How do you decide your books you read?

Me, by the Author, I have many I read regardless of the reviews. I won't buy a book whose author I don't know, unless the inside jacket really sounds interesting. I wouldn't read a Nora Roberts book unless I was highly paid to do so. Do you buy based on reviews?

I buy books based on the author, not by reviews.

I have many favorite authors I follow.

I read an author or hand-me-down recommendations.
 
It's something I need to start again.  The internet has taken its place.

If I find an author I like, I tend to read his or her other books.  I read all kinds of reviews - magazines, newspaper, NY Times Sunday Book review online, and if I find a book that might be a good read, I place a "hold" on the book from our local library.
I also get recommendations from other members of a book club I belong to.
 
 

I like mysteries( good, forensic, well written ones)and have certain authors I follow. But I read jacket covers, and will buy an author unknown to me. Thats how I found some of my current favorites.And recommendations from friends and colleagues.

A combination of subject matter , reviews and knowledge of the authors. I like books I've heard about on C-Span, mysteries, and even The Daily Show. Sometimes I walk thru the library and pick books based on what they are about. Also like true crime books.

I usually read by title or author. Sometimes I just troll the aisles of the library until something catches my eye. I do read everything I can get a hold of by my favorite authors. Subject matter also plays a large role in what I read. I like historical fiction, SyFy, military/political thrillers,and non fiction history.
 
 David O.

I judge a book by it's cover,,,,,,,not only books but people,places and things....but most of you folks already knew that about me.... 

Often by the author----
I got into WEB Griffin and had a year's supply of reading. 
I read one Patrick O'Brien book named "Master and Commander" and was hooked for 20 more.
Learned the alphabet frpm Sue Grafton.
Dick Francis was terrific.
Clancy was great for a number of years.
Sometimes I find an author becomes redundant----you know what is going to happen before it happens.  That eliminates him, or her..
Don't like hero's who never do anything wrong.
Don't like cursing and swearing---Parker turned me off completely.
 
Like to read about ordinary people doing good things.  Hard to find
those books though. 
 

Often by the author----
I got into WEB Griffin and had a year's supply of reading. 
I read one Patrick O'Brien book named "Master and Commander" and was hooked for 20 more.
Learned the alphabet frpm Sue Grafton.
Dick Francis was terrific.
Clancy was great for a number of years.
Sometimes I find an author becomes redundant----you know what is going to happen before it happens.  That eliminates him, or her..
Don't like hero's who never do anything wrong.
Don't like cursing and swearing---Parker turned me off completely.
 
Like to read about ordinary people doing good things.  Hard to find
those books though. 
 

I like to read posts dreamed up by MR CTF (alias CHEWY) always interesting and thought provoking. 
 
And the responses by Michael "The Curmudgeon" Hoffman
and Joe Rogo, a good Irish buddy with clever banter.
---and a lot of other folk whose contributions add to my day
immeasurably. 
 

Book review sections give you an idea what's coming and an idea of general content...I've found great reads that way for decades...also now you can personalize an Amazon book page with your interests and they will give you many great recommendations  I check then often...and then I look for new reads by my favorite authors....anything by F. Paul Wilson  etc....sometimes I'll reread a classic or discover a new one...I'm eclectic!!!!!!!

the ancient mariner


I like to read posts dreamed up by MR CTF (alias CHEWY) always interesting and thought provoking. 

And the responses by Michael "The Curmudgeon" Hoffman
and Joe Rogo, a good Irish buddy with clever banter.
---and a lot of other folk whose contributions add to my day
immeasurably. 

Why thank you Ancient One, The check is in the mail!

I don't decide. The books decide for me.
 
And ancient one, I've been a Griffin fan for years.

I spent the summer of 1941 reading SS Van Dyne and Agatha Christie.
We had a very tiny library in town and very few books---but those two authors were hot back then and highly recommended by Miss Librarian.
From that date till today I read myself to sleep. 
 
Then I found Rafael Sabatini----Captain Blood, The Sea Hawks, Scaramouche----and Robert Louis Stevenson---Treasure Island, Kidnapped etc----Terrific stuff----
 
Did you know that next to the bible Agatha Christie has sold the most books ?  Hercule Poirot, with his little gray cells,  was  my constant companion back then. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
 

the ancient mariner


I like to read posts dreamed up by MR CTF (alias CHEWY) always interesting and thought provoking. 

And the responses by Michael "The Curmudgeon" Hoffman
and Joe Rogo, a good Irish buddy with clever banter.
---and a lot of other folk whose contributions add to my day
immeasurably. 

