How many books open at one time?

[Calvin]

I usually have two or three books going at any one time (unless the book is extremely engaging and I cannot put it down). I attribute reading multiple books to having a focused but short attention span. This gives me the opportunity to change reading style, pace, content, etc., as my mood sees fit.

I am curious: do others also share my habit of having a number of books going at one time?

And if so, what books were so engaging that you had to set aside all others to finish it?

[Barb]

I also read 2-3 books at a time. Usually one audiobook and one or two others. But when I started the Game of Thrones audiobook I ended up reading my paperback copy when I wasn't able to listen. So that book was the most recent solo read for me.

[Lee]

I'm a 1 book at a timer. I find I read better focusing on one book at a time. But I can read faster having 2 or more books going at once.

[Sadie]

I'm usually a literary monogamist, reading one book at a time. However, lately I find that I also have one going with my children and an audiobook for when I'm at the gym. Still only read one at a time in terms of regular reading, but others have snuck in too.

[Calvin]

Hi Sadie, I have often finished three books and started with only one, then find myself sneaking in another after a day or two. Does that make me a literary polygamist? It sounds like such a harsh name. :)

[John]

I often have an audiobook and an e-Book in progress at any given time...having them in two different formats makes it easy to maintain the dual focus. I don't think I would juggle multiple books in the same format.

[Christopher]

I used to read multiple books at once but I'd never finish any of them. I'd get about 2/3 thru them and get distracted and pick up something else.

Now I'll stick with one audiobook for my commute and gym time and one regular book for other times.

I also try not to have the books be the same genre lest I get the particulars confused.

[Judy]

Okay I'm probably crazy. But I read 9 books at a time. (I get bored easily). I read a chapter of each book and cycle through them. Only once in a great while will I read several chapters at once, and that's usually on a Stephen King novel.

I find that this method helps me get through more books quickly.

[Edwin]

Christopher wrote: "Now I'll stick with one audiobook for my commute and gym time and one regular book for other times. "

Sometimes I will start a book and put it on temporary hold while I read something else, usually for a book club. Typically however, it is one audiobook and one regular book for me as well.

[Rich]

Judy wrote: "Okay I'm probably crazy. But I read 9 books at a time. (I get bored easily)."

Crazy is a strong term. I suspect that slightly loopy is more accurate. I really don't know how I'd keep track of them all. I salute you!

I'll usually have three or four going at once. I'll have one for the commute on the train (must fit easily in the backpack and not be too heavy), one for the living room (usually a garden, cooking or travel book), one for the bedside (books that are heavy in weight or require heavy lifting in the noggin) and one for the bathroom (easy, quick brain-candy type reads). That's about all I can manage, and I'm usually covering all my bases.

[Ken]

One at a time, always. The books I like most are the kind that are so deeply layered that to read any more than one is impossible, and one is a worthy challenge. I find them engrossing. I don't typically like "light reading" and can't deal with multiple stories at once.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

The most I tend to have is two - one as my main read, which is usually paper, and one as my workout read, which is on the Nook.

I very occasionally put a book aside for something else, but, usually, once I start I go until I finish - unless I'm dropping it completely.

[John]

Tacketttammiebellsouth.net wrote: John where do you find those audiobooks?
Either at the local library or on the Audible Daily Deal... Or sometimes at Librivox.org. I rarely pay full price, audiobooks are expensive! :)

[Scott]

My main book which is paper, and an audio book at any given time. In my current work situation, I am driving a lot, so I am actually finishing the audiobooks faster

[Jim]

One book at a time is my limit.
So many other things take away from my reading time that it usually requires at least two weeks for me to finish the one book I am focusing upon.

[Rich]

Jim wrote: "One book at a time is my limit.
So many other things take away from my reading time that it usually requires at least two weeks for me to finish the one book I am focusing upon."

You'd have read twice as many books if it hadn't been for those meddlesome kids.

[Lenore]

I usually have 2-3 books on the go at any time. When I'm wanting to read a 'comfort book', something familiar and suiting my mood, I usually read that as a solo book (and it's usually written by Terry Prachett).

[Carolyn F.]

About 2-4, usually one on Kindle, one on PDF/laptop, library book and one of my owned books.

[Lee]

I always have four on the go. Sometimes five.

