When a standard paperback is $16, yes we can say books are expensive. I've been a book lover all my life, and it's sad to say that I buy almost everything second hand, or I use the library. I rarely buy books new anymore

For novels, I want a good story, well told, with engaging characters, and that ultimately makes me feel something.

Frankly, their recommendations suck.

The Far Empty by J Todd Scott. If you like neo-Western thrillers, you won't get much better than this book. However, in four years of publication, it only has 1800 ratings on Goodreads.

I read this book in high school, and it blew my adolescent mind. I wonder if I would still feel the same now that I am middle aged.

You are definitely not alone. I have no discomfort around sex in real life, but I find sex scenes in books super cringe. I'd rather things be suggested than shown in all their glory.

It's not my favorite of all time, but it is very very good. Also, I don't think of it as romance. I think of it as a classic of the 19th century. That's the MA in lit in me.

Haven't read this one, but I have absolutely loved The City and the City, Perdido Street Station, and The Scar. Overall, I think he's a very unique and talented writer.

I look at the lists, and then choose a small handful that sound interesting. Sometimes I find amazing reads, like Shuggie Bain and The Overstory, but more often than not I find these books meh. The Promise, for instance, underwhelmed me.

When I was a student and a teacher, I didn't have a lot of time to read what I wanted to read. So when I finally left teaching, I was delighted how much I could read for pleasure. Now, reading for pleasure is all I do. My current job requires me to read while I'm at work, but not outside work hours

I've only ever connected with the Watch books. I think they are great.

I'm not a collector, so I will respond from a reader's point of view. I don't particularly care for those plastic covers, but if I buy a library book used, I accept it for what it is and know that it will be protected for a long period of time. However, if I come across a better copy of a book, like a really good used trade paperback or a good quality used hardcover that's not a library edition, I will often swap it out for the library one I have.

My goal is to read as many of the books as I can from my shelves and my Kindle that are unread (which is a lot). This year I have done this with varying degrees of success, but I have read some great books while doing it (which is the whole point).

I know her because of Doomsday Book, which won the Hugo and the Nebula back in the 90s. Sadly, I didn't love the book though.

When I feel this way, I pick up something very different, so there is no comparison bias.

I use both. The library is definitely a place I will go to for a book that I am not sure I will like. The books that I do buy are either Kindle books or used paperbacks. I haven't bought a new hardcover in over a decade.

Same

An author's personal convictions rarely affect my reading decisions. It would be different if there were anti-gay sentiment in the Ender books, but there isn't. I know because I have read them all.

You do what you think is right, and I'll do what works for me.

Speaker for the Dead remains one of my favorite sci fi novels of all time.

I have heard the Alvin Maker series is worth checking out.

You're going to get a lot flack from people on this sub about him. As a gay man, I don't get it. I don't care one whit about his personal beliefs. For me, all that matters is the text.

I listen at 1.3 speed, and I often use the rewind button, which goes back 15 seconds, if I miss something. I can exercise, drive and do mundane household chores like laundry and dusting while listening to audiobooks, but not much else. I need to pay attention.

Listening to normal speed is just way too slow for me. Feels like the book is crawling. It has nothing to do with finishing the book faster, the faster speed simply sounds more natural to the way I read.

Because it's fun.

I do. In my eyes, the books on my shelf that I haven't read are fresh to me because I haven't read them 😃

I have a backlog of books both in my house and on my Kindle, so I can choose from those. I also have a handful of authors I follow, and I get plenty of recommendations primarily from Reddit and booktube.