Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about choosing a good book to read…
How do you choose the books you read? Do you like the cover art on a book? Do you rely on reviews? Do you let friends and/or family recommend books to you? How about books you find on other people’s blogs? Do you read the blurb/description?
Before internet and blogging, I used to rely on the book blurbs as a guide. If they interest me, I will pick them up. Sometimes, I will also read a page or two just to 'test the water'; if the premise is interesting enough and/or the writing is good, I will read them. Interesting and attractive book covers is another factor that makes me pick up a book, but if the blurbs do not interest me, I will not bother to read further.
Now when internet and online bookstores are so accessible, choosing what to read becomes easier. I have to say it also changes my reading habit especially I stumbled upon the blogging world two years ago and get to know so many wonderful book bloggers out there. Reading their reviews have made me read some books which I might not pick up for myself. In other words, I am not as picky now when it comes to choosing what kind of book or which genre to read as compared to the past.
Even though nowadays I rely mostly on fellow book bloggers' recommendations, it does not mean I will read whatever they read. I will still pick the books that are appealing to me, though the only difference is that I have a wider choice to choose from (or if they are new authors to me). Occasionally, I will receive a few reviewer copies which I think is another great way of finding new authors/new books to read too.
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Aside from relying on book bloggers, my favorite way of choosing books to read is just spending time at the bookstore or library. I love to start at the beginning of the fiction section and just work my way down the aisles :)
Iliana - Oh yes! Spending time browsing at the bookstores is a bliss to me! I love exploring all the books and like you, I too work my way down the aisles as I go along. ;)
I share the same thoughts, Melody. I love browsing in bookstores, especially in Kinokuniya when I was still working in KL. The book cover doesn't affect me much but if there are a few versions for the same title, I might just go for the most attractive one. But then, I also look inside to make sure I'm comfortable with the font used. I don't like books with too small fonts...
Great points Melody, enjoyed your answer....but then in some part book cover doesn't always go with what inside though.
I didn't know this is another meme...I thought it just ransom posting and not a every Monday meme posting. Sound fun :)
Thanks, Julia! :)
I agree some book covers can be deceiving, but at least they've done their job by attracting our attention in the first place. ;P
I find that I don't surf the online stores like I once did. I think book bloggers have taken up that time.
It's almost hard to remember a time before the internet, isn't it? :P I would rely on blurbs as well. For example, if an author I like gave a book a positive blurb I was likely to check it out. Recommendations from friends or just browsing at the bookstore or library were other ways to find new things to read.
These days, like you, in addition to all of that I get countless recommendations from fellow book bloggers :)
J Kaye - Blogging and reading book blogs have definitely taken up some of my time too, but I do check out the online stores for the new releases. :)
Nymeth - Ah...what could we do without the internet?! ;P