Musings on Book Selections
Thinking about what we read, when and why
How do we choose the books we read? How do we decide which books to read when; which to stack up on the bedside table; which to download on a Kindle?
Is it about wanting to get in with the latest bestseller, know what it's all about and share our thoughts in the group chat? Is about picking up whatever is on offer, or has been effectively window-marketed at the local bookshop? Is it about reading whatever we have to hand just for the security of having something to pass the time, or make us feel productive?
Whatever it is that influences your book selections, have you ever stopped to consider how mindful you are about such selections, and the benefits of being so?
That's what I want to explore in this week's post...
Now I'm not claiming to be an expert book selector extraordinaire, but I do like to read a wide selection, with different texts peaking my interest at different times. I've been ‘accused’ of not being selective enough - both in the sense of reading everything and anything, so fearful am I of not having a book to hand, and of reading too much on one theme or of one style. The accusers shall remain nameless, and I shall not be criticising your choices, dear reader, but instead asking you to think about how to make your selections work for you, boosting the nourishment (I think) books can provide.
At any given time I will have a book backlog; that is, a selection of books on my shelves which I’ve not yet read. These usually have come as gifts or are reads I’ve nabbed at a bargain price from a charity shop.
As an aside, my charity shop selections tend to be books in good condition, especially if they almost feel new (admittedly I'm maybe a bit of a second-hand book snob, but I also take great care to keep my own books looking 'new'). They will either be titles from my ongoing list to look out for (kept via my phone notes app) based on reviews, recommendations and authors whose work I've enjoyed and want to read more of, or, less likely but occasionally, unknown-to-me titles with inviting covers that have caught my eye.
In an ideal world I would just always be reading, so as to more easily hoover up all the books I want to read. In reality, my time to read varies from five minutes before bed to whole afternoons on those glorious weekends without plans, but probably averages around 30 minutes a day. And so, I cannot be consuming all the books all the time. For notes on how this can become more possible, see
I used to have several books on the go at once, usually a fiction and one or two non-fictions; sometimes more on a Boxing Day where Mother Christmas had been particularly generous on the paperback front. But in the last year or so I've returned to more of a one-opens-as-one-closes approach, finding it more difficult, especially since lockdowns have been fully over, to feel I can get through several at once. As such, it feels more important to choose the right book at the right time, so that it's something which will appeal on a daily basis, that will be relaxing, insightful, thought-provoking - whatever vibe I think might be most helpful for that period of time it takes me to read a book (usually 1-2 weeks depending on surrounding circumstances).
A variety of factors feed into determining this, including but not limited to, work-related stress levels, wanting to feed a spark of creativity, or feeling curious to learn more about a life very different to mine. These times might call for escapist fiction, an actor's memoir, or a collection of essays. Sometimes I'll choose something I think will put me in a better mindset for the coming week(s), rather than try to distract from, or hone in on, how I'm feeling. Other times I might have brunch with a friend in the diary and be keen to discuss something I know they've also read, so will eagerly chomp through a new read ahead of the ensuing discussion.
When I go away, I usually opt for books related to the country or region I'm visiting, either set there or written by authors from there. I like how this helps me feel more connected to where I am, learning more about the place and it's people, while I'm lounging at the beach, getting from A to B on public transport, or skimming through a few pages before falling asleep after a busy day of sight-seeing. On visits to Italy, this often means something by Elena Ferrante, but on a trip to Milan earlier this year, it was Stanley Tucci's Taste. I'm currently perusing some options for an upcoming trip to Greece (please do share any recommendations in the comments!), where I've previously devoured Madeline Miller’s Circe and The Fratricides by Nikos Kazantzakis. Buying a book to take away on a trip, if I don't have something ‘relevant enough’ on the shelf, is one of the few times I let myself indulge in buying a book brand new, for myself. Marylebone's Daunt Books is a great place to shop by country - whether you're looking for your next holiday read, insights on the political situation of a country frequently in the news, or just curious to expand your international fiction collection.
The book I most recently finished reading was about walking; specifically women walking in some of the world's seemingly best cities as a way of finding belonging there, as well as their place in the wider world. In reading Lauren Elkin's Flâneuse, every few days I was in a new place - Paris, Tokyo, Venice - and enjoyed learning about women's travels through these cities in years gone by, as well as Elkin's own. In a month where, for various reasons, I hadn't been doing much walking, or exploring, this charity shop purchase served wanderlust needs and intellectual stimulation in equal measure. With this being my third non-fiction book in a row, however, this weekend I’m scanning my shelves for a yet unread fictional tale.
As I write, I’m using precious train travel time to feel productive by drafting this, all the while thinking, “how much longer shall I keep going until I can get my book out for the rest of the journey...” When I cook dinner, I want it over quickly so I can get to the main evening activity of reading. When I leave drinks with friends, in a happy bubble of love, contentment, and the wooziness of prosecco, getting to read a book on the way home is my favourite way to round off the evening; all the better if it's early enough to carry on with a cuppa when I get in.
I love that books make me feel this way; make me excited to spend time with them. It's rare I read something (though not never) which feels like a chore, a struggle to get through. Unfortunately I am one of those people that feels they must plough through on such occasions, not able to let a sleeping dog lie. But if you feel you're reading something you're not vibing with, I'd certainly recommend putting it down to pick up something else - if reading a book is something you want in your daily or weekly repertoire of activities. Think about what will spark a bit of joy or interest in what can often be dead time spent scrolling (commuting, queuing at the supermarket, in the waiting room for an appointment). If it's not what you're currently reading, or you haven't felt a sense of book-joy since.... maybe you can't even remember when? Have a think about why this might be, what have those books been missing, or giving too much of, and what do you need instead?
And if like me you're a book fiend, never without something to read and ever-eager to work through an infinite TBR pile, consider whether you feel selective enough about your choices, and how a more intentional selection strategy might work for you.
What are you reading right now and how did you choose it? Feel free to share below how you navigate your book selections 📚
PS…
If you like what you’re reading, and want to help fuel more, you can now buy me a coffee through Ko-fi. While there may be paid subscription features for The Navigation in future, for now all is free to anyone who wants to muse and meander along with me, so this is a way to support my work in the meantime.