Always a Malazan 4 chapters a week group read
A audio book in the car
A book that is the main read
A book reading aloud to daughter

Something different to mix up the first three from above.

[Judy]

Usually 3 at a time. One on the kindle, one audio book in the car, and one book next to my bed. I don't find it confusing at all.

[M. Gary]

I found over the years that no later than 60 to 70 pages (sometimes sooner) into a book you then have a good idea where the book is going (just my opinion). Thus I concentrate on just 1 book after I get to page 70 or so. Until then I have about 3 to 6 books open with less than 70 pages read.

[Jim]

Rich wrote: "Jim wrote: "One book at a time is my limit.
So many other things take away from my reading time that it usually requires at least two weeks for me to finish the one book I am focusing upon."

You'..."

You're probably right, Rich. The next time they pay an unexpected visit, I'll lock them in the walk-in closet and knock off as many chapters as possible before their screaming and begging get on my nerves.

[Julia]

Judy wrote and I'm ignoring her first sentence: But I read 9 books at a time. Wow!!! How do you do that?

I'm a one book at a time gal, unless I'm doing a lot of driving, in which case I might be listening to a book, which I sometimes get from my library or library system. And it's almost always a book- type- book. I've only read one book this year on the Kindle.

[Humberto]

Reading 3 books writing 1 editing 2 translating 1 (English - Spanish) looking at 2 - 3 per week.

Happy holidays

[Tad]

I usually have 3 to 4 or more going at a time. One audio for the car, an ebook or two and a physical book or two. Occasionally one will really grab me and I read it pretty exclusively to the finish. Code Name Verity was like that.

I used to either slow down my reading if I was only reading one book that wasn't bad enough to put down but wasn't entirely holding my attention. I'd also face paralysis of indecision when I finished one book and had to decide on the next. Now, I always have a book at some stage of completion and don't feel the pressure when selecting a new one to start. I've found I read more since I started doing that.

[Shomeret]

I used to be a one book at a time person. Then I got my Kindle which is better for mass transit. Now I'm always reading two books--one in print and one on Kindle. I finish my print books more quickly because I spend more time reading at home than on transit.

[Judy]

I'm not exactly sure how or why I do it. Even before my Kindle, I tended to read 3 or 4 books at a time. I just wanted to read *everything* immediately, I guess. I don't have a problem keeping them straight unless they're convoluted, or boring. (And then I just don't want to read them at all.)

[Peggy]

I almost never have more than one book going at a time. If there is a second book, it's something I've read before that I'm using as a "wind down before bedtime" pacifier.

[Scott]

Could never do the multiple books thing. Always one at a time

[MK]

Scott wrote: "Could never do the multiple books thing. Always one at a time"

I used to only be one at a time, but since I started reading ebooks, I find it easy to switch back and forth. And since I joined a classics book group a few months ago here on goodreads, I'm finding I need to read another book, at the same time as I'm reading a classic, particularly if it's an old one, just for a break. Sometimes the old books require such a high degree of concentration, it's a relief to relax into a bit of fluff :)

[Leesa]

I'm reading anywhere between 5-10 things at a time: audiobook, comics, books, ebooks.

It's not unlike being able to keep up with several programs on TV and then going to an occasional movie. I'm able to keep the various storylines clear with the various series/movies, so it's the same with books.

[Scott]

MK wrote: I used to only be one at a time, but since I started reading ebooks, I find it easy to switch back and forth. And since I joined a classics book group a few months ago here on goodreads, I'm finding I need to read another book, at the same time as I'm reading a classic, particularly if it's an old one, just for a break. Sometimes the old books require such a high degree of concentration, it's a relief to relax into a bit of fluff :) "

That makes sense; I could see reading something a little lighter while plowing through a classic at the same time. And I just received my first ereader for Christmas so maybe that will change my habits a bit from now on.

[Art]

I also have many books going at once. Rather than carry around a single book, I have one at my recliner, one in my computer room, one down in the tv room, one in the car door well, one in my parka pocket, 2 or 3 going on my iPod (different ereader apps), one on my kobo and a couple on my nook. And no, I don't get confused, yet.

[MK]

Leesa wrote: "I'm reading anywhere between 5-10 things at a time: audiobook, comics, books, ebooks.

