What is your criteria for selecting a book to read?

[Shorty]

Titles are the first things I judge books on. I confess, I do look at the covers of books when determining whether or not to read them; if one has a particularly interesting or aesthetically pleasing image or even type on the front cover, I will be more inclined to pick it up. I always check the back description, but I usually find that they don't tell me whether or not I want to read the book.

Opening the book to the very first sentence is usually what draws me in. I am stupidly picky. If it doesn't have an excellent opening line, or even paragraph, I am less inclined to continue reading it. There are certain topics and genres I prefer reading about more than others, but I am pretty open to a variety of subjects when reading. The pull of the initial introduction of the book is really what speaks to me about whether or not I am going to keep reading it. I am not someone who tends to pick up something and keep reading, hoping for it to get better. I need to feel that spark right away to continue reading or to feel like it is worth it for me to continue reading.

Additionally, I am more inclined to pick something up if it has been recommended to me by someone whose literary opinion I trust, or if it's by an author whose past works I've enjoyed reading. Sometimes the author part is tricky; I feel like some writers back themselves into a corner with certain novels and when they try to branch out, it doesn't go so well for them. So that one is a little wishy-washy on me.

What about you? What's the spark that you look for in making your reading selection?