What’s your next read?

Whenever I am nearing the final chapters of a book I am reading, the bookworm in my mind starts crawling and searching for the the next read. Is it only me or does it happen with you too ? If it happens with you too, you have hit a genuine resource on this blog.

Photo by tommao wang on Unsplash

I started my reading journey in the new year of 2023, when my colleague forced me to attend a local book readers club session in my city. Initially, I did not oblige his request, but one day, after so many attempts, he simply dragged me along with him to the next readers club session. I could never forget that life changing day in my life, which actually kick-started my reading journey. It’s been more than 3 years, 115 books, 95 reviews since then and I have never looked back. You can checkout my profile here at Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/162297308-kishore)

But, what’s the use of such a journey, which doesn’t provide any value to other communities or a society. A significant reason we humans exist is that we found a way to share our experiences. I found “Medium” as an excellent medium to share my method of picking up my next read. It may work for you, it may not. But, the idea is to share your journey with others.

In the world of BookTube and Bookstagram, it is very easy to search for the next book by keying in the genre or the mood of the book, you want to read next and the algorithm does it for you ! But, what’s the use of such results, which is largely oriented towards likes and views, instead of actual content. Yes, today we cannot avoid the algorithms altogether and even I take the help of algorithms, but only for getting the book titles, I might be interested in. Rest of the work lies ahead of this first step.

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Here are some of the methods, I personally use for picking my next read :

1. Pick a different genre : This method works for me, most of the time. I switch between different genres for my current reads. Concurrent reading (reading 2–3 books in the same time frame) is also an effective way of reading, as it satisfies your mind with the variety it craves for. If you are someone, who is possessive about your genre, try out the sub-genres in your main genre. For example: Fiction genre has many sub-genres like Science Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction and so on. So for the next read, check out a different genre/sub-genre and you will be amazed with your decision.
2. Walk in to a nearby library/bookstore : If you have access to a nearby library/bookstore, just make a 10–15 min visit on your weekend getaway plan or during your weekend dinner commute. Libraries have those collection of books, which may not be recommended on the popular BookTube and Bookstagram algorithms, but they are recommended by the no. of issues in the library records/database. Many libraries have an authentic owner/librarian who can suggest your next interesting read. It just needs a quick 10 min face-to-face chat with the librarian. However, if you don’t have access to a library, you can always fallback to a bookstore nearby. Even inside bookstores, I would recommend to avoid the “most selling” / “million dollar copies sold” books, unless you already know about the book and it’s in your TBR list.
3. Sign Up for Goodreads : Goodreads is my favourite among the options, I have listed in this blog. It takes a lot to break this ice of creating an account on yet another online platform, which is not so happening or glamorous with photos and videos of celebrities / people you follow. But, trust me, create an account, add a few books which you have already read and provide the ratings for those books. You will get amazing personalized recommendations based on your interest. Obviously, here also the algorithm is at work, but it does not want to sell you something, it just wants you to grab your next book and read it cosily in your favourite corner of the house / café / park.
4. Join a readers community/book club: If it is available in your city, this option brings a breath of fresh air to your TBR list. Physical meet-ups among book readers are on a rising trend these days. If your city has not picked up this trend, knock-knock, it’s an opportunity waiting for you to start it. But, if you already have it, search for their events, attend them, make new connections and get yourself lost in the bibliographic world. The books discussed at those meet-ups not only give you suggestions for your next read, they also encourage the non-reading audience to take up a book sometime and spend some time with it. For a bonus tip, I would highly recommend you to take one non-reader with you.
5. Follow some genuine BookTube / Bookstagram channels: When the algorithm has to be used anyway, let’s use it the way we want it and not let the algorithm use us. There are very few channels on YouTube I follow, who are genuinely curious about reading and books. Most of the “most followed” celebrity channels don’t even read the book fully and post a short / reel about the books they “claim” they have read (obviously, they have their pocket-friend: AI). Some of the genuine channels, which I follow are “Read Travel Become”, “Daksh Jindal” and “Shaloo Walia”. They don’t have those millions of followers and sometimes not consistent in posting their content, but whenever they do it, you can rest assured that your time is not wasted. There may be many others, but why to crowd up your already crowded subscription list, when a few of them can help you pick your next read !

There is a bonus tip for the voracious readers, who also sometimes, don’t find their next pick. Just stop all the reads for 3–4 days or a week. The next pick will come to you somehow (call it magic, luck, destiny). Just wait for it.

So, that’s it for this blog, my dear readers. There is another blog coming up on “how to read 3–4 books simultaneously”. You may follow this account for more such blogs on books, reading, writing and real life experiences !

HAPPY READING ! It’s a meditation for your mind, a breath of fresh air for your entangled thoughts, a productive distraction from your screen time.