I’ve said it before, I’m a moody reader. So I guess about half of the time, I choose a book depending on what kind of mood I’m in. The rest of the time it just sort of depends on timing, do I need to read a book for book group? Or for a book tour? Etc.
And, sometimes there are odd little moments that lead me to choose a book. Yesterday was one of those days. I was sifting through the shelves trying to find my next read. I didn’t have a particular one in mind so I was just moving books around (yes, I’ve got books double lined in the bookcase so I had to see what was hiding in the back!) and in all that moving around and such one book fell off but I was able to grab it before it hit the floor.
I grabbed it by the pages and it opened up to this page:
“The woman in white stands on the terrace as still as any of the statues. Like an apparition, I think, feeling suddenly cold.”
Given that I’ve been talking about The Woman in White recently (the Wilkie Collins book), I just thought this book was meant to be read next then. So, that’s how I chose my latest read, The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman. So far I like it a lot but then again I’ve liked all of her books that I’ve read.
This one is a tale about writers, seances, ghosts and dark family secrets. I’ve already met characters that seem to be hiding some truths, some that are mean and some that seem to be slightly mad. Should be a fun read.
How about you, how did you choose your current read?
I’m like you…sometimes I choose a book because I need to read it for my bookclub and sometimes I just choose based on the mood I am in. I love how you chose your current read…it almost seems meant to be so I hope you enjoy it. I chose to re-read Rebecca because I wanted the opportunity to participate in the online book discussion and see what other people would think of the book.
Oooh…that sounds like an excellent book! And I love the opening passage. These days I make piles of books to read soon and pick from there, but I miss just choosing randomly!
I am a fickle reader. I will have all of my reads lined up for the next month, but then I get excited about something else and off I go. I totally would have looked at the falling book as a “sign”!!!
I read The Ghost Orchid last month-I think you’ll really enjoy it!
I’m a total moody reader too, unless I need to read a book quickly because the library wants it back!
Too often my next read is chosen by obligation to some group or project. I have gotten myself over-committed to groups who like to read. But fortunately the books are really good. I am also drawn to the new and interesting reads section at my library.
This is on my amazon wishlist… can’t wait to read it!
I have recently tried to implement a formula.
-review copies/ARCs
-books I own
-Bookswim books
-library books
I try to go down the line and rotate equally between all four. I still read whatever strikes my fancy, but it’s still from a category so I have less choice than I would if I were choosing from everything I have!
The book sounds fun and so perfect for this time of year too! I like how you chose it. My book choices of late have been because I felt like it or because of obligations like book group. I haven’t had any books jumping off the shelf at me but who knows, maybe one of them is preparing to make a leap soon 🙂
Kathleen – I know, it’s seems like it was just meant to be right? I love it when that happens. So many people are reading Rebecca right now… makes me want to read it too 🙂
Nymeth – Oh it’s not from the beginning… just somewhere in the middle but it does make me wonder what will happen next! 🙂
Sandy – Me too. Which is why I probably don’t do so well with challenges. My original reading lists are always changed up and even then there’s no guarantee that I’ll finish a challenge! ha,ha…
Eva – Glad to hear you liked it! I’ve read most of Carol Goodman’s books and she’s an author I feel I can count on for a good entertaining read.
Juliann – I used to belong to four reading groups at one time until I had to stop. I felt like I was just reading books for book groups and nothing for myself. It’s fun to have those kind of reads but good to have a balance too!
Sonia – I hope you’ll enjoy it!
Stephanie – Oh that’s a great method! I always feel like I need to get to ARCs first out of a sense of duty but then again I get a bit sad about all my books that are lingering on the shelves. I guess it’s just hard when we want to read so many books right? 🙂
Stefanie – I’d approach the shelves carefully just in case! haha…
Sometimes I get in dystopia moods and read all that I can get my hands on.
I have book club reads, so no choice there, except for the ones I nominated. I do enjoy book club reads, because I would have not chosen the books myself.
I am picky on ARCs. I don’t accept everything that is presented to me.
I also get in a recommend mode. I read what other bloggers are reading and get them.
Sometimes, I just read the tabloids in the grocery store and binge on TV shows and skip novels.
I think you have a little ghost in the house who wants to steer your reading. Sounds like a good book though. have a great weekend.
Sounds like a good one. I tend to pull out a stack of books and leave them on my desk at the beginning of every month. I know when tour dates are, if any, but other than that, I’ll choose from that stack, and when I’m not in the mood for any of those, I, too, will wander the shelves, er, stacks. 😉
My current read (The Long Road Home, by John Grogan) is for a TLC book tour. But I’m usually more of a random reader, and it depends largely on my mood and what strikes my fancy at a particular moment.
I like Carol Goodman’s work too 🙂
Isabel – I enjoy book club reads too – a lot of time they take me out of my comfort zone and that’s always a good thing! I’ve gotten very picky on ARCs too. It’s not that I don’t want more books but I tend to get overwhelmed and then I don’t have time for my books and that’s not a good thing.
Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit) – Hee,hee. I think so too! Maybe it’s a bookish ghost 🙂
Anna – I’ve tried doing something similar so I’ll get to some books faster when it’s books I need to read but I tend to wander away from those stacks. Always in search of something else!
ravenous reader – I love just picking things at random too. I notice also that I start to wonder a lot about books I’ve had sitting on my shelf forever. What am I missing you know! Goodman is great isn’t she 🙂
Thanks Iliana, you’ve reminded me that I want to read this book. I tried to order it when I first heard it was on the way but the library hadn’t got it on their list and somehow it fell off my radar. I must go and check again right now.
That sounds like a good book. I’m a moody reader too. I’m reading Stephen King now, I feel like reading spookier books this time of year.
I think I am very similar in how I choose books. Most of the time it’s my mood-what I feel like reading–I usually have a story or setting in mind. Then there are those books for book clubs that I need to read at a certain time. I really like Carol Goodman. I have two unread books by her on my shelves I must get to. I liked this one, but I still favor her earlier novels.
Now that’s serendipity! I am like you in choosing my next book. Sometimes by mood or deadline or sometimes I make my husband choose for me. I’ve been known to choose by random drawing too when I’m really having difficulty selecting between a few.
I’m a moody reader, too. I like to offset non-fiction or literary fiction with something lighter – a children’s book or just a lighter novel, perhaps. If there’s a lot going on with family I’ll go for a lighter read. I just started reading a novel that I borrowed from a friend; simply because I borrowed 3 books from her and want to return at least one when I see her next!
My current read is pure impulse — I had no idea what I wanted to read, I looked at my shelves, and decided it was time to reread Anne of Avonlea, which I’ve been enjoying a lot. I’m not sure what drew me to the book — it just happened!
I’m a moody reader too! That’s why I can’t list the titles for the reading challenges; I always change my mind! 😛