How Do You Choose a Book?

I have a book review scheduled for tomorrow. I thought it would be fun to post how I stumble onto the books I read and ultimately review.

For the most part, I've done fairly well picking random books from the library. Unfortunately, from time to time I hit a rut and need reading inspiration. Costco, my favorite I-Love-It-I-Hate-It store, has a nice selection of bestselling books. However, I don't typically buy books unless I find them in a thrift store, at a library book sale, or it's such a good book I absolutely must have it (I also score quite a few free books for my iPad).

I mentioned this before, but I'll say it again, I don't usually like to read the book description since many times the entire plot is summed up quite sufficiently in a paragraph or two and it ruins the ending, in my opinion. So what do I do? Initially, I'm judging a book by its cover! I use my handy-dandy iPhone and snap pictures of several book covers (making sure the title and author name was clear) while in the store.

As soon as I get home from the store I go online to the San Diego Public Library site and look up every book and place a hold so the book can be routed to my local library for pick-up. Easy peasy!

I've never gone wrong with a bestselling novel - after all, they didn't become bestselling because they were terrible books. I still enjoy perusing the library shelves and stumbling onto a great not-so-recent book, or one that didn't make the bestseller charts. I also enjoy revisiting a classic novel from Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, or Charlotte Brontë. However, when at a loss for new material I steal my inspiration from Costco.