Do you read one book or more books at a time?

[Caecilia]

:-) I have heard of people who love to focus on one book - but then, there are other readers (me included) who like to read 2-3 books at a time.

How about you? How many books do you usually read at a time?

[Lorryn]

Most of the time I only read one at a time. But lately it's been multiple. Right now I am in the middle of two.

[Caecilia]

Lorryn wrote: "Most of the time I only read one at a time. But lately it's been multiple. Right now I am in the middle of two."

:-) high-five! // in the past, I also used to focus on one book but I have recently discovered, that reading more books - has advantages.

when you read a book with a serious topic, something that affects you emotionally - it can help to have another, lighter book to read, too.

[Doms]

Agree with reading a lighter book while (or after) reading a this-is-about-to-make-me-bawl-my-eyes-out book!!! =))

[Caecilia]

Domski Fatima wrote: "Agree with reading a lighter book while (or after) reading a this-is-about-to-make-me-bawl-my-eyes-out book!!! =))"

haha ... totally!

I was recently reading "A Little Life" which, as much as I would recommend it - was a very challenging read, emotionally.
I felt as if the content dragged me down very much ~ I have felt almost exhausted at times, reading it.
.. having had another, lighter read also helped me to not get "lost" in all the sadness that the Yanagihara book was causing.

[TheBookReader]

I always read 2 to 3 books at a time! Can't help it. It first started when I got my first kindle, since I would read a book in the kindle on my commutes, and a different book (paper) at home, then I saw how great it was for me what you say, to have different books to read depending on my mood, so now I don't remember the last time I was only reading one at a time! :)

[Caecilia]

Thais wrote: "then I saw how great it was for me what you say, to have different books to read depending on my mood, so now I don't remember the last time I was only reading one at a time! :) "

:-) hello Thais! ~ I also read on Kindle and actual hardcover, paperback books.

reading only one book felt like, I was beginning to focus .. only on one story. I figured out that this had a bit of unhealthy consequences :-) for me. it is similar to life ..

we should not focus all our energy into one thing. but spread it into various people, various things .. ;-) various books.

[Gabe]

I wish I could read more books at the same time. I tried, but I ended up confusing them ahaha

[Jignasha]

I genreally read only one book at a time but of late, if a book bores me, I do find myself veering to another one :P

[Caecilia]

Gabe wrote: "I wish I could read more books at the same time. I tried, but I ended up confusing them ahaha"

:-) that is also, what happened to me in the beginning.
it took me a while until I felt that reading more books was actually, helping me ...

[Caecilia]

book.amour wrote: "I genreally read only one book at a time but of late, if a book bores me, I do find myself veering to another one :P"

;-) sometimes,
I feel that it's not the right time for a particular book.

but I know what you mean.
even the best book has bits that are just - let's say - a wee bit more: challenging :-) and I'm also, not always in the mood for less exciting parts. - now, that I think about it. yes, it really depends on my reading mood.

[Bryony]

I always read 2 books at a time! :-)

[Caecilia]

@Bryony ~ same here!

[guywholovebooks]

i always read too books, one big and second normal one:D

[Roxanne]

I tend to stick with only one at a time unless the second is something very easy or light, mostly graphic novels. :)

[[ J o ]]

I usually get to read one from each format (novel, poetry, play etc) if I can. I find it easy to keep track like that. But reading several novels at a time is easy for me if they have different genres. Two books of high fantasy would just blend in to one so genres are important to me.

[Mariana]

I can't read more than one book at once! Even when I try to start 2 or 3 at the same time, I end up focusing my attention on just one and feeling guilty about neglecting the others.

[Lubna]

I read one book and listen to a second one.

[Caecilia]

-- fascinating how we all love books, but our reading habits differ :-)

Saoirse // the idea with reading books of various genre ~ that is interesting. I try not to read more than one book dealing with an overly serious topic at a time :-) I'd rather mix serious book with light reads.

Mariana // .. funny, with me this focusing happens, too - but it shifts. very often a book I find super exciting in the beginning wouldn't end up to be the one I loved most ;-)

[Nathaniel]

I read 4 or 5 books all the time at the same time.

[Alex]

I read three or four at once, but mostly because I'm reading two novels at a time and like to have a lighter read on my phone to read while working out, and another pleasure read on the bedside table.

[[ J o ]]

I am a genre person in general. I love exploring them so reading several at a time is a must.

[Ren]

I usually have 2 going at once so if one gets boring after a bit, i can jump to the next one and vice versa.

[Lili's]

I can pretty much only read one at a time because I have a hard time focusing, although sometimes I read more than one if it is a re-read or a really short novella.

