Bookworms and Their Reading

[Schipperke]

I'm wondering if anyone has found a convenient way to help bookworms achieve their wishes to read ever-increasing numbers of books.  My problem is, when I tell one of my sims to "read something" from the bookcase, they're apt to choose something they've already read, and I can't tell until they start reading and I see no progress bar above their head.  They'll happily read the same book over and over, but that doesn't help them achieve their wishes.  With several bookworms in my Dynasty, I can't possibly remember each book they've read.  Is there any way to get them to read something they haven't previously read, other than trial-and-error (which is time-consuming with a large household)?

[Metropolis Man]

A great combo is Bookworm and Children's books. So, if you have a writer in your Dynasty that happens to specialize in Children's Books, then just pass those completed books to the Bookworms. They get read very quickly since they're so short.

Another tip is each bookshelf houses different books (I think), so you can cue up multiple "Read Something" from a shelf and they should pick something they have not read first. At least that's been my experience. If they're picking things they've already read, then you need to move to a different bookshelf.

[wildredchild]

With my bookworm sims, I have a certain bookshelf for each.  Then I have a central bookshelf.  As new books get added to the house, I put them in the central bookshelf.  Then as each bookworm reads a book, it is placed into their personal bookshelf, usually in their bedroom. Then I just transfer books to the next bookworm from those books already read by a previous bookworm.  I buy 1 additional bookshelf that houses all books read by all the bookworms.  This way I keep the books rotating around the house from bookworm to bookworm.

[Schipperke]

Thanks, Metro and Wildred, for the responses.  I like the idea of having different bookcases, and may try that.  Another idea that occurred to me would be to have the sim take everything from the bookcase.  Then once the books are all in their inventory, I can tell which ones have been previously read when the option comes up to "read" or "reread".  This would work for the books they own, but I guess there's no way to tell them to read something new at the library.

[mtglady]

Thanks, Metro and Wildred, for the responses.  I like the idea of having different bookcases, and may try that.  Another idea that occurred to me would be to have the sim take everything from the bookcase.  Then once the books are all in their inventory, I can tell which ones have been previously read when the option comes up to "read" or "reread".  This would work for the books they own, but I guess there's no way to tell them to read something new at the library.

Only problem with putting them all in their inventory is that a Neat Sim will continue to put books away (from their inventory into a bookcase) whether they have read them or not.

[Schipperke]

Only problem with putting them all in their inventory is that a Neat Sim will continue to put books away (from their inventory into a bookcase) whether they have read them or not.

Do they?  I've never seen any of my sims put away books that were in their inventory.  Now, I don't have a lot of experience with Neat sims, but the few I've had would keep books in their inventory forever unless I told them to put the books away.  Interesting.

[NeoFelis]

If I can't afford multiple bookcases, I know of a few options. One is to put all the books your Bookworm has read into the Family Inventory. Another is to click on the bookcase, select "open" or "open bookcase" (my game is loading right now, so I can't look to see which it is) and then you have two options. One is to, with your Bookworm selected, click on each book until you find one that doesn't have the option to "Reread book" and the other is to sort the books in the (bookshelf "inventory") box. This can be done by appearance/type or by keeping books your Bookworm hasn't read yet first in the bookcase. Two more options are to sell the books as soon as you've read them (whether this is a good idea for you depends on what kind of game you're playing) or to put the read books in the inventory of a non-Neat, non-Bookworm member of the household's inventory. Final option is to have a room that either has no doors (these are easy to put behind a staircase) or a room that you lock so that no one is allowed in. When you want to access something in either space, drag the book you want out or unlock the door for the Sim you want to have access to the room.

How's that? Good, or an overloaded list of choices?  

Edit: Meant behind, not under.

[Pam]

Do they?  I've never seen any of my sims put away books that were in their inventory.  Now, I don't have a lot of experience with Neat sims, but the few I've had would keep books in their inventory forever unless I told them to put the books away.  Interesting.

Oh, yes!  Those Neat Sims can be so annoying with putting away the books.  I've had a Neat Sim put away a very important skill or cookbook while on vacation and I had to buy another one.  I've played a lot of Neat Sims and this is one thing that is just annoying about them.

[Sophie4563]

I prefer to use chests to store books in. When they're in a chest no one can access them and the maid can't put it away. Unread books go in the chest, read books in the bookshelf. This works like Wildred's system but this way sims aren't mixing books up on their own.

[samoht04]

I just make a library, a small room with a few book shelves near the livingroom and the Bookworms get on in there fine. 

[NeoFelis]

I prefer to use chests to store books in. When they're in a chest no one can access them and the maid can't put it away. Unread books go in the chest, read books in the bookshelf. This works like Wildred's system but this way sims aren't mixing books up on their own.

That's a good idea! And simpler than some of the things I suggested; I was going for completeness, since simple/easy can be relative.

[Ankaret]

If your bookworm sim also likes to fish or cook, I've found the recipes and fishing books count as books for the purposes of the 'read 10 / 25 / 50 books' wishes.  And they don't take as long to read as long novels or skill books!