Stephen King Fans discussion
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How many books do you read at once?
I audio one in the car, and one in the house and I usually am reading one or two actual books at once, so 3 to 4 are on my currently reading shelf at any given time.
I'm kind of weird... I consider myself to be a One-Book-At-A-Time girl, but then I read multiples. =\Right now I have three going, at least nominally, and I'm sorely tempted to start another. LOL
I'm reading The Talisman as my main book, an ebook (The Second Coming) as my whenever-I-have-time-at-work-meaning-generally-on-lunch book, and Star Wars: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina as my whenever-I-feel-like-it book.
I'm tempted to add a novella that I picked up at the library on a whim though... but I am holding off simply because I think that it deserves more attention than being one-of-many... But it's so pretty... Isn't it?
Becky wrote: "I'm kind of weird... I consider myself to be a One-Book-At-A-Time girl, but then I read multiples. =\Right now I have three going, at least nominally, and I'm sorely tempted to start another. L..."
I used to be one book at a time until I signed up on Goodreads and set up a to-read list. Now, I usually read between three and four. I read a fiction and a nonfiction as well as listening to an audio book during my drive to work. I also often read an online book through the Baen Free Library. This gives me something to do when I take a break at work. The audio book I usually listen to is a fiction. That way I don't have to think too much while I am driving.
i have alreadys read multiple books at a time. usually, i'll have a couple pieces of fluff reads, and then a hard read usually horror, and then an actual work of literature than i can take more slowly
I really prefer to read one at a time, but lately I've been reading more simply to better utilize my time, and like Angel, they tend to be different genres so that I can keep them separate in my head. I know that some people have said that reading multiple books is like following TV series shows, but for me it's not like that. I can watch TV (although I usually don't) but I absorb myself in books, so they tend to blend together if too similar.
I totally agree with your comment about being absorbed in a book Becky. I have some TV shows (House) that I get totally engulfed in (I don't want to watch them unless I have time to lose myself in it, no pausing, stopping and starting, etc.) but with books that's the norm rather than the exception. I haven't found a book/series that is a good "light" read, but I need one.The older I get the more I feel like I need to concentrate on the story when reading. Noise and interruptions are hard for me to tolerate with my "heavy" reads.
I'm also thinking about starting a non-fiction to use as my "lighter" read. Something like Superfreakonomics.
Ooh... I love House! :D I just love Hugh Laurie. Which brings me to... *drumroll* a recommendation. :PYou (and everyone) should read Laurie's book, The Gun Seller, it is hilarious, lightish, but not TOO light, and brilliant. Really. I didn't want to put it down, but I also didn't want it to end. Conundrum. *sigh*
I am currently reading these, I go from one to the other, which ever I fancy reading or where I am in the house or out somewhere as some books are one 2 different E Readers, some upstairs, next to my bed or some down in my library.Real Books
The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow
The Art of Drowning by Francis Fyfield
Audio
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James at home
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix in car
EBooks on 2 e readers and ds lite
Villette by Charlotte Bronte
The Rainbow by DH Lawrence
What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge
Little Women by Louise May Alcott
She by Haggard H Rider
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
I will read two books at once--at most. I once tried three and I couldn't entrench myself in the stories. Two is my limit.
I prefer reading one thing at a time but sometimes have to grab a pgraphic novel or something lighter when I don't have the attention I need for what I'm reading. Generally never more than 2 things at once.
I definitely read more than one book at a time. Usually I reserve genre reading for the bedside table as I can't handle nonfiction at night.Currently I'm reading
Non fiction
The Philosophy of Religion
The Physics of Immortality
Fiction
The Right Mistake
The Descent
Lately I'm not finding much time to read because I'm editing another author's book. But I'm enjoying that too.
