Does anybody read multiple books at at time?

sxt

So many books i want to start reading, debating whether this is the way to go. Does anybody do it?

Denerick

Yep, all the time. It tends to be a mix between fiction and non fiction though (Like a history/Biographical/Political book and a novel) I occasionally do this with two works of fiction, for example when I'm reading a book in a series but also want to try out a different kind of book at the same time, thus taking away any 'impatience' involved with reading a long series of books.

Ave Sodalis

I do also. Currently im readin Wuthering Heights, Eragon, the 6th Harry Potter book and Pride and Prejudice. It saves gettin bored with one book (not that I really do) and adds variety, depending on what you feel like reading.

rejkin

Thats exactly how i feel sxt, I have a few books i want to read so im reading two of them at the moment,currently reading "the men who stare at goats" and "flash forward". Sure Im enjoying both and pretty much nearly finished one of them so I dont mind doing it,sometimes it helps if one book is getting boring,taking a break from it will make it possible to get through the boring parts lol

Tar.Aldarion

Up to a dozen at a time, mmmm

Eoin

rejkin wrote: »

Thats exactly how i feel sxt, I have a few books i want to read so im reading two of them at the moment,currently reading "the men who stare at goats" and "flash forward". Sure Im enjoying both and pretty much nearly finished one of them so I dont mind doing it,sometimes it helps if one book is getting boring,taking a break from it will make it possible to get through the boring parts lol

I'm reading flashforward at the moment as well - the one about the LHC?

I tend to just read one book at a time, unless the genres are quite different, or if one of the books isn't the type you'd read in one go.

emeraldstar

When I was a kid I would always have at least five books on the go at a time. Now, not so much.

cyning

I have normally 3 on the go: my lunchtime book, my evening book and my read as I'm falling asleep book... normally a bit of fluff for the last one!!!

The_Minister

I have one home book (normally huge) and one small one for the bus.

Eliot Rosewater

Not really myself. I have half started reading some books and postponed for a while but Ive never swapped about. Id be concerned Id get confused (which can happen if books have similar characters/themes).

I too have a huge backlog of books I want to read, but Ill just be patient. I recently categorized the 19-long backlog into categories 'Really want to read' (ex One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest), 'Reading this will be productive' (ex Moby-Dick) and 'Why the **** did I get this book???'

**Timbuk2**

I normally have two 'books' on the go. One in audiobook form (for boring bus journies - and even in the gym sometimes). One actual book, for the evenings and in bed.

Sephiroth_dude

Im slowly but surely building up a back catalogue of books so I may have to go down this route myself :pac:

mud

I read multiple books quite a lot. Usually have a book in every room (except the bathroom)*

At the moment I'm reading: Vic Reeves': Vast Book of World Knowledge

Garth Ennis: Preacher Vol 6 War In The Sun

Terry Pratchett: Unseen Academicals.

Brian Longhurst et al: Introducing Cultural Studies.

Douglas Adams: The meaning of Liff.

Today's Irish Times.







*Bathroom is for comics and graphic novels :cool:

IronMan

I currently have 4 on the go:

Postwar: A history of Europe since 1945.- Tony Judt. I have been reading this for almost 9 months. Encyclopedic.

Cosmos by Carl Sagan: I read this book at least once a year. Genius.

The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien. I'm a huge fan of his Myles na gCopaleen columns in the Irish Times, but this is becoming tough going.

Driven to Distraction by Jeremy Clarkson. For my dose of nicely toasted right wing ranting.

mackthefinger

Like others have said, fiction and non fiction mixture.

Richard Dawkins new one - too big to cart around, it stays at home.

A book of short stories (at the minute, John McGahern), handy for bus or train journeys or waiting rooms, or places where there's lots of interruptions. Small and portable.

Book for bed - time travellers wife.

So usually three or four.

bored_senseless

Yeah, agree with everyone that its best not to read too many from a similar genre. Could be confusing.
I often read more than one cos sometimes your mood changes and you want something else. At the moment re-reading A Game Of Thrones, The Bourne Identity, Anna Karenina, Shogun and Unsung Hero: Tom Crean.

