Multiple Reading

[Luella]

Yes but recently it got overwhelming and I got burnt out a bit.

[Akshay]

yeah, I used to.

[Sarah]

I often do, but lately I've been focusing on one at a time. In the past I've had a non fiction, a serious fiction, and a silly fiction going simultaneously so that I can read what I feel at any given moment.

Last night I started IT to read in between A Series of Unfortunate Events books. I like to have options!

[Kyra]

Yes, this is what I've been doing probably for the past year. Over the summer I was reading the two books for this book club and then one memoir. Like I read Russell Brand's, Prince's first wife's book, and Jean Kennedy.

[Amanda]

Yes. I have something like 18 books on my currently reading shelf right now. I usually have a few less going at once, and I go back and forth between them until one captures my interest and demands to be finished quickly.

[David]

This is exactly what I'm doing at the moment. I like to have something from a few genres going at any one time so I have something to go to depending on my mood.

[Mariana]

I try to focus on one at a time, but sometimes a book gets boring or something else (shorter or more interesting) comes along. Also, when I go to the city to run some errands I avoid taking my Kindle e-reader with me, so I take a physical book with me on those oportunities. I got 3 books started at the same time for all those reasons.

[Sarah]

I read two to three books at a time,
Usually one longer or more dense book that I only read for short periods at a time.
Then one or two group reads or books from my TBR.

[August]

Sometimes I'll read two at once, one fiction and one non-fiction, but a few years ago I would have something like ten books I was reading at once, and I'd just read a chapter of each at a time. It got too hard for me to remember what was going on in each book, plus it was hard to maintain once I started college.

[Kristin B.]

I almost never read more than one book at a time. Partially because I like to focus on one story at a time and partially because it gives me an incentive to finish so I can move on to something new.

[Cheryl]

I try not to, but there's always one that I read in the family room where I don't need to be able to concentrate, and one I read in my bedroom where I can concentrate. And there's often a heavy non-fiction that I can't read in bed and have to find a quiet place for.

And then one in my purse (usually poetry), one in the bathroom (cheap trivia or humor that I can discard when I'm done), children's books that I can read in odd moments in-between housework....

But I use my "currently reading" shelf for "currently checked out of the library and need to read" actually.

[Nicole]

I can read one fiction and one non-fiction at the same time. More than one fiction book has the potential to confuse me.

[Sara]

I do when I have to. Right now, I'm reading three books for university and one for fun. There's no way I could read more than one fiction at the same time, I would get too confused. Reading several books at a time is overwhelming and stressful for me. I like to be able to devote all of my time and energy to one book, but unfortunately, school does not allow me to do that! During the semester, I get very few books read that I actually want to read. Unless I'm listening to audio books on my commute, but right now what I'm listening to happens to be a book for school :(

[Kandice]

I am generally reading on physical book, one ebook and listening to an audio book. I try to keep them very different genres/voices, whatever so that I can keep them straight. I just love listening to audio books as I drive so always have one in the car.

[Ceri]

I'm doing exactly this and it's wearing me out atm. Really need to try and cut it down.

[Marie]

There's always so much I was to read, so I often start to read a bunch of book at the same time, to forget about them after a few chapter. I usually keep two into which Iinvest myself more seriously and I go back to the others later, but my backlog is just getting longer.

[Saar The Book owl]

Mostly I'm reading two or three books at the time, so I can change when I need a break from one book. And also I have one in my bag, one in my bedroom, one downstairs. Books everywhere ;)

[Nissa]

yes i am, reading two or three books at the same time and in physical book and e-book.

[Kaseadillla]

I used to read only one at a time, now I read 2-4 at once. Similar to David, I read multiple so I can turn to different genres or levels of seriousness/required attention depending on my mood.

[Ashley]

I read multiple books at once. Normally, I start a book and then my interest will wane a bit, so I'll start a new one. I've also been reading the H.P. Lovecraft collection for quite some time now. I find I can read one or two of his stories and then I'll get bored and set it down for a bit.

[Christine]

Occasionally I'll pick up a book that my husband is like, "O I wanted to read that too! Let's read it together!"

