THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

At the moment I seem to be picking them up, reading a little and then moving on, only to go back to a book when I'm in a particular mood.
Happy new year everyone.

Rick wrote: "Wally wrote: "I know, multitasking is the the women. Don't know why but I hate multitasking. Multitasking is for expeditious closure. When I read I want to take my time and savor the words and idea..."
I love Wally's definition of multitasking. I prefer to read one book at a time. I know I get more enjoyment but my multiple book reading must reflect my state of mind. When I enjoy something I go in on my kindle and buy the sequels and then dip into them. I'm sure I read more books now before of my ereader. I buy the hardcovers or paper books I want to keep.

Both of us read more than one book at a time. I tend to stick more to one of them until it's finished and just dip into the other. I don't know about PJ. -Karen

Is simply sitting with a book considered 'reading' a book? I find that if I rest my hands on the cover or pages of a book, or if I rest with a book on my chest, it still takes me places...

Today, I was searching for three of my son's library books, looking in every known nook and cranny ~ the logical and the desparate stash spots for when I need to hide something away in a hurry ~ and I got into a mad flurry 'cos the books were seven days overdue and I needed to return them NOW!

But you know what, I decided to take Time Out and placed my hands on my book, the front cover being a close up of fresh, colourful balloons. They took me somewhere and one hour later, I woke up feeling at peace and refreshed. My son was still asleep. I walked straight to a small cupboard where my son had decided to keep his books and there they were! My circle was effortlessly complete!

I love the feeling of moving freely from book to book ~ whatever takes my mood and it's so good to hear that you do too Cathleen!

Knowing that this is normal, rather than putting it down to indecisiveness, inattentiveness, or task remaining incomplete leaves me feeling inspired to continue to read as I please!

I try to read one book at a time, right to the end before picking up another. However, if a book isn't grabbing me, but I'm still determined to finish it, sometime, I may read another and come back to the first later... I currently have abour 4 books I plan to get back to later... I try not to *not finish*...

I'm usually reading a couple of books and a couple of magazines at the same time. I also write more than one book at a time. At the moment I'm finishing one on a nation of fugitive slaves that was in Brazil in the 17th century, a novel, and a book about nuns who work under dangerous circumstances. See cheneybooks.com for my titles and free excerpts.

At the moment i'm reading a book by Martin Amis and another one, which at the moment I can't even remember what it is.

Glenn Cheney
Hanover, Conn.

To me, the sign of a good book is that you can only bear to read that one book through to the end. Only if I'm really bored with something will I abandon it for something else - and I never go back to the other. Time's too short - especially for a writer!

I understand where you're coming from and experienced this also many years ago during my fiction reads. As a non-fiction enthusiast now, I greet different books at different times and read all that I feel I need ~ whatever is ripe for my life at the time. Some issues can be deep and require space for contemplation and integration through life's learnings.

For instance, with "Map of the Soul" the process I'm going through is linear and well structured but self guided. I had stalled on progressing from Chapter 6 and yesterday, miraculously completed Chapters 7 and 8. I'm onto the 'light side' of the matrix now and feel that I may power through to Chapter 12 very soon, somehow! Each session I complete changes my life ~ scary and true, it's what I want to do, but for me, timing's gotta be ripe!!

I have to have a book for each side of my brain. Sometimes I even have 4 or 5 (counting the Bible). I am complicated like that.

Robert wrote: "I have to have a book for each side of my brain. Sometimes I even have 4 or 5 (counting the Bible). I am complicated like that."

I forgot to mention the Bible which i read daily, so I always have at least 3 books at a time, one in my bedroom and one in the den.

I used to read one at work at lunch and one at home at bedtime. Now that I have my Kindle, I usually only read one since I always have it with me. I can read it at the doctor's or anywhere I have a few minutes. I tend to like to just stay in one "world" at a time. Sometimes it's even hard for me to change authors once I finish a book and will look for another by the same author.

Debbie wrote: "I used to read one at work at lunch and one at home at bedtime. Now that I have my Kindle, I usually only read one since I always have it with me. I can read it at the doctor's or anywhere I have..."

