The idea came to me just as I was posting the last post. How do you choose a good book?

My self I read the back of the book. If it says a lot about the book i put it down straight away. Then I look at the cover. Ha, "Never judge a book by its cover" they say. Then the author and the title. If the back of the book doesn't say much, the cover looks good and the title is good I've brought it before you could even blink.

What about you? How do you choose a book?

Usually, I talk to the people whom I know have a taste in books similar to mine, and ask them what books they'd recommend.

When I want to read a book (that doesn't happen very often) I usually also start by looking what other people think of it. I read reviews and ask people who already read the book, what they thought of it. If I get a positive reaction, I start reading the book. I'll never read a book of which other people say it sucked.

I think a combination of fame and reviews help me to make a decision. Generally if it is termed a "classic" it is probably worth reading for some reason or another.

Either by its cover art or from reviews. Or just picking a random cheap book.

I walk either into a bookshop or a library. Mostly after work. Then I just walk around, taking randomly books (hm, maybe I am attracted by their covers ?), read the description on the back, take a glimpse inside. That ends mostly in buying or taking a book, I never heard of before. That procedure works for me, because I often stumble over books which are very interesting.

And bookshops and libraries are very pleasent places to be.

I am usually against recommending of books. Except the advice comes from a librarian or someone who works in a bookshop, because they have usually expirience, in judging the taste of others. Recommendations of friends.... bad expirience usually, because taste is something very individual.

Since I primarily read sci-fi and fantasy, I have been reading the various books that have won the Hugo or Nebula award. This is a good way to find a good book, and often introduces me to an author I may otherwise not have found out about.

If you judge a book by the cover, then you judge the look by the lover I've been having a tough time lately. In my fields of study, I know a good book by publisher house, background, etc.

When it comes to fantasy books, they all look alike. I do some trial and error, get some advice from friends, and read reviews on Amazon.com.

I haven't bought a fantasy book since George RR Martin. That's how stuck I am.

I always look at the cover, if it has got many colours I buy it :D
No, seriously, I go after the back of the book, and if it's interesting I'm trying to get some informations about it.

Back of the book, then author.

ummm...
Seems like people put a lot of work into choosing what book to read. I hate when people recommend books. Usually when someone recommends a book i stay away from it. There are one or two people i listen to. My mother seems to know what type of books i like so when ever she recommends a book i read it, but apart from that i hate recommendations.

ummm...
Seems like people put a lot of work into choosing what book to read. I hate when people recommend books. Usually when someone recommends a book i stay away from it. There are one or two people i listen to. My mother seems to know what type of books i like so when ever she recommends a book i read it, but apart from that i hate recommendations.Couldn't agree more. The only person I take reccomendations from is my father.

Yeah parents are great in that way. :)

First of all i talk to people i know that have a good taste in books (meaning they have the about same preferences i have) then i go to the bookstore i read the summary and the comments on the back cover of the book then i see the front cover and if i like all of the above i buy it.
That is plain and simple. :cool:

I generally look at the author first. If I have read one of their books before and I enjoyed it, I tend to put that above any others. Otherwise I read the back.

I borrow them. Very cheap and you can only lose time with crap ones. Anyway, I won't re-read most of the books.

I usually look at the cover and title if it looks and sounds interesting I read the first page, if I like it and get into it I'll buy it

How do I choose a book, eh? well, first i walk into the fantasy/science fiction area of the store... :D Reading the back/front flap is a good way to see what a book's about, and looking at the front cover is always helpful. It shows you the characters in a typical situation for them (usually) and that helps you get a feel for the book. I always read the first page--or more, if it's good. Then if i like what I see (and if i have enough money...) I buy it

You can do all of that through SP and help support the site at the same time! :D

http://www.sorcerers.net/Books/index.htm

I just started reading fantasy about a year ago and have become so enthralled with the different stories and authors, that I've decided to work my way through the list on SP, pretty much from top to bottom. It's all laid out nicely, especially for the long-running stories (like Salvatore's Drizzt books). They're all listed in order on SP -- I don't have to worry about getting out of sequence -- just follow the layout. It's worked great for me. I have my favorite authors, of which I go deeper into their works....but my overall goal is to read everything that's listed there -- which will be a neverending quest, since new ones are added with each update! In my mind, I couldn't find a better way to pick a book! :D

My primary source of books is picking up the latest book that an author I like has published.

After that I am a member of the science fiction bookclub so I look through their monthly catalogues for anything that I have not read before that sounds interesting based upon the short description of the book.

Finally, I go to the library every once in a while and look for authors who have several books on their racks. I figure if they are good enough to have had several books published then I might as well give them a try.

For the longest time my Dad was always the one who got me into reading any new fantasy. He started me off on Piers Anthony's Xanth books when I was in like 2nd grade and everytime he started reading a new series he really liked, he'd make me read them too. That's how I got into the Belgariad, Wheel of Time, C.S. Lewis and R.A. Salvatore (for examples) and then I end usually end up reading everything by a particular author that I really like (R.A. Salvatore for example whom I've read everything from the Forgotten Realms books to the Crimson Shadow of)

I also read a lot of classics in the younger grades simply because I knew I'd have to read them later for school so I figured I'd get them out of the way then classics and see whether or not I liked them. Some of them surprised me and I did like them.

Also if I'm trying to find something different and new to read I usually go by the back of the book or word of mouth. Although if it is by word of mouth it takes a great deal many people all saying the same thing about it before I'll actually read it. (Harry Potter for example)

i did the same thing silverwolf, my dad made me read the belgariad, and made me start WoT, and Sword of Truth, and many others, and i got hooked. I also read classics like the Illiad and the Oddysey(sp?), Whitefang, and Swiss Family Robinson, 'cause i knew id have to sooner or later, and the last 2 surprised me... i actually likes them.