Which is all well and good except he's a slow reader and then gets upset when I have to finish the book for GR ("It's not like it's your job!" ... he doesn't understand.)

So I always have one that is on my currently reading for forever because I read literally a paragraph or two aloud and then he's asleep like a 5-year-old.

Struggles

[Kristin B.]

Christine wrote: "("It's not like it's your job!" ... he doesn't understand.)..."

Non readers never do. *sigh*

[Anne-Kathrin]

Kaseadillla wrote: "I used to read only one at a time, now I read 2-4 at once. Similar to David, I read multiple so I can turn to different genres or levels of seriousness/required attention depending on my mood."

So do I - mostly 3 at a time, one of them often work-related. I am rather relieved to hear it's so common!

[Allegra]

For most of my career (which involved reading articles all day/many nights), I rarely read books because it would take me so long to get through them I'd lose the train of the plot. So when the work dried up, I was excited to start reading novels again. All of them. Right now. It didn't take long for me to turn to the Rory Gilmore approach.
Now I'm often working on a longer novel and a non-fiction, then an essay book where I purposely stretch things out for savoring (i.e., one item/chapter per month), and then, to break things up--and get that sense of completion--I'll often read something shorter (a play, or YA, or short story).
It's my own strange blend, but it keeps me busy. And by varying the styles I have going, I (usually) don't confuse my characters and backgrounds.

[ｄａｎｉｅｌａ]

I thought I would never read more than a book at a time, but now I often read 2-3 books at a time

I have one book that's for the club.
One that is my usually YA/Fantasy escapist novel.
And the last is the audio book I listen to at work.

I guess you could add in the odd comic/manga/fanfiction I will read from time to time, but I personally don't.

[Vir]

I usually read one book at a time, but occasionally I'll read two. This usually happens because i've started reading a book while waiting for one to come in at the library.
I get too confused and slightly frustrated if i read more than two at a time. I start melting the books into one confusing story in my head.
That, plus i find it takes way longer to read a book when my attention is split between multiple stories.

[Cheryl]

Yeah, I won't read more than one similar book at a time. Mixing it up between science non-fiction, essays, poetry, SF, general fiction, children's, etc. really helps.

[Lisa]

Usually, I read 2 books at a time, one in print, one on audiobook.

Often times, however, I'm also reading a third book for a book club.

Like what other people have said, the books have to be different genres or sub-genres, otherwise I start mixing things up.

When I'm on roll reading-wise, I tend to get a little obsessively organized. I plan out about a dozen reads for the month, then I schedule the best order so that I can read my BOTMs on time. I'll end up reading at least 3 books at once, and I set a page goal per day so I stay on schedule....

*sigh*....maybe my husband's right. I have a reading a problem and I need rehab :)

[Lena]

Amanda wrote: "Yes. I have something like 18 books on my currently reading shelf right now. I usually have a few less going at once, and I go back and forth between them until one captures my interest and demands..."

I basically do what Amanda mentions here, I have several going all at once...I just can't resist starting a book I just bought or picked up at the library and I will read bits here and there until one catches my interest and I dive in until it's finished.

[Melanie]

Like many other, I often simultaneously read an audio book and a print book. I also will often keep a non-fiction book or a short story books as a periodic reading option.

Reading multiple books is fine as long as they are different genres. If I read books that are too similar, the worlds blend together in my imagination.

[Megan]

I try to keep my currently reading list to just 2 books at a time. One audiobook and one in print. Usually, I keep them different genres, so if I'm reading a non-fiction book, I'll be listening to a fiction audiobook. Right now I'm listening to a contemporary fiction audiobook and reading a fantasy book.

Sometimes, I'll end up reading more than 2 at a time, but I really don't like to do that because it's so overwhelming. So, if I want to read a book for book club, for example, but I'm already in the middle of something else, I'll just stop reading one of them entirely until the other is finished. The more books I'm reading at a time, the less likely I am to finish any of them.

[Jackie]

I am always reading more than one book at a time. Although I know that will never change, I am attempting to be more consistent about finishing one book of a genre before starting another one of the same genre.

