QotW #67: One, Two, Many, a Few?

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Do you usually read just one book at a time, or do you have more than one going simultaneously?

[Lindsey]

Always, always more than one!

At a minimum, I'm in the middle of one fiction and one non-fiction book. But it's usually more than that, as I tend to start and cycle through 2-3 non-fiction books at once in spurts, plus I'm probably reading something for myself and whatever my two book clubs are reading. I do read individual books in long stretches rather than a few chapters of one, then another.

[Shel, Moderator]

I'm usually only reading one fiction book at a time, but sometimes have multiple nonfictions going. Unless you count whatever I'm reading my kids at bedtime in the fiction count, in which case I have three fictions at a time in progress. (currently I'm working through the Chronicles of Narnia with my little one and the Pern books with my big one)

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Almost always one at a time. I usually am working through a periodical of some kind, which I read while waiting for appointments or while watching football. But in terms of a book, I can only keep one story in my brain at a time.

[Dawn]

I'm with Lindsey, always, always more than one.

Usually because I read books in different formats and in different locations. At minimum I have an audio and an E or paper book.
But mostly I have at least one book I started, couldn't get into, and now it's just guilting me for not finishing it. I have one or two audiobooks for the commute, bike rides and walks. What I listen to on the commute is often different to what I want to listen to when I'm doing something fun. And then I usually have something for lunch breaks and before bead, sometimes one but often two different books.

[Cheryl]

Fiction for bed, non-fiction or anthology or poetry for ongoing from the loveseat, children's books whenever I have a few minutes in the day (I have no children but read these for fun).

[DivaDiane]

When there were only paper books I was definitely monogamous, and I still have those tendencies, but if you look at my Currently Reading shelf you’ll see I 40 books on it! Like Dawn, most of those books are just sitting there guilting me. But I do want to finish them, I just got distracted for one reason or another.

For real though, I am actively reading several books at a time. Mostly different formats and genres. An audiobook, an ebook or print book or both, a poetry collection (or 2 or 3), a non-fiction, a YA I’m reading to my son, a kids book (for me!). I do tend to stick to one fiction per format, though.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

DivaDiane wrote: "…but if you look at my Currently Reading shelf you’ll see I 40 books on it!"

Here on Goodreads, my “Currently Reading” shelf is actually my short-term TBR list. I’m only reading those books one at a time, but they are the books I’m planning to read in the next few days/weeks. I should probably make & use a “To Read” shelf, but this method works for me.

[Random]

Usually one or two at a time, almost always different formats such as one audio and one text.

Audio tends to go faster as I spend 2-3 hours a day commuting depending on traffic.

[Cheryl]

I've often used the 'currently reading' to tag library books, to make sure they don't get lost in the shuffle.

[Dawn]

DivaDiane wrote: "but if you look at my Currently Reading shelf you’ll see I 40 books on it! Like Dawn, most of those books are just sitting there guilting me...."

I started a "on a break" exclusive shelf to keep lots of those on. Then I purge it every once in awhile, to get rid of or put back on the TBR.

[Dawn]

Cheryl wrote: "I've often used the 'currently reading' to tag library books, to make sure they don't get lost in the shuffle."

I also try and keep the library books organized but do it separately through the library website, I wonder if I set up another shelf on GRs if I could keep track......

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I will add that I occasionally listen to audio books and then I guess you could say I have 2 books going at once—one I read with my eyes and the other with my ears.