I’m not one for compiling lists of what I am going to read ahead of time, because I value too much the freedom and spontaneity of a vast sea of choices each time I finish a book, and often the reading experience will lead me on to the next thing.
Like reading Barbara Kingsolver’s ‘Prodigal Summer’ straight after ‘The Namesake’. How could I know that after listening to the group discussing the book I would have a conversation with a local poet about the beauty of sentences and Jhumpa Lahiri’s essay and that she would tell me I must read Kingsolver’s book. It was sitting on the shelf unread and thus I abandoned all other reading ideas and jumped straight into it.
100 years on, Titanic Belfast Museum
But I do love looking at the lists, always feeding into the mental TBR list, noting books I might wish to read or to keep an eye out for.
I could say I have intentions for summer, like the two Titanic inspired books I bought on a recent visit to Titanic Belfast, the excellent museum opened in March this year.
‘A Night to Remember’ and ‘And the Band Played On’ also seem appropriate companions to Charlotte Rogan’s ‘The Lifeboat’ which I have on kindle.
To help you decide, I wanted to share this excellent flowchart designed by Teach.com to encourage students to find a book of their choice, there are 101 books shown, inviting readers to consider fiction versus non-fiction, classic or contemporary and many other options. I keep coming across it and there’s something appealing about viewing images of covers rather than just a list of titles, so enjoy and I hope you find something for your own summer read!
So do you plan your reads or are you open to the spontaneous?
Via Teach.com and USC Rossier Online
Word by Word 
This chart is fantastic. I am reblogging your post Ma’am.
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Isn’t it great! I wish I had a huge poster of it 🙂 Thanks for reblogging it, enjoy.
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Ciao Bella. 😉
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Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat.Com™ and commented:
Beautiful post on what to read. Ms. Claire has included a magnificent chart to guide you in deciding what you may wish to read. Thank you Word By Word.
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I plan my reads based on reviews, word of mouth, and sometimes just because I like the cover and blurb
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I think all those things feed into my mental list too, but when I choose the next book, it might coincide with whats already on the shelf, a visit to the library or bookshop or some review or conversation I’ve recently had. Or some synergy with the book just read which leads me onto the next one. Love the process though.
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Brillant post!! The post is very informative.I plan my reads on my mood. I have plenty of books on my shelves that I haven’t read yet. I also can’t resist buying new ones. I think I’ll reread East of Eden for sure. It’s my favorite Steinbeck. I’ll also be testing out two e-books this summer. I’ll be doing two Book Blog Tours – one in July and the other in August. I’ll definitely alternate between light reads and heavier ones. I look forward to seeing what you finally decide to read this summer. Good luck with that. It’s like loving candy and being in the candy shop with 3€. Difficult!! They’re all so good and they’re so many of them. Not to mention, there is so little time. 🙂
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Sounds like me Didi, with the occasional bookclub book thrown in, although I’m not really a member of a club, more like a drop-in occasionally if I am free since they meet in the middle of the afternoon 🙂
Good on you for taking on the Blog Tours, I’ll look forward to reading about them when you post. Candy shop indeed!
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What a really cool flow chart! By the way I too loved ‘Prodigal Summer’, and after reading it I spent a long time trying to find other books which generated a similar atmosphere and reading experience….still looking……..
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Couldn’t resist starting it straight away Edith and think I’m a little sunburnt today as a result, page turning at the beach, (half shade, half sun) instead of applying suncream 🙂 Yes, isn’t it great the flowchart?
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I would like mine in those lists
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Would be interesting to know how they came up with the books Chris, any writer in the poster should have a boost in sales this summer I am sure.
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I would like a boost in sales
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Great post Claire…love the chart. I always make random lists of what I’m going to read and never stick to them. For now I’m going to take a leaf out of your book and just go with the flow… 🙂
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I don’t actually write any lists but discuss what I might read next with a couple of friends and it invariably changes because something more exciting comes along or something I’ve had for ages, but suddenly must be read!
Definitely Jen, be spontaneous and let yourself be carried away by the freedom of not having a set plan! There’s always more to the story then, that exciting something that inspired you to change your mind that you can share 🙂
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This chart is terrific! I hope you don’t mind if I post it too. I’m anxious to see what you think of ‘The Lifeboat’.
