21st Century Literature discussion

To what extent do you plan out your reading in advance (e.g., you know you're going to read X, Y, and Z for the year or the entire long/short list for prizes A, B, or C)? And to what extent do you allow whim, group readings, new discoveries, or unread books to fit into your reading life? How do you balance your various reading goals and finding a happy medium between completing specific books and allowing for curiosity/excitement?

My intention is approx. 40% planned, 60% spontaneous. My reality is 10% planned, 90% spontaneous. I'm definitely a mood reader, so that means jettisoning plans if I'm not in the mood to follow them.

Mostly spontaneous as I pick it completely randomly from my to-read list !

Lior wrote: "Mostly spontaneous as I pick it completely randomly from my to-read list !"

How do you randomize your choice?

70% planned 30% unplanned. I consider group reads with groups like this, planned. The area I am reading mostly unplanned is nonfiction, often starting titles that interest soon after they are released. I rarely read arcs but plan my new fiction reads according to publishing dates and try and squeeze older books in where I can.

It’s more spontaneous than planned. The order of books on my reading list often shifts in priority based on what I am in the mood to read at the time.

It depends. In the past few years, it is more planned... I have a monthly TBR challenge where I draw a prompt and I read a book that fits it, and also I am trying to take down by physical TBR... when I am stuck on what to read, I join readathons which give me an idea. I have some spontaneous reads, though - mostly humorous books, nonfiction about topics I am really interested at the moment or something written by someone I really admire that I just heard about.

100% planned. Once I tried to be spontaneous and I ended up reading nothing because I had trouble making up my mind.

I try and plan what I am going to read and then it always goes awry which is why my TBR list keeps growing. This year, I would say about 50 percent is still planned, 30 percent based on recent releases and award long lists, and the remaining 20 percent that was thrown into the mix randomly or through group reads that seemed interesting.

I have loose plans that affect which books I buy, and get more rigid when reading prize lists and group discussions, but the decision of which book to take off is not always planned and can be spontaneous - there is no fixed queue...

as soon as I make a plan to read a book, some other book immediately becomes more interesting.

lark wrote: "as soon as I make a plan to read a book, some other book immediately becomes more interesting."

YES!!!
I recently made a "high priority" reading shelf here on GR and it's like I'm purposefully avoiding those books (not entirely, but sort of). Mostly, I pick 5 or so books I'm definitely going to read for the year, but I don't pick a particular time to read them. Then I know I'll read from my to-be-read pile, group reads, whims, etc. I will try not to have more than 2 fiction books going at one time and then throw in either a short-story collection, poetry, non-fiction, or a graphic novel. So, the "plan" is pretty loose and allows for a lot of leeway, although I try not to give in to too many group reads that require me to purchase even more books.

I have a pretty long list of authors whose complete ouevres I'm hoping to make my way through, so they are always in the mix. And if I already own a book by an author, I'll sometimes make a rule I can't buy/borrow their latest book until I read the one I already have (which means, I'll finally be reading Ghostwritten this year, so I can buy or borrow Mitchell's latest book)...

5% to 10% planned... maybe. I know I'll be participating in 6 to 10 group reads, but I don't always know what they'll be. Like others, I consider it a double-win if the group reads pulls from my existing pile of unread books.

I have been eagerly waiting to read The Mirror & the Light for years, and bought it as soon as it was published. But now I keep putting it off, thinking - 'I have to finish my checked out the library books first' (and then keep checking out more), or 'I want to get a few short books out of the way first'. Based on how I felt about the first two books, I know I'll love it, but I've got to make a plan for this and stick to it!

Nadine wrote: "I have been eagerly waiting to read The Mirror & the Light for years, and bought it as soon as it was published. But now I keep putting it off, thinking - 'I have to finish my check..."

I started it a month ago and got nearly 100 pgs in and had to stop because I had overlapping group reads I couldn't keep up with if I continued. Finishing it before the Booker announcement is a good motivator!

I plan out what I'm going to read by filling my shelves with things I want to read, and putting lots of things on hold at my library and then "pausing" my holds until I'm ready to read them.

Beyond that, I really just go with whatever mood I'm in when I finish a book. I'll tell myself "ok, next I'm going to read [title] FOR SURE" and then when I go to my shelf I change my mind.

Although my planned reads include book group picks, both in person and here!

I always have a few challenges going to help me plan my reading. I'm choosing only quarterly or annual challenges at the moment, and some books overlap, of course, but it means I do have a list of say 20 books that I plan to read over a period of time.

Then I squeeze a quick NetGalley mystery in here and there as well as some delightful children's picture books.

I'm also quite willing to quit a book and substitute another. Life's too short!

I'm another with a Pick-Me shelf for books I want to remind myself not to overlook.

Mine is almost entirely spontaneous. I have a running long list of books that I want to read. I usually keep 5-7 waitlisted at my library and getting any of those forces me to at least start it. Getting a NetGalley book feels like a responsibility to read, but often after getting it I wonder why I asked for it. I have a GR shelf that are just books I've read that I found by using a random number generator to send me to a random book in the bookstore. I only do that in bookstores I trust have mostly books I wouldn't mind reading. And, a lot of my TBR books age out. I just get bored of them being on the list and unless I bought it, I take it off. And, I have one friend whose recommendations I will read instantly.

That said, I just enrolled back in school and have assigned lists of books and plays I'm reading for the next 3 months. ugh.

Jason wrote: "Getting a NetGalley book feels like a responsibility to read, but often after getting it I wonder why I asked for it.."

Jason, do you finish those books anyway? I now only ask for books I'm dying to read - but of course, those are usually the ones Netgalley denies me ;) I cleaned up my Netgalley shelf by clicking on the "I will not be giving feedback" link under the 'Give Feedback' button for books that have been sitting around too long. I don't know if that's part of the reason for the denials, but it's worth it, guilt-wise.

Nadine wrote: "Jason, do you finish those books anyway? I now only ask for bo..."

I'm very selective now with my NetGalley requests. I don't get many of them, but I've had luck with the last few and enjoyed them thru to the end. I have a few that I will just never read and should put that "I will not be giving feedback" to end the guilt, even if it means fewer books.