago because i dreamt about it for over a year before finally realizing it was a book, and then tracked it down finally! but other books i hear about from someone, or i like the title; once in a while get hooked on an author, sometimes my fingers crawl over binding, and i just sort of follow them until they stop, and then i pick the book up and leaf through it...that's honestly the best way for me.

[Azoic]

How do you decide what books to read? Did you decide to read a book cause of its genre, author, someone suggest it to you or perhaps you read a review about it then you found it interesting?

Yes. Meaning a combination of all of the above, and sometimes, a bit of *GASP * judging by the cover.

[sloegin]

Buy and read everything.

[Azoic]

expesive? yes.
time consumming? yes.
find good literature? also yes.
find horrid crap that you wish you'd never wasted the time/money one? hell yes.
I prefer reading my literature on-line for free. And then going to a book store with an idea, be it author, theme, or other.

[azmuse]

well, one can always sit on one's a** too, and read in the bookstore - esp. if it's a great place that sells used books with van morrison or some such on in the background

[Azoic]

true. If you like van morrison, that is. I don't know of any book stores that play Senor (*doesn't know ascii for n with ~) coconut.

[azmuse]

it would be nice to find a keyboard with a tilde...who is Senor Coconut? (I think of "coconuts" as fruits and cabezas.)

[Azoic]

Senor Coconut, so far as I can tell, is a mariachi band that covers kraftwerk tracks (EARLY synth music).

[crisaor]

Although normally I would say a combination of all the ones you mention, in my case it really depends of someone else's suggestion (someone whose literary taste I respect, of course) and the plot. I enjoy several genres, so that's not an issue.
Sadly, my "to read" list is endless. I've yet to read anything by Conrad or Dostoievsky, just to say a couple of names. Hey, that's a neat excuse for immortality: pending reading.


Originally posted by den
I usually read a book because I know (at least a bit) about the author first. I'm in the process of collecting all of Aldous Huxley's works because I admire the man who wrote, but he also covered a vast array of `genres': existentialism to eastern philosophy.
What did you think of Ends and Means?

[IWilKikU]

Good methods for picking a book:

1) Listen to what friends, relatives, peers, members on a well respected lit forum, have to say about specific books.

2) Go into a book store, close your eyes, point your finger straight ahead, spin in six circles, run. Whichever book your finger hits, read. Beware of small children, old women, and floor to celing windows.

3) Read the short synopsis on the back.

4) On second thought, dont read the sysnopsis, it gives away whats going to happen.

5) When all else fails, guess.

6) If methods 1 - 5 prove successful, get more material by the same author of the book that you selected.



Oh, and if your broke, find a bookstore with a coffee shop (Books-a-Million, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Some independant stores have them too.) just get a cup-a-joe sit and read. They will never ask you to pay for the book or leave. I have a friend who spends roughly 15 hours a week reading books that he doesnt buy in a coffee shop in Ottakars.

[subterranean]

Now, thats a good suggestion, there's nothing better than reading a book (for free) with a cup of coffee.
By the way for the tip number 2, do I have to read a mantra or something like that? Or I just rely it totally to my finger ?

[imthefoolonthehill]

When I am at a loss for a book to read (hasn't happened for quite some time now...) I go to amazon.com and look up a book I really liked... then see what people recommended in addition to that book, then go and pick it up in the library.

[Zooey]

I personally find my reading material based on reputation, wanting to be exposed to a certain author, wanting to read more of a favorite author's work, and wanting to read a book based on a movie I've seen.

I read a lot of short stories for class, and sometimes one of the stories will spark an interest and I'll seek out more of his or her work. Recent example: Borges.

I also tend to read literature affiliated with movies. A recent example would be after seeing Sylvia (based on poet/author Sylvia Plath's life) I read The Bell Jar.

[subterranean]

Same with me, and sometime i got interested in a book because i read about it in another book. Like now, I'm trying to find this book "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

[Dr Cynic]

Most of the time I read just famous authors, mainly 19-th century novelists from England and France. As for contemporary literature, it's usually friends and colleagues who recommend a new book.

Price is also quite an important consideration: if I can't afford a particular book, well, that's that. Too bad really :( :(

[subterranean]

Well you can always request a book to be put online at this site :)

[Dr Cynic]

Originally posted by subterranean
Well you can always request a book to be put online at this site :)

No you can't pal. On this site you only get "public domain" books, ie those published more than 70 years ago- that means no Orwell, Maugham, Garcia Marquez, Solzhenitsyn...?:mad: :mad: .

What's more, there aren't, to the best of my knowledge, any sites where you can read French novels in the original. Any suggestions?

[crisaor]

Um, (George) Orwell is on this site. His two main works (1984 and Animal Farm) and several of his essays...

[piquant]

I try to be well-rounded, so I go on-line and look up who the most well-know/respected author of a certain time period--usually a decade--is. When I do this, if I hit a period or author that really gets to me, then I do a "study" on that author. I find all is books and read him, and study his life, and the politics of his era. In theory, eventually I will be well-read, and not miss out on important life-changing literature. Also, if there is a book my professors all talk about that gets brought up a lot in class, I read that too. Only rarely do I wind up reading crap.

[subterranean]

Originally posted by Dr Cynic
No you can't pal. On this site you only get "public domain" books, ie those published more than 70 years ago- that means no Orwell, Maugham, Garcia Marquez, Solzhenitsyn...?:mad: :mad: .




Please noticed that I wrote "you can always ask" I'm not saying that you can always find what you want here :)


And Crisaor is rite..thaks ;)

[Dr Cynic]

Crisaor and subterranean-

Yeah you are right, they've got Orwell on this site and this is a lucky exception.
Point is, more recent publications are usually protected by copyright and you can't get them for free on this or any other site.:( :(

Here in Iran there aren't too many good libraries around and just imagine how wonderful it would be if we could read Rushdie's "Satanic Verses" and other "banned" books on this site.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[crisaor]

Copyrights on recent (and rare to find) books is a shame, but it's one of the laws that have to be followed.
Cynic, this (http://www.ipl.org.ar/cgi-bin/ref/litcrit/litcrit.out.pl?ti=sat-269) isn't what you're looking for, but maybe you'll find it interesting.

[subterranean]

Thats a cool link Cris.

I have the same problem with you Cynic. I got problems finding good books, especially on the public libraries. I had to order them and they cost alot :(

*"cursing" the government, particularry the Dept. of Education, for its ignorance in literatures*

[cheers_see]

will, admit it or not, this is a marketing era. there are so many to choose to read(and reading is amongst so many other recreation choices) and so little time and attention we can afford to - the media is most probably directing the eyeballs. my choice is no better than others that in most cases i read book reviews in leading media first before i search for a copy of the book itself. or worse cases are i read only the review itself to decide i like the book or not. alas!

[subterranean]

Reading reviews in mags is ok. But sometimes I feel like mags or other kind of medias give more portion to books which have high selling potential.

[crisaor]

Book reviews in magazines are useful because they let you know a little more about the plot of a book you may be inclined to read, but no more. Most of the times, it's just a way of disguising paid advertisements.