I've spent much of my time, of late, considering why so many people in our country don't read. I came across a statistic the other day (substantiated or not) that something like 70 percent of American's don't read a single book in a year. An astonishing statistic. So, what is causing this major decline? I'd like to think that in spite of everyone simultaneously agreeing that there just isn't time to read, that the problem lies in the trouble of finding the right book. When considering the sheer number of novels published in a year it cannot be considered surprising that finding a book that suits you is becoming more difficult. Where do you start if you have no idea what you want? In an effort to figure out how those who already read find their bookmates, I pose this question, what method do you employ to find your next book? Describe it, think about it, and share it with those having difficulty finding their own.
For me, finding a new book has become much simpler since I have branched out. But, finding my next book must be done in a book store or library of some sort, I never did have any luck using the internet to locate my next find. Sometimes its the sheer look of the book that catches my eye -- the beautifully printed cover, the feel of the book physically (is it heavy? soft? flexible?rigid?), the font (is it Times New Roman? Arial? Courier?), do the chapters begin with a title or just a number?, and finally the feeling I get when reading the first page. Typically, I pick up six or seven weigh the aforementioned characteristics holistically and then read each of the books first pages, if I'm hooked I buy, if not I continue my search.
The beauty of finding a book is that it's not a hit or miss sort of deal. It's not like buying a car or a house where you have one chance and, regardless of whether you like it or not, are stuck with it. Your best bet is to pick a few from several genres, if you are unsure, and try them out. With any luck you will come across one that catches you fancy and will lead you to an entirely uncharted realm.