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Go for it Tracy, it’s a fabulous chart and the more that see it the better! Will certainly let you know what I think of ‘The Lifeboat’, coming soon 🙂
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So creative! With your permission, I’m reflagging too!
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No need to ask 🙂 happy that its being shared widely.
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Reblogged this on Patricia Sands' Blog and commented:
Don’t miss checking out this absolutely brilliant flowchart of book suggestions!
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The chart is brilliant – thanks!
I hope you enjoy Prodigal Summer. I absolutely loved that book!
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So pleased that there is an excellent Kingsolver book I havn’t read, in fact, I have still to read Animal, Mineral, Vegetable, interesting that that line is actually mentioned in Prodigal Summer. Glad you are enjoying the chart, hope you find a good summer read from it or do you already have plans?
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I’m not one of life’s planners really so I will definitely read one or more from the list over the summer! Am also planning to do some re-reads – definitely Le Grand Meaulnes and Madame Bovary on my list but apart from that it’ll all be spur of the moment stuff!
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What a chart! I have this image in my head of a gigantic, walkable one…
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Love that idea Nelle, take a walk to find the perfect summer read. Now that you mention it, I am seeing two people walking on it at the same time, would be interesting to see who ends up with the same book with 101 on offer 🙂
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I love that chart! I’m half and half spontaneity and planning – I plan what books go together but if something takes my fancy I just go for it!
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I can see that Charlotte, Ulysses was definitely planned and what an achievement, you are an inspiration to us all, but good to know you allow a little spontaneity in there too.
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I’ve come across this in a number of places now but haven’t yet had time to explore it. A pleasure for Sunday morning, perhaps? ‘Prodigal Summer’ was the first Kingsolver I read and was completely bowled over by it. I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Perfect for a Sunday read Alex, pity its not been reproduced in a newspaper, it would be good to see the entire image in one view.
Am loving ‘Prodigal Summer’ thanks, a great day reading at the beach today, the book now has reminders of that too 🙂
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Really, really love this. The books are excellent and they cover such a wide range of reading tastes. Thanks so much for posting.
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I’m so happy I shared it, I keep looking at it myself and think the range is excellent and the process interesting. Enjoy your journey 🙂
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I love the infographic! I am currently reading Margaret Dilloway’s “The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns.” Then I’ll continue through my stack.
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This is wonderful! My cousin is a librarian and now I know what to get her for her birthday this month!
Ashley
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Good idea, I hadn’t thought about how useful it might be for that reason as well 🙂
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Hi Claire, I just nominated you for 2 new blog awards. Check out the details here:
http://inaroomofmyown.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/more-awards/
It’s a bit like the game of ‘tag, you’re it!’ 🙂
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I read books chosen by my bookclub, books recommended by my mom, and cheap books I find in the discount shelves. Did you know the dollar store carries books?! I discovered an amazing German author Daniel Kehlmann there. Also books propped up by the librarians, Goodreads, and of course, favs in a series. thank goodness for the constant new supply!
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Fantastic chart, although midly depressing knowing there is so much out there that I won’t be able to read it all in a life time. Your blog makes me happy again though.
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Well, not all of it necessarily will match up, and it is only those that present themselves along with a few words that shout out ‘you must read this’ that one needs to indulge in, for me books are a kind of fashion, some I am happy to just know about without the need to try them on for size 🙂
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indeed great flowchart and will convince a few to read more ::)
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Its an excellent tool for helping people navigate the path towards which book to read by understanding a little about what interests them, I think its fantastic.
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Love this, and shared it. I was happy to see so many of my favorites on the chart too.
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Thanks for sharing it, yes I too was pleased to recognise a few that I have read and equally some that I have plans to in the very near future.
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A fine chart and great innovation
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Isn’t it great! I hope you found something new to read on it also.
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Superb Post. So many books–So little time. ❤
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Thanks, gotta love a visual image to draw people into the world of the imagination within.
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Wonderful! The only thing I’d change is to replace the David McCullough biography with one by Joseph Ellis.
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Brilliant! I love the chart. Now to work my way through ……
Happy summer reading! x
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Loved the blog, and laughed out loud when I saw the brilliant flow chart !
It must have taken hours…
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Can you imagine the fun brainstorming session they must have had, I think there are over 100 books to choose from, but a wonderful visual decision making tool, a poster would be fabulous.
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