How many books are you reading at once?

[Abigail (42stitches)]

Lol. That's what it feels like sometimes isn't it? I'm moving soon and since I get books from the library anyway, I'm packing my books first. And every time I think I want to look something up, I remember it's in the box I packed last night. They call to me too! "Let us out! Read us now!"

[Krista]

ROTFL, Linda!

[Jaime]

I usually only read 1 book @ a time...95% of the time I have that book on me so I just read it until its done. I do not feel that reading more books @ once would make me read more than I already do so I figure focus on the one until it is finished.

[Abigail (42stitches)]

I got in the habit of multiple books because of college course work. Now it's just a habit. Gotta jump around to whatever strikes my fancy at the moment.

[Jeane]

At the moment i am reading two books, but in two different languages. And I am trying not to pick up the other one that i see every time I come near to my bed!

[Petra X]

Wow Jeane, that's amazing to be so fluent in two languages you could read books in them. Have you ever read the same book in different languages? If so, did the book lose anything when it was translated?

[Jeane]

Petra X, there is a Dutch author I really like the books of and one day I saw a cheap one in Italian. The problem in Italy is that they translate titlesof books and movies but different. so I read the book in Italian and kept having the feeling that i read it already... by the end of the book it came into my mind to see how the dutch title is and yes I had read it already. But the translated title was completely different.
For me a book does lose character when it is translated. The best example for me is Patricia Cornwell books. I love them in Dutch or Italian but when I read them in English I can get completely absorbed in the story. It gets something more and I adore them in English.

[Maurean]

wow! I am in awe of those of you who read 4 and 5 (or 6!!) at a time. Generally, I read only one at a time, however I can do two or three, depending on the 'type' of books I'm reading (a fiction, a NF, and some shorts, for example)Right now, tho, I'm kinda breakin' my own rule, and reading both Shelley's "Frankenstein" before bed, and throughout the day I'm reading Child/Preston's "Cabinet of Curiosities".

[silvia]

recently i started to read more then 1 at a time. its hard to focus, and one books always ends up receiving more atencion. but I need a strategy to make me read all the hardbacks and heavier books I cant carry around whit me.

rigth now I'm readinf for books:
1 that I carry around whit me, another that i read only at nigth, a graphic novel for when I'm to tired to read; and a large book of talles (un anthologie if vampires stories) this one is one the nigthsant for months but I cant read to much at a time

[Heather]

I used to strictly stick to only one book at a time, but since I finished school, I've found that with less distractions I kind of enjoy switching from book to book. I have basically been doing 2 at a time, one hard copy and then an e-book that I get to glance at when I'm at work if I'm lucky.

[Justine]

I have four going right now: my "main" book, two collections of short stories, and a book I have technically given up on but picked up the other day and started reading again (why oh why? At least now I won't have to start back up from the beginning). As soon as I can get my ipod to work in my car I'll be adding an audiobook to the mix.

[JG (Introverted Reader)]

Just one for me, please. I'd be confused if I read more than one. And I know I'd end up taking off with one of them over the other anyway, so I might as well just keep it to one.

[Cheri Howard]

I normally read one at a time...I've tried to juggle and I usually end up reading one more than the others, eventually putting the lesser-read ones aside indefinitely.

I do have 3 listed as currently reading at the moment:

1) the book that I'm actually reading
2) a book of poetry that I keep in my bag just in case I finish my book on the train & don't have a back-up with me
3)a book on house-training dogs that I am constantly referring to right now for advice

[Abigail (42stitches)]

It's funny, how I usually have multiple books going. But this last week I have concentrated on one at a time. It's a little weird but not bad. I am in the middle of a couple of other books, but I haven't been in the mood to jump around. So those are on hold and I finish one novel before I pick up the next and the others are just waiting for now.
*shrug

[Jen B]

I go back and forth between reading one at a time, or two at a time. If I read two, I have a daytime book and a nighttime book. My daytime book is the one that requires more concentration, because I actually have time on my lunch hour to sit somewhere quiet and read uninterrupted. My nighttime book is the one that sits on my nightstand, and is usually the lighter one that I can pick up and put down as I keep getting interrupted (ie by my sleep-boycotting two year old!)

