How Do You Choose What to Read?

I have been visiting a few more blogs than usual this month and I have begun to wonder, how do you choose what you read?

I have two books a month I have to read. And have to is pretty strong. The first is my book club book. I know quite a few people who go to book club just for the social part. But if I have joined a group then I feel I need to do my duty. I haven't loved any of the books that we have shared, but I have liked a few and would have never chosen them on my own. I have also met some women who I like. As I am becoming more introverted as I age, it is always a good thing to meet people you like.

The second book I feel I have to read is my personal challenge book. And if you know me, my personal challenge, while phrased as a challenge, is really more of a loose goal. I set out to read 12 major classics last year. I didn't finish 12, but I read four. Then I moved and then other books caught my eye. But those four were worth it.

I came across a website earlier today with a very well defined list of 52 (very challenging) books the author will read this year that fit into 24 challenges and projects. I asked the question in the comments and I will ask it here. And while sometimes my questions come across as critical this really was just a question. I really am curious.

How do you choose what you read?

Do you plan?

And if you plan, do you make any allowances for the book that you didn't plan to read but that sneaks up on you. You know, the one you walk past at the bookstore with the appealing cover or the book that your brother (or sister or best friend) mails to you with a note that says, “You have to read this!” What do you do with spontaneous books? The ones that might, just might, surprise you.

I admit it. I plan a lot of my life. When we went to DisneyWorld I had a day by day plan of everything we wanted to accomplish including where to eat and what rides to ride. We followed the plan. We did not miss a thing. We had the time of our lives. I would do it that way again.

I have just about every weekend from now until September planned. I don't want to miss a great event or outdoor opportunity.

I know plans change. Ours often do.

But I don't plan what to read. I give myself a challenge a year and then I wing it. I do have a TBR pile, but it is really more just a list of books I will get to some day.

Because of winging it, I just finished Watership Down which has moved to the very top of my "Books I Love" list. My son had recommended it to me. My brother had recommended it to me. So when I had some free time and no books from my hold list at the library available and no new books from Amazon, I read it. Oh what I would have missed if I hadn't. I would have missed chapter 17. To have gone my whole life with reading that chapter would have been a tragedy.

Winging it also means feeling free to put down that truly awful book ... good-bye The Help! Because there are too many good book out there to waste time with bad books.

So how do you chose what to read?
How do you feel if you don't meet your own expectations?
Do you accomplish you goals?
Wht about that "spontaneous" book?

P.S. If you have a list and Mrs. Dalloway is on it, be warned. I am a pretty fast reader and that book took me almost a month. It was worth it, so stay with it.