This year I utilized the library a whole lot more which was great for my finances; however, for 2018 the plan is to attempt to read the books that I have at home with the exception of purchasing up to 24 books for my face to face book clubs. I will be recommending books to read that I own in this next year!

[Sarah]

Jackie, I have the exact same goal for 2018! Read the 60 books I own and haven’t read!

[Renee]

I read several books at a time. I get easily distracted and am not working currently. I am a certified bibilphile.

[Kathy]

I usually have 2 or 3. One auduobook, one novel and either graphic novel or short story.

[Renee]

I would like to try an audio book. I used to listen to them when I was driving to work long distance. What would you recommend?

[Kerri]

Hey Renee! There is actually a whole thread on audiobooks under the Recommendations section! :) There has been some good recommendations as well as discussion on books and narrators people have or have not enjoyed.

[Renee]

Thank you. I will check them out.

[Hibi]

I try to stick to 1 book at a time but often do 2. One that I actively read and a second I only read before bed.
My currently reading shelf usually has tons in it though since I'll start reading a book and get bored with the series/genre so rather than torturing myself I'll start a totally different book to switch things up.

[Renee]

I do that, too. I get bored with a series where there are little changes to it or I just cannot get into a book.

[Hibi]

Renee wrote: "I do that, too. I get bored with a series where there are little changes to it or I just cannot get into a book."

Whenever I have a book that I find hard to read, or there's that typical lull in the middle of the story I put the book in the bathroom. Nothing better to do while in there anyway and because it's a very short time frame it doesn't feel as much as a struggle.

[Darren]

I tend to have 1 actual physical book, an ebook so I can catch a quick chapter on my kindle or phone whenever I have a few minutes and an audio book to listen to in the car on the daily commute.

I try to have something pretty meaty as the book and something action packed and easy reading as the ebook so I can dip in and out of it. I've only just started with the audio books and I'm still not really sure. I've avoided listening to some titles that I have on my reading list as I want to read them instead. I've found some of the Narration a bit annoying so I don't want that to be all I can hear if I decide to read the book after or give up the audio version part way through

[Kathy]

I agree with you Darren. Some books have to be read. I'm currently listening to Good Vibrations, My life as a Beach Boy by Mike Love. It is read by him so I'm really enjoying it.

[Andrey]

Sometimes, although only in two different languages, otherwise it's hard.

[Karen]

I do at least 2 or 3 books at a time. Like others here, I do print and audio and that helps keep the storylines separate. I also have one I read on my Nook, usually at night. Makes it fun to mix it up.

[Laura]

I'm trying to become someone who can read multiple books at once. I appreciate people's advice of keeping separate genres, separate mediums (audiobook, ebook, physical book, graphic novel). and separate levels of depth (a focused read and a light read). Does anyone else find it successful to go by page number - 100 pages in one then 100 pages in another? It's admittedly a more task-oriented approach.

[Kathy]

I listen to audiobook on commute or when walking somewhere. At home I generally read. I've never tried sorting by pages numbers or chapters.

[Lena]

Laura wrote: " Does anyone else find it successful to go by page number - 100 pages in one then 100 pages in another?..."

I do this Laura when adding a new book to my "pile" I am currently reading that I haven't really gotten "emotionally connected" to yet. I do 50 pages in a current read then 50 pages in the new read and then 50 pages in another until one of them grabs hold of me and I can't stop after 50 pages and just keep reading.

[Megan]

Laura wrote: "I'm trying to become someone who can read multiple books at once. I appreciate people's advice of keeping separate genres, separate mediums (audiobook, ebook, physical book, graphic novel). and sep..."

I set page number goals when I'm not really into a book and I want to finish it and move on to a different book. Or if it has to be done before a book club meeting. Or if the book is due at the library and I can't renew it. Like if a book is 300 pages long and I have a book club meeting in 5 days, then I'll try to read at least 60 pages a day. I don't do this very often, though.

[Sarah]

I definitely use the page number method sometimes! I’m a slow reader, so my number is only like 20 pages a day in each book, sometimes only 10. But sometimes I just read what I’m feeling at a particular moment.