Another thread here got me thinking about how important a title/author's name is in determining whether or not I pick up a book. Normally I get my reading list from reviews of books in the genre I'm interested in but occasionally a title will catch my eye and make me pick up an unplanned book.

The last time this happened was with Neuropath where the title (and the cover too, I have to admit) tempted me to read a book that was not on my list (and was rather disappointing too, though not terrible).

I usually go to the library with 2-4 books that I know I'm going to pick. Then, while at the library pick another 2-4 that are completely unplanned. Sometimes I have a specific genre/subject in mind, but I still go around browsing the shelves just to see what I can discover. These selections are almost entirely based on title/book cover. If I'm looking at shelves and shelves and shelves of, say, Fantasy novels, I have nothing else to go on, so an eye-catching cover can capture my attention long enough to throw it on my pile of check-outs.

It's always fun going into the library having no idea what I'm going to come out with.

Message edited by its author, Oct 31, 2009, 10:31am.

Wow. I only go to the library to pick up specific books that are on my to-read list (that I created by reading reviews). I almost never pick up unplanned books. (Unless, of course, there's a huge sale, or a catchy title/cover fools me)

I don't think a book title by itself has led me to pick up a book, though specific authors and cover art definitely has.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dal Sijie got me with both the title and the beautiful cover art. I had never heard of the author before.

Well, it's been a while now, but certainly The Brontës Went to Woolworths would be a good example.

I randomly picked up Later, At the Bar because of the title and absolutely loved it.

I do it all the time, but more so with library books because there's no commitment involved. If I don't like it, I haven't wasted $10-$20 to find that out. I can't bear the thought that I might have missed out on something just because I haven't seen a review!

My well-loved but thoroughly demented husband once saw a children's book in one of my librarian's catalogs. It was called Buck-Buck the Chicken. He seriously nagged me for two years until I added it to the elementary collection - solely on the strength of the title.

It was extremely popular and eventually got stolen from the library. I accused Lee of stealing it, but he denied it vehemently. I think I believed him.

The Brontës Went to Woolworths is a title that would (and just has) captured my attention...

{now added to my to-read list}

Buck-Buck the Chicken err... not so much. hehehehehe

About 50% or more of my books have been random pick-ups. Of course I wouldn't actually buy the book on the strength of the title alone, I would have to be intrigued by the blurb and a sample reading of the first page or two, but the very idea of never buying a book unless it is on your list or, worse still, by an author you already know, fills me with horror. Surely that must lead to an incredibly limited reading-life?

I've started tagging what caused me to buy any new book - 'chance buy' meaning I just came across it and liked cover/title/back page/first few chapters. 'Recommended' meaning someone (probably on LT) and pointed it out. Most of the rest are continuations of series' or authors who are familiar with me.

so far 6 out of 30 chance buys were 4* or above, and 10 out of 15 recommendeds were 4* or above. I need more recommendatins and less chance buying I think!

Unexpected book interest happens to me all the time whether it is online, at the bookstore or at the library.

Going on to BookMooch and looking over someones list. Since this person is overseas and requires you to mooch 2 I didn't really have anything I wanted to mooch from her but the title Snobbery with Violence caught my eye. It turned out to be a cozy mystery, something I've never had an interest in. But, after reading the description it didn't sound so bad and it turns out my local library had it. It was actually quite enjoyable and I now have the sequel out to read as well.

Last week I was walking by the bookstore and against my strict intention not to enter...well, I'm sure you know the story. Off the bargain table I picked up a slight book called Fortress of the Golden Dragon, which is based on a mid-eastern fairy tale. Not something I would have ever intentionally searched out.

The library is the best place for unexpected finds, simply due to the fact you can take a chance without burning a hole in your pocket.

My worst weakness when it comes to impulse buying (on the rare occasion I actually have spending money) based on cover art is while cruising the manga section. So many expensive and beautiful looking covers! It took me over two months of looking at the cover of my very first manga (Her Majesty's Dog) and reading the description before I could bring myself to spend the money on it. I'm still not sure if it was a good or a bad decision considering how much I've now invested in my collection.

Actually, while atleast half the books I read are random pick ups, many (probably 75 percent atleast) of the books on my wishlist are added after only looking at the tags here on librarything. I don't like to read summaries on fiction books because they usually spoil too much of the story, so I usually look at the tags, and if all the subjects interest me I'll add it.

