Steve Probe: How Do You Pick Your Next Book?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- My email: st.donoghue [at] gmail
My Instagram: stevesbookstagram
My little Patreon, should you be feeling generous: / snappp
My poor neglected Goodreads: stevedonoghue
My encouragement to write for: openlettersreview
"Steve Donoghue" on Facebook (look for Chaucer!)
@Steve Donoghue18 on Twitter!
What fresh heresy is this? I look up from the third circle of the Inferno, with Dante and Virgil, to cry to the leaden sky: "Steve. Made. Me. Do. This."
😂😂😂
How do I pick my next book? I cast the runes, Steve. I cast the runes.
I use a lot of lists. I've created my own western canon list which is huge, but also I've taken a lot of book recs from your End of the Year "Best Of" lists. One of my projects is to read all of the number one fiction titles from 1990 till the current year. (adding years prior to 1990 would be great to add to your substack, Steve!) I also plan to read every book on your 100 best books ever written list, if it is ever completed.
That is indeed an excellent idea for my new, revived Stevereads! Thanks for the suggestion!
I always read my most recent bought books first. Next is a pick from the shelf of books I'm going through as reread or books my husband bought that i haven't read yet. Mixed in is a series that I am reading through, one or two at a time, depending on how many there are. I also toss in the pile comics. Usually, big old archive volumes. I want to read more nonfiction, so I'm going for at least one a month.
Happy reading!❤
Climb the Mountain.
Enter the Cave.
Consult the Oracle.
I can only speak for myself, but my mood reading does not consist of picking up and putting down books willy-nilly! I will clench my teeth and pull through a book I don't like (unless it's really making me hate reading, but it happens like once a year).
Rather, when I'm done with a book I will look up my TBR list (thank you for your many contributions!) and choose something that draws me at that moment, often changing genre from my last read.
Love your videos, much appreciation from Italy :)
I am primarily a new-release reader. I read print book reviews (now read online, of course) of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal (I get it free at work), Atlantic magazine, Open Letters Review, etc. I use your channel often as you are the only one in this corner of Booktube who consistently talks about new releases.
Great topic Steve!
One way I pick books is asking family and friends what their reading or one of what is one of their favorite books.
It’s a great way to read something new perhaps and to bring you close to the persons recommendation!
I think I can be described as an omnivorous jellyfish, or maybe a book wyvern. I’ll read almost anything, but I can’t stick to a TBR. I usually have several books going at once, and I rarely dnf, but I drift from book to book. I do watch BookTube channels such as yours for ideas and recommendations, and fun events like June on the Range. I do use written book reviews, although I’m not a huge fan of Goodreads reviews.
63 year old libertarian/ conservative with a wide variety of interests like Oxfordianism etc. that just discovered you.
I use lists. I'm still reading down Mortimer Adler etc.
I find you useful for translations
I also use Amazon reviews which have been bad a few times.
If a book is important, I try to read down it's bibliography.
Your channel and year-end lists are my biggest sources for recommendations. Going to used bookstores helps choose for me a bit since I don't know what I'll find until I'm there. Then I'll buy new for books I think I'm less likely to find used anytime soon. From there booktube events and read-alongs can pick the next book for me if I happen to have it on my shelf. Then I just try to mix it up so I'm not reading the same genre or type of book back-to-back. I usually have a rough plan for the next five or so books that are in line.
I think of how to choose what I read next as Tetris more than anything else. It is a never ending amount of slotting things in that fit based on different priorities and timelines. I generally do let booktube events shape things a fair bit, so I am usually starting from a very short monthly TBR of just a couple books I slotted in that I'm either very interested in getting to immediately or fit for the months events. There is also a yearly tbr, rather the shelf I want to turn to first to slot things in from, than something I'm forcing myself to read through start to finish. Then the library due dates factor into everything, constantly juggling those is the trickiest bit I think as I generally have somewhere between 5-10 books out at a time, and can read 2-3 a week.
How I actually hear about the books is more likely to be a farther past thing, I rarely hear about a book then immediately go pick it up. I get the vast majority of books I buy from charity sales or used, the thrill of the hunt can lead to things I have heard of incessantly or never seen anyone mention. Same for the library, I pick up things there on both ends of that specturm, and go in (or pull up Libby) often just to browse without intending to bring any home. Primarily that mental or lengthy wishlist cache of past recommendations that might play into what I pick up in the future comes from book tube these days for sure, publishers newsletters, a handful of trusted reviewers I follow on goodreads, and I think the only real print source that factors in would be TLS.
