I've always seen people who read multiple books at once and I never really understood it. I thought isn't it confusing to be reading different storylines at the same time like that. However, my tune has changed. I've started reading multiple books at once I'm really enjoying it. Here's a few reasons why:
1. It helps me get through boring parts in books
2. I'm a mood reader
Often I pick up a book I'm dying to read, I'll be loving it and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, but I'll find myself drifting from it. When I used read one book at a time I'd find myself enjoying books less because by the time I'd got about halfway through I'd be in a different mood and therefore want to read something else. This used to mean I wouldn't enjoy books as much as I could of because I was kind of forcing myself to read them so I could get onto something else. Now that I read multiple books at once though, it isn't a problem. I can switch between books depending on my mood and it's just an all round better experience for me.
3. Books disappear from my TBR list a lot quicker
So I know this one might not make any sense because I'm not actually reading the books any quicker than I would if I read them one at a time. In my head though, I am smashing through my TBR. It gives me this weird sense of accomplishment to see my TBR list go down and down (even if I continue to add books to it so it doesn't really go down at all...)
So basically I now love reading multiple books at once. I don't find it confusing like I thought I would and I'm really enjoying reading a lot more!
So my question is, how do you prefer to read? Do you read multiple books or stick to one at a time? Let me know!
💖
💖
I read up to 6 books at the same time because I happen to do that thing a lot where I think: ooooohh shiny book! Or I remember one from my tbr that I've been meaning to read and suddenly am very tempted and I love when I can finish several books in quick succession!
ReplyDeleteYes that's how I feel too! It gives me so much satisfaction when I finish 2 or 3 books within the space of a few days! Blogging has made me so much worse for picking up books I want to read while I'm reading something else. If I see an amazing review then I just want to read that book right now, no matter what 😂
DeleteI usually read around 5 books at a time. Also because it helps you through the boring parts, but also because I want to read different things and like you I have different moods :)
ReplyDeleteSo I highly agree on this post!!
Wow! 5 is impressive, I usually stick to around 2/3, and I try to cater to different genres so I always have something for whatever mood I'm in. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteFor the most part I'm very much like you were, one book at a time because that's more than enough for my brain to concentrate on. However, when I'm getting to the stage in a book where it's boring me a little and there's something else I would rather be reading, then I'll pick up another and read two at a time. I don't think I could manage more than two at once though, unless one was an audiobook.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I usually read 2/3 books at once because anything more than that and I start to get confused. They usually have to be different genres as well just to break them up a bit. I love the idea of audiobooks but unfortunately they just don't seem to work well for me. It goes in one ear and out the other!
DeleteI'm like you (or like you used to be LOL) in that I've always been a total purist. One book at a time and that's that. I've never understood people who read multiple books at one. I mean, how can you be truly invested in more than one story at a time? Now, *technically* I only read one book at a time but I combine that with an audio book. So I usually have 2 books going at a time - reading one, listening to one. Somehow the purist in me can accept that much. :)
ReplyDeleteTanya @ Girl Plus Books
Yeah, audiobooks are a little different then physical books. I hate that I don't get along with them, I just don't seem to take in any of the book long term with audiobooks😔!
DeleteI love having a variety of books on my night table for the same reasons you've enumerated. Nowadays, I have 3-5 books going at the same time. Lol.
ReplyDelete5 is slightly too many for me😂, I don't think my little brain could handle that many! On average I have 2/3, I try to have different genres going at the same time as well for a bit of variety!
DeleteI'm always reading at least 3 books at once. Sometimes it works out great-- and sometimes it's my way of DNFing without admitting that's what I'm doing. I'm super terrible mood reader, and I really hate it sometimes bc it's not like I don't want to read the book-- but my moods don't want to!
ReplyDeleteI completely get what you mean, I too am I mood reader. Even if I'm really enjoying a book sometimes I'll just go off it because I want a different genre, so reading more than one books is great for that!
DeleteI read at least 2 books at once. One physical book and one ebook. But lately, I'm thinking of trying out 3 books at once. It might actually help me get out a reading slump. Also, heavy books are difficult to get around when I'm out of the house.
ReplyDeleteI used to think it was confusing as well. At one point, I did got confused because I was reading books with the same genre -- YA SciFi Dystopian, I think. Now, I make sure all my reads are of different genres :D
Yeah, I try to make sure I'm reading books from different genres to make sure I don't get confused. I normally read 2/3 books at once and so far I've been able to manage that. I think if I did anymore though I was definitely be confused as hell. I just love being able to pick and choose depending on my mood that day!
DeleteThough I like to read through one book after the other, I ofter find myself reading two or more books at the same time. Though I have to say that I often mix fiction and non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteThen, there are long-time reads (like for example, I am currently reading a book about carreer opportunities for psychologists), which I read from time to time, whenever I like to, so that's an absolute parallel read.
And then are those moments when I am reading a book and I see another book at the bookstore and I buy it and immediatly want to read it.
