Your 2023 reading list
How to decide what to read?
It is already the first week of 2023. Your list of New Years’ resolutions is done. On that list:
- Read more books.
- Complete your reading list.
However, how do you create this list or complete the New Years’ resolution? Time to get a move on but where to start?
Deciding what to read is never easy and with so many books out there (500 000 to 1 million published annually), how do you decide what gets your attention?
There are many methods, ideas, formulas, tips, and tricks that people follow but in the end, it is up to you.
Remember reading should not be a chore. It should be fun. Read about topics you like.
The best goals that should drive your reading habit include:
- Enjoy learning – anything you read can be a learning experience.
- Improve my writing – The more you read, the more you are exposed to words and phrases.
- Develop a well-rooted worldview.
Below is a list of ideas to get you started.
The Librarian Method
Reading is personal and as stated by Bett Rosenberg: “Never apologize for your reading taste”. Read what you like.
Not sure what you like? Perhaps you should follow the Librarian method.
Discover your taste
This might take some time but it is good to think about what gets you excited to read. Consider the Genres you like to read: Romance, Horror, Thriller, Drama, etc. Do you prefer a fast-paced plot or a slow “smell the roses” kind of pace? Do you like dark Humour or Slapstick comedy? Do you prefer poetic romance or simple relatable language? It could take a little time but perhaps think about the below points:
- Pacing – Do you prefer page-turners or books that you can get into for a month or so?
- Storyline – Is it a character-driven storyline or action-orientated?
- Frame and Tone – Is it heartwarming or a thriller? Perhaps even dark or philosophical?
- Style – conventional, poetic, intricate, etc.
Book Genres
In a way, all the above could lead to a distinct genre that you are driven to. Genres generally break down the 4 tips for you for example thrillers tend to be straightforward and keep you excited; mysteries tend to be fast passed; fantasy tickles your imagination and involves a lot of descriptive input.
Tips and Tricks to narrowing your book options
After you have discovered a more distinct idea of what it is you like, you can get down to business and decide on your books. There is no exact way of deciding but perhaps these ideas can help:
- Judge a book by the cover! Look at a bookshelf of books within the genre you like and decide on the cover that might appeal to you. This might be the first step in picking up a book. The next step is reading the blurb. This is the make-or-break decision of whether you continue with the book or not.
- Use a website:
- Ask a Librarian – a little cliché but they do still exist if you care to find them.
A willy-nilly approach to your book choice
If the above is a little too much thinking for the moment, perhaps a more willy-nilly approach is the way to go. It can sometimes take a while to find your next read but maybe a list is not so important as just reading more of what you like.
Double-Booking
Unlike the dating world, in which it is frowned upon to date more than one partner at a time; in the book world, this is perfectly normal. Start with multiple books at a time. Different books for different moods and read the one that fits your mood at that time. If you fall out of love with one, leave it behind. There is no harm in not finishing a book.
Goldilocks method
Perhaps you need a taste of various books before you begin. Similar to the above, in this method, you gather a whole stack of books, and sample the various books that you thought might appeal to you until you find the one that catches your interest. Leave the ones you don’t enjoy aside.
Cereal Method
Like many things in life (including your breakfast cereal) there are things that are good, and things that are good for you. If you are battling to find something to read, perhaps revisit past book lists; look on your bookshelf; or remember a recommendation you once heard of that could have appealed to you. There might be something here that you just never got around to tackling but that could be the next read that is good for you. It was once on your list, why not now?
A simple approach based on popular demand
In keeping with popular demand or tried and tested ideas, perhaps your next read is just as simple as going with the flow.
Read books from your favourite Author
This is a simple approach. If you have enjoyed a particular author and their writing style before, perhaps just find another book from the same author. No fuss, just enjoy. We have written about various authors on our Blog and their books that are available on our website. Perhaps this might just jolt your spark.
Reach for classics or award-winning books
These books are well known, displayed everywhere, and are not hard to find. Just pick one and enjoy. One source is The New York Times Bestseller list.
Pick a book based on a good movie
Good books are usually picked up by movie producers. This might be your next read. It’s not conventional and you might feel that by watching a movie, you know the story. Sadly, movies never have the same detail and books can really bring out the story and your imagination. Just cause you have seen the movie, does not mean the story is the same in a book.
Examples of books made into movies available on Bakgat Books:
Interact with others
A classic recommendation is simply interacting with other readers. Readers from a book club, friends, online chat groups, etc. Whichever way you enjoy making contact. You might even search for other blogs with reading lists that could be appealing and get you started.
In the end, it is not about quantity. It is about quality and what appeals to you. You cannot read every book published. You will not want to read every book put in front of you. It is about finding the books that spark your interest and keeps your reading habit going.
Main References:
https://medium.com/everylibrary/a-librarians-guide-to-choosing-the-right-book-for-you-e918f3209920
https://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Good-Book
https://bookriot.com/four-methods-choosing-read-next/
https://perell.com/essay/choose-reading/
https://baos.pub/what-book-should-you-read-next-ecdcbd6ea1d3