I had a small window in my time away from the computer the other day, and thought, I know, I’ll pick up a book. I had three listed on my panel at the side (I’d finished a crime mystery the day before), I checked my To Read list a few times, and … I didn’t fancy reading any of the top-listed 20!
One of the things I do to my To Read list each winter is to re-prioritise it. For a start, do I have the book, on my kindle or in hard copy? If it’s a series, are they in order? Is there a good mix of genres? Do I sound like I have OCD?
But there, at the top of my list, were books I had skipped in favour of the next on the list, waiting for the moment to read them, and this wasn’t it. I wanted something lighter, and preferably shorter, and one I had good confidence I’d enjoy.
So I went all the way through my kindle, looking at the dots that suggest how long the book is. A few gave me a ‘maybe’ signal. Some I’d forgotten. When I lighted on Turtle Feathers, I’d forgotten about it, and I hadn’t even got it listed on my To Read list, despite the fact it’s been there for at least eighteen months. It turned out to be a set of very enjoyable short stories, and I’ll review it later in the month.
But here I am, wanting to tackle my reading list – if you feel the same way check out the Tackle your TBR Readathon which starts next week – and I haven’t even got it ON my reading list. There are so many books on my kindle that I want to read I can’t choose which. So I need to choose what I’m going to do during the Readathon, and that means I really need to read the books I’m supposed to be reading, not sitting and thinking about, before the Readathon starts. Rings of Saturn has been on my ‘currently reading’ list for far too long. I must just read it.
What about you? How do you pick your next read? And what keeps getting put to the bottom of the pile again?
I suppose my next choice of book totally depends on my mood at any given minute. I do have a tendency to go for something light, maybe funny and not to long. The only ones I could be sure about are Terry Pratchet’s. I know I’ll read those at anytime. Unfortunately my sister-in-law always buys it for Christmas so I’m not allowed a copy until then.
xxx Sending Huge Hugs xxx
‘Light, funny and not too long’. Yes That’s the ideal for me, too. Often doesn’t have to be funny, since I’m happy with a good murder or crime story that fits light and not too long too!
I don’t often buy books as I get them passed on by friends. I have a pile on the bedroom floor, and just pick one I like the look of! At the moment, I am reading ‘New beginnings’ by Fern Britton. Very light reading, and just the job when I am reading in bed! I am in bed in Mundford this morning! ?
I’ve not read any Fern Britton, but yes, the light and not too long sound like it suits you too – and you probably like the look of the cover, too!
I usually don’t have any criteria other than “mood of the moment”. But this week I have a problem: a stack fifteen (15) library books. All my requests came in during the week. They all have short loan periods and other people waiting for them so I’m reading them in the order of date due. I just finished The Incarnations and am now totally engrossed in F.H. Batcan’s Smaller and Smaller Circles, a Philippine crime novel. Two heavy (and rather gory) novels back to back is not the way I usually read but they are both due tomorrow. Next up: The Daughters (Adrienne Celt) and Joshua Cohen’s The Book of Numbers. No way will I finish the latter–I’ll return it and get it another time. Then relief with a book of short stories (A Manual for Cleaning Women).
Oh no! I remember the delight when the number of books out at once went from 4 to 6, but being allowed an unlimited number is just asking for trouble! Good luck!
I definitely read by the whim of the moment. That’s one reason I get so many books started at once. Eventually I settle down to read the lot of them, then start over. I’m afraid I don’t actually pay much attention to my TBR list on Goodreads; I need to start doing more what you do, Jemima–then maybe I’d have a list to go to that would give me selections based on my mood!
I think it helps me to have one, just to record books I liked the look of – when I saw the reviews, or whatever. Of course, I don’t see books every day, like you do!