That_Guy

I find it difficult to read more than one book at a time. I got confused one time and was wondering what the hell happened to my main character in the book...... Turns out he was in another book.

One book at a time for me.

Vim Fuego

I don't normally read multiple books unless one turns out to be a struggle. That said, I have a number of things on the go at the moment. I'm mixing up popular science books with a collection of HP Lovecraft stories and a graphic novel or two.

kickarykee

hm ... usually not, though sometimes I read a specialised book and a novel at the same time ... never two novels, though

scriba

I too tend to have maybe four books on the go at once, although I do try to make sure that they are different in style. At the moment, I am reading the most recent collection of HP Lovecraft stories (perfect for reading one short story a night when I'm about to nod off), I'm reading Ulysses at weekends and the odd night, I read non-fiction for my research studies during the week, and I've just finished Shadow of the Wind. It does take longer for me to finish my books, but I find most importantly that it keeps me reading in some shape or form, which is what I'm trying to keep doing. Otherwise laziness can set in.

I try not to have two novels on the go if I can help it, as I find one can distract from finishing the other, or you can be so long away from the first you are a tad reluctant to return to it. Sometimes reading needs a little persistance too.

whiterob81

I normally only read one book at a time. I find i get through them quicker that way but at the moment I'm reading on the road and brideshead revisited. brideshead on the train to work and funnily enough on the road at home. really enjoying both

i'm also dipping in and out of our band could be your life

When I was reading harry potter, i read them all at home. adult cover or not

Denerick

I have about three books on the go at the moment, but thats only because I have a lot of spare time this week.

The_Kew_Tour

you lot are putting me to shame.

I only ever read one book at time.

Just thing I have to do is finish one book first before going onto another.

MultiUmm

adrian280582 wrote: »

you lot are putting me to shame.

I only ever read one book at time.

Just thing I have to do is finish one book first before going onto another.

Hah hah, no shame in it, I'm in the same boat as you. :P (not that it would be great comfort I'd say :pac:)

Once I get into a book I find it very hard to really get into another book of the same genre.

Historical/ factual books are a slightly different story, I could read more than one fairly easily, but when it comes to fiction the one book gets my attention.

kickarykee

MultiUmm wrote: »

Once I get into a book I find it very hard to really get into another book of the same genre.

I know what you mean ... sometimes I even need to take a kind of break between books because the feeling of the other one still lingers and I don't want to destroy that by starting a new one, hehe

HalloweenJack

Yep.

I have a habit of starting one and then starting another and then switching between them. I'm working my way through about four books at the mo.

gogo

That_Guy wrote: »

I find it difficult to read more than one book at a time. I got confused one time and was wondering what the hell happened to my main character in the book...... Turns out he was in another book.

One book at a time for me.

lol/:p

I used to do this a lot when I was younger but as said they would have to be totally different genres, but not just one a sci-fi and another a romance, but one would generally be fiction another an autobiography and another some sort of history book, iykwim.

Sephiroth_dude

I've two books on the go, Jim butchers-grave peril and twilight.

Blush_01

I read a few books at the same time, until I get really into one and have to focus solely on that. I've been reading Tristram Shandy for years. I keep having to restart, and it's actually very funny, but I can't avoid getting distracted - it's going to take some willpower to focus on it!

I dropped everything when I started Twilight last weekend. Finished Breaking Dawn today. Feel a bit upset I'm at the end. Yup, everyone's just going to have to put up with my whinging.

Will probably focus solely on The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest when I start that too.

jimmymal

no cant really do that unless im stuck without a book somewhere then if i do start another i treat it as a taster only.
i try to mix genres though so i dont get too bogged down. like to read a sci fi every other book.

ithoughtitwasap

I've a rake on the go at the minute, it depends on what mood I'm in. Usually don't get much reading in, considering the LC mocks are coming up in a couple of weeks but currently, it's:

Inferno - Dante
The Hard Life - Flann O'Brien
Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson (Terrifying)
Layne Staley's Autobiography
The Idiot - Dostdoevsky