With never-ending assignments, exams and projects, college students are seldom able to find time to read for fun. But Spring Break is finally here and we have time to read the books we always said we would. Finding a good book can be a daunting task itself, especially if you’re anything like me and you demand perfection of your own selections. After nearly three years as an English major, I finally compiled the ultimate how-to guide for finding the perfect book.
Make a Goodreads Account and Find Inspiration
Goodreads is a website where users can make lists of books they have read, want to read or are currently reading. Additionally, users can create book reviews or read reviews left by other users. This website will help you dip your toes into a massive sea of books, as well as keep a list of books you may want to read someday. I personally have about 30 books on my Goodreads list that I haven’t read yet. In order to find books to add to your list, you need to do some research and scanning to find books that pique your interest. Many people, myself included, turn to social media for inspiration and book recommendations, then you can add these recommendations to your Goodreads list so you don’t forget about them.
Think about Genre
Now that you have a list of books you might read someday on Goodreads, you need to narrow down your selection a little more. Take a look at your list and a look at your life, and think to yourself about what you might need to read right now. Some genres I gravitate towards when reading for fun are self-help and inspiration, realistic fiction, historical fiction and biographies or autobiographies. There is no shame in needing an easy read to entertain your mind or relax. But there is also no better time than Spring Break to challenge yourself with complex literature while you have the time. Narrow down your options to a few strong contenders of books that offer similar genres, themes and levels of complexity.
Find Your Copy
Once you have your sights set on a few good books, it’s time to find the physical book itself. Oftentimes when shopping secondhand or renting, not all shops carry the largest variety – this is where your shortlist comes in handy. Find any books you can off of the shortlist, and then make your decision. If I walk into a secondhand book store and I find one of my options right away, I know that book was meant for me to read.
Shopping Secondhand
I typically take the route of finding my books at local bookstores or secondhand stores. Thriftbooks is an online bookstore with thousands of titles at reduced prices, these pre-loved books come from all over the country and most have minimal wear and tear. Thrift stores such as Goodwill or The Salvation Army often have a wide variety of options but are less likely to have specific books you may be searching for. Book Rack Gift Booktique, also known as Book Rack Gifts & Books, is located inside the Oak Cliff Shopping Center, 4408 Knoxville Ave in Peoria, IL. Book Rack Gift Booktique offers book buying, selling and trading used books and they are a woman-owned establishment. Thrifted books save paper, keep books out of landfills, and these books (arguably) have more sentimental value than a book fresh off of the printer.
Shopping and Renting Local
Here in Peoria, we have a number of locally owned bookstores, as well as beautiful public libraries to rent books from. Lit. on Fire Books is located at 712 W. Main St. in Peoria, IL and offers both in-store and online shopping. I Know You Like a Book is an independent book store located at 4707 N Prospect Rd, Peoria Heights, IL. I Know You Like a Book sells both new and used books. The Peoria Public Library offers a plethora of texts for rental with the use of a library card. Library cards are available for all Peoria residents to apply for with proof of residence. The Peoria Public Library Main location is at 107 N.E. Monroe Peoria, IL and a North Branch at 3001 W. Grand Pkwy. Peoria, IL.
Get Reading
Once you’ve done all of the groundwork, you can finally get to reading your new (or used) book. The key to finding your next favorite book is going with your instincts and selecting texts that stand out to you. I like to call this method intuitive selection; there is no pressure, there are no deadlines, and I promise you, nobody will ask you to write a paper about it. Forget the pressure to read critically-acclaimed, award-winning novels and find a book you can truly fall in love with (although critically-acclaimed, award-winning novels are definitely worthwhile). I hope everyone is able to ignite a passion for reading this Spring Break, no matter what title you choose.