How do we find the books we read?

[alicebentley]

That's become a pretty serious question to me.
I know that my personal method is quite chaotic, and that I'm likely missing many titles that I just have to hope I encounter later.

I read quite a number of author's blogs, and so I often know months in advance when a new book of theirs is coming out. But that's still a tiny portion of the authors I might like to read.

I listen to my friend's post about what they're reading, and what they're looking forward to, and that helps a lot especially with the new authors.

I'm sad to say I haven't found the Amazon recommendations worthwhile at all. Besides the slightly annoying tendency for half the group to be books I already own (more than a few bought through Amazon, so you'd think they should know better), it's almost rare for one of the others to be something attractive. And all too often it looks like a title is only in there because they paid to be. I don't know if that's actually what happens or not, whatever the algorithm is it sin't finding good matches for what I might buy.

So let me ask the vast readership here: what sources do you use to choose your new reading material?

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Like you, it's chaotic. However, I'm depending more on Goodreads for a lot of new things.

[alicebentley]

It is totally unreasonable of me, but ever since Amazon bought Goodreads I haven't been as willing as I was to post or to rely on recommendations from anyone I wasn't already friends with.

And now that my life may be taking a turn for the strange, and I may be doing a lot more outreach than I have, I am questing about to find what the best platforms are.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Goodreads hasn't changed much, I was relieved to see, though I was not thrilled about the sale. Some use it as Facebook (45,786 "friends" and 50 books, which means they are most likely using it as a platform for self promotion) but I avoid those, and stick with those who talk about books.

In general, there seems to be more honest reviewing there than on Amazon, wherein many get their best buddies to post five star burbles to help sales. I've found myself skimming Goodreads first to check out a possible book, as always reading the three star reviews.