[Sera]

I used to read only one book at a time, and then a few months ago, I started reading one fiction and one non-fiction, which helped me to increase the amount of non-fiction reading that I do. Now, I have 4 non-fiction books going, but I still read only one fiction book at a time, because I want to maintain the consistency of my mood and feelings each time that I pick that book up without interruption or distraction. I'm not sure whether that makes sense to you, but that's how I feel about it.

[Carrie]

I normally just read one..It's hard for me to keep everything straight as it is.

Right now, I'm reading two books sorta..which means I started Crazy Ladies: A Novel and then started A Great and Terrible Beauty, and now I'm hooked on that and haven't thought about CL again! :)

[Anita]

I read one book at a time. I do not think I could read more than one book at a time. :O)

[bookish]

Technically, I'm in the middle of reading like eight books, but I'm only really reading five of those at the moment: two fiction books, plus three nonfiction. I don't think it's as hard as some people think it is to read more than one book at a time. It's like watching your favorite tv shows on a different day of the week, every week. Most of the time, the plots are so different that you will very rarely get them confused (if ever).

I've tried reading only one book at a time, but I just don't have the willpower for it. Besides, I read according to mood and one book just can't satisfy.

[[deleted user]]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one reading a lot of books at once!

[Linda]

Multiple book readers unite! I used to read 2-3, but once you join this crowd, it is impossible not to be excited about the newest recommendation, splurge, or review, to make you run out and start a new book.

[Heather]

I thought I only read one book at a time, but I was wrong. Along with reading one novel I usually am reading a book about teaching. The later one I may only read a chapter a day or a week. I also have ebooks on my cell phone to read if I'm in a place where I don't have a book - right now I have The Return of Tarzan on my phone. And I usually listen to a book while I'm driving. So that's four at one time (yay me).

[Carolyn]

I'm reading three nonfiction books right now. But when I read fiction, I try to focus on one at a time.

[Lisa Julianna]

I don't think I have commented on this thread yet if I have I so applogise for repeating myself. I normally read one book at a time but this month I am really trying to read two. One being Twilight ...my daughters requested I read this and trying to read it before Nov. 21st. And then I'm also trying to read Incredibly Loud Extremely Close which I am really enjoying. :~)

[Petra X]

I'm back up to four. I'm in a finishing-book mood so I've brought out of the bottom shelf of my nightstand Running with the Bulls(finished and reviewed yesterday), the Sociopath Next Door (who, in reality was given notice by the landlady to leave at the end of the month but I don't think its going to be that simple and the police have been notified). Then there is Hey, Waitress!: The USA from the Other Side of the Tray which I'm determined to finish. I'm also reading the Jury Room, nearly finished and I've got Daughters of Arabia which should be a nice, light fast read.

I've already ordered a whole set of books to read after that but work (Christmas is my only busy time of the year in my little bookshop) and GR will cut into that reading time.

[Dylan]

I have a problem with this, right now I'm reading 7+ books at a time. I know crazy right? I just love reading that much, and I have like 40 books to read so...

[[deleted user]]

I'm doing the same Dylan! I leave one to read at work. One I carry on me at all times. one by the TV if nothing's on, three on my night stand. One in the Kitchen for when I'm cooking.

[Liz]

I try to read only one at a time, but since I'm an English major that's not possible! I've also got a handful of rereads this semester, so I never finished Persuasion or Great Expectations. I also need to finish Rebecca, The French Lieutenant's Woman, and the Remains of the Day. It'll all get done in the end!

[[deleted user]]

I wish I could just read one at a time I'm just a busy body I guess. But it also depends on my mood!

[Sarah]

Currently there are three books that have been started sitting on my night stand. And an audio-book in my car's cd player.

I created a "put-aside" shelf as an addition to my "currently-reading" shelf. It's helpful for keeping track of books started but not book-marked. especially now with the progress tracking feature!

[Fiona (Titch)]

I have 4 on the go lol. But I should really read 1 at a time lol.

