Many people find time to read as one of the benefits of being retired. While previously they may have been lucky to read a few pages at night before falling asleep, now there are many hours in the day available for leisurely reading. But, finding the next great book isn't always easy. Where should you look to find reading recommendations? Here are six options to check out:
1. Talk to loved ones
Are any of your friends or family big readers? Perhaps your niece loves mystery novels just like you or your son is into autobiographies that you might want to browse. Ask your loved ones what they're reading. They'll share a recap of whatever book they just finished and can offer thoughts on their favorite books. Plus, it's easy to say you enjoy a particular genre and then see who else's taste matches yours. You may even find yourself engrossed in awesome discussions over books in the near future!
2. Check the local library
Far too many young people today forget about the library. These public institutions are amazing resources for their communities. They don't just house and loan books. Here you can find audiotapes if you'd prefer to listen to someone else reading, as well as use computers to browse the card catalog. Depending on your library, you may be able to access interlibrary loans which allow one library to transfer books to another. This is great if your local library doesn't offer the books you're looking for. Just place the titles on hold under your patron account and when they arrive you will receive an email, text or phone call. A lot of libraries also offer recommended reading lists and write fun blogs about new releases that can steer you in the right direction of your next favorite read.
3. View bestseller lists
Do you want to be up on the hottest books coming out right now? Start by checking out best-seller lists. The New York Times Best Seller list is the most popular, as it judges popularity based on book pre-orders. This list is updated frequently to provide readers with the moment-to-moment information they're looking for. You can also check out the best seller or popular title lists at local bookstores (or online) or at book behemoths like Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.
4. Join a book club
Many independent and assisted living communities offer book clubs. Some are resident-hosted, led by seniors who love to read and want to talk about what they're reading with others. See if your community has a book club you can join. You can always start one locally, or even do one online. With the help of email or social media sites like Facebook, people all over the world host book clubs where everyone reads one book and then posts discussion topics and questions online. Some also have video chats with the book's author to provide extra insight into a great read.
"You can review books and find recommendations on Goodreads."
5. Try Goodreads
Have you ever wanted a way to review the books you read in a user-friendly setting? Goodreads is a website and an app that allows users to create a profile. Then, you can keep lists such as books you want to read, those you would like your book club to read and more. Update your reading list with the books you're currently working on – you can even note page by page how you're doing. Plus, it's easy to work toward a goal like, "I want to read 2 books a month" because Goodreads helps you track your total reading all year. The site is also a great reference when you're at the library and can't recall if you've already read a certain book. Visit a genre-specific section on the site to see what others are talking about. And leave reviews on books you've just finished so others can get a glimpse into its pages. Just remember, no spoilers!
6. Post a query online
Perhaps you've browsed best-seller lists, checked the local library and just can't get into the latest book club selection. It happens! Why not head to the web to post a question like, "I really love fan fiction but can't find anything that suits my taste at the moment. Does anyone have any recommendations?" The more details you give on your preferences the better the suggestions will be. Post this status on Facebook so all your friends can offer their opinions or even ask a librarian to do some sleuthing to see what others with similar taste to yours are reading. In no time you'll have options to choose from!
Skip to content