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

IronMan

ithoughtitwasap wrote: »

Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson (Terrifying)

Why terrifying? I loved it. Made the most solemn of subjects, enjoyable, understandable and approachable.

ithoughtitwasap

IronMan wrote: »

Why terrifying? I loved it. Made the most solemn of subjects, enjoyable, understandable and approachable.

I agree, but perspective can be scary.

emeraldstar

ithoughtitwasap wrote: »

I agree, but perspective can be scary.

Hehe. Yeah, great book.

Valmont

I always like to have a pop science book on the go with a good novel and then something light and humorous for the bathroom. The light and humorous is almost always a Douglas Adams book.

Cicero

Valmont wrote: »

..... and then something light and humorous for the bathroom. The light and humorous is almost always a Douglas Adams book.

lol....thought I was the only one with a Bathroom library....Bathroom books for me are things like Geremy Clarkson (Top Gear) or some of the Almanac books or Why don't penguins feet freeze? ....always have a number of books (outside the bathroom) on the go..don't know what it is ...can't just stick to one...different moods maybe

Evan93

Usually have 2 books on the go at the same time.Saying that,it's usually an autobiography and a fiction. I don't think I would be able to juggle 3-4 books at one time.

Posy

I've only just started 'Crime and Punishment' and already formulating ideas for what I'll be reading next so I think I'm going to start the multiple books at the same time scenario and see where it gets me. More reading, it can only be a good thing.

Thomas828

I used to have a habit of having two or three books on the go, but not anymore. My limited attention span won't allow it now. Besides, surfing the net has been taking up more and more of my spare time lately.

Monkeybonkers

I usually have a couple on the go at the same time as well. Currently 3 : 'Marijuana Times' by Ken Lukowiak, 'The Irish Male: His Greatest Hits' by Joseph O Connor and 'The Fires of Heaven' from the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (for my sins).
I also try not to read books that are too similar when I'm reading a few at the same time as it can get confusing. I learned this lesson when I was very young. I was reading four 'The Secret Seven' books at once and got very, very confused!

Also (I'm a bit off topic here so apologies) does anyone else find that if they start a book or series of books that they have to read it no matter how bad it may be. I've ended up reading some awful rubbish over the years cos I feel that once I start I just have to finish. I can be a bit OC like that.

jackcee

IronMan wrote: »

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.

I have been reading European History for over 30 years.
All I can say is that Tony Judt's book is a marvel.
I know this off topic for this thread - but this should be required reading for anybody who wishes to expound views about "Europe".

johnnyskeleton

The_Minister wrote: »

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

If it is the same as me, read:

One large, nerdy book at home that you wouldn't be seen reading in public, and one smaller more socially acceptable one for the bus.

johnnyskeleton

jackcee wrote: »

I know this off topic for this thread - but this should be required reading for anybody who wishes to expound views about "Europe".

Why is that? It sounds like a broad overview of Europe since 1945 (which is all you could realistically fit in 1000 pages), and if by "Europe" you mean the E.U., I would imagine that there are better, more specialised books in this area.

pearliefan

Definitely... before college and leaving cert I read a lot more and I'd get eight books out of the library each time and I would be reading at least four at the same time.

Right now I don't read as much as I'd like to, but I am actually juggling To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby at the moment!

Travel is good

Also (I'm a bit off topic here so apologies) does anyone else find that if they start a book or series of books that they have to read it no matter how bad it may be. I've ended up reading some awful rubbish over the years cos I feel that once I start I just have to finish. I can be a bit OC like that.[/QUOTE]

I agree, I always feel I have to finish a book. On rare occasions (usually if the book is too gory) then I leave it there. I have Joseph O'Connor's "The Irish Male" on my stack of books to read. I enjoyed "Star of the Sea" and "Redemption Falls".

DazMarz

I used to read a load of books at the one time, but then when I thought that a character from one book had murdered a character in another and why someone was murdered in a football biography, I stopped.....:o

useurename

i've been reading war and peace for so long now.i have read a few books in between just to give me a break.its so long and the writing is impossibly small.finished nelson mandelas long walk to freedom.top class.if i spent a few less hours on the internet and more time reading then i think this promblem would go away.