Polls for Our Souls discussion

I'm currently trying to read more than 1 book at a time. I'm reading All The Bright Places, Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda, Julius Caesar (for school), and To All The Boys I've Loved Before.

I usually did this and it didn't really bother me much if one of the books is a light read and can lighten' up my mood. I did read Cress and The Hate U Give at the same time and it's fun! 💚

Yes. I can't read more than one book at a time. I can stop after a story in an anthology and have more than one book in my currently reading that way, but can only read one book at a time otherwise.

To each their own :)

It's extremely difficult because I need to know what happened in one book before I embark on another book

I don't like reading more than one for-fun books at once, but I'm okay if I'm reading a school book and a for-fun book at the same time.

I usually have more than one book on the go. Right now I'm reading Gone with the Wind and The Program. I generally have one I read during the work week and a chunkster I read during my days off. Since the two books are so different I don't find it hard switching between the two.

I usually read more than one book at a time and I don't find it confusing at all!

Yes, yes I do.

i've usually got anywhere from 4 to 6 going at the same time and i find that i finish WAY more books than when i used to just read one at a time. however i try not to read books that are really similar at the same time. like i've been wanting to start the fifth book in the queen's thief series but i won't let myself until i finish the second gentlemen bastards book because they're both high fantasy stories featuring thieves so i feel like it would too much to be reading them both at once

I usually have on ebook and one physical book going.

I don’t think it’s confusing as long as the genre is different. Like I’ll read a contemporary and a fantasy and be fine but two fantasies will just confuse me.

As a literature major in college, 25 (ahem!) years ago, I frequently had to juggle several books at one time for my various classes. While I did not prefer doing this, I got used to it. In my professional life (first as a teacher of literature, and now as a researcher/writer) I often need to read multiple texts at a time.
One fiction and one nonfiction title at the same time seems to be okay for me. If I am reading multiple nonfiction works, I need them to be about different topics. I try never to have two fiction works going at the same time.

When I was younger, I used to read two or three at a time, and while simultaneously watching TV. Now that I am old(er), I can't seem to read more than one at a time. But I read fast, so it's not a problem, usually.

i find it a lot easier to read two books at a time if they're in different genres. for instance i'll read a non fiction book and a ya book at the same time and i won't have a problem!!

Yes, i find it really difficult. I’m a monogamous reader

I typically read one book at a time but If I'm in the middle of a personal book and get assigned one for school I'll balance them.

I tend to read two books at a time but I’ll favor one of them more. So if I want to read I usually pick up the “main” book I’m reading. The only time I would read the second book is if I’m not in the mood to read my main book. If this even makes any sense 😂

I don't really read more than one book at a time, I like to make my way through one and then move on to the next. Only time I really ever did read more than one at a time was back when I was in highschool and had to read lots for lit, as well as my books for fun. I just find it weird, and I want to be constantly immersed in the one story, rather than breaking it up so I can read another book as well.

Jillian wrote: "I tend to read two books at a time but I’ll favor one of them more. So if I want to read I usually pick up the “main” book I’m reading. The only time I would read the second book is if I’m not in the mood to read my main book. If this even makes any sense..."

It sure does!!

I usually listen to an audio book with my boyfriend, an audio book on my own and read a book. So I read a minimum of 3 at a time. I can do it no other way.

I usually read a "light" and a heavy" book at the same time, meaning literary fiction one the one side and YA on the other or non-fiction and urban fantasy. This way, I can always read what i'm in the mood to read, one can feel to demanding on my brain on weeknights while te other can feel not "nutritious" enough on days I've got a whole brain ready for a challenge.

I also almost always keep a graphic novel or comics on the side.
This is how I manage to read every day and never feel like I have to. Reading must always be a pleasure.

@Jennifer how do you listen to audiobooks with your boyfriend ? In the car ? I don't know why, I've always associated audiobooks to headphones ^^

I'm usually reading about 4-5 at the same time. Most of the time, I mood read. So if I'm in the middle of one good book but I'm in the mood for something a little different, I'll pick up another. I don't find it difficult to follow multiple stories at once. Also I'm usually reading books in different formats to maximize how much I can read. I listen to audio books when I'm doing mindless tasks like driving, walking or cleaning. I'll read a physical book other times and then I'll read my ebooks if I'm out somewhere or lying in bed.

@Meagan same here and glad I'm not alone haha xD I sometimes just want to start a new book even though I'm already reading 3 books!

No. It's a rarity to have one book on my CR. I don't know why I do it though because I get through them quicker when I read one at a time. But I habitually read multiple at the same time, and try to focus on one.