It's strange because when I'm in the middle of my grad work, I'm reading several books at once with no problems. When I'm on break, as I just am, it's hard for me to do that; I tend to just read a book at a time. So, this summer I am trying to 2 or 3 books at a time. The plan is one fiction, one non-fiction/history, and then a third of no specific genre. Currently, I'm attempting to read:
TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
THE MODERN MIND
NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND
One of the projects I have for the summer is to immerse myself in some of the favorite horror novels, from King and others, of my youth. Should be fun to get back into that place.
TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
THE MODERN MIND
NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND
One of the projects I have for the summer is to immerse myself in some of the favorite horror novels, from King and others, of my youth. Should be fun to get back into that place.
I've been thinking lately that the best kind of light reading might be something I've read before. Since I've read it I won't have to concentrate as much, or so I think. Thoughts?
Jeff, I don't know if you already read this, but ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER was a fun read.
Jesse wrote: "It's strange because when I'm in the middle of my grad work, I'm reading several books at once with no problems. When I'm on break, as I just am, it's hard for me to do that; I tend to just read a..."I feel the same way. I'm an English teacher so I'm usually reading 2-3 books for school. I usually have one primary book of my own that I read at home. I rarely read more than one free reading book at a time.
As far as rereading goes, sometimes it can be great, it just depends on the book. I've been able to read a lot of Stephen King books more than once, like Running Man or The Stand. At the same time, there are so many good books out there to read! Why reread when you could be exploring new books?
Jessup wrote: "Jesse wrote: "It's strange because when I'm in the middle of my grad work, I'm reading several books at once with no problems. When I'm on break, as I just am, it's hard for me to do that; I tend ..."That's a battle I deal with all the time. I've read The Stand 12 times now and still consider going back to it from time to time. I think that's why I rarely finish a book that is outright terrible so I don't waste valuable reading time.
I'm almost always reading at least two book at once, but seldom more than three. I need different books for different occasions. I realized that with "Pet Sematary". It really freaked me out. Fleeing into Middle Earth from time to time to escape this feelings helps dealing with it. :) I often chose one book to make me happy, and one to make me sad. So I can read whatever mood I feel getting into.
The third book is almost always an audiobook I listen to while doing housework ;)
I can only read one book at a time...to say I can't just switch back and forth. I often start a book, and then put it down halfway through and then "forget" about it for a few weeks.
As a kid I always juggled a few books at a time but as I became an adult and life kept getting in the way of my reading (pesky life!) I had lost that ability.In the last couple of years though my youngest daughter (10 years old) has become a voracious reader and has apparently inspired me to read a lot more.
I'm currently juggling four books plus I always have my podcasts and at least one audiobook going. I can only pull it off though if the books are different enough. I find that if I keep rotating (i.e. a chapter at a time in each book) it takes a long time to finish but I don't get bored at slower parts!
Oh wow... I wouldn't be able to do a chapter of each at a time. I wouldn't be able to remember anything that happened.
I've got so many freakin' bookmarks everywhere. So far I'm currently reading the following:Nonfiction:
1. A Strange Piece of Paradise by Terri Jentz
I pick it up to read every once in a while because, well, it's sad.
Fiction:
2. The Girl Who Chase The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Started this Wednesday night waiting for orchestra practice (1 hr) and got pretty far into the book. I love her books!
3. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
A friend told me this was a very good book, just having a hard time keeping up with reading it. Small print is killing me.
4. In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
It's a great book and I'm loving it, just don't want it to end so soon.
5. A Big Little Life: A Memoir of a Joyful Dog by Dean Koontz
This book is about his dog Trixie Koontz I'm absolutely so close to finishing it. I just have to pick it up to do so but I don't want it to end b/c I know I'm getting to the really hard part of Trixie's story. I'll be a blubbering idiot, so I must wait until I have time to cry.
6. The Woman in Red by Eileen Goudge
Another book almost finished, just need to put everything else down and just read it!
7. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
When I want that fantasy read this is what I'm picking back up.