Hi Steve! What a fun question.... I use Goodreads to keep a list of possibilities, which I source from BookTube, podcasts, Reddit (despite its reputation it has some lovely book communities), other Goodreads users who like the same books I do (there's a "compare books" feature that's quite useful), and classics publishers. You'll hate this but I pick my next book from that list based on my mood and what's available as an ebook from my library (obviously unless it's public domain-I ❤ Project Gutenberg).
I don't read formal reviews. I do usually skim "reviews" on Goodreads from people I follow (who I know have similar taste to me) to see what they liked and complain about so I can gauge whether it's something I'll like.
Since following booktube, I do participate in some of the events as a guide. I tend to prefer older books, but I do check out newer titles when I see something that strikes my fancy or someone who I respect recommends them. I don't depend on any written source except the cover blurb for newer books.
I'm an omnivore and almost entirely self-motivated in my choices. Booktube does influence me (you, MKV, criminolly) but usually it's the bibliography of a book (I read a lot of non-fiction) that has the most influence. I'm not influenced by book reviews - sorry. But I do like to read them, often after the fact.
I don’t read reviews to decide what to read next. I read the library’s book club book and my indie bookstore book club book. I have a few personal projects that I’m working on that focus on classics and books that aren’t new releases. When I go to the library I am drawn to a book by the cover. I fully admit that I am a cover “buyer”.
i have a template of books i read at any given time (1 physical/ebook of a recent fiction release, 1 fiction/nonfiction audiobook (usually an older release), 1 physical/ebook of a nonfiction release, and 1 fiction/nonfiction in a foreign language that I'm currently learning).
as for how to decide the individual books, i have a tbr shelf on goodreads containing 900 books, so I'll probably never run out of books to read. and I just read the reviews of my goodreads friends whose taste are similar to mine, then Google reviews of it, read them (doesn't matter if it's a traditional/proper review or just on someone's blog), then decide whether i wanna read it or not.
I amass books based on award longlists, Kirkus Reviews, kindle/kobo deals, backlists of authors I like, cover buys, and book tube events/booktubers raving about books. I usually have some sort of idea of what I want to read next based on my mood or continuing a series I haven’t dipped into for a while or a current booktube event, but more often than not, I’ll just wander into my library and something will jump out at me, something I didn’t even plan on reading, and I’ll start reading it. So yeah….im a mood reader. If my reading plans are too set in stone, I rebel 🤷 As for written reviews, I like the Kirkus website because it’s easy to browse by genre and to see new releases and what’s coming out soon. I like that their reviews are short and to the point and have a one line summary.
My next book comes from all the sources you mentioned, but preference goes to like-minded friends, family, and your mail hauls and library tour recommendations.
😺✌️
Here's how I decide, in general, what I read next.
I am not well read or widely read. I probably haven't read 100 books in my almost 60 years of life. I decided a couple of years ago to read the books that have shaped the society that I live in an hence my own thoughts. I have therefore decided to read books from the Western Canon and pre-twentieth century classic novels.
I am alternating between ancient Greek and Roman books and novels. I am currently reading the Count of Monte Cristo and my next book will be the Odyssey. After that it will probably be Middlemarch etc etc.
I don't read books reviews. I've watched more RUclips video book reviews than I have read book reviews.
I have a wide range of likes as far as genres are concerned, I read non-Fiction history, anything nature related, ie botany, evolution, etc, Fantasy, SF, a little crime, Roman and Greek classics, English Classics, etc. I pick up suggestions from Steve, especially his features on Penguins, the Canon, and his 100 best books. This year I'm doing Historathon, so I pick up suggestions on the Discord group. On top of that I get crazes for a subject. At the moment we are on holiday in Wales and seeing several castles dating back to Edward I and later. I now am obsessed on reading about Owen Glendower, so am gathing books on his 15 year rebellion against the English. I will read both history, and the odd historical fiction e.g John Cowper Powys' Owen Glendower. That obsession will maybe be a theme for a year, and then unless I see a new book on rhe subject, will fade away. I juggle other reading alongside with some RUclips events. In July for Instance I will take part in Shawn Standfast's Herries event. Oh, occasionally I read a book recommended in Steve's paper or the TLS.
I dont think I've ever seen a written book review to be honest... before you I didnt even think i knew they were a thing lol.
1. Book recommendations from people I admire (many on youtube). This is my most used method.
2. Little Free Libraries in my neighborhood. Can find some interesting gems, esepcially if I'm in the mood for something different... to add some novelty in my reading list. If something looks half interesting I might grab it.