Booksloth... Uh oh... you'd find my reading style completely horrifying I'm afraid. Of the last 54 books I read, only one of them was picked up by chance at the library because the title/cover caught my eye. The rest, I'm afraid, were completely planned!

Of course, I have a large list of planned reading so there's quite a bit of variety to choose from. Just not so much random choice...

15: Wow, our reading styles really are quite different (such as your example in post 3.) I don't plan my reading in any way at all. When I finish a book, I never know what I may be in the mood to read next.

I know a lot of poeple pre-plan an entire YEAR of reading with things like the 999 challenge. I just couldn't handle that myself. I check out a month's worth of books at the library once per month, and that's as far as I go in terms of "planning ahead." And even when I bring home that stack of books, I never know what order I'll read them in.

For example, I just finished my current stack of library books, and am reading a review copy book I won here in Librarything. After that, I'll take a trip to the library...and I have NO IDEA what I'll get. I'm thinking I really want Panic in Level 4 by Richard Preston. I also want to pick up a couple of other books on microbiology. My mom recommended I read the Dollanganger series by V.C. Andrews, so I might try to pick up 1 or 2 of those...I've also been wanting to read Dracula and Frankenstien. Also had a comic book recommended to me... and I've been craving any sort of epic fantasy trilogy. Then again, I may go, get the Richard Preston book and 4-5 others that are completely unplanned. WHO KNOWS! That's what I love about the library. :)

Message edited by its author, Nov 2, 2009, 10:57am.

I actually pre plan on picking up at least one spontaneous book every time I go to the library. I make a want list and get a few from that and then...Wham...a cover or a title will grab me and I just have to have it. My latest was The Frightened man by Ken Cameron.

I'm a coverslut. Well, I'm also a titleslut. If I see a cover that is just out-of-the-ordinary, drop-me-in-my-tracks original, or elsewise 'woah! would you look at that!' then I pick it up and read about it / read first page or two (I used to just *buy* it... but that has led to some very unfortunate purchases...) The same goes with some titles that pretty much grab me like a hook as I'm walking through the bookstore.

I discovered two of my favourite authors by covers and/or titles alone.

A badly designed book even from a favourite author will give me pause though... same with a really *groan* title. I think there is one book by a favourite author I pretty much have avoided because the cover art and title just doesn't appeal to me. (I don't think I was impressed with the blurb either...)

Unfortunately, I've found lately that I stick with more of the 'planned' reading in my list because I've had just a few too many bad experiences with reading things I thought would be good, but were utter disappointments (at best). I think I'm a tad shy of being bitten by yet another un-enjoyable novel again (the bad ones have now outnumbered the good ones, urgh).

Doesn't stop me from drooling on delicious covers though...

When I finish a book and look around for what to read next, I'm most likely to choose a library book (and hopefully whichever is due soonest). Second most likely is something I've recently purchased. And sometimes my fiance has just finished a book and really wants me to read it so he has someone to discuss it with. But none of those rules are firm and any other form of planning is unheard of.

I responded to this the other day but my computer locked up.

I read How I became a famous Novelist by Steve Hely b.c. I had just read a story about writers, The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax and this book caught my eye. Plus it has a bright yellow cover.

Both are great books and I really lucked out on the Hely book.. it was fanstastic.

I choose books to read using a combination of those already mentioned. I choose my mystery series by author, then series order. When I'm up to date on the series, waiting for the next title to be published (or when the library does not have the title on the shelf), I select titles that interest me, since I can only see the titles/authors on the spine when the books are shelved. I do the same for general fiction titles.
I usually have lists of titles/authors of interest gathered from various sources (LT, other author's favorites, etc.) I also choose the specific titles required for book discussion classes.

>11
the very idea of never buying a book unless it is on your list or, worse still, by an author you already know, fills me with horror. Surely that must lead to an incredibly limited reading-life? (bolding mine)

Not for me. First of all, I have huge list (numbering in the hundreds) of books that I have discovered through LT. These books span many genres, authors and countries. My list certainly isn't limiting (although my time, mood, and attention span may be limiting at times).

Secondly, our local library is part of a large consortium, so I have relatively easy access to free random books. (I do stumble across random, interesting-looking books when doing catalogue searches, as well as the random books I pick up off the shelves.) Sometimes there are random books in the bookshop that interest me, but I just write down the title/author and borrow from the library. (I do realize that not everyone has a good library system and those folks have my sympathy.)

