How many books do you read at one time? That's a question running through my mind because I think I'm going a little overboard lately! At the time I'm writing this, I have FIVE books going:
- A Clash of Kings for the #IronThroneReadalong
- Another one at home that I alternate with #1
- An audiobook in the car
- A book I keep in my desk at work and read during my lunchbreak
- A book on the Serial Reader app
Reading two books at a time seems reasonable, but how did I get up to five? It's all about wanting to maximize my reading time. The audiobook gives me an extra hour (at least) of reading a day, and it's a great multi-tasking tool for driving. I now have an hour-long lunch break at work, and it's nice if I need to run an errand, but most days, I use that time to read and can get through an extra book per week. For the #IronThroneReadalong, we're getting through about 150 pages a week, so I still have plenty of other reading time at home. And the Serial Reader app (which I'll be talking about in an upcoming post) is only 15-20 minutes a day.
My sister thinks I'm kind of crazy to read so many books at the same time. Isn't it hard to keep them all straight? It can be, but I've tried to diversify my reads so that each book is very distinct and there's less chance of getting them confused: adult high fantasy with Game of Thrones, a nonfiction at home, YA during lunch, women's fiction in the car, a classic on Serial Reader. It doesn't always work out this neatly, but it's nice when it does!
How many books do you read at one time? How many is too many? What are your best tips for maximizing your reading time?
I used to think it was so difficult to juggle multiple books, but then I thought about how many TV shows people watch, and they keep those stories straight, right? Personally, I like getting to the end of the story ASAP. I want that payoff as quickly as possible. Therefore, I only have 1 ebook and 1 audiobook going at a time.
ReplyDeleteYes, I never thought of it that way, but that's so true! I agree, though, sometimes it can feel like I'm just reading and reading and not finishing anything.
DeleteI used to read a ton of books at the same time, but lately it's just THE book I'm currently reading and then my audio book. I don't think I can manage much more than that. Having the Kindle app on my phone really helps me maximize my reading time that way I don't have to bring my Kindle everywhere I go.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's definitely good to be able to read one book across multiple devices.
DeleteOh wow! My limit is two, and that's only because it's an audio and a book. I don't think there is a max limit -- if it works for you, then it works, I think.
ReplyDeleteI think so, too!
DeleteIt varies for me, how many I read at once. I like keeping it clear and go with 1 at a time, but then, sometimes that one doesn't fit my mood and have to pick up another one to keep things interesting. I only read at home, but it makes sense to keep several books around if you like reading at other places too.
ReplyDeleteRonnie @ Paradise Found
Yep, I have books everywhere!
DeleteI don’t think I could have 5 books going at once. I’d feel like I was reading and reading and not finishing anything. I do occasionally juggle 3 books. If I’m reading 1 audiobook, 1 short story collection, and 1 novel, I do okay.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Yeah, it can sometimes feel like that, I agree.
DeleteI am the aforementioned sister and LOL yes, I think it's a little crazy. BUT - I do not have very high reading comprehension and you do, so you can handle it! I would definitely get confused and forget stuff with that many going on. I usually have 1 book and 1 audio at a time, with maybe a short story anthology thrown in there occasionally.
ReplyDeleteI think a book and an audio seems to be pretty popular!
DeleteI have a physical and a Kindle book going sometimes but that is about it. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great!
DeleteI read multiple books at a time but don't know if I could manage 5 at once. Right now I have 4 going at once and it's a little challenging: an audiobook I'm almost finished with, an ARC I just started, a backlist book I carry with me and read a chapter here or there as I have time, and then my book for the IronThrone readalong.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it can be challenging, but some books are more "portable" than others and so some I feel like I can carry around with me and others not so much.
DeleteI'm impressed that you can read 5 books at a time. I think I'd get mixed up. I usually just have two going, one audio and one print. It's always a bad sign if I start a third one. It usually means I'll end up DNFing something.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it definitely helps that they are all different genres!
DeleteI prefer to read one at a time but there have been a few times I've read more than one. I think three though is as high as I've gone haha! I can totally see this though- I mean audio, and one at work- yeah that makes sense! :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes! Different books for different situations!
DeleteI like to read a few at a time, too. It keeps it interesting for me and I tend to get less bored that way.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, too!
DeleteI used to be a one book at a time type of reader. I think that being a book blogger has changed that for me. I try to take advantage of all available reading time, too. I might have 3 or 4 different books on the go as well. Typically an audio, physical, and ebook. Seems chaotic, doesn't it?! ;)
ReplyDeleteHaha, it does, a little! But like you said, we want to maximize our reading time!
DeleteI am usually juggling two or three books at the same time, usually from a different genre so I can change it up depending on what kind of mood I am in. It also helps to use different formats, like one paperback and one ebook.
ReplyDeleteVery true! Different formats totally lend themselves to different situations.
DeleteGenerally I only read one book at a time, but I have occasionally started reading a non-fiction or manga volume alongside reading a novel. I find it has to be something completely different so I don’t get confused!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree!
DeleteIn high school, I briefly went through a phase where I would be reading both a nonfiction and a fiction read at the same time. I found that made it easier to keep them separate.
ReplyDeleteNow I'll sometimes read an audiobook as well as a physical book, but otherwise, I'm only reading the one. I sometimes get to where I feel like I've read too many books without writing a review and I don't want to read more, because I'm afraid I'll start to forget, so I don't think I'm the sort of person who can handle many books at once :)
Yeah, I find I don't retain stuff for a super long time, just the basics really, so having this many books going at once can sometimes affect my review writing!
Delete