Reading multiple books

[Kari]

I'm always curious about other people's reading habits! My SO and I argue over whether or not you should read more than one book at a time. I do, because I like to read different genres based on my mood that day (and also I like horror but can't read it alone at night, lol). I also get distracted by whatever shiny new book I recently purchased and want to start reading immediately, so if I followed his one-book-only policy I'd probably DNF everything. He refuses to read more than one book at a time and doesn't understand how I don't get everything confused and thinks it affects my ability to be really immersed in a story.

So I was curious what everyone else thinks? What do you do? One book at a time, multiple books--if the latter, what's your limit?

[Gabi]

I usually have four books at a time.
- A novel, which I eye-read on my ebook reader,
- a novel on audiobook for doing household chores and painting, (when those two are too similiar in the topic, I get confused, so I try to avoid that)
- one - or more - short stories collections, which I read bit by bit between novels
- a Terry Pratchett book, which I read during breakfast aloud to my boys

[Christine]

I read one book at a time; easier not to get confused with characters and plotlines

[Jim]

I always read at least 2 books at a time. One is audio, the other text, preferably paper, but sometimes ebook. I generally try to stick to different genres so I don't confuse them. I'll often have a third book that I'm working through, usually something that isn't really sit-down-&-read material, but more of a reference book on trees, fiber, woodworking or something like that.

[Shel, Moderator]

I usually have one or two at a time - one for pleasure, and if there is a second it's usually some sort of nonfiction I am reading for a specific reason (like a parenting book or something). I don't like to read more than one fiction book at a time.

[Random]

I usually only have 1 or two books going. I almost always have an audiobook going. I may have one in print (usually ebook) going as well. It will depend on my time however. Genre or subject matter will depend completely on my mood.

An exception to this are short story collections. I tend to do a story here, story there, and they can technically be on my currently reading shelf for years and will be along side the two mentioned above.

None of that includes stuff I have to read for work, none of which I track here. White papers, studies, RFCs, and similar.

If I count the work stuff, I currently have 7 going. An audiobook (just started Sorcerer to the Crown), an ebook (Martian Summer: Robot Arms, Cowboy Spacemen, and My 90 Days with the Phoenix Mars Mission), two short story collections, two white papers, and a technical book for work.

As for the proper way to do things? IMO whatever makes you happy.

[mina]

I have to read multiple books at the same time, to make sure that I do not DNF books, since I am easily distracted 😆 To do that, the genre of the books needs to be different, and so does the language and format. For example, for now I read 1 English nonfiction paperback, 1 Indonesian nonfiction paperback, 1 SF paperback, and 1 fantasy ebook.

[Li]

A novel on audio, one on my e reader, one physical book at any given time..

Sometimes i have a few actual books on the go if im in the mood for a different genre.

[Kari]

mina wrote: "I have to read multiple books at the same time, to make sure that I do not DNF books, since I am easily distracted 😆 To do that, the genre of the books needs to be different, and so does the langua..."

I love that you have the same problem I do. Easily distracted readers unite, haha! I love your language/format solutions as well--that's a great idea! I've been trying to find ways to use French more after having lost it for several years, so I might need to try your technique.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I guess my brain is not that flexible... I read one book at a time, whether it's paper or ebook. I used to do a different book on audio while exercising and I could manage that, but that was many years ago! Now I listen to podcasts when I exercise. And I usually have a magazine to read during football, while waiting for an appointment, or things like that.

[mina]

Kari wrote: "I love that you have the same problem I do. Easily distracted readers unite, haha!..."

LOL. Yeah! Long time ago I considered it as annoying weakness since I rarely finished a book unless there's a buddy read or something, but then I thought why not just accept it and use it at max to read many books at once. Slower to finish a book, but guaranteed (as long as the content is not too bad).

[Carrie]

It's very rare for me to have only one book going at a time. I tend to have upwards to 5 sometimes. There's always a physical copy either one of my own or a library copy or sometimes both, an ecopy or two...sometimes 3. An audio for housework and if I'm reading a chapter book to my daughter.

