How Many Books Are You Reading Concurrently?

[icallaci]

I'm interested to know if people see a difference between reading multiple books concurrently and watching more than one TV series. I don't watch much TV, so I don't know if keeping track of characters and plotlines is a problem. I don't have this problem with books at all, but some people have mentioned that they read one book at a time to avoid confusing the stories. Is it the same with multiple TV series?

[j.p.s]

It's not rare for me to be watching zero series, but I don't think there has ever been a time that I am watching only one.

[Sirtel]

I rarely watch TV at all, so it's usually just one TV series for me. And usually I binge it too until it's finished or I grow tired of it. Unless forced to ration because new episodes aren't available yet.

But I often go several months or even a year without watching anything. I've never stopped reading for more than a day, at most.

[sakura-panda]

It varies. Right now, I'm actively reading five books. They are all for different reasons.

1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: On my iPad, for dedicated reading, although I haven't been doing any real reading lately.

2. Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish (audiobook): Listen while knitting, if I'm alone. More often I watch TV to knit and my husband or one of the kids will sit and watch with me.

3. We All Live Here by JoJo Moyes (book club): The discussion for the end of this book was today; I'm only halfway through. I've been reading this one instead of the Dumas book.

4. Hiss and Tell by Rita Mae Brown: At lunch! I want something reliably light when I'm eating and I usually choose cozy mysteries or clean romances.

5. The Complete Peanuts Vol. 3: 1955-1956 by Charles Schulz: I read this one on my phone. It's good for small moments here and there; it's easy to stop and quick to pick up.

Regarding TV, I don't like to binge either book or tv series; I have several tv series that I'm watching concurrently. I usually don't watch more than one episode of a series in a day. I probably watch a couple of hours every day.

The thing about tv, is that a tv episode ends; I can watch an episode or two, and then move onto something else, like checking on the laundry. I'm not good at stopping with books; I'll plan to read for a few minutes and it's three hours before I put the book down. I've started using a timer, and that actually helps, but I have to remember to set the timer when I start reading and to stop reading when I turn it off. So when I have a lot to do, I take TV breaks instead of book breaks.

[DNSB]

Ah, the old how did it get to be 6AM with my alarm going off and I haven't finished my book yet conundrum!

[Graham44]

Originally Posted by possumbly_human

Usually I finish books in 2-3 days max, on weekends I tend to finish a ~300 pager in a day - so I rarely have books "active" for long and therefore don't tend to read several books simultaneously.
However sometimes I need to take breaks during nonfiction/academia reads; or when I've read myself into a hyperfixation on a fiction series that bubble might pop after starting the next book. Technically I tend to take actual longer-term breaks from that book/series then, and read several other books consecutively instead. Not sure if that still counts as simultaneous reading then.

Nothing to do with the thread - but I gotta ask - is your profile pic actually a Possum? and if so how'd you photograph that close?

Apologies for steering from the thread, I just have to ask

[Renate]

Originally Posted by sakura-panda

I've started using a timer, and that actually helps, but I have to remember to set the timer when I start reading and to stop reading when I turn it off.

That would be much better integrated into the reading app itself.
I wouldn't mind seeing the statistics on my reading.
Neither would Amazon, Google, etc, but they ain't getting it!

My reader already has to save the page when I suspend.
It wouldn't be a big deal to save a running time.
I'm a pretty slow reader because I always "space-out" on tangents.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Renate

That would be much better integrated into the reading app itself.
I wouldn't mind seeing the statistics on my reading.
Neither would Amazon, Google, etc, but they ain't getting it!

My reader already has to save the page when I suspend.
It wouldn't be a big deal to save a running time.
I'm a pretty slow reader because I always "space-out" on tangents.

Kobo reader tracks reading stats.