Find Books That You'll Actually Finish: A Beginners' Guide
Five steps that bring you closer to your favorite genre
Have you ever been overwhelmed by the sheer variety of books? Have you ever wondered what kind of books you’ll enjoy and come up empty?
If you have, then you are in the right place. Keep reading to learn how to find your reading groove by discovering genres that will be your ideal fit.
As a person starting their reading journey, finding a genre to their liking is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Genres are like ice cream flavors. Not every genre is to everyone’s liking. So, if you keep picking up books from genres you don’t enjoy, you may give up on reading.
We do not want that.
You should pick up books that draw you in and keep you hooked. The books you select should make your reading enjoyable and not miserable.
This article discusses five ways to help you understand your reading preferences, and find genres that will keep you from putting your book down.
Look At The Types of Media You Consume
Ask yourself - what were the common themes in the movies and TV shows you watched and liked?
The answer to this is the key to finding your ideal genre. If you like romantic comedies, try picking up books from the romance section. If you like detective stories, explore the mystery-thriller section, and if you prefer horror movies, you’ll find its twin in the bookish world as well.
In short, take inspiration from the type of media that you already consume and find its parallel in the bookish genres. There is a book out there that talks about the themes that interest you.
This trick has an added benefit. Your favorite movie or TV show might be based on a book. Pick that book up. Since you are already familiar with most of the characters and the setting, your reading experience will be smooth. Plus, you’ll get to play “Book vs Movie - Which Was Better?”.
Explore The Beginner’s List For Different Genres
You can find a list of beginner-friendly books for almost every genre online. Once you have narrowed down the list of genres you might be interested in, check these lists out.
These lists mostly contain popular books, but you may also find some hidden gems. Apart from the titles of the books, these lists also give a small introduction to the setting and characters of the story. This will help you find something that interests you.
While browsing these lists, please be aware that not all the books mentioned are beginner-friendly. Some of them are just popular or short or both. Beginner-friendly books do not equate to short books. So, don’t get scared by the length of a book. Sometimes, you can finish a big book faster than a short one.
Sample A Bit of Everything
Once you have a list of books you might be interested in, try the first few pages or a chapter from each.
This will help you determine whether you like the setting, the characters, the writing style, and the narration. When reading a book, the story isn’t enough. The pace and writing style are also important.
Pick a book whose pace is to your liking. If you don’t enjoy pages and pages of description, pick an action-packed and fast-paced book. If things are happening too fast and you think you have barely made a connection with the characters, choose a character-driven book over a plot-driven book.
You want to be looking for stories that resonate with you. Finding that resonance will require some effort. Don’t shy away from it.
Visit Bookstores and Libraries
Once you have grasped your preferences, talk to people whenever you visit a bookstore or library. Talking to people after you have tried a few books can help you find specific recommendations (and not general ones).
It is surprising how many recommendations you can receive from a bookseller or a librarian. They regularly meet numerous people and are experienced in exchanging book recommendations with readers of all kinds.
Talk to them about your interests, the books you have tried, and the books you have liked (if any). This way they can give you more pointed recommendations.
Talking to people in libraries and bookstores will also help you recognize that you are not alone in the boat. Plenty of people are out there looking for recommendations.
Do You Know Someone Who Reads
You can also ask a friend/relative/someone in your circle who reads for book recommendations.
Since they already know you and your preferences, they won’t sweat before recommending books to you. If their preferences align with you, consider yourself lucky. This will allow you to browse their collection to find recommendations.
There is a small catch here. Readers feel strongly about the books they read and recommend. That is why recommending a book to strangers comes easily. However, when recommending books to an acquaintance, several people fear the judgment coming their way. So, your friends might hesitate before recommending books to you.
But if you can overcome this phase of reluctance, you will find yourself in a place where you have someone with whom you can exchange recommendations to your heart’s content.
There is a book for every reader and a reader for every book.
Don’t give up reading just because you couldn’t find your genre. Put in small efforts and you’ll see how easy it is to meet your perfect match.
Let me know how you found your perfect genre.