10 Tips for Buying Books (And Deciding on Which Books to Buy)

I made a post back on August 24, where I discussed how I acquire my books. As I was looking around, I thought about this topic again. I looked through the posts I scheduled for August and saw that I didn't do a post on specific tips for buying books. So here we are.

Buying books, and deciding on which books to buy, can be tough. So here are 10 tips for buying books, and deciding on which ones to buy.

Tip 1: Look through your TBR list.

This may seem a bit daunting (which is why I included Tip 2), but this one will really help you out. That way, you can get a better idea of what books are higher on your TBR list over other books.

Tip 2: Create a shelf on your Goodreads profile for books you want to buy soon.

If you have a Goodreads account, set up a shelf of the books you want to buy soon. This will make your TBR list a bit more manageable as you look into books you want to buy soon.

Tip 3: If it's a book you're unsure about, borrow it before buying it.

We all have those books we're considering reading, but we're not 100% sure about. If that's the case, borrow it from your local library (or library apps like Libby or Overdrive) so you can get an idea of your thoughts on the book. If you have a friend or family member who has the book, you can also borrow it from them.

Tip 4: Consider whether it's an anticipated read of yours or not.

You'll most likely want to buy your anticipated read(s) sooner rather than later. This could come in as a preorder or as a regular order, but it is something to consider.

Tip 5: Seriously consider the budget your on.

This may seem obvious, and there is the running joke in the bookish community that we often overspend on books (i.e. spending rent money, food money, etc.). If you have a bit of extra money to spend, then feel free to spend it on books. But remember the budget you're on.

Tip 6: Look at any extra possible costs, especially when ordering books online.

This one does factor into Tip 5, but it does deserve to be its own tip. There are occasionally extra costs, especially when ordering books via Amazon, Barnes & Noble's website, or other online booksellers (i.e. shipping costs, when applicable). 

Tip 7: Don't buy a book just because it's being hyped on bookish social media.

We've all had this happen once or twice: a book's been super hyped, we bought it, read it, and then didn't like it. This is where Tips 3-4 and Tips 8-9 come into play. I'll discuss Tips 8-9 in a minute. Borrowing books and considering if it's an anticipated read or not will really help you out.

 

Tip 8: Research the books you're thinking of buying.

You don't need to know every single detail about the book. However, knowing the basic synopsis will help you decide if you should buy it sooner rather than later (or vice versa). 

Tip 9: Research the author(s) of the books you're thinking of buying.

This is similar to Tip 8, but knowing the background of the author(s) you're hoping to buy books by will also help you decide if you'd rather buy or borrow a book.

Tip 10: Use booksellers that are the most convenient for you.

There's a whole argument that you should do second-hand bookstores rather than mainstream booksellers like Amazon or Barnes & Noble. However, you need to buy books from sources and booksellers that are most convenient for you and not someone else. If you can buy from second-hand bookstores, then go for it. But if you can't, that's okay.

6 Tips for Connecting with Other Readers

Connecting with other readers can be hard, especially if you're the only reader in your family or friend group (or only one of a couple readers in your family or friend group). And even if there are readers in your family or friend group, they may not have many connections with other readers outside of their own social circles for whatever reason.

If you're a younger and/or new reader, it can be a bit intimidating entering the bookish community. Even I'm intimidated from time to time. I occasionally think that I need to be friends with every single reader I come in contact with, or that I need to have 500+ books to be considered a "true" reader.

Before I really get into this post, I'd like to state the following. You don't need to be friends with every single reader in the bookish community. You don't need 500+ books in your collection to be considered a "real" or "true" reader. Just read and make friends in the way you feel most comfortable doing.

With that said, here are 6 tips for connecting with other readers.

Tip 1: It's okay to just be acquaintances with other readers - you don't need to be friends with every reader you come in contact with.