By the way: I have absolutely the same feeling about working through my tbr more quickly :D
Greets, Ella
http://passionandpages.blogspot.de
Yes! I just feel like my TBR shrinks a million times quicker when I'm reading more than one book at once 😂! I tend to make sure the selction of books I'm reading are different genres to make sure I don't get them confused with each other and so far that's worked well for me!
DeleteI used to think it would be really confusing too but now it's rare that I don't have 2, sometimes even 3 books on the go. I usually have an ebook and a physical book and try to have a review book and a 'me' book on the go to keep things balanced. And I try to read two different types of books to lessen the chance of getting plots and characters confused. I feel like I'm getting more books read that way too, so I completely understand what you mean!
ReplyDelete~Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer
Yeah I feel like I read more when I have multiple books on the go as well. It's because I'm such a mood reader, I like to be able to pick and choose my books depending on how I'm feeling that day. I've been reading 2/3 books at once because any more and I think I'd get confused, I do read different genres as well though to try and avoid that!
DeleteI do not read multiple books at once. It's hard for me because when I do, do it I tend to read one book more over the other so even if I do read multiple books, I still end up reading one either way XD I do kind of want to try reading more again soon though. I want to try and get more books off my TBR list :3
ReplyDeleteAmber @ Escape Life in the Pages
Yeah I get what you're saying. I think the main reason I read different books is because I'm a major mood reader. If you want to try it a lot of people have said they read multiple books but with different formats, so one physical books, one ebook etc. Maybe you'd like that better?
DeleteI normally just read one book at a time - except when I'm reading a really long book. Instead of just reading the one long book for a week or more, I'll read it between other books, like if I finish another book early in the night I'll pick that one up and read a bit of it. It takes a long time to finally get through it, but I feel like I'm still able to make progress on other titles on my TBR.
ReplyDeleteYeah that's a good way to do it! I used to be so intimidated by long books because I know how much of a mood reader I am and how quickly I can go off reading a book. So the idea of being committed to a really long book was off-putting, I'm starting to get into longer books now that I can take a break from them and read something else though!
DeleteI am such a huge mood reader so I often get sick of a book and try another one for a while! I will also read a few books at a time, because like you said, it's a lot faster for me (or feels a lot faster which motivates me to keep reading!)!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this awesome post!
xx Anisha @ Sprinkled Pages
Exactly! Glad to see someone else feels the same! Even if we are tricking ourselves into thinking were reducing our TBR (we aren't really are we)...
DeleteI generally still read one book at a time, for a lot of the same reasons as you did, but I have to admit sometimes I will do two. Reasons 1 and 2- yup. In fact I'm doing it now- I have a book that's starting really iffy for me so I'm reading another as a little break lol. So yeah- that helps.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am a mood reader too so that also plays a role. So I guess I would say yah it's growing on me. :)
I think it's nice to have a break from a book you're starting to not enjoy so much anymore. Sometimes if I push through and don't read anything else I'll really dislike the book, but if I take a break and go back to it later I tend to still enjoy it because I didn't force myself to carry on reading!
Delete*raises hand* Yes! I read multiple books! I tend to read them on different devices though? So like right now I have an audiobook going and a physical book, and I'll probably start an ebook too.😂 It's just convenient for me, because then I can always be reading something no matter the situation! I also feel like it helps get through the tBR quicker, when really you're not spending anymore time reading. haha. But whatever works for us, right?!
ReplyDeleteYeah a lot of people have been saying they do that actually! I never really thought about it until now because I read mainly e-books. It's a good idea though! And omg yes, when I finish a few books in a short space of time I feel so accomplished! Exactly though, it motivates me to keep reading so whatever floats our boats!
DeleteI've always been the kind of person to read one book at the time and I guess I've always done this just because it was how I was taught? I have been wanting to try and have multiple books on the go and see what it does for me. As someone that does suffer a fair few reading slumps this seems like a good potential solution. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteI was like that for the longest time as well, it's only really recently that I've been reading multiple books. A few people have said they read different books but with different formats, so a physical book and an e-book or audiobook! Maybe you could try that if you want to have a go at reading multiple books!
DeleteI've started doing this too. I used to never be able to read more than one book at a time and I still can't read two books I've never read before at the same time but I can reread a book and read a new book at the same time. I love rereading books so whenever I find myself drifting away from my current read I almost always reread something for a day and then jump back into my current read. It doesn't help my TBR like being able to read two new books would but it does help my Goodreads goal lol. Great discussion! :)
ReplyDeleteGood idea, I always want to re-read books but feel bad for doing it because there's so many books I haven't read yet that I need to. Re-reading one alongside other books would be a great way to re live some of my all time favourite books without the guilt!
DeleteI don't read more than one book at once. I do usually have an audiobook going too, but only one physical book. If I read more than one I just end up picking a favorite and reading it until I'm finished. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't really seem to get along with audiobooks very well, I just don't take it in at all. I know what you mean though, I used to be exactly the same!
DeleteI used to read one book at a time (sooometimes two if I had to read a book for school) and I too didn't understand how people did that and thought it'd be confusing. But now? I read quite a few books at the same time haha.
ReplyDelete