Reading In A Rut?

When you get stuck in a rut with your reading, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to get out of it. It's often not as simple as, 'just pick a different kind of book', so I thought this month I would look at different places I go to get book recommendations.

I'm very fortunate that I have a huge range of resources to use if I want to read something different, but that hasn't always been the case. In the past, I've resorted to putting a plea on Facebook, asking everyone to suggest books they've enjoyed. These days, I'm often the one people ask to recommend a book, or in some cases, give them a reading list! So, here are my top tips for finding a book that's out of your comfort zone.

Wednesday Read Book Group

1. Join a book group

   I can guarantee you won't like every book they pick, but it will force you to read things you wouldn't otherwise consider. Equally, you might fall in love with a new genre or a particular author and whole new world opens up. I am very fortunate to have made some excellent friends through my book group and one in particular provides a steady source of not only recommendations, but sometimes the book as well! If you don't have a local group, consider setting one up. Otherwise, there are a number of book subscription websites which effectively do a similar job.

2. Book Podcasts

   My personal favourite recently has been the Graham Norton one. I usually listen to it while I'm driving and end up having to ask my husband or children to make a list of the books I want to read. One of the nice things about this one in particular is that the recommended books are chosen by ordinary members of the public, so you get a lovely cross section of reading tastes.

3. Between The Covers

   This is a real highlight of my reading year. So far, in 8 series of the show, there has only been one episode where I didn't add a book to my reading list (and in fairness, that was only because I'm currently trying to be a little bit more picky in a bid not to overload myself for next year!). Most episodes I end up adding at least a couple. As a result, I've read some fantastic books I would never have picked up on my own. Plus, I love the fact there is a show all about reading on mainstream TV. It fills me with joy that it is putting books firmly in the spotlight.

4. Bookshops/Libraries/Social Media

   These are a fantastic source of book suggestions. I'm on the mailing list for our local indie story and for Waterstones. Every month, I get an email from each, complete with their new releases and 'book of the month'. Again, they make me aware of books I might not have picked up and show me what the latest reading trends are. The same applies, for the more technologically minded, to BookTok. It's not a resource I use particularly, but my son's fiancée gets a lot of her recommended reads from there.

5. Prize Lists/Celebrity Lists

   These are another excellent source of inspiration. The Booker Prize and The Women's Prize For Fiction both release lists of the long/shortlisted books and working your way through these is always an interesting activity, if only to see if you agree with the judges. Similarly, Richard and Judy and Reece Witherspoon regularly release lists of recommended reading and while the quality of these is variable, there have been some excellent books I've picked up from these lists and they usually have a good range of genres too.

Lastly, there are plenty of people like me, who regularly blog about their reading. You could follow a few of them to see what they are reading. I post at least one review every month (it will usually be on 17th this year) and give a roundup of my reading at the end of the month. If you want to see these regular reviews as they are posted, you can sign up here.