[Chris, Moderator]

What a great topic! I always have an audio book for the car, an ebook for reading in bed, plus usually a hard copy book for afternoon reading pleasure. Then I keep a magazine or short story collection available, just in case I need a short break.

[Jess]

I usually have a few books on a time definitely an audiobook and a physical book (paperback or ebook). Often if I am reading a paperback I will start an ebook at some point too as I can read ebooks in the dark while my boyfriend is asleep. I will also take breaks during long books to read other shorter books

Currently I have two books on the go
- 1 long book War and Peace
- 1 audiobook Hood
- 1 ebook I Will Never Leave You
- 1 library paperback Love in the Time of Cholera

[mina]

Chris wrote: "... Then I keep a magazine or short story collection available, just in case I need a short break."

This is good idea! Using breaks between books (or parts of books when I am a little bored) to read short stories. Will definitely do that.

[Kari]

Jess wrote: "I will also take breaks during long books to read other shorter books"

Yes, this technique helps me to get through some of the more massive fantasy epic tomes I enjoy so much but my attention span doesn't like. :)

Also I clicked over to see what I Will Never Leave You was about and oh man, that looks messed up and delightful. Do you like it so far?

[Nyssa]

I find it difficult to concentrate on more than one leisure reading book at a time. I wish I could though, then my TBR mountain might one day be a molehill instead.

[Kari]

Nyssa wrote: "I find it difficult to concentrate on more than one leisure reading book at a time. I wish I could though, then my TBR mountain might one day be a molehill instead."

Nah, I think enormous and daunting TBR piles are inevitable no matter how you read. :D

[Nyssa]

Kari wrote: "Nah, I think enormous and daunting TBR piles are inevitable no matter how you read. :D"

LOL. True.

[Jim]

Nyssa wrote: "I find it difficult to concentrate on more than one leisure reading book at a time. I wish I could though, then my TBR mountain might one day be a molehill instead."

Hah! You're a member of GR. Won't happen even if you read 5 books at a time 24/7.
;)

I try to keep different genres in the books I'm reading. When I've goofed occasionally, I have had a problem keeping some things straight.

[Kari]

Random wrote: "As for the proper way to do things? IMO whatever makes you happy."

Definitely! It's like how the multi-readers feel bad for not being able to focus on one book at a time, and the single-book readers feel bad for not being able to keep up with multiple books. It's all just style and preferences. Nothing bad or good inherently about any of it. I used to try to make myself focus on just one book but I would just stop reading altogether because it wasn't fun anymore. So I just embraced my short attention span and I have a lot more fun reading these days.

(I should note that my husband and I don't legitimately argue about it; it's just affectionate teasing.)

I really enjoy learning about how people read, though. It's interesting how different we are and says a lot about why there are so many varying opinions on one book. It's not just taste, but probably has something to do with how we consume them as well.

[Ken]

I pretty much read only one book at a time.

With that said, when I go for my daily walks I listen to a podcast. The History of Byzantium, its a history of the Romans after the fall of the west mid 400ad and its going to end 1453 with the fall of Constantinople. I am not 100% sure if this is considered a book, I sort of lump with audiobooks, a historical audiobook

[John]

The last few months, I seem to have at least 3 or 4 books going at a time. One that I'm reading on the kindle app on my phone, one print book that I'm reading, and one audiobook that I'm listening to. Right now I've got two print books that I'm reading, and I guess technically two kindle, but one of them is basically on hold because I own it, while the other kindle book I have is checked out from the library.

[Gary]

I usually read one book at a time. I like to focus on the book I am reading. Most of the books I get are from the library so I may get a popular book for only three weeks. Also, E-books are only checked out for three weeks. In either case, I have stopped reading a book so I can read the book that is due sooner. That's usually the only time that I have more than one book on my currently reading list.