[Sushi]

I usually read 2-3 books at a time. One usually for school and two others for me :)

[Ari]

I usually read 3-4 books at a time

[Rohit]

Many book at a time

[Caecilia]

:-)

interesting to see all your replies ~
what I am figuring out is that reading 2 or 3 books has one little disadvantage -- it takes you longer ;-) to finish each of the books.

[Kat]

I'm terrible at this, I have something ridiculous like 15 books on the go right now... I'm often fussy on what I want to read, so I'll have a "main read" and a collection of others to pick up when I'm in the mood for something different

[Caecilia]

-- Kat,
I couldn't cope with 15 ;-) but I can relate to the basic feeling.

when a book order arrives, I get impatient & have to read at least the first chapter of the new book. terrible, I know!
on the other hand :-) this helps to get a first impression of the new book and I have something to look forward to ...

[Jeana]

I've got about 4-5 books going at any given time. One for my purse, one on my nook, two I'm reading to my daughter at bedtime, and usually one main book that I read in bed.

[Mairita (Marii grāmatplaukts)]

Caecilia wrote: ":-)

interesting to see all your replies ~
what I am figuring out is that reading 2 or 3 books has one little disadvantage -- it takes you longer ;-) to finish each of the books."

Yes, but when you finish, you finish like 3 books in one day. It feels great :D
I tend to read 1 - 3 books at a time, audio book, e-book and physical book. If I read non-fiction, I read a novel at the same time, sometimes I read two novels at the same time - one longer, one shorter.

[penneminreads]

Mairita wrote: "Caecilia wrote: ":-)

interesting to see all your replies ~
what I am figuring out is that reading 2 or 3 books has one little disadvantage -- it takes you longer ;-) to finish each of the books..."

I think I'd love the feeling of finishing a couple of books in one day :D

But in my experience starting two books only leads to me not being able to completely focus on either book. I like really diving into a story, and it can't quite be accomplished when I read more books at once.

It does happen sometimes, though, mostly when I'm starting a book I really can't get into... so I'll start another one and alternate a bit until I put down the first book for good :D

[Taylor C]

I go back and forth on how many I read.
Usually it is one book at a time. Especially if I'm hooked and can't put it down!

Currently like my situation now, I'm in the middle of 2-3 books because I can't decide if I like them or not haha!

[Caecilia]

Astrid wrote: "I think I'd love the feeling of finishing a couple of books in one day :D"

- oh, believe me. I have been there.
a month ago, I took part in a game on another book group on GR. there were teams and we had a given timeline of one week. the group that had read most books within the one week won.
I remember finishing books really quickly (reading like crazy) in that one week ...

as much fun it was to participate in that game, I have to admit that the reading experience itself was not really relaxed. in the back of my mind there was this little thought sitting that I better read quickly and finish the book fast.

I prefer to read at my own pace. oh, that brings up an idea for a new thread :-)

[penneminreads]

Caecilia wrote: "Astrid wrote: "I think I'd love the feeling of finishing a couple of books in one day :D"

- oh, believe me. I have been there.
a month ago, I took part in a game on another book group on GR. ther..."

I know what you mean! I'm a slow reader, but every time I force myself to read faster I just end up skimming passages, and reading just isn't fun anymore. I like taking in the atmosphere of a book, as well as the language .. reading is supposed to be relaxing, for me :)

[t.]

I usually read two, maybe even three books at the same time. Like a few people mentioned, sometimes I pick up a somewhat heavy read and try to balance it with a more light one. For example, right now I'm reading The Kite Runner, and I recently started Cinder. The Kite Runner can be quite hard on the heart and the feelings, so Cinder's job is to distract me from the downs that follow TKR. Also, if one book is to big for me to carry with me around, then I pick a smaller one that I can read on the bus/train. Oh, and as of late I've been listening to audiobooks, too, whenever I'm walking or riding my bike.
As to how people manage to keep several books apart and not confuse them, I think it's pretty simple. I mean, I bet you people watch more than just one TV show at the time and don't confuse them all, right? Like Saoirse said, reading different genres is a great approach to keep them apart, or very different topics.

[Ana]

I usually read two or three. Two when physical books, and three when two physical and one ebook.

Like some people said, I read a heavy book long a light one.
Actually, now I am (or should, or wanted to!) reading two heavy and one light.
I am actually reading really different genres... yes, fiction but the subjects are so far apart from each other.
A Brief History of Seven Killings, I Am a Cat and All the Light We Cannot See: as you can see, none of them is related :) which is kind of nice when I want to escape from a situation I can chose the book and the subject I want to read.

[Ryan]

Historically I've been a one-at-a-time sorta dude, but lately I'm juggling a bit more.

At the moment, I'll often take a few hours away from whatever I'm reading to soak-up a graphic novel. If it's a longer volume (Watchmen, for instance took me a few sittings as opposed to, say, volume one of Y:The Last Man), I'll keep it on the bedstand and nose through it over a few days.