8. The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist
Man this is a very deep read and I really have to pay attention, I haven't read this is so long that I think I'm just going to have to start over (GROAN). It's just a little on the weird side and concentration is a must. Kind of how I feel about Fringe. There can be no distractions when I'm watching that show b/c I might miss something really important.
9. The Mike Hammer Collection Vol.1 by Mickey Spillane
I got this book thinking my dad would want to read it, but I think he already has. Anyway I start this probably over a year or so ago, it will be another one that I will have to start over. But it will not be that bad b/c I really didn't to far in.
Audio
10. Payback by Fern Michaels
The second book of the Sisterhood series that I love listening to.
Future Bookrings/Rays
For some strange reason I've decided that I don't have enough to read *Snicker* I've signed up for some books that fall on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list and just some other books I would like to read but do not own all of.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou-1001
The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith-1001
The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffennger
What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt-1001
Steve & Me: My Life With Steve Irwin by Terri Irwin
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells-1001
The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis-1001
The Godfather by Mario Puzo-1001
I know I'm insane and crazy!
Here's the really sad part, of the SK books I have to read are:
Lisey's Story
Under the Dome
Duma Key
Just After Sunset
Like Becky, I used to be a one-at-a-time girl. Now, though, I've usually got one on the iPod, one on the Kindle, and usually two REAL books going. I do have to be honest, tho.... I lucked out, because I am a really fast reader - and although that sounds enviable, it's truly not, because there are books that I've cherished, and I have to forcibly slow myself down, not to finish it too fast, because then it's gone.And if that's not the world's worst run on sentence, I don't know what is!! LOL
Mod
Angie wrote: "Oh man... I can only read one book at a time. I don't know how people read more then one book???? It's like don't you want to finish the one you are on?? :)"No, it's not that! When I say "reading" at least one or two of those I am actually listening to. I always have a book on CD in the car, so that's one and then usually one on CD in the house for when I am cleaning.
Angie wrote: "Oh man... I can only read one book at a time. I don't know how people read more then one book???? It's like don't you want to finish the one you are on?? :)"No, definitely not. Right now I have three books going. One is The Talisman, which I LOVE and have read dozens of times, so I definitely am not trying to avoid reading that one.
The other book I'm reading is an audiobook, which I started yesterday while doing a reorganizing and cataloging my books project.
The last one is a short story collection that fits in between other books.
Angie wrote: It's like don't you want to finish the one you are on?? :)"No - not at all! It's like I said: sometimes I feel more like reading fantasy, sometimes I need something to laugh about, sometimes I need horror. Plus one audiobook and/or one book I'm re-reading! At the moment i'm reading "It", re-reading "The Two Towers" and listening to "Harry Potter" (while cleaning. Or cooking).
I can barely boil water while I'm working on the main meal when I cook! Listening to an audio book would just comlicate the process for me! I envy you for being able to do that.I've got two book going right now and I'm switching between them based on how I feel at the moment. They're very similar, in the same genre almost, but I find that I can easily decide which one I feel like reading when I pick up my Kindle. I've also got a ton of non-fiction stuff I've grabbed the samples for (samples on the Kindle are one of the reasons I bought the device). I keep starting one and then thinking to myself "I don't need another book to read. I'll never finish the other two then!" so I close it and open one of the others. :)
I usually read 2 books at a time and sometimes 3. I find that if I have 3 then one always gets put on the back burner, so I try to limit it to 2 at a time. I designate 1 book to read at home only and the other in the car and at work. Once I finish one of the books of the 2 I focus on the 2nd book until its done and then pick up 2 more to start.
So, I'm just curious... Since were talking about multiple books, how do you guys like the new status updater on the homepage? I've been discussing in the the Feedback group because I don't really care for it at all. I don't think that it makes it easier to update, and when you're reading more than one book, it only shows the covers on the right rather than the status of each as it used to.
I'm just curious if anyone likes it better now or worse or if they don't care...?
