This is how I put it; three stages of a book reader.

1) The initial, I would call it the 'clueless' stage, is/are the books that your syllabus suggest and you read them. You are fed these books.

2) OK! So you love what you read, you decide you want to read more and more. So you ask around, Google a bit, book reviews. I would call it the 'inquisitive stage'. You proudly call yourself an avid reader. The time element involved here is huge.

3) After going through these two stages the reader reaches a whole new level, an advanced stage. The reader learns to let go in terms of the fact that he knows what's good and what's not. What writers are exceptional and those who are mere commercial and how great a Pulitzer/Booker is.

Once you reach this stage the books take the front seat. It chooses you. You don't.