The only time I buy randomly, nowadays, is at a library or charity book sale (or on rare occasions from a used bookstore or remainder table). I can't afford to spend $10, $25, $35 on a book at random that might bore me to tears; $2 I can deal with. :-)

Full disclosure: when I was young(er), I bought tons of books brand new that caught my eye and sounded good from the blurb.

To go back to the original question, I just bought Winter Studies and Summer Rambles in Canada at random (for $1). I've never heard of it or the author (Anna Brownell Jameson), but I probably picked it up because it is an old (from the 60's) New Canadian Library edition. And a few weeks ago I picked up The invisible soldier : Captain W.A.P. Durie, his life and afterlife at random from the library because it caught my eye while browsing.

The first book I remember choosing in this way is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. This was about 25 years ago. I didn't even read the dust jacket.

The last one one I remember choosing this way is Olive or Twist?. This was maybe two years ago.

I choose the first because the the thought of Atlas shrugging intrigued me. I choose the second because it made me laugh out loud in the book store. I enjoyed and still own both books.

I just remembered a really recent one. Why Is My Mother Getting A Tattoo? And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask by Jancee Dunn. She's written other things but I didn't know the name. The title jumped out at me on a B&N new arrivals display and I could actually relate to it perfectly, so I added it to the stack and it was a very fun read.

I am very prone to spontaneous book pick ups. It is very easy to do since I live quite close to the Baltimore Book thing and you can take as many books as you can carry for free.

I will do the same at the library, impulsively just grabbing books to read.

Book stores I will actually pause and examine a title before snagging it.. I prefer to go to the bargain booksellers such as Atlantic Book Warehouse as opposed to Barnes and Noble and Borders type places. Can get more book for your buck that way!

Bookmooch is good for spontaneity too... as an above poster stated I take advantage of 2 for 1 book deals (or overseas individuals that require you to mooch 2) by picking something random from their inventory. One such book I got this way was Dino, Godzilla and The Pigs just because of the random title.

A book in someone elses library that caught my eye and made me really curious wasWhen I was five I killed myself.

#26... did you read it??? Def. a catchy title?!

Not yet but I have it wishlisted in a few places and may try to get it through ILL..It sounds like a pretty good book.

I received a fun book with a strange title from the Book Reviewers section. It is called Bum Magnet by R.K Bailey. It was a nice read and certainly has a story line a lot of women can relate to. I have thought about the characters long after I finished the book.

Message edited by its author, Nov 10, 2009, 10:05pm.

I haven't yet read Eeeee Eee Eeee, but I just saw it on LT, am intrigued, and added it to my TBR pile.

It's interesting reading how people preplan, or not, their reading. I love to go to the bookstore and browse but try not to buy too many unplanned books. The library is a whole other story though - I love to go in and walk out with an armload of unplanned, unexpected books. I've found some really good ones that way. It's not just titles, but covers certainly make a difference.

I've been known to buy different books just because they have the same title, as long as they are at least close to a genre I like.
The one that stands out the most are two non-fiction's titled "Night Fighter". Different authors and publishers, but both are about Royal Air Force night activity in WWII.

Well... I wanted to read The Blade Itself (it was a planned read) and ended up getting The Blade Itself.

It took me a bit to figure out why I had wanted to read the Sakey book - I got thinking I had had a little mind fart or something. Turns out it wasn't really my fault!

Of course, the Marcus Sakey book wasn't planned so... well, I'll admit it... I returned it unread and got the right one as soon as I realized my mistake.

As a reminder, in post 16 I said:

For example, I just finished my current stack of library books, and am reading a review copy book I won here in Librarything. After that, I'll take a trip to the library...and I have NO IDEA what I'll get. I'm thinking I really want Panic in Level 4 by Richard Preston. I also want to pick up a couple of other books on microbiology. My mom recommended I read the Dollanganger series by V.C. Andrews, so I might try to pick up 1 or 2 of those...I've also been wanting to read Dracula and Frankenstien. Also had a comic book recommended to me... and I've been craving any sort of epic fantasy trilogy.

Back from the library. Out of the 8 books I checked out, only 2 were from that list (the comic book and Frankenstein.) Two of the other books I got were on my wishlist but I didn't plan to pick them up on that particular trip to the library. The other 4 books were completely unplanned.

So 2 planned, 2 books from my long-term wishlist, and 4 unplanned books for a month of reading. :)