How many books do you read at a time?

Uh, I don't know about the "suppose to help you focus" thing. Doesn't really make sense to me anyway.

The reason I can't read two books at a time is that I rather finish one book than being in the middle of two books. I mean, I'm always eager to know how the story ends.

I'm usually reading two or three books at any given time but it's really an effort at discipline. I absolutely cannot put a good book down when I start reading, so I tend to stay up too late and have miserable days at work. I'm always thinking "okay, just one more chapter" and oops, now it's 3am. So - I reserve my heavier reading for weeknights and lighter fare for the weekends. My weeknight book is currently The Federalist Papers. It's a great read, but I can definitely put it down. Sometimes it actually puts me to sleep. Last weekend I started The Divine Comedy, and I'm really ready to get back to it this weekend. TGIF.

It's a lucky thing my addiction is a safe activity.

Eliza

I'm one of those people that always have multiple books going at any given time. It's the way my mind works- after a certain amount of time reading one thing I find it actually more restful to switch gears after concentrating for 30 - 45 minutes (for example, I was recently doing this with Paradise Lost and Mrs. Dalloway). I guess I'm just weird like that.

I always have at least three books going at a time though-. A novel and a book of poetry, as well as either a book of short stories or criticism, or both.

I usually try to read one book at a time. Sometimes I read from one to three books as well.

I try to read one book at a time but look how that turned out :
1) re-reading a study in scarlet
2) The Day of the Triffids
3) Treasure Island
4) Dr Jeckel Mr Hyde
5) The Da Vici Codes
6) Dead gorgeous

And then I'm throwing my school-work in between reading sessions! I seem to stay up untill 2am reading and then fall asleep on the bus on the way to school! :yawnb:

I read one book at a time because I prefer to completely immerce myself into the story and characters.
This was apart from when I was in 6th Form though, when obviously I had several college books and my personal reading book on the go at the same time; Which was a disaster for my college work :p

I have the feeling I've replied in this thread already ... but I'm too lazy to check :(

my particular way of ambling through literature consists of:

-1 novel at any time.

-A short story collection lying around in case i get tired or exhausted or i need time to think through the novel more, because it takes time to process some of that stuff.

-And usually some poetry lying around.

It works for me. Everything is seperate, and in having influences that are not gigantic or perplexing, but rather, stimulating and short, it may help me work out the novel quicker or gain a greater understanding. It is especially great when the poetry or short story hits on the same notes and concepts of the novel.

if a particulary novel isn't working for my state of mind or i'm not interested at the time or in the style, i just put it back on the shelf for another time. and start another, i don't consider the one i put back part of active reading because for now i'm done with it.

You know how I do. ;)

I just posted in other thread about how random I could be. I currently reading 4 books at the moment (Song of Solomon, Measure for Measure, War of The Worlds, and Tropic of Cancer). The one I read would really depend on my mood...I read Measure for Measure last nite until I fell asleep and this morning on my way to work, I read Song of Solomon.

I'm almost never reading one book at a time. I'm currently reading Idylls of the King by Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Jingo by Terry Pratchett, and up until a few days ago The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. It's no wonder I get them mixed up so often. :)

I have a book to read at work, a book to read in the tub, a book to read in bed....
So usually about 3, maybe 4???

Twelve

~one contemporary literature

~one classic literature

~one or two poetry

~two or three books on some aspect of studying writing

~one "motivational" book for writers

~two or three books on something I'm studying that isn't related to writing

~one book that's spiritual or devotional

I can recall reading two books at the same time on rare occasions. But if a book is really fascinating, I stick with it until the end before I start another book.

I'm a very picky reader. If a book doesn't catch my interest in the first few pages, I usually don't finish it. Bad writing pollutes your mind.

i usually have a few books going at the same time. I keep some at home scattered in my fave spots and one in my bag for on the go and waitingrooms. Right now I'm reading Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather, The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard, at home and 253 by Geoff Ryman, as my on the go book.

i have no trouble reading a handful of books at the same time. it is easy for me to switch to the other worlds and instantly immerse myself in them.the more restless i feel the more books i read at the same time, i am not sure what i am searching for but definitely something maybe it is only one line i need for my soul. i don't really know. but i enjoy deeply each that i read. i couldn't stand being a librarian!

I read up to 10 books at a given time. It sometimes becomes unweildy and if I feel that happening, I usually know which one's gotta be sacrificed until later. Glad to see so many voracious readers - inspiring! Thanks!