What influences your choice of books to read?

by Adrian Sroka
23rd February 2013

Is it the author, the genre, or both?

I read contemporary award-winning authors, because, learn-from-the-best is my motto.

I primarily read to see how the best contemporary authors construct their novels.

Replies

For me, I love books with an amusing cover. It's why Pratchett jumped out at me all those years ago, and why Tom Holt always makes me smile. I do occasionally pick up books based on recommendations or if they have a particularly unusual plot line. I am also a nightmare for ignoring publicity campaigns unless the book sounds particularly intriguing.

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Robert
Gill
270 points
Developing your craft
Robert Gill
24/02/2013

I'd say author first, genre second. I'm afraid I don't read to de-construct but for entertainment.

So, for example, I've read every Dick Francis thriller but don't generally read crime fiction.

On the other hand I've read every Sharpe novel but none of Bernard Cornwell's other work. But I was gifted the first two books of Robert Low's 'Kingdom' series (about Wallace and Bruce) and read both, even though the first was hard going to begin with.

Now I've just read through most the third volume of Sir Charles Oman's 'History of the Peninsular War' and am part-way through Trevor Royle's 'Crimea'. But those are for research rather than relaxation - six years ago I'd not have touched them with a bargepole ;)

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Jonathan
Hopkins
6735 points
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Jonathan Hopkins
24/02/2013