How many people read more than 2 books at a time?

[SameOldStory]

When I study I like to have 2 different text books that cover the same (very technical) subjects.

When I read for pleasure I have no problems reading 2 or even 3 books at a time. Or I may read just one book in 2 days (I'm just not a speed reader).

Thinking about it now, it seem like I have "pairs". Combinations of horror and mystery or SciFi and historical. Or fiction and classical.

Any others that read 2 or more books concurrently?

[KarenH]

I don't like to actually "read" two books at once, but I almost always have one that I'm reading and one audiobook that I'm listening to going at the same time. I try not to have them too much alike though, or I tend to mix up the characters and/or plots. I much prefer them to be different timeframes (historical vs. contemporary or futuristic) or different genres.

[SameOldStory]

I guess that's why I do what I do - differant genres.

Actualy it's more than just that. It seems that when I read in combinations it's always the same cominations.

[Worldwalker]

I generally have several books in progress at once. I'm at various stages reading various technical books, and I always seem to have two or three fiction books in progress at once. My 505 has only made this worse, as in addition to books propped open or bookmarked all over my place, I can have multiple books being read on the 505, too. I've always been like this. When I sit down to read A book, I'll read it cover to cover, but when I'm just reading in the gaps between doing other things, I'll read a chapter or two of whatever book is within reach. Which, in the case of my 505, is several thousand books. Hm, this might get bad.

[mr ploppy]

I usually have a normal length book and a short story collection on the go at once, but I don't have enough reading time to fit any more than that. I usually read a short one first, then go onto the main book after.

If I think how many fragments of story I need to keep up with, it's quite staggering. TV shows, books, comics, radio plays, blogs, even news stories that are ongoing ...

[dmaul1114]

Just one for me. I generally only read before sleeping, so no time to read too books. And I like focusing on just one story at a time.

Not counting all the reading I do for work--but few books, mostly scholarly journal research articles.

[ficbot]

I generally only have one book of any given type going on at a time (e.g. one novel) but I do read different types of books. So usually, I have at any given time:

- A novel in English
- A short story collection in English
- A book in French
- Sometimes something else too

[L.J. Sellers]

I only read one fiction book a time because I'm also usually writing a novel and editing someone else's novel, so I already have too many stories/plots/characters to keep track of. I may sometimes read a nonfiction book off and on over a period of time while also reading fiction.
L.J.

[SameOldStory]

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

I only read one fiction book a time because I'm also usually writing a novel and editing someone else's novel, so I already have too many stories/plots/characters to keep track of. I may sometimes read a nonfiction book off and on over a period of time while also reading fiction.
L.J.

Now THAT would mess me up.

How many of us have tried to write "a book" and keep up with all of the characters and plots/sub-plots?

On the other hand, I'll want to read a book that I don't enjoy like "The Stand" and just have to put it down for a while. Yet 4 months and 12 books later I can pick it up, reread the last paragraph, and it's like I just put it down a few days ago.

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

I generally have several books in progress at once. I'm at various stages reading various technical books, and I always seem to have two or three fiction books in progress at once. My 505 has only made this worse, as in addition to books propped open or bookmarked all over my place, I can have multiple books being read on the 505, too. I've always been like this. When I sit down to read A book, I'll read it cover to cover, but when I'm just reading in the gaps between doing other things, I'll read a chapter or two of whatever book is within reach. Which, in the case of my 505, is several thousand books. Hm, this might get bad.

You have just described ME! I used to keep 3 or 4 pbooks in my (rather large) purse at all times, I carry a smaller purse, but many many more ebooks (and a pbook or two). I usually have a few technical books going at once, some journal articles, some school reading, a few novels (fantasy, classic fiction, YA books...) and often some short stories as well. When I sit down I do generally stick with one book, but I am often on the go and will read a bit or this or that while on the bus, waiting in line, etc.

[Vintage Season]

I frequently have as many as four or five books in various stages of being read, at any given point in time. Depending on how captivating the storyline(s) are, a book may linger in the "in process" queue for a while, but I am generally able pick up wherever I left off.

- M.

[Roger Parkinson]

I went through a stage recently of two books at once, but different days. We regularly migrate between our city and country places and I'd keep one (paper) book at one place and one in the other. But it got a bit confusing when I was reading the sequel at the same time as the first. These were re-reads so not so very confusing but I hadn't read them in a while. Now I tend to stick to one and carry the book when we migrate.

[kjk]

I usually have 3-4 books I'm reading/re-reading at any given time.

[shootingMaNs]

Usually two for me, sometimes three. Anymore than three is too much for me. I find that I neglect one for too long, and end up re-reading it.

[Bilbo1967]

Normally two at a time for me - one fiction; one non-fiction. That seems fine, I can't imagine reading two non-fiction at the same time though.