3. Rarely do I use recommendations from people I meet in real life, though it can happen (i think i trust them less since those i admire on youtube and elsewhere on the internet i see as usually being more knowledgeable than anyone I've met in real life).
I generally have a fiction and non-fiction book going at once.
Also, I maybe tend to swing from reading books people i admire have recommended and seem like "important" and great books vs. Just wanting some novelty and change to keep new stuff coming in and to not get stuck in any bubbles that my own personal bias creates (not that i believe i can ever truly escape that... not until i'm an enlightened wizard at least).
Booktube recommendations and events often dictate my reading choices. I can’t resist participating in a fun readathon!
You want to know, I'm going to tell you. Hell no........I rely on me, I know what I like, what I enjoy, what attracts me in books. I have such a massive pile, usually I just pick one off the top and finish it, NEXT so on and so forth. The only exception to this is if I an author I have recently discovered and then hunt down every book they have ever written. ( 2 of those this past year alone ). I don't know any other readers, sad as that is, I also read from a huge genre pack, mostly non-fiction, biography, war, history . I have a huge fascination for the period 1920-1960 and everything in between. I buy 90% second hand books, those I receive new are often around Christmas. I never, ever read new releases, with the exception of the said Christmas gift book here and there. I adore books written between the war years our of Britain, letters of, memoirs etc......such a vast host of names and people to capture the imagination.
I do certainly look at various local newspapers and magazines for their book section, then I make a list hoping one day to get it a book that has taken my fancy from that publication. I usually just haunt second hand sellers, thrift stores, books sales etc....
Not to flatter you Steve but yes, I hold pen in hand when I watch your video's and madly scribble down titles to tru and find out in the wild. Nuff said.
I love your Brattle Bookhauls and Bookshelf Tours. Every time you stop that to talk about one book for some five to ten minutes is a recommendation for me. Unfortunately right now I choose my next book from my currently-reading-since-Adam-and-Eve-time list (all my DNFs, all my tried-to-keep-up-but-didn't-make-it) It has been ancient Greeks and Romans for quite some time and all I want now is to get to Rouphing It by Mark Twain or to read next Don Camilllo book which I wouldn't even heard of if it hasn't been for you)))) All the Greeks and Romans is your fault too by the way))))
You sure know how to make one feel special ;-)
I have signed up for several book challenges on Worlds Wthout End and Storygraph. I try to find books that I own that fit the challenges. I also try to participate in the youtube events like June on the Range and Horror Mayham. When buying new books, I have several influencers (including yourself) that I follow. And then, thrift stores and library sales. Oh, they are dangerous. I will buy because I have read the author before, because I've never read the author before, because the description looks interesting, because the cover is pretty.
For non fiction it comes from a lot of interviews with authors and podcasts. I also have hobbies like art and music and whatever I listen to or whatever art I'm into influences what I read. When I was young I use to like Matallicas ride the lightning and it has to major literary references and that is for whom the bell tolls which lead me to reading John Donne Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and Hemingway's for whom the bell tolls. It got me to read H.P Lovecraft. I guess that counts as celebrity influence in a way. Book stores hugely influenced my personal library, i would go to one and spend hours just reading from the back covers of books. I would want to explore every section of the book store to see what was out there and if I was missing out. I then started doing that with library's and going to a new section every time I went there. As an omnivore reader as you say I think there is something of an explorers impulse going on there that pushes you to try and see everything.
Literary Hub's Bookmarks review aggregator has helped me choose current releases for reading.
Dozens of spreadsheets with at least a thousand books and ridiculous amounts of data measuring everything up to and including the author's BMI and cholesterol level at the time of writing provides me the illusion of control and structure and that yes, in fact, one day I will read all books. From this science experiment gone awry usual arises the next book I will start. I think ‘omnivore‘ best describes my type.
I’ve been made aware of lots of books I hadn’t otherwise known about on RUclips from various channels. But as for what I read next, that’s largely dictated by what’s available at my local library and used bookstore at the time.
Let me see if I can make this not too convoluted. XD
I do have several reading progects that I jump from, as you said, depeding on what I have read. If I read fantasy, maybe I want a mistery or a romance next. But lots of times I just go on little binges of the same type of book...probably most of the time thats how it goes.
But I confess I do not get my books from professional reviews...
I mostly utilize online lists, that can be from blogs or goodreads or from booktube, and go through it and read the ones I want or just try to read it all.