Having connections with other readers can really help out. You don't, as I mentioned, have to be friends with every single reader. But having connections - following other readers on social media, etc. - can help you find new books and get more perspectives on books you're hearing (or not hearing) about.

Tip 2: Just reach out to other readers, and maybe even authors.

This can seem a bit daunting. However, reaching out to other readers, similarly with Tip 1, can help you find new reads, new friends, and other ways of thinking about and approaching books. Reaching out to authors can also do something similar, and you can see what books they did or didn't enjoy.

Tip 3: Make a bookish social media account on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc., and just talk about books.

Having a social media account dedicated to your books and reading can help you connect with readers a bit easier. Readers with bookish social media accounts tend to follow other readers with bookish social media accounts.

Tip 4: Post about your books and your reading journey.

You don't necessarily need to create a social media account dedicated to books to do this. If you have a public account (which is up to your discretion), you're likely to connect with other readers, even if your account isn't fully dedicated to books and reading.

Tip 5: If you're visiting a friend or family member, take a look at their bookshelf and talk to them about it.

You may not have family or friends who read actively, if they do read, you can still connect with them over reading. It may not be much, but it can still happen.

Tip 6: Start conversations on other readers' social media posts. (Just remember to be polite.)

Commenting on other readers' social media posts and starting, or participating in, bookish conversations can help you make those connections. Even if you don't make friends, you can still make those connections. Additionally, you can see what other people are reading and what their thoughts were.

8 Tips for Balancing Personal Reading and a Busy Schedule

I've made a few posts on similar topics, but I thought I'd make a more specific post on another, related aspect. Since, at this point, most students are back in school, and many are back working in full force, setting aside time for personal reading during a busy schedule.

Please remember the following: A "busy schedule" doesn't look the same for two people. Yes, two people can work the same hours at the same job or have the same class schedule. However, there are always activities going on outside of their work or class schedules that keep those two people busy in different ways.

Here are 8 tips for balancing personal reading and a busy schedule.

Tip 1: Write down or type up your schedule and put it in an easily accessible place.

Your schedule can include as much or as little as you'd like - cleaning, cooking, working, etc. However, setting it up, and putting it in a place you'll regularly check (wall, calendar, planner, or another place), will help you see what needs to be done and when.

Tip 2: Review your schedule and see what the best time for reading is.

This is why having your schedule set up in a place you'll check regularly (daily, multiple times a day) will help you figure out when the best reading times are for you. Whether that's the morning at breakfast, right before bed, or sometime in between then, you can consistently read a personal book at the same time each day.

Tip 3: Take advantage of each and every book format.

This really helps once you figure out what time of day works best for you to do some personal reading. If you're reading as you eat, maybe use an audiobook or ebook. If you read after you wake up in the morning or in the evenings before you go to sleep, then a physical book is a good option. However, taking advantage of every book format will help you in the long run.

Tip 4: Set yourself a reading limit per day.

This may seem a bit weird, mainly because you want to read as much as you can every day. However, setting yourself a reading limit per day is one of the most beneficial tips on this list (in my opinion). Before a busy day, you want to relax so you can rest up before your day at work or school. After a busy day, you want to settle down and take it easy. And reading too much before, during, or after a busy day can tire you out even more than you may be.

Tip 5: Don't rush your reading.

This is a similar tip to Tip 4 and is just as beneficial. Not rushing your reading can help you enjoy the book even more. And if you rush your reading on top of a busy schedule, you can mentally exhaust yourself. So not rushing your reading can help you take it easy during a busy schedule.

Tip 6: If you feel like you can go over your reading limit, then you can do it. But don't push yourself.

Tip 4 is very useful, but if you feel like you can go over your reading limit, then go for it. However, you don't need to push yourself to do go over your reading limit on a particular day. Even if it's just a couple of pages over or 100 pages, go for it. But, as I've mentioned quite a few times now, don't force it.

Tip 7: Remember that it's okay to not hit your reading limit.

