Sheri: So Pam and I were just talking about some possible future postings for the blog and she politely asked, "so when are you going to finish the Delirium series?". With a certain amount of chagrin I admitted what while I started the first book more than two weeks ago I have not finished it and here is the reason why. I read multiple books (not work related) at one time! It's true. Sometimes I do this because I'm not completely enjoying the book that I'm reading but other times it happens because I read/listen to books in different formats (kindle, nook, actual book). Because I can't always carry my books with me or I can't always be reading, I will start another book before completing the first and I am almost always listening to one while reading at least one more. For example, I am currently reading three books (one actual book, Delirium, one audio book, Dearly Departed, and one on my kindle, Starling). While my multiple-book approach is often related to format or lack of interest it can also result from being reluctant to find out where an author is taking me in a storyline, which is the problem I am having with Delirium. I am so afraid that something really bad is going to happen that I am reluctant to finish book one. For those of you who have read the book I'm in the life is great and have discovered first love phase of the story and I'm pretty sure something bad is going to happen because why else would there need to be three books in this series anyway!
Okay Pam, your turn....do you like to read more than one book at a time?
Pam: I don't know how you can read more than one book at once, I cannot do that. I don't think I would be able to keep the stories or characters straight and it also seems like I wouldn't be able to fully immerse myself in the story if I was switching back and forth between books. I love getting so involved in a book and the lives of the characters that to stop reading at all is hard enough, but to stop reading and then start reading another book...I just can't imagine doing that. Even when I listen to an audiobook, I have to finish the audiobook before I start another book, which is why I really don't do audiobooks anymore. It's great when you're in the car or if you're exercising or something, but I feel stupid sitting on my couch listening to a book (not to mention I can read a lot faster than someone can read aloud). So I'm a one book at a time person.
What about you? Do you read just one book at a time or do you read multiple books?
I'm currently reading roughly 10 books right now and that is completely normal for me. I understand the rationale of wanting to immerse yourself completely in just one book--and if one of the multiple books I'm reading is amazing it definitely "wins" and becomes the one to get my full attention. I just find it really hard to stay focused on one book when I have so many awesome books checked out from the library or ARCs with so much potential calling my name. It's a problem because as soon as I get a new book I've been dying to read, I want to pick it up immediately, so it gets added to the pile...it's a never ending cycle. Lol. Great post!
ReplyDeleteWow, I can't imagine reading 10 books at once. How do you keep them all straight? I can perhaps see reading two at once, but maybe completely different genres. But yes, I completely understand when you get a new book and you want to start reading it right away. I just power through the one I'm reading as soon as possible, but sometimes I don't like doing that because I feel like I'm not giving it my full attention. ~Pam
DeleteLove this post, as it's something I really have a hard time with. The norm for me is two books but I have never gone past three at a time, I get way too confused. The main reason I do read two books at a time is because I get bored with one kinda easily!
ReplyDeleteI can possibly see reading two at once, especially if one is really sad and you need a different one to get you out of that mood. I actually did that once because the one book I was reading was really dark and rather disturbing so I started reading a light and fluffy one so I would be in a better mood. ~Pam
DeleteGreat discussion post! I am with Pam on this one. I can only read one book at a time and I also can't start another book until I at least make a bulleted list of points I want to cover in a review. Otherwise I completely forget all the details and what I liked about the characters. And I never listen to audiobooks for the same reason you said, Pam. I can read much faster than someone can read out loud and when I try to listen to audiobooks I just get impatient. I also tend to fall asleep because I don't feel like my brain is actively working.
