One of the biggest issues faced by a bookworm like myself is not finding something to read, but deciding what to read next. I have piles of books, some started and some still sitting on the shelf ready to be opened. I even more sitting in digital file or waiting at a friend’s house to be picked up.
I realize that the average reader may not have as many resources for reading material as I do. Deciding what to read next may be a matter of what can be afforded. Below are some top resources, tips and tricks to decide what to read next.
Too many books, not enough time…
For those of you who have too many books and not enough time, I recommend a book jar. Take a large mason jar and fill it with strips of paper that have book titles you currently have access to. Give the jar a big shake and pull a title at random. There you have it… your next reading material.
(Hint: Try and fill the jar with both Fiction and Non-Fiction titles to keep your reading random and interesting.)
Looking for a new author…
If you are always on the hunt for new authors, I recommend Kindle First. You can sign up for free online. Every month Amazon will send you an email with 4 reading choices from 4 different genres and authors. Prices range from free to $1.99 depending on the month. Best of all, these books are all available before the scheduled release date so it sort of feels like your breaking the rules when you order them.
Want a solid recommendation…
While you can always stop by thehippiebookworm.com to see what kind of book recommendations I’m making, there are other resources out there that give you solid recommendations based on your favorite genres.
Good Reads for instance is a great resource to find book recommendations no matter what genre you find yourself gravitating towards. Sign up and Good Reads will allow you choose the genres you want to be informed about. As new reviews are posted, you’ll receive emails to invite you to read about the latest and greatest books.
Looking for something off the beaten path…
Self-published authors produce some of my favorite pieces of fiction. Kindle Mojo is a network of self-published authors and their avid readers. You can interact directly with authors and be kept abreast of any new works they’ve pushed to the cloud for purchase and download.
Keeping it old school…
As much as I do interact with the resources listed above, I find there is nothing more reliable than a friend’s recommendation. I have couple friends who have very similar taste in reading material as I do and we swap book recommendations frequently. I also have a network of individuals who will give or loan me books to read on a regular basis – always keeping my bookshelves stocked. I, in turn, will pass on the books they’ve given me when I’ve finished to people I think may enjoy them.
How do you decide what to read next? Do you use any of the methods mentioned above?
