HOW TO KNOW THIS IS THE RIGHT BOOK TO READ

In the past, people had to make an effort in order to get ahold of books they were interested in reading. Nowadays, though, they have an entirely different problem. There are so many books out there, yet there is not enough time to read them all. Of course, the solution for this would be to make your selection narrower, and then work your way down the list. But how do you narrow it down?

You can start by focusing on what you want to read at the moment. If you are interested in sci-fi novels, or if you want to catch up on your classics, read those first. But, if you are also looking to expand your interests and check out some books that don't necessarily fit into your current mold, here are several tips you can rely on when choosing your next must read.

1. Look for Personal Attachment

Each and every one of us has their own personal beliefs, convictions, feelings, and interests, so why not use those as guidance when choosing your preferences in reading? For example, if you have always been interested in photography, but you've never got around to learning it, despite owning a camera, then go out and get that book on photography.

2. Judge a Book by Its Cover

While we are all familiar with the saying that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, you can make a few exceptions every once in a while. Looking at a beautifully designed cover and an intriguing title is tempting, and the reason why you should give into it is that there is an element of surprise and excitement there. Not knowing much about the book before reading it can be an interesting experience. Also, editions with an appealing hardcover usually contain additional chapters or notes from the book's author, so you get more.

3. Go Deeper to Know the Author

Sometimes, you can find out all you need to know about the book by checking out the author's bio, which should be located on the back of the cover. But, according to Ronny Stewart, who is a professional editor for Essaysontime, the general info about the author on the book cover is usually just a short edited note to make you a bit familiar with the author. If you are thinking of reading the works by this or that author, you should go a little deeper to get to know the prehistory and the person who stands behind it. Do a little research: get closer attention to the author’s life story, other books, quotes etc. to help you make the final decision.

4. Inspect the Book More Closely

Today the wealth of information you can find online about each book is tremendous:  you don’t need to go to a bookshop or library to read the book’s description or table of contents. Everything is easy to find online, as well as sales rank and likes. Although, a sales rank on Amazon does not necessarily mean that the book is excellent, especially if it's relatively new, but if it's constantly at the top of the list, it does speak about its quality to a certain extent. Also, you can check user reviews for each one and see if it would be the right choice for you.

5. Take the Book for a Spin

Reading book summaries and reviews can definitely help you see the picture more clearly, but where’s the guarantee it’s the book which intersects with your expectations. Therefore, before you proceed with buying another book for your home library, read a chapter or two to see if the author’s style of writing and the scenario trigger your desire to read further.

6. Look for the Bloggers Reviews

It’s comparatively easy today to find well-written and comprehensive book reviews on credible blogs, like Fly High. Make sure you bookmark these blogs and subscribe to their newsletters to receive the most interesting offers and reviews to have your next read prepared for you.    

7. Follow Recommendations

Amazon is capable of giving a pretty accurate recommendation, based on the titles you have viewed, purchased, or commented on. You can make them even more precise by actively participating and rating the books you have read. Also, places like Goodreads сan be useful when it comes to finding suggestions on what to read next.

Another approach to give a try is learning what your favorite authors read, reviewed or mentioned in their own books. Otherwise, you can go the old-fashioned way and ask someone whose opinion you value to give you a book recommendation.

8. Compile Lists

And it doesn't even have to be just one list. Keep track of the books that have been recommended to you by other people. Or, you can list them based on the genre or their author. Whenever you start to feel an itch for reading a crime novel, for instance, just open the list where you have all the crime novels you are interested in, and pick one or several titles. You can also come up with a checklist of sorts, and see if the book you are keen on reading fits the profile in terms of genre, subject matter, or some other criteria you find important.

The Final Word

Even though we are surrounded by information everywhere we go, there is still no substitute for reading a good book. Take some time out in the day and read a few chapters. You won't be disappointed, regardless of your choice.

Rachel Bartee is an ESL teacher in practice and a writer at heart.  She would prefer to go without her lunch just to make her thoughts into worthy writings.  She feels inspired by her morning yoga and creative writing classes she is currently attending. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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