Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion

I have a large to-read list, how do you pick what to buy next to read? I tried doing a list on goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/88... but have gotten no help.

So what do you do cheapest, best covers, genre, or what?

Pick next to buy is usually whatever is on sale at the time. Unless it's a book I've wanted to REALLY read for ages.

i tended to read everything an author has written to date.

I read a lot of different series and will buy a few at a time in order that they were published. I do the same when I find a good author who writes stand alone novels. Usually the older the book is the cheaper it is and I buy my books from bookdepository.co.uk

I'm constantly saving book to my Amazon cart, and when I finally add the one book I absolutely have to read immediately, I hit the BIN button. How I choose the "must read ASAP" book depends a lot on my mood and what I've been reading up til then. This is why a Kindle would be both good and very, very bad for me. Amazon is pretty fast--usually jut 2 business days from when I oder to when it arrives on my doorstep--but often by then I have changed my mind. So I have a lot of "must read immediately" books lying around, as-yet-unread.

I will read an entire series at once. If I enjoy that series or book I will a lot of times go to an author's website and see what they are reading or what books they enjoy (or authors) and go find those books and the cycle continues. This year however I have set up a reading list/project for myself (can be seen on my blog) to get out of this rut of reading romance and get into some of the other genres i know I love.

I usually go to the used bookstore and open up my to read list here on goodreads on my phone and try to find any book on my list. (they are usually only $1 or so each when I find them) OR if I am at a regular bookstore I will do the same thing and look at the books in the store and pick the ones that appeal to me most. Sometimes I find books I have on my list after seeing them deciding I do not really want them so I will remove them from my list later. Or if I am reading a series I will buy those. I also go to my library online ordering system and will order whatever they have on my list (before buying some of them)

I'll walk into the bookstore, look for whatever that's on sale first -- pick a book or two that sounded decent... Then walk to find other books by known Author if there are any or I'd walk to Fiction and/or Young Adult and pick something with a decent synopsis, turn it to the first page and read the first line. If the first line sounds interesting enough, I will get it. I haven't been disappointed by the method just yet. But, sometimes, I'll just stop by at any street side sale where they have secondhand book or promotion and buy a bunch without knowing what I got until I get home hahah... I am mad...

Of course, SOMETIMES, I'll consult my "to-read" list on GoodReads heheh...

Well, I can only go to borders if my parents aren't doing anything so if I'm lucky I get to go book buying for that weekend, I just go in look at titles, and start reading the summary, that's what I do all the time, because I'm never sure if they've got the books I want so, so when I go whatever attracts my attention gets bought.

Surprisingly enough, its got nothing to do with genre, =)

Caitlin wrote: "I have a large to-read list, how do you pick what to buy next to read? I tried doing a list on goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/88... but have gotten no help.

So wh..."

The way that I usually pick which books to read next is pretty simple for me. I usually read 6 books at a time and they are all different. Like one will be a horror book, one a fantasy, one a young teen, one romance, thriller, and that sort of thing. So which ever type of book I finish I pick up one is the same category. Or sometimes I pick books from my favorite authors and do the same thing with those too. Seems to work pretty good. So that way what ever mood your in, you have a book to match your mood.

I really used to struggle with this, but now paperbackswap.com decides for me. I love it. :) Now my only issue is what to READ first. I decided to sort my "to-read" section here on Goodreads by average review and I'm reading the highest average first. I make enough decisions at work and home, I like that my computer makes these choices for me. :)

Kerra wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "I have a large to-read list, how do you pick what to buy next to read? I tried doing a list on goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/88... but have gotten no..."

I do the same thing! My friends think I'm crazy.

I work in a used bookstore, so the books I buy are usually ones that catch my eye when I'm at work. Sometimes though I'll come across a book here on Goodreads that I really want to read straightaway, so I'll order it off Amazon. =]

first, I feel motivated for the cover of the book...but it's not decisive...Then I open the book and read something random (the most cases it's the first paragraph....in other cases it´s just read some page random)...And if I feel fascinating, well I buy it...Oh and the smell it's important (but it's in another topic)

Sometimes the cover gets me-I've learned that's not so reliable. Sometimes a friend recommends. Often it's an author or subject I'm interested in. The author is a very powerful, maybe the strongest, reason.

So many things interest me that I just research a book based on what interests me. For example, I just finished "Catherine the Great." From that book I became interested in Frederick the Great and Peter the Great. So I ordered books about them.

How I choose my book is rather weird. I love to head in to a book store (we only have a Barnes and Noble where I live so that's normally where I go) and just wonder through the aisles. Depending on my mood I'll wander from section to section or just stay in one area. I'm weird about the cover/feel of a book. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but it's a big selling point for me. I gather a few books (okay, sometimes more than a few) and take them to a seat with a hot coffee in front of me. For the next few hours or so I loose myself in nibbling on the books. By the end, I've decided on my book :)

For me, book buying is like savoring chocolate. I only get to pick one (or two) so I take as long as I can, smelling and 'tasting' a piece here and there until I find the perfect piece of chocolate. :) Okay, maybe that analogy doesn't sound too good but books and chocolate are on the same level for me! Along with coffee.

