I’m a big mood reader, and I don’t have a specific strategy for choosing what I read. There are so many things that can attract me to a book, that it’s hard to really prioritize a list. So here are some of the factors, in no particular order:
- The cover. I mean, who am I kidding? I’m a total sucker for good cover art.
- The title. I love it when a witty or interesting or beautiful title catches my attention.
- Seeing a book online.
- Seeing a book talked about many times by different people I tend to agree with.
- A friend or family member recommending it.
- I’m interested in the topic.
- I like the author.
- I like the audiobook narrator.
- It’s getting a lot of buzz and I’m curious.
- It’s nominated for a prize.
- I have to read it, for any number of reasons (school, a buddy read, prize reading etc.)
- I picked it up and the blurb sounded interesting.
That’s all I can think of right now, but I’m sure there are more reasons than that. What about you guys? Do you have a specific set of criteria for what makes a book worthy of your TBR?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.
I can definitely relate to a few of these, I’ve absolutely picked up books largely based on their cover before, and liking the author is always a big factor for me in picking up a book, new books by favourite authors go onto my TBR faster than anything else. I’ve also got a couple of audiobook narrators that I really like who actively seek out more from. I have two close friends who are both big readers and I will definitely always look into their recommendations because they have a fairly similar taste in books to me so if it’s something either of them liked, I’m quite likely to like it as well. I have definitely read books because they’ve been getting a lot of hype online before and it tends to be very hit or miss, I’ve found a lot of books I’ve really loved through other bloggers raving about them but equally I’ve tried books that everyone has been raving about that haven’t worked for me, but I guess that’s just the nature of reading!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/23/top-ten-tuesday-421-the-literary-dinner-party-2022-tag/
Agreed on all this! Yes, the whole reading recommendations thing is definitely not guaranteed. I’ve tried some that really didn’t land as well. But often I’m glad at least to know what everyone is talking about, even if I didn’t love it!
Good job! How could I forget prizes?? I track the winners I read lol. You win the prize for the best this week!
Haha thanks!
Seeing a book talked about in multiple place at or near the same time always brings a book to my attention for sure. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/things-getting-in-the-way-of-reading/
Definitely. More this than any one recommendation, if I’m honest!
A good cover/title will draw me to the book; it’s the blurb that’s got to grab me.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/recent-additions-to-my-physical-tbr-may-2023/
Fully agreed!
Covers almost always suck me in. I have been disappointed a few times but very rarely.
Yes, me too!
I’d say the #1 reason I read a book is #12. If the blurb sounds interesting, I’ll give it a whirl. It a blurb doesn’t sound interesting, it would take some serious recommendations from people I REALLY trust to get me to read it!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Yes absolutely! No matter what grabs my attention, the book has to sound interesting for me to try it unless I have been given really good reason to try it!
I’m terrible at choosing books – if I don’t have it, I want it! The cover and the title are a little redundant by that point! And I’ve not gelled with so many that social media has raved about that I tend to approach those with a pinch of salt…
My ‘auto-buy authors# are here https://bookloverssanctuary.com/2023/05/23/top-ten-tuesday-things-that-make-me-instantly-want-to-read-a-book/
Hahahaha! Yeah, thats a fair point! I tend to sort of look at social media sensations through the lens of my interests, so that does narrow it down a bit, but I have definitely read some stinkers at times as well. I mostly do like knowing what people are talking about at least!
All of these are really great reasons to pick up a book. I can say they have all had me picking up a book before.
Excellent!
A well-chosen title is usually a flag for well-chosen words within! My list is here.
Yes, that’s exactly what I like. Not that’s an infallible method of choosing, but I do tend to think it often holds!
The narrator is key! No one is going to spend eight+ hours listening someone they don’t enjoy. My list is here.
Completely agree. It’s a lot of time to spend with a voice you don’t like!