[Bird]

I am currently reading 3: one fiction, one nonfiction, and one audio book that I listen to on my way to and from work. However, I say that I am "reading" the nonfiction book, when truly I haven't picked it up in over two weeks. But alas, it is still occupying prime real estate on my nightstand.

[Haley]

I guess I'm a little late on this blog-thing..whatever. Usually during the summer I will just read a book at once in about one or two days. But now that school is up again, I am reading three books.

[Carrie]

juggggggling 3

[Kiwi]

I read 3-4 novels together combined with a wonderful concoction of fantasy japanese mangas.

So in total, I'd read about 8-9 books all at once. XD

[Dustin]

I'm usually reading 2 at a time. One for the day and a lighter read at night that I can put down mid-chapter.

[Laura]

I like your orange icon, Dustin, it really stands out.

[Dustin]

Thanks Laura, I was lazy and grabbed something from Google!

[Laura]

As you can see, you don't have much competition in orange-land.

[Kerryn]

i generall dont read one at a time, unless its a really great book and i cant put it down til its finished. other wise i switch when it gets slow or if i cant get into it or if im just too excited to start the other one to wait till i finish the first one... atm im reading 2

[Laura]

That's how I am. It's rare for me to only read 1.

[Jensownzoo]

I read a lot of books at once, but usually only one or two of them are novels. Novels I tend to read in one gulp, so I save them for days/nights when I have time to do that (I've met too many dawns to be incautious anymore, particularly when I have to work the next day). But...you can't go without reading *anything* when you are busier, so I may start a short story collection, or a nonfiction book, or what-have-you that I can put down more easily. I will read these books based on how much time I have, so tend to rotate among them quite a bit.

Right now, I'm being driven a bit crazy, though...I think I might have as many as eight going. I've put a moratorium on starting anything new until I finish some of these others!

[[deleted user]]

I've tried to do one book but just can't. I don't know sometimes in the mood for classic sometimes need something newer, scary whatever.

[Jeane]

Maybe I like reading more than one book at a time, also because I am so eager to read all those stories and as I don't confuse them into one storie for instance, it is great to be in different great stories, books.....

[Marsha]

I am usually reading 3 at a time. One for work about psychology or parenting, family topics. One that I am reading for a group, which is usually "better" fiction or non-fiction on another topic. Then I read something purely for entertainment, lighter and fun, a quick read.

I think I read different types of books, so I don't tend to get mixed up.

One of the things that I like about this group is that many people here read a wide variety of books of all different types.

[Catherine]

I'm usually reading around 4 at the same time, but that's mostly because of school. If it were up to me, I would have commute reading (paperback, less serious, maybe) and at home reading (like The Historian).

However, I'm taking 4 grad level lit classes so I usually read about 4 books a week for class. Sometimes less or my brain might explode.

[Lianne]

In high school I used to read several books at the same time. Nowadays, because I'm reading a ton of things for school and research, I stick to two books: one non-fiction and one fiction. Keeps me sane that way :)

[Becky]

I think that my max is 2 or 3. Right now I am reading two books: The King of Torts & 100 Great Fantasy Short, Short Stories.

The King of Torts is my "primary" book, and 100 Great Fantasy Short, Short Stories is what I put on my desk at work to read on break. The stories are normally only 1-3 pages, so they are quickly done.

I can only read more than one book if one of them is a short story collection. I don't like having to try to keep multiple plot-lines straight in my head. That's too much like work. I can do it, but I don't have to, so I don't. :)

[Stephanie]

I am always a one book kind of gal. However, I started reading The Audacity of Hope last month fully intending to finish it before the inaguration. Whoops. For whatever reason, I just couldn't really get into it. So I kept pushing it to the side for fiction books. I currently have two books that I'm "reading" (1984 and AOH) but I'm making a concentrated effort to finish The Audacity of Hope so I can get back to my one-book life. I don't know what it is about this book. I'm enjoying it, it's well written, but I'm reading so SLOOOOOW.

All of which goes to illustrate the point that I should not try to read more than one book at a time. I will always abandon one book for the other.

[Becky]

"1984" is a great book, Stephanie. Hope you like it once you trudge your way through AOH! ;)