A question for those who own more than one device..

[issybird]

I read three or four books at a time, but they aren't device specific. I'll have most or all of my books going on all my devices (there's usually at least one pbook in there). The devices are for convenience, most especially the 350 which lives in my purse. The nuisance aspect can be making sure all my content is loaded, especially in regard to library books. As for syncing, since with the exception of my Touch and my Nook my devices don't, I just remember what page I'm on.

Originally Posted by Catlady

Serious question: WHY are so many of you reading more than one book at a time? It baffles me why anyone would deliberately choose to do this, other than in a few specific circumstances (e.g., reading one book and listening to another audio book; picking up a fluff book while in the midst of reading a lengthy, extremely difficult book). But why do it routinely?

Partially it's level of difficulty, as you suggest, especially when I'm too tired for anything but close-to-mindless reading. Mostly it's just a matter of mood. There's also a factor where I can get bogged down in the middle of a book and switching among books keeps them all fresher.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by DuskyRose

I usually have only one main 'book' open at a time, as well as concentrate on a series until I get through it. I guess for the same reasons I like to rent a new tv series after the first season is out and watch all the way through a season in a weekend or a few days.

But I do have one reader just for fanfic, and will jump into a few stories from various fandoms between the series books I'm reading, or when I'm shopping and want to read something while I'm out at lunch, or at the doctor's office, when I know there's no time for a serious book wallow. Most fanfic is short and sweet, and I already know the universe so I can jump right in for a few minutes at a time.

Otherwise, it's just the one main book across all my readers.

Same here. One main novel at any given time. For fanfics, however, the amount I haven't completely finished reading probably count upwards of 500 but that's mostly because the author hasn't finished writing, either. *sigh* Some of the fanfics, I've been following since 2002 and given the lack of updates, have probably been already abandoned.

Can't really read multiple novels at the same time. I lose track of the plot. If I don't finish reading a book before starting a new one, I usually end up reading the unfinished book from the beginning.

[Pomtroll]

Right now I have 5 opened books going. BUT I'm only reading 2 of them seriously. One is on my Sony 350 & the other on my Kindle.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by voracious71

Those that have multiple ereaders- do you have more than one book going at a time? Currently, I'm reading 3 books, and I've been told that's weird.

In the days of the pBook, in my youth, I did this too. Just curious if there are other "weirdos" out there..

I'm reading this question as asking whether those of us who have multiple EBRs read a different book on each one, or "float" the same book across the EBRs.

Well, it's complicated.

I do have one "dedicated" EBR (Sony 350) which I keep in a small room. That EBR currently has a PG Wodehouse ebook on it. That book is not on any other of my EBRs.

My other EBRs are Kindles (3/DX) or Kindle apps (iPhone/iPad.) Basically, I have 2, sometimes 3, active ebooks at a time across these platforms.

This does not interfere with my pbook reading, of course. I always have 3 or 4pbooks going. These are location based: bedroom, easy chair, dining room, office (work related! Really!). (These days, the only pbooks I actually tote around are my emergency books for those times on the airplane when they want "all electronic devices" shut down.)

Counting up on my fingers, I seem to have 4 pbooks going right now, 4 ebooks on my EBRs, 3 of which ebooks float between my Kindle EBRs/devices.

[Rich_D]

I read multiple books at a time when I only had one ereader. I normally have 2 or 3 going at once plus an audio book.

[sotnas]

one book only

[anamardoll]

Clearly it is time for a SILLY POLL!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by issybird

I read three or four books at a time, but they aren't device specific. I'll have most or all of my books going on all my devices (there's usually at least one pbook in there). The devices are for convenience, most especially the 350 which lives in my purse. The nuisance aspect can be making sure all my content is loaded, especially in regard to library books. As for syncing, since with the exception of my Touch and my Nook my devices don't, I just remember what page I'm on.

The main reason I started using Calibre was because it was becoming a pain to keep my various devices up-to-date! Like you, I have all my books on all my devices.

[Desvelada71]

I have two ereaders but I read one book at the time. However, I have read two books at the same time in the past.

[Asawi]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Serious question: WHY are so many of you reading more than one book at a time? It baffles me why anyone would deliberately choose to do this, other than in a few specific circumstances (e.g., reading one book and listening to another audio book; picking up a fluff book while in the midst of reading a lengthy, extremely difficult book). But why do it routinely?

The mix of "fluff" and serious is exactly the reason I do it. Especially when reading something with disturbing/depressing content in the evening I like to read something funny or at least warmhearted before going to sleep. I have enough nightmares from what goes on in my real life...

Also, when reading non-fiction I may need to reflect over the content and therefor only read small chunks.

[Rich_D]

Originally Posted by Catlady

Serious question: WHY are so many of you reading more than one book at a time? It baffles me why anyone would deliberately choose to do this, other than in a few specific circumstances (e.g., reading one book and listening to another audio book; picking up a fluff book while in the midst of reading a lengthy, extremely difficult book). But why do it routinely?

I've always done this. Even when I was a child, I'd have a book on my nightstand to read before bed, I'd have one in my book bag to read at school and I'd have one in the family room to read while watching tv or relaxing in the evening.

Now, I have one going on my nook which covers before bed and work, one on my laptop to read when I'm not surfing the net or watching tv and one on my phone to read when I have unexpected downtime.

[Thierry.C]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Funny enough, I used to not be able to read more than one book at a time. I thought that was very odd. I also couldn't NOT finish a book.

The first assertion isn't so much of a problem for me. However, I really have some 'problem' with the second one.
In fact, I'm not sure I should say I read several books at a time. It's rather that I begin a book while another is not finish — and planned for re-reading later, usually from the beginning...

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I pick one up, I read awhile, I put it down, and when I read again it may be something entirely different. I may come back to Book 1 or I may never pick it up again.

I have a question in this regard: if you pick it up again, then do you read it from the last page you were, or you feel the need to re-read it from the beginning, or at least from several page back?
As I said, the last part applies generally for me (if I don't open it for, say, more than two weeks).

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by Thierry.C

I have a question in this regard: if you pick it up again, then do you read it from the last page you were, or you feel the need to re-read it from the beginning, or at least from several page back?
As I said, the last part applies generally for me (if I don't open it for, say, more than two weeks).

For me, it's a case-by-case basis, but as you say there's a (soft) time limit there. If enough of the book sticks with me that I don't have to start again, I won't start over, but if I've lost the thread of thought, I'll start again. (If I decide to keep reading and not just toss it.)

[bevdeforges]

Since getting my first reader, I find it far easier to keep two or three books going at the same time. Usually one novel and one or two non-fiction works.

Just got a second reader this summer, and am still working out a system for which books go on which reader. Up to now, I'm using the new reader mostly for newspapers and magazines, which I download using Calibre.