There are millions of books in existence and only twenty-four hours in the day. I'm curious how everyone here picks what books go on (and, depending on your proclivity for dropping books mid-read, stay on) your reading list?

Librarian recommendations? "Best of" lists? Your favorite authors' latest? Social media recommendations? Whatever seems "hot" at the moment? Serial publications/anthologies? High school/college reading lists*? Covers/titles that entice you? Whatever your approach, I wanna hear it!

*This is a fantastic way of creating non-fiction reading lists, but I can't imagine doing this with fiction--I'm just not that much of a literary masochist.

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[–] tankplanker@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I mostly read fantasy and scifi. I tend to read a few of one genre, then switch to the other genre. Example, read Wheel of Time series last year, so this year I have read back to back scifi for the first two months and will switch to fantasy when I finish my current book. Now and again I will want to read some contemporary fiction or classics, so I just pick those up only when I feel like it and usually as a palette cleanser.

Now to what books I will read for a genre, thats something I struggle with. last few years I have been re reading my favorite authors entire back catalogs after not reading their earlier books for a couple of decades in some cases. This makes it quite a lengthy process when I am re reading the likes of Pratchett or Tolkien.

Authors that are still publishing I wait a while then catch back up on their latest books. I like to read a few of the same books by the same person as you get used to the setting/style and you process them quicker.

Completely new authors I tend to go on reviews, books take too long to decide if I like them or not and it would take an eternity if I was to try and do completely independent self discovery of authors. If I know I am finishing a series of books I have already chosen, I research reviews, pick a few I like the sound of, then try them. Authors I like I will then follow for new stuff and/or read their back catalog, authors I don't I just forget exist.