I like how you use the term "world" Debbie..That is how I can read multiple books. They have to "transport" me to diverse "worlds" Right now I am in Current day Macau, in one book and 15th Century London in another!

Debbie wrote: "I used to read one at work at lunch and one at home at bedtime. Now that I have my Kindle, I usually only read one since I always have it with me. I can read it at the doctor's or anywhere I have..."

I'm the same with authors. It takes me ages to choose a new book, and if I've just read a decent one I'll tend to gravitate towards others by the same writer.

I am a 1 book at a time reader:)

I'm a gentleman. I read my books like I date my women, one at a time! :)

Oh, that's a great thread!

Well, I used to be, but I think will never be again. Though my New Year resolution was to stop reading 4-5 books at the same time, I just can't help it. So many books I'm eager to read out there! Gawd, I hope I'll be able to read them all some time soon :)

But I hope to return to the one-book-at-a-time mode of reading someday.

I just went back to catch up. I mentioned earlier that I'm a two, three, plus reader. It surprises me how many people there are who are one book at a time people!

I don't even know what that's like. I don't know if I've ever had one book at a time. I have four with bookmarks next to the couch at home and two or three more partly finished on my Kindle!

I'll sometimes read a book half-way through then put it back on the shelf for a couple years until I feel like finishing it.
:-)

I almost never read fiction. Mine jump around between different memoirs and history mostly.

Definitely not. At the moment I have three books going. A murder mystery (for balcony reading), a fantasy (for living room reading), and a historical fiction (for office reading) that is blowing my socks off! See what I'm doing there? I never tote the books around, there's one in any room I go to! And of course, I take my iPad with me everywhere.

I'm not sure I could ever be a one book at a time person...

Only if it pulls me in with meat hooks.

Currently reading these two great books!

I too read several books at the same time. Not sure why, although sometimes it's convenience. There might be a book near me, I pick it up to check it out and next thing you know I'm reading it. Or I'm flipping through my ebooks to see what I've got for books and start snooping through them and next thing you know I'm reading one, even though I have another one already on the go. When I pick up a book I've been reading, sometimes it takes a few pages to remind me what this book was about. I never used to read more than one book at a time. Maybe it was a way for me to challenge myself to see if I could keep them all straight. :) I think this must be my mental aerobics.

Currently reading

One book at a time.

I guess it depends. If I'm reading something pretty weighty, like say a Dickens novel, then I'll read one book at a time.

Most of the time, though, I'm read 2 or 3 books at one time.

Franky wrote: "I guess it depends. If I'm reading something pretty weighty, like say a Dickens novel, then I'll read one book at a time.

Most of the time, though, I'm read 2 or 3 books at one time."

I tend to enjoy reading various genres. I love to have an older or classic novel to "escape to" while reading current works. Makes a great contrast in language and scope

I never use to be but I seem to be doing it more often now. I think it depends on what mood I am in and where I am reading.

On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually two because of my monthly book club allocation.

I always have at least two books going and usually more. Right now I'm reading five! Some I will read more quickly than others, of course, and it's always gratifying to wrap up one great read to start another. For a while I was keeping it simple by reading only nonfiction, but I was missing a lot that way. I am thrilled to that my lists -- to read, currently reading, read -- are growing! Tipping the hat to Goodreads and some of the great communities like James Mason!

My name's Fiona and I'm a readaholic. Definitely a binge-reader. I have a teetering stack on the bedside table plus the kindle perched on top of it with a few more on the go. Meanwhile, on my husband's side of the bed is a single book and the newspaper folded neatly back to today's sudoku. Yin/Yang.

Fiona wrote: "My name's Fiona and I'm a readaholic. Definitely a binge-reader. I have a teetering stack on the bedside table plus the kindle perched on top of it with a few more on the go. Meanwhile, on my husba..."

LOL! I must admit, Fiona, I am MUCH more like you in the "readeraholic" sense! I live being surrounded by books...lots and lots of books!

