Reading books side-by-side

[Katelyn, Our Shared Shelf Moderator]

I'm so looking forward to reading both Solito, Solita: Crossing Borders with Youth Refugees from Central America and Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian - My Story of Rescue, Hope, and Triumph over the coming months, especially because I'm looking forward to reading them in relation to one another.

I'd love to consider the experience of reading books as a pairing with all of you. How do you go about reading two books that are related? How does that impact your understanding of the texts?

And, once we've all had a chance to tackle these amazing books: How did these specific books inform one another?

[Diane]

If I am going to read two books that are related in topic, I read one, absorb it, then move on to the next.

[Katelyn, Our Shared Shelf Moderator]

That's usually what I do, too. There could otherwise be confusion between the content of the two! I wonder if in this case, a collection of narratives and an autobiography, that would be less of an issue. I might experiment with alternating between Butterfly and one narrative from Solito, Solita. I don't know yet! I'm still finishing up Pachinko so I probably won't start until I've finished that one.

[Eunice]

I normally have half a dozen books on the go at the same time and then alternate between them based on interest in the current moment. To maintain some semblance of order in my mind, the books generally vary in either content or style.

The fact that one of the books is an autobiography and the other a collection of narratives may help. I suspect the narratives will enrich the autobiography rather than the other way around.

A very interesting proposal and am looking forward to reading these two books as a pair

[Katelyn, Our Shared Shelf Moderator]

I'm the same Eunice! I usually have more than one book going :)

And I agree with your prediction about the books' influences on one another. It'll be interesting to compare the shorter narratives with the longer-form autobiography. I'm really excited to see where they take us!

[Eunice]

Thanks Katelyn! I’m also excited to see the different connections (and mind blowing moments of insight) from reading the books together :)

[Oscar]

I tend to read only one but sometimes if I have to read more than one for school or something similar, then I read both. Right now I'm reading "Solito, Solita" but also reading a friend's script. Once I'm done with the script I'll probably stick to "Solito, Solita."

[Sandra]

Hello all! I just ordered both books. I am thrilled to read them both.

[Verosalindsverses]

I think it depends on the extent of one's ability to not get lost between two stories that somehow relate to one another. I personally experienced both confusion and happiness, depending on how close the books were to one another but since here it's an autobiography and a collection of short stories, I think it would be nice to read them parallel to one another... Even though it would be even more interesting to read the autobiography first and the narratives after so that one has the background first and can detect its idiosyncrasies with the stories better :-)

[Claire]

If I read more than 1 book at a time I like to read one physical copy and listen to the other as an audio book. Makes them more separate :)

[Katelyn, Our Shared Shelf Moderator]

Oooh, that's a great strategy, Claire! I've been getting more into audiobooks the last couple of years, I especially love when they're read by the author.

[Leslie]

I am currently reading three books: one novel, one book of essays, and one book of memoirs in short 'chapters'. It's easy to keep track of all of them since they're so different.

[Tessa]

Whenever I read more than one book at a time, I like to read one fiction and one non-fiction book. :) I mostly try to read books that have a similar theme to them.

[☕️Hélène⚜️]

Heather! That’s what I do I read 2-3 chapters of different books it’s easier! God! Yes there’s ALOT of books to read.

[Tina]

I usually have 3 books started. Non-fiction, fiction and teen or children's books. I work at a library. So Readers Advisory is a thing.

[Anett]

I'm not really a fan of reading more than 1 book at the same time, unless they're very different. Especially with books that are about people's experiences/lives I like to keep them separate, because I don't want to mix them up in my head.
Though I agree that it helps that one is a collection of short stories, so it's easier to keep the books separate.

[Leslie]

I agree that it helps if the books are quite different. I am finding now that of the 3 books I've started, I'm really only reading 2, and they are very different, so there's no chance of getting mixed up.

[K]

I read Butterfly a few months ago, will try to recall a few thoughts in the other thread - don’t have a copy of the book on hand as it was a libary book. Hopefully I can read Solito/Solita soon if I can borrow or win a copy.

Sounds interesting to read them concurrently. I currently have 3 books on-the-go, 1 paperback, 1 tablet library book and 1 audiobook so I guess one for every situation ;) personally some I favour more than others - good idea to read a chapter each rather than my not-so-good way of reading chunks and getting a bit behind sometimes. Happy reading!

[Lujain, Our Shared Shelf Moderator]

I tried to read more than one book at the same time before but I found it quite hard. If I'm reading a book and I have to read another one for any reason I usually pause the book I'm reading and come back to it when I'm finished with the other one. I think the reason is that I get too emotionally connected to books that I like to fully live the story and characters for a period of time and then move on to a new one.
But I think some suggestions here are brilliant so I'll definitely try some of these techniques!

[Toska]

for me it depends on the book really. if the story captivates me then I am gonna finish the book. but if the story is "cuttable" than I read books side by side
I've read Butterfly first and Solito, Solita afterwards.