Similarly, but contrary, to Tip 6, if you're really can't hit your reading limit, that's perfectly okay. You don't have to hit your reading limit. You don't even have to read every single day. You need to approach your reading limit with a touch of spontaneity because every day is different, even with a normal, busy schedule.

Tip 8: Save anticipated reads for any breaks or vacations in your schedule.

You can do what you want with your anticipated reads. However, I do recommend saving them for when you have a lull in work or school, a break, or a vacation. That way, you can thoroughly enjoy your anticipated reads even more.

8 Suggestions for Setting Up a Reading Nook

I want to preface this post with the following statement. Currently, I am not in a position where I can set up a full-on reading nook for myself. However, I have planned multiple possible reading nooks for when I am able to set one up. (Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if my future self set up 2-3 reading nooks in my future home.)

I initially had this post titled "8 Tips for Setting Up a Reading Nook." However, reading nooks tend to be highly personal spaces. As a result, there is absolutely no single way, nor is there a "right" way, to set one up (as with many posts like this). Due to this, I switched the title to "suggestions."

Here are 8 suggestions for setting up a reading nook.

Suggestion 1: Keep it simple.

It can be tempting to try and make some elaborate reading nook for yourself. However, you don't want to do have a setup that's too elaborate or complicated. Keeping it simple will help your reading experience in your nook be more enjoyable and comfortable.

Suggestion 2: Add some decorations to make it more personal.

Again, you want to keep it simple, so keep the decorations simple as well. Decorations can be something like pillows and blankets (mentioned in Suggestion 7), fairy lights, and/or a little setup for your books. In the end, it's ultimately all up to you.

Suggestion 3: Have an end table or nightstand next to your nook.

This may not seem like a necessity, but it can really help out in the long run. If you have a drink and/or snack, you're not wondering where to set it. If you need to step away and stop reading for a moment, you have a convenient place to set your book where it's less likely to be damaged.

Suggestion 4: Try to choose a place that has access to good lighting.

This can be a difficult one to follow through with. However, if you can select a place that has good lighting, it'll really help you out: you won't have to worry about how to read your book without difficulty.

Suggestion 5: Add some extra lighting to your nook if needed or wanted.

As mentioned in Suggestion 4, it can be difficult to choose a place for your nook that has "good lighting." So it may be a good idea to have extra lighting by your reading nook - a lamp, fairy lights, or a book light, for example.

Suggestion 6: Have your reading nook in a place where you'll be comfortable.

Yes, you may have a spot that looks like "the ideal reading nook." However, will it be comfortable? Certain spots may look ideal in your mind, in photos, or on paper, but that doesn't mean they'll actually be comfortable. And what's "comfortable" for one person may not be "comfortable" for you.

Suggestion 7: Have some pillows along with a blanket or two so you can be cozy.

This suggestion can really help out with Suggestion 7. Pillows and blankets are great accessories for reading nooks, but they can also come in handy for being comfortable as you read.

Suggestion 8: Buy a mini bookshelf to keep next to your nook so you have a set place for books.

This is another suggestion that may not seem necessary. And while it's not "necessary" per se, it can be super helpful. You can set anticipated reads there, your favorite books, or your favorite authors. You can also use it as a replacement for Suggestion 3 if you wanted.

6 Points that Make Me Read a Book

This post lines up with the post I published yesterday. However, I wanted to talk about the next step, so to say, after borrowing or buying a book: actually reading it.

There are so many factors for me that influence me to pick up and read one book over another. These also help me decide when I buy or borrow books, but these are also specifically for when I pick up a book to read. So here are 6 points that make me pick up and a read book.

Point 1: The title.

It's often the case that the title is very telling on what the book will be about. This doesn't always happen, but I'd say that it happens 8-9 out of 10 times. It won't give you the entire story, but it'll give you the main point. Think of Anne Rice's The Mummy duology or Markus Zusak's The Book Thief: these titles don't give you the entire story, but you get an idea of what it's about.

