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Question: Do you read one book at a time? or multiple?
Answer: I never used to read more than one book at a time. For a few reasons, but mainly I (used to) read so fast that I was done with a book in a day so there was no need. Also, most of my books were for review so I liked to finish one book, review it, then move on.
Present day Karen usually has at least two books going at a time - maybe three. I rarely have review books now so having to keep track of things for review or time constraints aren't an issue now.
Adding audiobooks has been a game changer. I almost always have an audiobook going but, as I've said many times before here, I'm not great at multitasking while listening - so unless I have a long drive or a long dedicated listening period - I take forever with them. Even though it takes more time, it does double my reading and get me through what would otherwise be a reading slump.
I've always been a mood reader but now I'm a MOOD READER. My preferred genre can switch from hour to hour these days. I might be listening to a thriller, reading a YA from TBR pile, then get sucked into a fluffy romance before bedtime.
Honestly, I have no idea how I keep track of them all but I do. They do have to be in different formats though. Audio is a totally different experience to me - almost immersive - like watching Netflix. They other two have to be different though. I can't read to e-books or two physical books at the same time.
Same here, I used to be a strictly monogamous reader lol. But lately (last few years) I'll find myself having a few going? Not all the time, but sometimes I start one, get a little bored or whatever, and start another. Or maybe blogging just makes me want to read all the books ha.
ReplyDeleteIf I did audio I'd get so much more read though. *sigh* And yeah I'm TOTALLY a mood reader!
I'm just slow and flighty about reading lately lol
DeleteUgh I am serial cheater when it comes to books. I always have 3-4 going at the same time. If it weren't for my note taking I'd never figure out what was what! I do have to read things that are different or my head starts to confuse them. Usually I'll be reading a horror novel, a thriller, a fanfic and some sort of romance.
ReplyDeleteCheater!!! Lol
DeleteI do need them to be different genres too though.
One at a time only for me. My mom could read several at a time. She's have one in each room and read whatever book she happened to be in the room with.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like me now. I have one in the living room and my kindle in the bedroom, then audio whenever I go out.
DeleteIt's a good point that keeping track of elements in multiple stories can be tricky, but remember when we were younger, and our TV shows were only on once a week. We kept track of all those stories. I only read one and listen to one at a time because I like getting to the end. I like seeing how the story plays out and am not patient enough to share my reading time with other books.
ReplyDeleteI was a HUGE tv watcher in the 70's but I don't think they required much focus lol
DeleteThis comment made me realize how intricate shows have gotten. You can't miss anything or you're lost.
Me butting into the comments. YES 70's shows. How did we wait all WEEK? I kinda miss it in a nostalgic kind of way- like it was a big deal when your show came on- I mean I was a kid but I remember Hawaii Five-O and that was huge lol- but I also complain now when I can't binge so *throws hands up*
DeleteLol I watched EVERYTHING back then and then recorded (vhs) as many shows as I could once that was invented. Binging never occurred to me though lol The weekly wait was awful!
DeleteI was telling Kevin last night - we're watching several series on streaming and now they're dropping weekly instead of all at once, hulu does ads so now we're paying extra for a regular TV schedule??? Isn't streaming so we can binge and not wait?? Lol
I tend to either have a physical/kindle book and then be listening to an audio. However I can't do more than that if its fiction. I do read a non fiction about once a week. I feel ya about mood reading though, I am getting better, but most of the time I am one which is why sometimes I will read a bunch of one genre in a row.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading more non ot literary fiction lately so that's probably I can read more than one lately.