My choice of the next book to read is determined largely by BookTube events or BookTubers, so it is no surprise that I am currently reading _Zorro_ and my next book will be _Hondo._
Apart from those influences, I will next consider if it has been a while since I read a novella of _The Shadow._ I still have volumes 82 through 139 in the Sanctum Books series that I have not yet read. After that, I consider recent purchases, which in themselves are often prompted by BookTube. _The Survivor_ and _The Code of the Woosters_ are books I purchased this year after seeing them on your channel.
All too infrequently will I do a deep dive into my bookshelves and pick a book that has been sitting unread for years.
I don’t go to newspapers etc for book recommendations. I do a few things:
1. I read new releases (only) from authors I like and respect.
2. I go to independent book stores because they have (non-bestseller) books that nobody else is paying attention to, they make space on their shelves and tables to show the covers of and feature interesting books I might never have found otherwise, and they have booksellers who know about books (I still don’t go to them for recommendations-because they don’t know my reading tastes, how could they, and I can’t be arsed to spend 20 mins telling them about my “favorite” books.)
3. I’ve stopped reading new releases. I’m an immigrant to this country and of a a certain age, so my tastes have been formed elsewhere and do not match what is currently being offered up. So (very recently) I’ve begun to look for books I pulled off my grandparents’ shelves as a youth in used book stores and have begun rereading them (as an adult-should be interesting).
4. After many years of trying, I’ve also stopped getting/taking recommendations from other people. In a rare while, I’ll come across someone whose knowledge and ability to articulate what the book’s about I respect, and I’ll take (after much curation) one or two recommendations from them. You, for instance, turned me on to the following recent reads: On the Origin of Species, Agatha Christie’s Autobiography, Michaelangelo’s Pietà by Irving Stone as well as his letters (I think that was you as well?), Mary Renault’s Alexander series, the Mahabharata (abridged), Are Women Human? By Sayers (sharp, prescient), a collection of Gore Vidal’s essays ( not quite done), and most of the set of Woolf’s complete diaries (was that you?), which I have not started, nor do I intend to until I’m retired.
I only read 30-35 books per year. I usually read classics, history, fantasy, and mystery. I try to read new authors, but I keep returning to Dickens, Trollope, CJ Sansom, Joe Abercrombie. I feel like I don't read enough books to ignore major works to read my 10th Trollope novel, but I keep doing it anyway.
2 contemporary, 1 canonical - rinse and repeat. The 200 pages a day goal is much slower reading a "classic"
I like the idea of being a jelly fish. I'm wandering through the library and see something that has a title that entrances me.
I have a few genres that I like and a couple I really don't like. I like mysteries. I like - but am picky - fantasy & SciFi. I really don't enjoy horror. History - well, yes, but mostly of the American West, but also sometimes a certain period of world history attracts me.
Some books, mostly because they've been recommended by a person I trust, about current political discussions.
Some mentioned by you or the guy at the local book store or maybe some one I meet in the library, the coffee shop, one of the museums here, and, naturally, in the book clubs.
Certainly any book by an author I've always liked. How can you not have topics you like and authors you want to read.
If you're a book hater, a person who doesn't see a reason to read (or listen to), you wouldn't be listening to this posting.
Booktube, Haha, that is like you say not very helpful. I'm part of a bookclub-forum and I try to read their monthly pick. I also like to join in on some RUclips read alongs and challenges. For instance Dune in June and the one from classics and company (the pillowbook). And Historaton. But I only join if I think I will like the book and it fits with the genres I want to read. I also try to read Dutch fantasy books. We have some good writers, I like to support. I really need to seek out their books as you won't see them here on RUclips or in the newspaper reviews. I love reading the newspaper bookreviews and books sometimes end up on my list, but I often don't read them. Because there are just to many books on my want to read list.
I go to my local library’s New Titles web page and choose my books from there. However, out of the books I borrow I only actually read, probably, 1 in 5. I really struggle to place any structure to my reading.
What particular book I read next: It’s a little complicated. At any given time, I will be in the middle of reading 4-5 books: a new fantasy/sci-fi book, poetry from my shelves, a non-fiction book (usually history or biography), a kindle book, and perhaps a re-read. Currently, that means The Lees of Laughter’s End by Stephen Erikson, some early Coleridge, the Library of America book of primary sources on The American Revolution, and The Small House at Allington.
My next book almost always comes from my shelves. And I’m in the middle of twelve series, so it makes the immediate decision fairly easy. Also, I tend to be completist with authors I like.