Point 2: The cover.

We all know the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover." We all do it, though, and there's a good reason for it. Similarly with a book's title, a book's cover can be telling as to what it'll be about. You'll get less detail than the title, but you'll still get clues about a book's storyline, characters, or otherwise.

Point 3: The setting.

As I've mentioned in past posts, I tend to steer clear of war/military history, WWI historical fiction, and WWII historical fiction. The only time I'll consider these books is if the author, title, or hype is something that makes me look forward to the book. (Although, in these cases, I'll probably borrow the book initially rather than buy it.) Otherwise, what setting I want to read is highly dependant on my mood.

Point 4: The hype.

Hype is a strong point that makes me want to read a book. If a book is getting a lot of hype, then I will consider, at least, reading the book. However, if I feel like it's overhyped, then I'm less likely to read it.

Point 5: An anticipated read.

I've had quite a few anticipated reads over the past 1-2 years, and I will automatically want to read it once I have it. However, if it's a book I bought/own, I do wait a couple of weeks before I pick it up so I can get through a few other books.

Point 6: The author.

Whether it's my favorite author or a new author, I also tend to pick up books while considering the author. This one is dependant on the other points, though, because I do consider everything else as I think about the author.

6 Points that Make Me Buy or Borrow a Book

This is something that I think is an interesting subject: what makes someone buy or borrow a book. This kind of post, for me, would have been hard to do in paragraph form. As a result, I decided to do it this way.

As with many of us, multiple factors ("points") make a reader buy or borrow one or more books. While there are a couple of common themes amongst every reader, there are different things that make every single reader do this. Here are 6 points that make me buy or borrow a book.

Point 1: Books within the history or historical fiction genres.

History and historical fiction are always the first genres I look at while in a bookstore or library (well, right now, via the Libby app). I will browse through other genres, but I tend to buy mostly history and historical fiction books.

Point 2: Mythology books.

Mythology is another genre that I tend to buy from. However, it really depends on what mythology books are available at the bookstore or library. My personal preferences are Greek, Roman, and Egyptian. However, I do keep my mind open to other mythologies as well.

Point 3: Books by a specific author.

As with any of my points here, I try to keep my mind open to any and every book. However, if an author I like is coming out with a new book, or if there's a book by them I haven't bought yet, then I do tend to buy it. I also tend to buy a second copy of the books (i.e. if I have the physical, then I'll buy the audiobook or ebook, and vice versa).

Point 4: Books other than WWI or WWII history.

The historical fiction books I've read that have a setting of WWI or WWII have been good. But I haven't read many, mainly because there is so much WWI and WWII historical fiction. I also tend to avoid books on war/military, mostly due to the fact that it makes me a bit too upset/sad to read about it.

Point 5: Books about Ancient Egypt (when and where I can find them).

It can be a bit difficult to find books on Ancient Egypt, so I always tend to buy (or borrow) them when I stumble upon them. I have had a lot of good recommendations through people I follow on Instagram, though, with is a positive!

Point 6: Biographies of famous historical figures.

I don't read a lot of biographies unless it's a person who really intrigues me. I do have quite a few biographies on my shelf, although quite a few of them are about the same 5-6 people (along with biographies on some others).

September 2021 TBR

It's that time of the month: my monthly TBR list! As you may know from my TBR posts over on my history bookstagram, I keep my monthly TBR at 6 books per month. However, for this month, I'm only placing 4 books on my TBR since I have started classes again. I'll probably keep my monthly TBRs at 4 books until November/December. (4 books doesn't take into account any books I may borrow from the library and/or the Libby app.)

Swptember 2021 TBR

1. Beyond the Halls, Mackenzie Finklea
2. The Accidental Suffragist, Gaila Gichon
3. The Riviera House, Natasha Lester
4. Circe, Madeline Miller

September 2021 TBR: Books I Need to Finish

1. Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
2. The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory