Gays of Goodreads discussion

Does anyone read multiple books at ounce? This is something I obsess over but then end up sticking to just one book. But there are so many stories/topics/genres that I want to cover.

If you read more than one book how many is your limit? Please share your strategies.

I am doing so at the moment. I found out that it is absolutely not for me, I prefer to stick to one at a time. Although, I also figured out that if I were to do this again, it would definitely happen while I'm reading long books, because they can take so long to finish, that it would be interesting to read shorter books alongside the long one - that way you diversify. And personally I wouldn't do more than two books at once, otherwise it'll become more of a "I need to consume" frenzy and less of reading out of love for it. I think it can deter you from enjoying the experience. But this is just my opinion/experience, hope it gives you something to think about! :-)

I do!! I keep one book that I read sporadically for research reasons, so it’ll probably take months to finish. Then I read a main book that I follow for as long as I need, and then I can also check smaller reads like children’s books, audiobooks and such in between… I think 3 to 5 y my ideal limit 🌷

A fiction and a non-fiction, I can see that. I read for work all the time. But two novels at once? Impossible. Like having two simultaneous affairs. Inevitably, you'll forget the storyline and call one by the other's name. Ouch!

I read about two to three books at a time. I enjoy it! Each book will be a different genre though. Sometimes I’ll even do one physical book and the other will be audio, so I can consume it while I’m doing chores or out walking/riding my bike. I’ve even done it where one book will be designated as my “day time” book and the other is my “before bed” book.

I find having a variety of different books allows me to fit my mood in the moment and helps me stay engaged, especially if one of the books happens to be more challenging to read for longer periods (ie Wheel of Time).

And like you said, there are so many books out there to read! Sometimes I get too impatient and can’t wait to finish one book before I can start the next one! Haha

I do this all the time. There are times when reading for one particular book gets a little dry, or I want to take a break and try something else. For instance, while I was making my way through The Three Musketeers (really nice book, BTW) I was also going through some Eden Finley romance books, just as a nice little change of pace.

Just so that it doesn't get confusing, when I read multiple books at once, I try to choose books that are wildly different so I don't get them confused with each other. So, if I'm taking a break from, say, Dubois's Black Reconstruction, I may read something totally different like May Archer's Love in O'Leary series,

That seems to work for me.

I have tried reading multiple books at once. It’s not for me. I prefer to give my attention to one book at a time. And going back and forth between a couple of books, I find I forget what I have read and need to go back a couple pages.

I would prefer one ot most two books at a time..as..I maintain commonplace notebooks.. so am in habit of writing down after every chapter I fisnish or so.

Manzil wrote: "I would prefer one ot most two books at a time..as..I maintain commonplace notebooks.. so am in habit of writing down after every chapter I fisnish or so."

omg I love this practice. How long have you been doing it?

i started keeping commonplace notebooks since covid and after covid it became one of my treasured procession which helped me through post covid time....also now I fellnin love with different types of notebooks..and ink pens..

In the last 2 years i always have one book in my ear ( audio ) and another in my hands .
somehow they dont clash and i can enjoy both at the same time

Yes! It’s one of the best ways to keep interested..

Just like I watch multiple tv shows without getting confused I read a lot of books at the same time. Like a lot 😅

I read multiple books at the same time. To me it’s just like watching multiple series on Netflix, Hulu, or Prime. Some books are more entertaining than others.

I also have a rule that I will always finish a book if I start it, no matter how I feel about it or how long it takes me.

I find that "always finishing books" thing very fascinating. I have a "life is too short to read books you don't like" rule, but I have friends who read multiple books simultaneously, and finishing books for them is sometimes an issue, so I can see how committing to finishing books can be a useful goal.
I'm a one book at a time guy, so it's no big deal if I decide that specific book isn't for me, I just throw it out and pick up the next one.

I like the switching around and keep different books at different reading spots in my home so when I pick a new spot to sit in, I get a new book! I struggle to set aside a book I've started; sometimes they unexpectedly become engaging, like YOUNG MUNGO which I nearly quit at the beginning. But I applaud Lamar for valuing TIME over commitment. Time is the one bank account in life you can only withdraw from, never add to, and never know the balance!

For me books require a greater commitment then most diversions, which doesn't rule out serial monogamy. As for DNF, I agree. It should apply to authors too. If some didn't, readers might.

I have been lately. I have three on the go at once now generally:
1. Work book - the book I read on my day job breaks
2. Bedside book - the book I read in bed. I usually keep this fairly easy reading, or a collection of short stories
3. Kindle book - something I specifically read on Kindle app. I try to keep it to books only available to me that way, and I read that whenever I can that isn't the other scenarios, often at the gym

I also added a fourth 'holiday read' book last week, which was a relaxed easy read while I was on holiday in Gran Canaria for Pride. Only problem was I finished it in three days, so I should have taken another one with me too.

