How do we find the books we read?
Dec. 21st, 2013 05:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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?
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?
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Date: 2013-12-22 04:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-12-22 04:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2013-12-22 05:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-12-22 05:40 am (UTC)I still read the backs, at least, of a lot of books on the big paperback display in front, if the cover is at all intruiging. A lot doesn't pass the first 10 page, test, though.
I like the "Big Idea" series on Scalzi's blog also.
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Date: 2013-12-22 10:34 am (UTC)Given that my free-reading time has decreased as my time devoted to academic research has skyrocketed, I have to be really picky about what I read because I simply don't have enough time to read all the stuff I want to AND get my research done. It's a shame, because a lot of the authors I like are putting out a ton of stuff, and I keep encountering new people to like. Really grooving on Zen Cho and Malinda Lo and Seanan McGuire and Mary Robinette Kowal right now.
Also, Mark Oshiro's Mark Reads blog is a nice way to not only discover new stuff, but his commentary is really interesting. Highly recommended!
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Date: 2013-12-23 09:20 pm (UTC)The bit that's left is 'noticed book on table at con'.
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Date: 2013-12-25 02:31 am (UTC)I used to follow the Tiptree shortlist more closely than I do now, but it's been a good source of recommendations, too.
I read less than I did in my youth, so I don't need as many recommendations as I used to need.