Become a better reader: how to buy a book you will enjoy
Fiction is one of the most popular genres in literature. Whether you are into short stories or novels, there is nothing like a good work of fiction to distract you from everyday problems or provide a new way of looking at the world. Before you buy a book, you would naturally want to make sure that you are buying something that is worth your time and money. However, with so many fiction works being published every year, and many of them coming in fascinating packages, it’s often a challenge to differentiate the works of art from the waste of trees.
Different stories. Whether or not you will enjoy a fiction book will largely depend on your taste. What’s interesting for another reader may not be so interesting to you. For instance, you may not be interested in fictional work that uses World War 2 as the milieu. Instead, you might prefer sweeping epics that occurred in the Victorian age. Or perhaps you are fascinated with family sagas instead of adventures based on only one character. Knowing what the plot is all about is a good way to know if you will enjoy the book or not.
A feel for the theme. Knowing something about the theme of the fictional work may also assist you in determining if you will enjoy it or not. Does the work’s theme offer insight about love, history, loss in death, urban alienation, gender discrimination, religion, or something else? This will tell you what the book is all about and what you can expect from the material.
Find feedback online. Going online for book reviews is also a great way to find out if the book is worth buying. Sometimes, you may hear a lot of hype about a book until you have heard from someone who has actually read the book. Remember the phrase “do not judge a book by its cover”. There really is no telling how good or terrible a book is until after you have read it. Since you are not one for trial-and-error, the next best thing is to hear from someone who has actually tried it. There are many reputable book review sites online. Read reviews from reliable sources—such as academic figures, known critics, reputable literary organizations and such.
Ask for suggestions. Another good way to find the books that you will like is to ask the people you trust to have good literary taste. Ask your best friend or office colleague what he or she has read lately, and if it’s any good. In the book shop, you can also check their best sellers’ list or ask the owner for recommendations. There are also online resources where you can learn about various fiction works and other books before you purchase them, one example is Books Buyer.
Keep reading. Ultimately, buying a book that you don’t enjoy is not a complete loss. Constant reading can actually help you develop your own strong preference so you can know in the future what your taste in fiction is. There are many ways that you can continue to develop your mind through reading: buy books from your local bookstores, borrow books from the library, download e-books or order books online.