It's not unlike being able to keep up with several programs on TV and then going to an occasional movie. I'm a..."

Exactly! Heh, when I first started doing it with ebooks, it surprised me that I didn't have trouble switching, since pre-kindle, I only ever had one physical book at a time going. I thought about it for a bit, and just like you said, it's not unlike watching a few different tv programs a week. I kinda like having a few stories going at a time, tbh

[Leesa]

Art, pretty much the same for me :) A book in each room!

[Art]

Oh, I have to mention that I have four budding authors I'm helping with their editing, as well,

[MK]

Scott wrote: "MK wrote: I used to only be one at a time, but since I started reading ebooks, I find it easy to switch back and forth. And since I joined a classics book group a few months ago here on goodreads, ..."

I'd be interested to find out if it did. For some reason, the dreaded completely changed my reading habits

[Lyn]

I usually have two going at once, one actual reading and one audiobook. Right now, I have four, unusual, but one is Philip K. Dick's Exegesis, which I like but it is tedious and I have had to put it down a couple of times. I plan to get back on track with two active later this week or next week.

[Stacia]

Like others, I used to be strictly one book at a time (well, one book for pleasure at a time, I generally don't count books I'm reading for work or school when I answer things like this because I'm compelled to read those). Then my commute got longer, and I figured it would be nice to have a book sometimes instead of music, so I went to 2 books at a time. Then I got a kindle, so now I'm up to 3 at a time - a print book for home, an audiobook for the car and an ebook for out on the town (really at lunch and between appointments).

[Scott]

It's not unusual for me to have one fiction and one nonfiction book open at one time. I can switch between them and that way I don't get tired of either genre.

[Ron]

Before I retired, I always had 2 books going at once. 1 for the bus ride to work(about 45 minutes each way) and 1 for when I get into bed.

Now, I have more time for reading and at this point in time, I have 5 books going at once. 2 books on my Kindle for PC, 1 audio book for when I walk for exercise, 1 for online reading from my library's online section, and, 1 for when I get into bed.

Love books. Looking forward to getting an actual Kindle, but, not for a while.

[Kevin]

I usually read two books at a time.

[John]

I read only one paper back book but every once in a while (like during my Christmas road trip) I'll listen to an audio book on my iPhone. Like others have said in this thread, I know reading more than one book is no different than keeping up with more than one tv show. I just like the sense of completion of getting through a book and moving on to another. Also, now that I'm getting the majority of my group reads books through the library, I like to get them back ASAP.

[Karen]

I always have multiple books going, and having a Kindle makes the practice even worse. When I have finished a book, I will typically start browsing my books to see what I want to read next. I will start 5 or 6, then narrow it down to 2 or 3.

I will usually have a fantasy/Science Fiction, a mystery, a history and a contemporary book all going at the same time. Note, I don't usually have more than 1 of each genre going at one time because it gets a little confusing

[[deleted user]]

I normally read one book at a time, unless I need to consult a second or third book in order to document my own novels that I write. I don't know if that counts, but I also am constantly on the Internet or reading magazine articles, again to document myself to prepare a new novel.

[Konna]

Well normally one book at a time. Right now that I am writing my thesis I have a lot of studying and the pile of books is just getting bigger!

[Trike]

Calvin wrote: "I am curious: do others also share my habit of having a number of books going at one time?

And if so, what books were so engaging that you had to set aside all others to finish it? "

I read multiple books at a time, but they are never the same sort of books. I don't read two Fantasy novels at once, for instance.

Currently I'm reading The Daylight War (Epic Fantasy), Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal (science), The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II (history), Spectrum 20: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (art) and The Eternals (graphic novel).

I have occasionally committed to one book at a time to the exclusion of others. Ringworld, Heart of the Comet, Freedom™ and Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist come to mind.

[Jeff]

Currently reading four with three review to post and a TBR of thirty.

[Lara Amber]

I frequently have two books going at once, but never more then two. I'm either splitting time between a non-fiction and a fiction book (especially if the non-fiction book is very dense) or between a classic literature and a contemporary lighter read. I'm on my Kindle, so that definitely helps.

[Sharon]

If I have more than one book going at a time, the second book is usually a re-read, a book I like very much and enjoy but also one I can put down easily if I need to.