Makes total sense to me. And I forgot that I often do exactly what you do.

I'm in absolute heaven reading, eating chocolates & drinking coffee. It's not for nothing that B&N sells both coffee & Godiva!

I stick to my favorite authors. I'm having some trouble finding all the Lousia May Alcott books, so if anyone wants to get rid of some books by her PLEASE let me know!

whatever looks good or tickles my fancy

I live pretty much right next to a permanent book flea market, so I just go nuts everytime I can't fight the urge.

If it keeps up, I'm going to have to start fashioning bookshelves out of more books D:

I have a huge book list. When I am done reading a book, I check it off and start reading the next on my list. I'm pretty anal about staying to the list. I continue to add to the list when I find book that I want to read. My current book list is at like 75 pages.

I wish I could be more anal about my book list. I'm always digressing.

For me it depends, if I'm in a bookshop, I'll either look for new things by authors I like, or browse around (and often end up falling in love with a nice hardback or trade paperback). Of course the story has to appeal to me, but I'm easier to persuade if it's a really nice edition.

If I read a really good review - or come across a book I must have, I'll actively order them. Online if it's a book in English.
I usually have about 50-70 books on my wishlist on Amazon, so if I'm just in the mood for buying books, I'll get some of those.

I'm an impulse buyer. I often go into a book store, browse for a few minutes and find a book that has a good blurb. I often am able to find a good book, but I do have a few books where I've not gotten past the second chapter.

Having said that, I also sometimes buy a book I've been wanting to read for a while. There are lots of books out there that I've been circling for a while but never get around to buying or reading because I think that maybe it won't be very good, or the series will be too long and I'll lose interest, but I generally end up buying them anyway. *grins*

i tend to be an impulse buyer. look around book stores/charity shops see what they got. find something i like the loom and spend spend spend. sometimes on a book spending spre i buy 10 - 30 books, depending on my mood and where i get them from.

A lot of my friends are authors, and I try to read their books unless they're on a subject I hate. I always buy new releases by my favorite authors, then I add in books I see reviewed or mentioned by a friend. I'm in a book club, and have found some good authors through book celections. As a result, I spend too much on books and too much time reading them. LOL
Caroline Clemmons
www.carolineclemmons.com

Shannon wrote: "I stick to my favorite authors. I'm having some trouble finding all the Lousia May Alcott books, so if anyone wants to get rid of some books by her PLEASE let me know!"

Love her books. Good luck on finding them all

I don't choose what I'm going to read next...usually the book just chooses me. lol I like wandering up and down isles and bookstores not sure what I'm going to find. However if one of my favorite authors or series comes out with a new book then I snatch that up first before I go book hunting. I find it really difficult to follow my to-read list. So many books. So little time!

Lisa wrote: "Kerra wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "I have a large to-read list, how do you pick what to buy next to read? I tried doing a list on goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/88... but ..."

Lol, yeah, my family thinks I am crazy because I read so many books at once. I just have my order thing that I go by and it works really well for me :)

Me too. I'm always reading 5 or 6 books. I don't know why other people care (I don't mind how they read-if they do) but my daughter finds it very strange.

Cassie wrote: "I don't choose what I'm going to read next...usually the book just chooses me. lol I like wandering up and down isles and bookstores not sure what I'm going to find. However if one of my favorite a..."

Cassie, I just started to write the same thing when I read your post! lol

The books just keep calling my name.

hmm.... i search for books in goodreads listopia or in fantasticfiction.co.uk!
i just read d plot...check out d ratings and den see some reviews....if i like d plot i order it!!!!!!!!:D

First I go to my bookshelf and see if one of the "shelved reads" finally calls out to me when it doesn't I go to my "to read book list" a list I either gather from searching the B & N online section or from recommended reading from my fellow Pemberleans on the Republic of Pemberley site. Right now I am entranced by We Two about Queen Victoria and Prince Albert so I am not currently in a search mode but I feel a B & N trip is in my future for my next fabulous read!!!!

I tend to search for deals so when I'm at a thrift shop or a garage sale, I check out there books then look at my tbr-list that I always have with me to see if its a book I need, if so, I buy it and it to to the ever growing pile. lol, I have over 100 actual books to read, over 400 ebooks to read and over 800 on my tbr-list. Soooo many books, sooooo little time. :)

Ellie wrote: "Me too. I'm always reading 5 or 6 books. I don't know why other people care (I don't mind how they read-if they do) but my daughter finds it very strange."

I tend to read 2-4 books at the same time too. Like I've been reading Little Women for awhile...I'm not always in the mood to read it so I'll read something else!
As long as YOU can keep them straight, it shouldn't matter.

I'm an impulsive buyer. I'll go in and wander around til I see something I'd want to read. I normally don't go into the store unless I'm looking for a specific book.