First of all, let me state that I am a voracious reader as well as an author. I have never counted, but I probably read at least 200 books per year.
When you’re looking for a good book to read, where do you go to search? I’d really like to know. I have friends who use all the “Top 100…” lists on Amazon, but I didn’t even know those lists existed before they were pointed out to me.
Personally, these days I rarely have to search for a book. Instead, I’m completely overwhelmed by the books I keep adding to my To Be Read pile. I read in most categories, with the only exceptions being political memoirs, lifestyles of the rich and famous, and books about how to get rich and famous. I’d love to be rich and I’d like for my books to be famous, but I really don’t care to be personally in the spotlight. Ever.
As an author, my experience is probably a bit different than non-author readers. So here, in no particular order, is how I find my books:
- Meeting authors in person at book events
- Finding authors through Twitter links to their websites
- Getting personal recommendations from friends whose reading tastes I share
- Stumbling across interesting looking books while browsing all sorts of info online
- Stumbling across interesting looking books on my local library shelves and in their online catalog (I LOVE libraries and my county has an incredible library system)
- Stumbling across interesting looking books in my local bookstores, both new and used
Obviously I stumble around a lot. I like surprises. I’m willing to start reading almost anything. But if it’s preachy or full of errors or characters I can’t connect with, I don’t finish the book. There are too many good ones waiting in my TBR stack to waste my time.
What keeps me reading? Believable characters who are fighting through obstacles to achieve a goal, a good dash of suspense, and an intriguing setting.
How about you? Please share your methods for finding good books and explain a bit about what keeps you reading.