 
Don William, Thank you for your kind words.   
 
Imagine how boring this site would be without The Godfather of St. Pete's

  
Youse  guys is welcome I'm sure.  I was just in a good
mood right then and gave out a little compliment or two.
 
Don't let it go to your head either of youse guys, ya knowwhatImean.
Stay cool.  But between me and you Joe, that Chewy comes up with some wild and crazy topics.  Must be smokin' some strange stuff.
 
 
 
 
 

Subject matter

Mostly by author and subject matter.  I stopped taking other people's recommendations after buying a few duds.  But then some might not like my picks either.

Suject matter and author, but if Oprah recommends it, I won't read it!

my main criteria is whether or not it has staples down the center crease.....
 
im a staples kind of guy, lol

the ancient mariner
Did you know that next to the bible Agatha Christie has sold the most books ?  Hercule Poirot, with his little gray cells,  was  my constant companion back then. 

 
 
did you know that if Agatha Christie, and a few others, had do gooder groups buying them up and dumping one in every hotel room across the face of the earth that the bible would barely make the top 10 list 
gotta love how the bean counters skew the numbers on that
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 

  

I decide on a variety of criteria.
 
Author: I've got several authors with proven track records of pleasing me, both fiction and non-fiction. Some of my crime novel writers have passed away, and I'll need to find new ones one of these summers.
 
Topic: Obviously, I'm interested in various things like we all are.
 
Reviews: Depends on the reviewer. If an author I like is in favor of a book, that goes a long way toward my choosing it.

I don't read book reviews...99.9% of the time, what some faceless reviewer I've never met has to say about a book is completely irrelevant to me.
 
I do have certain authors who I will pick up everything they write.  Some I purchase, others I get from the library and may or may not purchase after reading them.  Some I get exclusively from the library as I know their books are enjoyable but not worth spending money on.
 
I tend to read almost everything, so subject matter isn't as important.  In fiction, I tend to gravitate toward certain subjects, but I'm still all over the map.  The only subject I refuse to read are romance and Westerns.  I simply find them poorly written and uninteresting.
 
My method for picking books at the library is to scan the spines to see if a title grabs me (or the topic stickers they place on the spine).  Then I pull the book to scan the plot synopsis.  If it seems interesting enough, I'll add it to the pile.  I'm at the library every 1-2 weeks depending on my work schedule, and typically pick up 8-12 books at a time.  Yes, I do read that much.  I even retain what I've read.
 
I also will pick up a book if someone I know and trust recommends it.  On the flip side, I have missed out on some pretty good books for entirely too long before finally reading them because someone I detest wouldn't stop raving about them.  I'm like that.

A review(a good one) is designed partly to give you an idea of content and style...I've gotten good info. from most of them which helps me decide...that said, as an English teacher, most reviews I've seen in reputable publications(ie,New York Times) tend to be right on...I trust intelligence who makes a good living at judging quality...again I listen to the critique and read about faults as well as features...and then decide...but don't sell a quality review short!!!

If I hear about a book through numerous sources from online, local paper, NY Times, referenced in news articles, etc., I will check out the numerous reviews on BN.com and Amazon.com. Mostly I pay attention to the 3 or 4 out of 5 star reviews because they will be most likely more accurate, objective and truthful. The 1 star reviews usually are because someone has an agenda or axe to grind. 2 star reviews are oddly rare and mostly from people that have no axe to grind or complaints but just found the book not their cup of tea. The 5 star reviews can sometimes be more effusive than necessary because the reviewers are fans of the author no matter how good or bad the book is.

Right on Davydd, I agree. The Amazon rating system works for me. I use Amazon a lot for ordering books, and as I said above, from this record, they create a "recommended for you" section. I've used some of those suggestions and been rewarded with great reads!!!!That said, a good review should be a guide. If it is well done, and the reviewer knows his/her stuff, it can help you make a good selection.

the ancient mariner


  
Youse  guys is welcome I'm sure.  I was just in a good
mood right then and gave out a little compliment or two.

Don't let it go to your head either of youse guys, ya knowwhatImean.
Stay cool.  But between me and you Joe, that Chewy comes up with some wild and crazy topics.  Must be smokin' some strange stuff.

Ribs, Brisket, Pork, Chicken, strange stuff, Ancient One???
Truth is trying to get them in a Zig Zag, ain't easy!

Hey Chewy baby, nuttin wurth while is easy.
 
Redskins get Cam Newton.  Newton buys out Snider.
Newton's old man runs the team. It's a
beautiful thing.