DeleteI used to strictly read one book at a time but now I'm like Renee (Lover of Romance) in that I tend to have one physical/Kindle book and one audio book in work at any given time. And like you, I'm 100% a mood reader. Hence why TBR's are laughable for me. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can't do challenges or tbr piles lol
DeleteYes two physical is just silly, it takes longer to finish both ;)
ReplyDeleteBut audio and other is different. LIke when I wanna relax and read I do that. If I choose audio and just lay still I will close my eyes and fall asleep
I'll do 2 physical books if they're different genres. Like a heavier YA and a light romance for bedtime
DeleteI am a sort of monogamous reader. I will only usually be reading one book and be lsitening to one audiobook at a time. Any more than that and one of the books is going to get abandoned. I find if I pause a book to pick something else up I'll have lost interest in my original read. Same thing for audiobooks. Thankfully, my finance job means there are certain tasks I can do while listening to an audiobook so I can fit in an hour or two every so often because I struggle finding time to listen now without my work commute.
ReplyDeleteI'm just taking forever reading anything these days so it's nice to finish 2-3 or three at once (at some point). I feel accomplished lol
DeleteYep! It's all about the audiobook. I listen mostly when I walk and in the car.
ReplyDeleteLifechanging lol It just took me MANY years to get the hang of it!
DeleteI have to read one book at a time or I get confused. LoL I sometimes even have to take a break between books because my mind is still stuck in the other world and it's hard for me to switch gears.
ReplyDeleteI need to take breaks between books just to process it all out of me lol
DeleteI love that - monogamous reader - I used to be one. But audiobooks changed the game for me. I also take my reviewing a lot less seriously. I now read and enjoy and then my review is just how I feel without feeling like I need quotes and such. So I can just get lost in my books. And I've also become a MOOD Reader, like you. So I can start the day in one book and switch to another by evening.
ReplyDeleteAll. Of. This. Is. Me. lol
DeleteI read multiple books at once for the same reason as you! I also often have a physical copy, ebook, and audiobook going at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be different formats for me and the Kindle is usually something very light and fun for bedtime reading.
DeleteDefinitely a one book at a time reader. I sometimes fine plots with dual time lines/narratives difficult enough to follow without adding more than one book.
ReplyDeleteI can do more than one now but I was just reading two books (one YA the other and adult thriller) that had very similar character traits and it got a little confusing.
DeleteBefore blogging I only read one book at a time, or maybe two if I was also reading a Nonfiction, but that was rarely. After I started my blog I usually had a review book and a personal enjoyment book going at the same time. Now I might have three going, but that's usually because one of them is a Nonfiction I'm reading a little bit at a time. 📚
ReplyDeleteI never was a mood reader much, but like you... the older I have gotten the more mood readery I have become. 😃
I keep saying I used to read fast but it's true. I could read a book in 4-6 hours so mood reading, multiple books were just never an issue.
DeleteIt's only the past few years with slumps and obligation reading (which I've stopped) that I'm taking so long and being finicky.
I read more than one book at a time. It's usually a physical book and an e-book, but I can read more than one physical book at a time too. I think the trick for me is making sure I don't leave one book hanging for too long and not reading books in the same genres at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
It was never really an issue for me before since I read so fast. Now it can take me weeks and having at least an audio and physical copy going together moves things along lol
DeleteIt's interesting that some people's moods are hourly. Mine usually lasts throughout the book, then I have to assess my mood once I'm finished.
ReplyDeleteI never used to be this way. I used to just read my one book and move on. I could schedule books but the past year or two has fried my reading brain lol
DeleteI love the new blog look.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary. Spending 8 hours doing this instead of reading or blogging seems like a brilliant idea lol
DeleteI'm a juggler! I sometimes still read a book all in one sitting but even when I do that there is usually another book I've started sitting somewhere. I'm like you with audios in that I can't really multitask whilst listening so I predominantly listen in the car and with car trips reduced (as I'm WFH more) it takes ages to finish one. I have gotten better and can listen while cooking and cleaning but I often forget and just turn music on. *shrug*
ReplyDeleteLove the spooky season headers and graphics! V.cool. :)
I can't clean or cook with audio because I need to focus, especially with cooking or I'm irritated by all the dog hair that keeps popping up even after I JUST vacuumed it. lol
DeleteI can play games on my phone or search online and listen though which is weird.
And thank you!