Wickedjr89 t1_j69a8yt wrote on January 28, 2023 at 5:50 PM

Then ... stop reading the classics? It sounds like you don't like them, and that's ok. Just read what you want to read, for fun, for enjoyment. Not what you feel like you're supposed to.

I do get anxiety about what book to read next and think about other books while i'm reading one, because I want to read so many books and there's not enough time in a lifetime to read them all, but ultimately I choose something and I read it. If i'm not liking it I generally DNF and move on. I don't need to be blown away by a book to finish it though. But it sounds like you're hating the classics, which is fine, just means that's not what you want to read and that's ok.

Wickedjr89 t1_j69c4go wrote on January 28, 2023 at 6:03 PM

For choice people have already talked about ways to decide what books to read. For me personally I used to make TBRs and POPs (piles of possibilities i'd choose from) but this year i've finally decided to stop doing that. Don't get me wrong, I think they worked for me for a time and got me into reading and reading diversely (which personally I enjoy) but it no longer works for me. I just want to read what I want, when I want. And now? I'm more excited to read than ever before! What will I read next? I don't know. I have ideas. I used to share my TBRs and POPs (book blog, booktube ...) so I felt stuck in them, like a promise, and I could not break a promise.

Now I write down a bunch of books i'm thinking of but I don't share it, no promise is made. When I go to pick up another book I decide what I want to read based on what I feel like reading. There may be other considerations but nothing set in stone. Like, is this book club on Goodreads reading a book I want to read? Do I feel like joining in? If so, I will, if not, I won't.

Granted all this is me personally. I'm not saying it works that way for everyone (or even anyone) else. You'll figure out what works for you. Good luck :).