by Jeanette O'Hagan
If I made a stack of all the books in my
to-read pile — both virtual and real — it would probably look something like
the leaning tower of Pisa.
I have 143 books listed on my Goodreads
to-Read pile alone — and there a swathe
of e-books on my Kindle and the six or seven stacks of print books dotted
around my bedroom all waiting for their turn.
It hasn’t always been so. I can remember the
days when I finished one book and would wonder what to read next. Despite my
mammoth to-read pile, I’m still discovering new books to read and enjoy.
How about you — are you scratching about,
wondering what to read next, or does your to-read pile grown ever higher like
Jack’s beanstalk?
Thinking about my to-read pile got me
wondering about how I find new books and how /what criteria I use to decide
what to read next.
The Time honoured and the New
Browsing — I love
browsing in book stores, picking up books, looking at their covers, flipping
open their pages, soaking up the ambience of store. In fact, I find it hard not
to leave a bookstore without at least a couple of purchases. Which is why I was devastated
when the Word Bookstores closed down recently — and now the ABC shops are going
the same way — and why I was excited to hear about the opening of the Little
Gnome book store relatively nearby to me. Somehow browsing online is just not
the same. Plus, online doesn't do coffee.
Secondhand bookstores —
often hiding old treasures long forgotten or niche books you wouldn’t find
anywhere else. There’s the Lifeline Bookfest — but also thrift shops and shops
that will swap your old books for their old ones.
My favourite authors —
having discovered a good author or a great series – I love tracking down their
books in bookstores and libraries. At the moment, I'm keeping an eye out for books by Jodie Picoult.
The local library –
now my children are no longer toddlers or preschoolers likely to attract the
gimlet glare of the librarian for disturbing the peace, I feel safe enough to
return to my local library and browse its aisles or return trolleys. I’ve found
some Dee Henderson and Karen Kingsley as well as Neil Gaiman in our local library – and I know that
the Toowomba library stocks Paula Vince J
Recommendations and/or gifts from friends and family — My family gave me I am Malala for Christmas. My kids introduced
me to Emily Rodda and her series of books while my sister and I often exchange
books — introducing each other to new authors to hunt down and devour (er – the books,
not the authors).
Book Clubs — in one
former book club I went to, we talked about (and exchanged) the books we were
reading. I discovered Geraldine Brooks and Ahn Do among others. In another book
club, we read set books each month and discuss them. Some of the books have been
fantastic —The Book Thief for instance — at other times, it’s been more of a
challenge to read (Welcome to Normal comes to mind) — but each time I've learnt
something.
Movies — yes, I’ll
admit that sometimes I first learn about a book when if comes out as a movie —
The Hunger Games, for instance, or, maybe I’ve heard of it, but it’s only after
watching the movie that I more actively search out the book — as with John
Green’s The Fault in Our Stars.
Review sites — like
GoodReads — or blog review sites like Soul Inspirationz,
Rel's Reviews, Iola's Christian Reads or The Vince Review. Sometimes sites offer giveaways or Advanced
Review Copies (ARC). Light the Dark website is another great place to look for books.
GoodReads Listopia — has lists of books under almost any topic you can think of — like this. I discovered Turn Right at Machu Picchu in the library, then looked at Listopia to find other, similar books such as Eight Feet in
the Andes, which I’m enjoying reading at the moment.
Offering to review or critique books — I’ve enjoyed reading a number of books this way – including Imogen’s Chance and Mark’s Strength. I like to support local authors and have
discovered a great many enjoyable books and great authors at the books tables
of Christian Writer’s conferences or interaction with other authors.
Searching Amazon or the internet for a specific title or subject — I found a great book on
world-building by searching Google and then used my Mother’s Day voucher to
purchase it from Amazon. But, this is my least likely source of new
reads.
I try to rotate my reading, alternating
between books set for book club, recommendations of mainstream and
Christian fiction, writing craft, and non-fiction books from family, friends, review sites and dipping into offerings discovered through network of local and Christian authors. I usually review the books I read on my GoodReads page.
So, there really is no need to be at loss
for reading material.
Jeanette O'Hagan has
recently had a short story published in the general market Tied in Pink Anthology (profits from the
anthology go towards Breast Cancer research) and two poems in the PoeticaChristi’s Inner Child anthology. She has practiced medicine, studied communication,
history and theology and has taught theology. She cares for her children,
has just finished her Masters of Arts (Writing) at Swinburne University and is writing her Akrad's fantasy fiction series. You can
read some of her short fiction here. 