That said, my carry on was full already as I also brought copies of my novel and short story collection to leave at the hotel's book collection thing lol. Hope someone staying at that hotel in the future loves them

Ryan wrote: "I also have a rule that I will always finish a book if I start it, no matter how I feel about it or how long it takes me."

Oh, how I relate to this statement.
As much as I understand the point that we have way too many books to read and not enough time on hand, I am just categorically unable to DNF a book (atleast, so far).

And I have come to realize of two reasons for that for myself:
- A fair few times the book picks up as we go, so it somehow makes me rather excited to see how a particular author manages to salvage a rocky start.
- Even if it does not get better and the book ends up being utterly disappointing, I feel like reading the whole thing gives me a more concrete reason to justify my dislike towards the book.

But, I totally understand the other point too. Weird conundrum! :P

While I have done multiple books at a time in the past, I have progressively ended up being a one-book-at-a-time person.

I can only manage two at a time. BOOKS, that is. Otherwise, it gets confusing, and I end up concocting a fourth or fifth book in my mind, merging elements and characters from other books. It's not an enjoyable experience.

I've found it's best to mix genres. For instance, pairing a mystery with a romance, or a thriller with a fantasy, but not two books of the same genre, like two romances.

As for DNF, I have no issue with it. I'll persist if the writing is poor, but the premise or plot is intriguing. However, if a book is just terrible, then it's a full stop. Life is too short to spend on bad books.

I can usually read up to three books at a time due to the three different formats I read; audio, physically, and ebooks.

Ebooks are nice when I have a spare moment such as waiting in line at the store, audio books for when I’m on a nature stroll or running errands, and physical books are my sacred reading time. Herbal tea, book in hand, nuzzled up in a recliner.

If a book is really good (4-5 stars for me), I’ll usually finish it pretty fast before I even get started on another one. But for most of the time, it’s just causal reading. My current physical book is taking me much longer to read than usual, in part because I keep misplacing it 😅

As for DNF, I personally always finish a book, mostly out of spite. Okay, definitely out of spite. If I had to suffer through a horrid book, you’d better believe I’m gonna get the satisfaction of marking it off as “read,” ready to go to bat against anyone who says I “just didn’t give the book a chance.” I did Karen and it still sucked all the way to the end.

Joey wrote: "As for DNF, I personally always finish a book, mostly out of spite. Okay, definitely out of spite. "

Can I recommend A Little Life? I wouldn’t finish it, but if you want to spite-read something…

Yes, I do read several books at the same time, but a few years ago, I was a person who only used to read one book at a time because I thought it made me read faster, but the reality was that it didn’t. I was forcing myself to read a book on a topic I wasn’t feeling at that specific moment. So now, with three books—usually a biography, a fiction book, and a general knowledge book—I read whichever one I feel like depending on the moment. Also, following Joe’s comment (he also commented in this group), I am now into audiobooks as well (I also tried them a couple of years ago), so one of the three books I’m reading is an audiobook.

Lorenzo wrote: "I can only manage two at a time. BOOKS, that is. Otherwise, it gets confusing, and I end up concocting a fourth or fifth book in my mind, merging elements and characters from other books. It's not ..."
Bravo for your persistence!

I am reading "Small Rain" and "Hombrecito" which is an odd mix, but it's working.

Over the summer I went from "Evenings & Weekends" to "I Make Envy on Your Disco" and those two books complimented each other very nicely -- almost strangely so! But it was fun to go to London and Berlin in both of those books, and they were each warm and fuzzy with a dash of edge and a real sense of place, which is exactly what I like.

This was quite common for me when I had coursework, although I’m currently doing this for the first time of my own volition.

I’ve been reading Song of Achilles for a few months now, but it’s been quite hard for me to get into. I think it’s worth finishing, though, so I’ve been taking breaks in between to read other books. I also TA at a university so necessarily have to read other things for class.

Always!

My husband's eyesight is failing, and he can no longer read the text in books. For years now, we've been reading together, with me reading aloud and him listening. In addition to our together book, I then have my own book that I read concurrently.

I used to be “one book at a time” when it came to reading, but since Covid I’ve become a double-fister when it comes to books haha. But I definitely agree with those who have said the books need to be different genres for this to work. Right now, I’m reading Big Gay Wedding by Byron Lane and RuPaul’s memoir. Before those, I was reading The Guncle by Steven Rowley and Kelly Bishop’s memoir.