I should preface my response by saying I always have wonderful intentions of reading a few books at a time. LOL It doesn't work out that way anymore. I blame my university days- too much enforced reading of books I wasn't interested in. ;) Either that or motherhood has destroyed any patience I once had.

Now, sadly, I'm a one book at a time woman. I like the feeling of completion at the end of a book, the sigh factor, and like to make sure my attention is focused.

Yes! At least two or three fiction novels going at a time, along with some sort of nonfiction or biography. And I agree with Don, I always try to have a classic in the mix.

Alan wrote: "On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually two because of my monthly book club alloca..."

I always pack a tote bag of at least eight to 10 books when we go on vacation; my daughter laughs, but I tell her, you have to have choices!

Rick wrote: "Franky wrote: "I guess it depends. If I'm reading something pretty weighty, like say a Dickens novel, then I'll read one book at a time.

Most of the time, though, I'm read 2 or 3 books at one tim..."

Agree with you about having a classic on hand. I usually do, even if it's something I've read already, like Austen or Bronte.

Teresa wrote: "Alan wrote: "On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually two because of my monthly boo..."

There is nothing funny about taking a bunch of books with you when you go on vacation! I was just in New Jersey for a few days and took a good 6 or 7 books with me. No chance I was going to be able to read them.. Just liked knowing I had them. Books make most wonderful traveling companions!

Rick wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Alan wrote: "On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually two because of..."

Rick, they do indeed! Something comforting in knowing I have my tote bag of books with me :)

Teresa wrote: "Rick wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Alan wrote: "On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually t..."

Yes indeed!!

Three right now!

Currently reading..

I tend to read one book at a time, but I also get books from the library. So, if something is coming due, I'll stop a book I've already started and read the one that that's due to make sure I finish it. But, I'm usually pretty good about managing that kind of thing.

Though, this is only true if the current book I'm reading is only alright. If the book Im reading is very good, I won't stop it just because something is due at the library.

I currently have about four on the go (3 fiction and one on craft). One is my main read, the others are ones I started and put aside, picking them up occasionally. The question becomes whether or not the others will be finished, and that depends on whether something else catches my fancy or not.

Rick wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Alan wrote: "On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually two because of..."

Agreed! I travel with books. I would miss them if I left them all at home.

Reading EVERYTHING in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti wrote: "Rick wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Alan wrote: "On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually t..."

Reading EVERYTHING in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti wrote: "Rick wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Alan wrote: "On holiday I take on two or three books, always including a non-fiction one. For fiction I usually pick different authors / genres. Otherwise it's usually t..."

Getting ready to take a short, 4-day vacation, and will take along my tote book of at least eight-10 books. I'll read one book on the beach during the morning/early afternoon hours, then switch to another for the rest of the day. The one I'm reading at night before bed is the one I'll pick up first the next morning, and the cycle repeats... :)

One book at a time? Perish the thought!

What horse crops one meadow?

Because the grass is always greener I have...um, about seven books in various stages of decomposition on my desk. John D. McDonald "The Deep Blue Sky" Bruce Sterling Holy Fire, a bunch of Martin Cruz Smith...

So much fun!

I used to be. But then I woke up one day and thought 'why not just read the one you can't wait to read next, as well as the current one? There is no rule that you have to finish one before the next!' lol
So now, I usually have 2 to 4 going. Usually different genres, for whatever strikes my mood to read at a given moment. Because they are so different from one another, I never get mixed up. I love it! :)

A classic and a current thriller~

Yes. One at a time. Full Kindle these days, on the phone, the Kindle, the iPad, all on the same page of the same book. I used to have a book in the car, another in the office, one in the bedroom... a mess.

Miekey wrote: "Yes. One at a time. Full Kindle these days, on the phone, the Kindle, the iPad, all on the same page of the same book. I used to have a book in the car, another in the office, one in the bedroom......"

I have tried reading books on my i-phone..found it a bit difficult! My sister reads on her i-phone all the time..loves it

Usually, one book at a time, although I can be reading something "heavy" such as a philosophical work, and also a "light" book. That way I can get relief from one or the other!