How to Choose a Book to Read
Do you have trouble choosing a book to read? If you're not exactly a bookworm, and don't know right off the bat what you like to read, it might be hard for you to pick something that you'll enjoy. You may find yourself picking out a book, reading a few chapters, and realizing that you hate it. Or maybe you'll find your mind wandering because you just can't seem to get into the story. Here are a few tips that might help you select the right book for you.
Consider Your Interests
What are you interested in? Do you like learning about famous people and their stories? Maybe you should check out the biography of your favorite historical figure. Maybe you really enjoy stories like Harry Potter. In that case the fantasy section might interest you. If you're really into sports, try to find a story that is based around someone playing a sport you like.
When stories you read feature topics you know a lot about and have a significant interest in, it's much easier for you to get into the story and stay interested. But if you stray too far from the subjects you're interested in, you probably won't enjoy the book very much. Stick to what you know and what you like, at least at first.
Take a Hint from Your Favorite Movies
Do you love the movie, "The Notebook"? Did you know that there's a book version? If you're not a fan of this particular love story, don't worry. You can be sure that many of the movies you enjoy were based on a book, too. You just have to look for them. Type the title into the search engine on your local library's web site. Chances are you're going to find that at least a few of your favorite movies were based on a book. Don't wait to check them out! Typically, those who read the book and see the movie will agree that the book is the better version. You don't want to miss out, do you? Even some popular TV shows like Pretty Little Liars, The Secret Circle, and Supernatural were either based on a series of books or has had one written after the fact.
Check out the Internet
These days, the internet can help you with just about anything. Aside from turning to advice articles (like this one), there are web sites built specifically for finding books to read based on your likes and preferences. One of the largest (and my personal favorite) is Goodreads.com. Goodreads is much like Facebook, but for people who love to read. If you don't know what book you should read next, there is a wide variety of suggestions available for you. You can join up with your friends (and strangers, if you'd like) for online book clubs, book swaps, discussions, reading challenges, and many other fun activities. Sites like Goodreads will not only give you suggestions for what to read, but it will help to bring some fun into reading, too. Many people see a significant increase in their reading progress after joining one of these sites (myself included). I suggest giving it a try.
Ask Your Friends
If you and your friends share a lot of the same interests, chances are you will enjoy the same books, as well. Ask them to give you a list of some of their favorite books. I bet you'll enjoy them, too. If they own any of the books they've suggested to you, I'm sure they would be more than happy to lend you their copy.
Taking reading suggestions from your friends is also helpful because it's always more fun if you have someone to discuss the book with. Discussing events and characters and speculating on what might happen next can add a lot of fun to the experience!
Join a Book Club
Book clubs are a great way to get introduced to new titles and authors. They are also a great way to make good friends that you may share some interests with. Here's how book clubs work: all members of the group will read the same book at the same time. Every so-often (different book clubs have different lengths of time between meetings), everyone will meet up, often over coffee or dinner, to discuss the book. The schedule might look something like this:
Saturday, April 10- Meet at Starbucks to discuss chapters 1-5
Saturday, April 24- Meet at Starbucks to discuss chapters 6-10
Generally, you will need to have the specified chapters read by the meet date, so that you don't fall behind. I know it might sound a little bit like an assignment from your school days, but it's a huge help if you have trouble staying motivated to read. Check online or go down to your local library and ask the librarian if there are any book clubs you can join. Can't find any near you? Grab a few friends and create your own!
Just look around. If you do a little bit of research, you're bound to stumble upon a genre of books that you enjoy. Keep in mind that the more you read, the easier it will become. Soon you'll find yourself branching out and reading books you might never have even considered before. For now, start small, and work your way up. Let the reading begin!
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