I liked it before. I not only don't like seeing only the cover of ONE book I'm reading, I have a hard time saving my progress.
I think it's hard saving your progress now. Also the second book I'm reading is only on there because I started it a while ago and haven't found the want to finish it. It could be on there for a while.
Mod
But it gets in the way being at the top. The covers on the side just sit there like duds. All alone over there with no status stuff. Meh...
Yep. I agree... I liked it how it was before. If you don't like it, you should pop into the Feedback group and say so... If enough people give their opinions on it, they'll hopefully make some changes. :)
Mod
Done...and no, I didn't read that whole thread. I do have some other things I'd like to get to tonight. Hehe...But I did skim over it....
I've only been able to read one at a time - I've only had two going at once..once. I was reading James Frey's "My Friend Leonard" while reading King's "Under The Dome". Dome was such a massive undertaking - it was at least double the length of the longest book I've ever read..I needed a break every now and then.
I've usually got one audiobook and one book with one of each in the wings. But, when I was reading Under the Dome I had two books going because it was too heavy to carry around everywhere-so I had a lighter book to travel with and Under the Dome for at home.Actually, it turns into that a lot with SK books :)
I prefer to read one book at time, but most of the time I have 2-3 books on my currently reading list given that they are different genres and/or languages. Usually, I would be reading 1 Arabic book, 1 light book and 1 heavy book.I don't like audio books =))
I read slow so i only read 1 book at a time. I finished The Dead Zone, can't remember how to get it off my reading now list. I plan to read Under The Dome next. I've heard a lot of you say it reads fast for such a big book. I don't know but i guess i'll find out. If or when i can start it.
Lori wrote: "I read slow so i only read 1 book at a time. I finished The Dead Zone, can't remember how to get it off my reading now list. I plan to read Under The Dome next. I've heard a lot of you say it reads..."You should just have to click on edit shelves and select read. I noticed that on mine too. sometimes rating it doesn't automatically pull it from currently reading for some reason.
Thanks Amanda i'll try that as soon as i get over there. :)
I usually read one at a time, but lately I have been reading two.
It took two tries but i got it. Yeah Amanda !!!
I've got 5 books going right now. I'm actually worrying that I'll forget the story in some of them before I go back. I was looking for something light and "fun" but I haven't found it yet (though I'm enjoying all of them, I wouldn't consider any of my current reads "fun" as in humorous or light-hearted).I'm determined to finish at least 2-3 of them before starting another one now.
This many today!Real Books
The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow
The Art of Drowning by Francis Fyfield
Jane Slayre
Mainspring by Jay Lake
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
EBooks
Villette by Charlotte Bronte
What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge
Little Women by Louise May Alcott
She by Haggard H Rider
First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde
I have 10 or so on my currently reading shelf usually. Not all of them are completely active, but I do read some of most of them each week. I found myself starting more books st the same time after getting my Kindle and after joining Goodreads. Both encourage me to sample more books and request more from the library. I always have an audio in the car, and two to three "house" books that are mine plus a current print library book. I have always had one or two books going at once. Now that it is easier to keep up with them, I expanded!
I mostly combine two books. A full-length novel and a collection of short stories for those days that I feel like reading a story from front to end in a few hours. :)
I do that alot too, Nath. I only got into short stories fairly recently and I think they are great to read a bit here and there in between novels.
Stephen King Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
Star Wars: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina (other topics)The Gun Seller (other topics)
Star Wars: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina (other topics)
Disquiet (other topics)
The Second Coming (other topics)
I'm trying now to start less books at one time and focus on finishing them, but I find that sometimes I'm in the mood for a different genre or something a little lighter. I've toyed with the idea of picking books based on their apparent "weight"/level of concentration required, but that's hard to do (I find I don't know until I start a book unless it's a recommendation from someone).
How many books do you typically having going at one time and how do you choose them? What sends a book to the "To Read" shelf vs. starting it right away?