Likewise, I've lately had an audiobook on the go at the office, so now we're up to three-formats-at-once.

That said, I try to finish each before moving on to the next book/comic/audiobook...unless something needs to be finished by some sort of deadline.

Yeah...I think I have a problem...

[Caecilia]

Astrid wrote: "Caecilia wrote: "I know what you mean! I'm a slow reader, but every time I force myself to read faster I just end up skimming passages, and reading just isn't fun anymore. I like taking in the atmosphere of a book, as well as the language .. reading is supposed to be relaxing, for me :) "

So agree :-)
It's good to see that other avid readers feel similarly.

You mentioned that you are a slow reader. High-five to that! ;-) What I have also noticed is that I like to read a book, then at times .. leave it for days .. and pick it up again, e.g. on the weekend to continue.

I admire people who can stick to one story - for me, I rather be in the mood for a particular book, than "force" myself to continue because of a tight time schedule.

[penneminreads]

Caecilia wrote: "So agree :-)
It's good to see that other avid readers feel similarly.

You mentioned that you are a slow reader. High-five to that! ;-) What I have also noticed is that I like to read a book, then at times .. leave it for days .. and pick it up again, e.g. on the weekend to continue.

I admire people who can stick to one story - for me, I rather be in the mood for a particular book, than "force" myself to continue because of a tight time schedule. "


I'm doing the same thing - reading a book, then leaving it be for a couple of days... only with one book instead of a couple ;)

But I have to say, I'm starting to get why people read two or more books at a time. I was reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman the other night and it was so depressing that I just needed a couple of pages of something more light-hearted before I went to sleep :D
That's new ... I've read sad books before but this time I just didn't want to sleep with that feeling and that story in my head.

[Caecilia]

Astrid wrote: "Caecilia wrote: "I was reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman the other night and it was so depressing that I just needed a couple of pages of something more light-hearted before I went to sleep :D
That's new ... I've read sad books before but this time I just didn't want to sleep with that feeling and that story in my head. "

Astrid :-) ... which other, more light-hearted book did you find to help you with falling asleep in a good mood?

[penneminreads]

Caecilia wrote: "Astrid :-) ... which other, more light-hearted book did you find to help you with falling asleep in a good mood?"

I had sort of paused reading Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde for starting American Gods, so I picked that one back up again :)
How many books do you read at a time usually, Caecilia?

[Caecilia]

I have heard of "Lost in a Good Book" (love the title, btw) :-) Jasper Fforde seems to be a good choice for mood enlightening.

Astrid wrote: "How many books do you read at a time usually, Caecilia?"

Let me think ... ;-)
Really reading as in: continuing, I would say 2 or 3, in average.

When a new book order arrives, I find it too hard to resist the temptation to sneak inside and read at least the first chapter of a book (ehem) - ... then, I pick it up at a later time to read properly -- Do you also do that when you hold a new book in your hands?

[penneminreads]

Caecilia wrote: "Let me think ... ;-)
Really reading as in: continuing, I would say 2 or 3, in average.

When a new book order arrives, I find it too hard to resist the temptation to sneak inside and read at least the first chapter of a book (ehem) - ... then, I pick it up at a later time to read properly -- Do you also do that when you hold a new book in your hands? "


It's incredibly tempting but since I know that I'll dump the book I'm currently reading for the new one if I even so much as read a few pages, most of the time I don't even start :D not until I finish the one I'm reading at the moment.
That may change now, however, I'm beginning to see the upsides of reading more books at once (thanks, Goodreads :D ).

[Caecilia]

Astrid wrote: "That may change now, however, I'm beginning to see the upsides of reading more books at once (thanks, Goodreads :D ).."

Hehe .. Goodreads helping to change your reading behaviour?
;-)

I have become very easy-going with books.
When I read just for myself, I don't stick to the thought that I "have to" finish a book immediately.

:-) What I love about buddy & group reads is that while being able to share thoughts and discuss a book with other reader/s, it also provides perfect motivation to stick to it to the end ;-)

[penneminreads]

Caecilia wrote: "

Hehe .. Goodreads helping to change your reading behaviour? ..."

It is! This group especially. I think you guys have me convinced that reading less than two books at a time is just a waste :D

I started a second book on the weekend because I find that I can only read one or two chapters of American Gods and then I want to put it down again. So I figured, if I read something else in between, I still get to read (which I obviously love), and it'll help me stay motivated for AG :)

[Rose]

Normally I read just one book at a time or two (If my current read is to heavy to carry with me I have a to go book than) but in the last months I started to read more than one or two books. I don't like it.

[Rohit]

I would like to read 2 books at a time

[Farozan]

Currently, reading three books. One's a hardback, too heavy to carry so I read it at home. 2 are ebooks which I read during my commute to work depending on what my mood is.