I prefer only reading one book at a time. I like to focus on one story. Only way I can juggle two is if I'm reading a manga. Manga doesn't take as long to read.

I am a person who can't focus on only one book so I usually read more than one. As some others commented here before me, I usually try to pair up a non fiction with a fiction book just for the right amount of balance.

P.s.: Even though, right now I am just reading one book

It doesn’t matter to me! Normally I like listening to an audiobook and reading an ebook

Nope, but I get confused if I'm reading the book and then watching the tv series/movie.

I don't have any problem with it. I read more than one book, I watch more than one show,... I just need something I can choose from. Just reading one book (or watching one show) could cause me to not read anything for several days because I'm not in the mood. But I try to read only one book of a genre I don't read often at a time. Like Thriller, contemporary, etc.

I have done it on occasion but I prefer to read one at a time. If I have to drop a book and start another, chances are I am bored with the first book and I might take too much time to go back to it. So I stick to the one I am with.

Lol I’m reading 6 books right now :)

I generally as a rule only read up to 2 books at a time and one of these books must be fiction and the other non-fiction (or an easy read fiction) otherwise the story lines can become blurred for me or I can forget things (forgetful meg).

haha yeah same

I am reading several books at once. I find it a mess at the beginning trying to chisel out time for each book. But eventually I get into some sort of system and just enjoy my time. Currently a couple chapter books and two comic books :)

My currently reading list on Goodreads isn't accurate (i'm not reading THAT many omg) my Kindle's linked to Goodreads so every time I open a book it adds it omg

I like to have five: a main physical book, an audiobook for the car, an audiobook for the house, a nonfiction book (just about 10 pages a day), and an ebook for bedtime. (At the moment I have six because I got to preview a book for errors before it goes to press.)

wow you have a system

I'm kind of neurotic that way.

I can't read anymore than 2 books at a time and they have to be in different genres. But it's doable.

No, not really. I'm always reading more than one book at a time.

Unless it's a book I really want to finish in one sitting or something then it's for me to focus all my attention on just one book.

I'm a huge mood reader. So all my reading habits are based off how I'm feeling. My max limit is around 4-5 books at a time. On very rare occasions it's six but never more than that.

Seems a little crazy and overwhelming but it fits my lifestyle.

I’ve only ever read about 2 books at the same time. I don’t think it’s difficult. But I’m normally so engrossed in one book to read another.

The Girl Murdered by Her TBR wrote: "Yes, i find it really difficult. I’m a monogamous reader"

Same!

@Audrey I'm basically the same way. Like I get a bunch of ARCs through various sites but I limit myself to 60-70 pages from those a day so I still have time to spend on my other stuff. Then I always have a book to read when I'm on the elliptical and those I usually pick longer books and try to read about 10% a day. Then I'll usually have a comic going and also one or two other books depending on if one is a buddy read I have to slow down for etc. And then occasionally there's a book I'm like FORCING myself to get through where I'm like 'look if I just read ONE chapter every day ...' lol

I don't like to read more than one book at a time.
unless it's a school book or I lost interest, then I don't mind reading more than one.

It always depends on what I am reading but usually I can just switch between a couple books at a time. All depends on my mood and what I feel like reading

I don't find it difficult, but I prefer not to do it if it's an option. If I read two or more books at a time I will inevitably end up enjoying one book more than the other and would thus neglect the other book, which is sad and unfair. The only time I really read more than one book at a time is when I'm assigned a book to read for class.

I mostly read about two books at a time, usually different genres so I still got something to read even though I don't feel like reading a certain at that moment. Always depends on how much I like one book and if I'm in the mood for a certain genre.

Not at all. I almost feel like I NEED to read multiple books at one time, but they're usually very different genres from each other. The thing that makes it easy for me is that I listen to an audiobook on my commute, then I have a book club book that I'm only reading sections of at a time so as not to pass up everyone else, and then I have my main book I'm reading during lunch breaks, and at home before bed. Not to mention the chapter books I'm currently in the middle of reading to my child every night before bed. It's easy for me to compartmentalize. Then, I've got all my "spare books" that I keep in the car and on my phone in case of a book emergency when I'm stuck somewhere and have forgotten my main book. There are 9 books on my "currently reading" shelf on goodreads.

If I read more than one book at a time, I end up almost completely neglecting one of them in favor of the other. I don’t allow myself to do that anymore

I usually do several at a time. An audiobook for the car (on CD), an audiobook to listen to at work (on my phone--Overdrive is great for audiobooks!), a book I want to read, and a book I feel like I should read. The book I feel like I should read is usually something I only read 2 pages of per night. Slow progress is still progress!