Do you have a method to your reading madness? Is your Ereader ready to bust a gut from being over-stuffed? Do you have a ‘next reads’ list that you follow strictly, or do you find yourself changing pecking order of your to-be-read books shortly after you just downloaded yet, another brand new book?
Let’s discuss.
My intentions are always good when it comes to choosing my next read from the over-stuffed innards of my Kindle. But wait . . . an author friend just put out a new book. Ooh, I want to read it next! And then there’s the numerous book sites I receive emails from for free and discounted book promos. Oh ya, let’s not forget the books I request and read from Netgalley. Then there are the two first reads I receive free monthly from Amazon . . . a never ending cycle.
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How are we supposed to get through a lifetime of reads when every new one that comes in looks shinier than the one we’re prepared to read next? No doubts we have to devise some sort of a law and order reading list. I know often, when I’m reading a fellow author’s blog and they’re featuring book promotions, I’m often reminded that oh yeah, I already have that book! One great review is enough to push it back up to the top. And there goes the merry-go-round of pushing up books while the others sit in silence awaiting our eyes to find them.
There has to be a better way? So how do I make some reading semblance of my daunting book list? Well I’m sure we all have our own system, but I’ll share how I manage my reading list. Believe me, it’s not fully perfected, but it’s how I work with my reading list:
My Kindle tells me I have over 1000 books on it. Lol. Both funny and sad because whatever is on there I want to read because I don’t frivolously add books – just because they’re free, or I’d surely have over 3000, no doubts!
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After finishing a book, I typically make a list of the next 3-5 books I want to read and push them up in my Kindle. My reads also involve a few different genres I enjoy most – nonfiction, historical fiction, women’s lit and literary fiction. I admit to being stuck on those genres, but I’m trying hard to stretch my reading scope and have recently dabbled into a few paranormals and the odd, rare, sci-fi. But no, you won’t ever catch me reading horror, never going to happen. It’s almost ironic that the first author I met in the online world was successful author, James Thorne – a horror writer. He was like a mentor to me while I was learning the publishing ropes. What are the odds?
My book reads are in order of purchase. Ya, well as each new one comes in, the others are squashed down to make way for a new read. But I don’t read books in order as they appear. I usually know what I want to read next before finishing a book. I’ll choose one that suits my current mood. I may feel like reading a heavy historical tale, or I just may be in the mood for something lighter.
When I’m choosing my next reads, I try to keep to my picks, unless another author friend puts out a book that I’m drawn to or perhaps is the next in a series I enjoyed. I also enjoy short stories and some shorter reads in between heavier reads. Of course, sticking in unexpected reads changes the reading order once again. I also get excited when I see a great review for a book that gels with me, and just may have to read that one next. So you know, it’s not hard for our good intentions to get squashed down deep into our Kindles.
And those are just my Kindle books. I have approximately twenty new paperbacks awaiting my time as well. Typically, I’m reading one book on my Kindle and another paperback at same time. I like the diversity of having a second book to read in another genre when not in the mood for my current Kindle read.
Okay, so now that I’ve talked about my lack of law and order when it comes to choosing my next reads, you can see why it is most difficult for me to decide what to read next, lol. It’s almost impossible to keep to the script when planning my next read. But one thing is certain, when I say I’m going to read a certain book, I always get there eventually.
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So tell me? Does anyone here have a better or more restrictful reading regimen? I don’t call it my BFK (Big Fat Kindle) for nothing! 😁
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