As for picking what I add to my shelves, I used to go mostly by recommendations from friends I trust. Then, in addition, I found some people on Goodreads whose taste I understood. Now, the same thing applies to BookTube. There are people who I find myself frequently agreeing with, or frequently disagreeing with. The latter is what I think of as the Rex Reed phenomenon. For movies, he was a perfect reverse barometer.
For example, I read The Recognitions, A Fan’s Notes, and Under the Volcano on the recommendation of David Markson who was my writing teacher. I read Sara Paretsky and Lawrence Block on the recommendation of a friend from college, who also introduced me to Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Juan Rulfo. I started with Robin Hobb because of comments made in a Goodreads group. I started Lois McMasters Bujold because of a comment in a booktube interview with Steve Erikson, and I started Lies of Locke Lamora because of another booktubers enthusiasm for it. And I finally read Herodotus because of Michael Vaughn and you. Vaughn also got me reading Howard and Burroughs. (My eyes are not good enough anymore to read any of the comic books.)
I have been reading many young adult and middle grade books for work so now I want to read nonfiction and more adult reads…heavier mysteries and literature.
Apart from your channel, I listed to others on Book Tube for their recommendations. Because I'm living rurally now with no physical book stores, I go to Amazon and will do searching for books there. I also look at books Amazon recommends. In addition, I also change from the US to the UK Amazon store & I find many different books there. This is very helpful if one has specialized interest in subjects like Medieval history, the number of books on the UK site is more extensive.
I miss the small independent book stores that I used to spend hours in and finding many boutique type of offerings in books.
I miss those stores too, very much!
@@saintdonoghue Another channel I like is Miranda Mills who has her Comfort Book Club. She lives in Yorkshire with her mom Donna & they do nice trips to book stores in the countryside of the UK. I envy their village bookshops. She has links to Blackwells & I like their reviews of their selections.
I am a mood reader, so my mood dictates what I read. This can mean that I see something on booktube and I think yes, I am going to read that / participate in that and the next minute I have picked up another book and started that. After I finish a book, I sometimes start 10 different books before one sticks. So yeah I am like the jellyfish 😂😂😂😂😂 I can't commit to anything, because I know I will probably start something else. I am also the one who chooses the books for my real life bookclubs, because otherwise the chances of me actually reading the book are small 🤷♀
I work at the library so I have access to books every day, not that that makes it any easier
Most of the time I will read new releases in history or politics but sometimes I will read something completely at random for a change of pace.
Usually by subject matter if its non-fiction. Basically whatever is interesting to me at the time. Right now its political biographys so I'm currently reading "Guiliani: The Rise and Tragic Fall of America's Mayor" by Andrew Kirtzman.
Then at the same time I'll have a novel of some kind, right now that novel is The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
I used to read an author or a series in a row. Silverberg, O'brien I read everything I could get. Now I never have a plan. Not a mood reader tho...they don't exist. Now reading Rumpole and Sansom. Next I might read Ellroy or gene Wolfe. Just pot luck.
I usually just bounce from one book or another. Even though I'm really deep into the horror genre, I usually like to give other genres a chance. When it comes to what i want to read, i usually keep 2 bookmarks and just randomly choose 2 books on my shelf. As of now I'm re reading Stephen Kings The Dark Half and the complete tales of H.P. Lovecraft. Which both books have their hooks in me.
I actually do go to your reviews, mostly for the classics, eg I wanted to read the aeneid, what translation to get? google steve and see what he says, got the aeneid translation but shouldn’t I read at least the illiad first? What translation to get? I bet Steve’s review has excerpts of a few translations to compare…
You don’t really review much of fantasy/sf though, so for that it’s usually blogs or instagram, I am not terribly interested in the modern stuff so I basically look for people that also like the same type of books I like and see what I’ve missed…
I do have a couple reading programs or remits, sf (up until the 80s), sword and sorcery (anything, I guess), reading works that inspired fantasy (eg medieval romances, historical stuff, medieval chronicles, mythology), and as many classics as I can stomach (for example I started Middlemarch after I heard you recommending it I don’t know how many times, after reading a page I’m halfway through Triplanetary, and it’s a CLASSIC! First Lensman next!)
I am a bit of a mood reader I guess, but usually I’ll limit myself to a few choices (couple rereads, couple of books I really want to read, couple of books I should have read a decade ago when I bought them, etc….)
One of my favorite ways to pick books is to read the books my favorite authors are on record having loved. This process can be repeated, and sometimes it works its way backward until you’ve drawn out an entire literary line of descent.
BooksForEric - I use that approach with music, - my chief passion, cheers, Gus 👍