Finding a Good Book

A good book can be difficult for some people to find. Many people believe that they will only like books that are in the genre they have always read. I have found many flaws in this approach. I have also found that many authors will blend or cross genres as they try new styles and ideas with their writings which can muddy the waters for a reader..

Sticking with a specific author because you are "comfortable" with their writing style can also prove problematic. I myself have recently ventured into a challenge to try new and different styles to help me grow as a writer. This allows me to appeal to a larger audience as well as improve my writing skill. 

With these things in mind, I share some advice that I was offered by a former English professor. They advised to always give a book a fair shot with a guide of reading two to three chapters before deciding if you liked a book. They also suggested to follow the old adage of not judging a book by its cover. Publishers will always tell authors that the cover is what sells a book. To an extent they are right. But as readers we need to look beyond the cover and take the time to read the description on the cover, read a portion of the book, and get a real understanding of what the work is about and what the style of the writing is like before we decide whether we want to invest our time and intention into the creative journey.

I love poetry. I have always centered around descriptive poetry that painted clear images of the outdoors or colorful scenes. Then I was introduced to work from the Harlem Renaissance. The angst and feeling, the human experience that was depicted by Langston Hughes and many of his contemporaries opened my mind to the world of a different type of poetry. I have started to read works by Maya Angelou and Rumi and many other creative minds. This shift in my perspective of what I would read in poetry has impacted how I chose other books as well. Now I am less reserved about a good novel or novella. I am more intrigued by a well written memoir. As an author, it is this shift that has also inspired me to assess what and how I write a creative work.

So, when you are looking for that next good book. Don't just stick to the old reliable. Assess what kind of mood you are in. Are you feeling lyrical or adventurous. Are you feeling romantic or mysterious or historic. Your mood is perhaps a better guide for what your next read should be rather than your last book.