ReplyDeleteAnd Sheri you should totally finish Delirium! I loved that series. But I get that you're worried something bad is going to happen, but it's a dystopian. Something bad always happens. :)
Rebecca @ The Library Canary
Sheri told me the other day that when she doesn't feel well it's great to listen to audiobooks because you can just lay back and keep your eyes closed and completely relax but still be entertained. I may try it sometime, but that means I need to feel sick for at least 7 or 8 hours (and try not to fall asleep). ~Pam
DeleteGreat discussion! I am like Sheri. I hate missing opportunities to read, especially with my review list so long, so when I do chores I try to always be listening to a book either on my ipod or from my kindle if I'm stationary but need my hands free. Then I may be reading a book on my kindle or a physical book that I have a deadline for for review or a tour that I have to read and sometimes I have to stop what I have been reading to fit that in. Then I also get interrupted in my other reading to fit in library books that are due back at the library and I haven't gotten to yet. So, I literally at different points have been reading up to five books at once. Crazy! I actually manage to keep them all straight somehow. Yesterday I was reading three books at the same time, but I finished one so now I just have two. Before becoming a blogger I mostly read one book at a time, but then would read up to three at a time once in a while when I had a book on audio and a personal book and a library book, so I guess I've always been a multi-book person. :)
ReplyDeleteTressa @ Tressa's Wishful Endings
I really can't imagine doing that, I don't know you keep them all straight! As long as it works for you, that's what counts! ~Pam
DeleteI read multiple books at a time. I have at least one book going on my Kindle and others in different rooms of my house. I don't carry my books around the house with me, so I read whatever book is in the room I happen to be in when I want to read. I also have an audiobook on my iPod and one on my Sansa Clip.
ReplyDeleteIt does make it harder to do reviews. Sometimes the details get all mixed up.
Yeah, I have a tough enough time writing the reviews as it is, so I'm sure mine wouldn't make any sense if I was reading multiple books. Sometimes when I don't write the review right away but start reading another book and then go back to write the review I even get confused (I guess that doesn't say much about my memory, huh?) ~Pam
DeleteSo I typically read two books at a time. One audiobook and one physical book. Audiobooks are great for my commute to/from work and also when working out, or other multitasking. But any other time I am reading, I like to actually read a physical book. With just two books at a time I don't have a problem keeping the stories straight. I also continuously read both of them - like rarely does a day go by that I don't listen to a bit of my audiobook and read a bit of my physical book - so the stories are always fresh in my mind. That being said, I don't know how people read more than like 3 books at any given time. I think there is definitely a limit to what I would be able to keep straight.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see doing that if you have a decent commute and when working out. It's just hard for me to stop if I really like the book. And I have no idea how people keep more than two straight, I would be so confused! ~Pam
DeleteDefinitely one at a time, for the same reason as Pam. My justification used to be that "I'll get confused," but honestly I don't think I would if the books were different enough from each other... it's more just I don't want to. I like losing myself in a book, and if I were bouncing around I wouldn't get that same immersion.
ReplyDeleteThe exception is if one of the books is a re-read... sometimes if I'm heading out of town, and I know I won't have time to really get into my current book while I'm gone, but I still want to bring A book, I'll grab an old favorite.
I can see it if re-reading, that makes sense to me. I do love losing myself in a story, though and especially if I love it and get emotionally invested in the characters. ~Pam
DeleteExcellent question. If I am really enjoying a book, there's no way I'm putting it down to read something else. I will carry it with me everywhere (I read most things on my kindle and even phone now (horrors) so this is extra convenient. So, if I'm reading more than one book, it's probably because I'm just not feelin it with any of the books I'm currently reading. It is very rare for me to begin one book, pick up another, and then go back to the original. If I had to pick up another, it means I was bored with the first one and there's rarely any comin back from that.
ReplyDeletePS: Found your blog via This Girl Reads A Lot's FF feature and am so happy she pointed me to it. Like you two, I read scholarly books for my job (I'm a university press editor) and YA stuff is my escape/secret passion. Can't wait to read more posts from you!
xtina @ moydrookreads
I feel the same way. If I'm loving the book, I pretty much can't stop reading it until I'm finished.
DeleteAnd thanks for following (just followed you as well). And I can imagine since you're a university press editor that you just want to relax and read for fun and entertainment, which is the same with us. I used to read more "literary" books, but I just want to become immersed in a story and enjoy it and not be bored (which is what usually happens when I'm reading books other than YA). ~Pam