Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

As a reader that is. Do you faithfully stand by your book and see it through to the conclusion forsaking all others? Or like some brazen book hussy do you pick up any old book that pleases you at the moment, taking what you need and casting it aside not caring if IT ever gets finished? Perhaps you are somewhere in the middle. Are you a book bigamist? Do you keep one at work for lunch and one at home (let's hope they don't bump into each other)?

So tell me about your reading habits. Perhaps you have a proper book you take out in public and a bevy of tawdry books you keep hidden away. It's time to come clean.

For those of you who took this the wrong way, you may wish to get tested. You may have picked up impure thoughts from your book swapping ways.

HAha! Let's see.

I'm in the middle of:

- 2 audiobooks: one on my phone, one on my mp3 player
- an old paperback, which I keep at my parents place and read only there, when I visit (it's been on the back burner for quite a while but I'm not giving in yet)
- I'm also reading a blog turned into book - it's basically a collection of loosely connected anecdotes, so I pick it up and leave as I please.

And that's all in between of whatever I'm reading at the moment. I've just finished Catching Fire and am about to dig into Botchan or maybe The Magicians. Not decided there yet.

Does that make me a naughty polygamist? Or maybe rather an open minded polyamorous gal? Something...

But I do see all my books to the end. If something holds my interest and entertains me - I will read it. It's only on rare occasions, when I stumble on something totally totally worthless, that I abort the ship. And it's always a premeditated, conscious decision.

Strictly monogamous. I can't focus on two (or more) books at the same time. I just can't.

Does that make me weird?

No. Ii used to be more focused like that. Now I'm all over the place.... I think it's simply a matter of preference.

I'm pretty polyamorous when it comes to books, and definitely a regular bigamist, with one book in my purse and an audiobook in my car all the time.

When I'm in my most fickle of moods, I have been known to string along 4-5 books at a time. Once in awhile, one can be so compelling that I'll devote all my time to it until I complete, but after that, I'm back to my unfaithful ways...LOL

Photojim wrote: "As a reader that is. Do you faithfully stand by your book and see it through to the conclusion forsaking all others? Or like some brazen book hussy do you pick up any old book that pleases you at..."

I'm regularly polyamorous when it comes to books. I can't think of the last time I wasn't reading at least two books at a time. I have several books in my backpack at work, and at times in my purse, just in case.

Alathea wrote: "Strictly monogamous. I can't focus on two (or more) books at the same time. I just can't.

Does that make me weird?"

You're not weird at all. I know other people the same way.

I try to be monogamous and usually succeed. But there are times when another comes along, maybe something brand new and shiny. that has everything I've been looking for. Maybe something that I'd kept on the side, promising that ONE day I'd give it the attention it deserves. And occasionallly my eye has strayed.

But I always come back to the one I started. I'd like to believe that I have an open relationship with my books. We have the agreement that I am easily lured by solid plots and excellent writing so if my original can't provide that for me at the time, I AM going to look elsewhere. ;^D

What a fun question, Jim!

I used to be a "book slut" (LOL) and juggle a bunch of books at the same time, but now I'm pretty monogamous. I can't keep the stories and characters straight otherwise.

Sometimes I do drop a book without finishing it if something more interesting and "shiny" comes along, but I reread the former book from the start when I get back to it.

I'm always reading 4 or 5 because my mood changes and sometimes I need something different. I do the same thing with men and it's worked out fine so far, variety is the spice of life!

Since the subject of polyamory is near and dear to me, I saw this discussion topic and went *perk* before I realized it was about books LOL! But I'll chime in anyway. ;)

I usually have at least two books going at once (one of them an audio to make my work commute more bearable, since reading a book while driving is frowned upon). Once in a while I will toss some non-fiction into the mix to alleviate some of that "I seriously need to put this book down and do something constructive" guilt; that way, I can tell myself "hey, the laundry may not be caught up but at least I learned something today!"

I will admit to getting distracted from a CR if say, a new release that I've been pining for drops, especially if it's a long-awaited series installment. So I often catch myself rushing through a CR just to get to the next one, and have to force myself to refocus lest I miss out on something important.

My Kindle makes it way too easy to flip-flop, since another book is just a click-click away LOL!

Today when I brought one of my beauties home, I took her upstairs to my bedroom. I stroked her spine so lovingly. Then, just as I was about to spread her before me to devour the sweetness hidden away the phone rang. It was my son asking me to press off a dress shirt and pants, grab a tie and dress shoes, and take them to school as he had a presentation to give that he forgot about. "Sure," I replied looking longingly at the book awaiting me on the down comforter. "I was just about to do some reading. I'll be there in half an hour."

The new pretty went back on the shelf. "We'll always have Borders." I whispered longingly. But the moment was gone. I went back to the book I started in the pre-dawn hours.

I try to read around. Really I do. But for the most part I limit myself to 2-3 books at a time.

1. I read a book with my wife. Reading ahead is not only discouraged, it can be punishable.

2. Whatever I picked up that day. I usually finish it before I go to sleep. I'm a slow reader, but consistent in my determination. Thus at roughly one page per minute, the average Blaze book takes me four hours to read. An hour in the morning, a half hour scattered throughout the day, and two and a half to finish the book before sleep.

3. Sometimes I start a book and get interrupted or forget it when I go somewhere. It's hard to start again, but I do. Eventually.

More than that? Not usually.

I don't think I've not finished a book in nearly forever. Somewhere about Deuteronomy I may have nodded off, but just for second I swear!

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In case you didn't notice, the intent of the post is to have fun. I'm hoping it brought a smile to someone's face. And a decent number of responses to boot!

Mary wrote: "I saw this discussion topic and went *perk* before I realized..."

Yup. I was wondering for a moment there if we're getting more cosy and personal. **grins** I guess just not yet now.

sometimes, i have been known to read more than one book at a time, especially if a favorite author comes out while iam in the middle of a book. sometimes you are in different moods and want your reading material to reflect so that might influence you to have several books going at a time. there should be one area in life where its ok to stray.

Great discussion idea, Photojim!

When it comes to my fiction books, I typically read only one at a time from start to finish. I don't think I could keep track of multiple plotlines and characters. The only exception to this is when I get to the middle of a book and it's simply boring me to tears or driving me crazy. I'm OCD about finishing every book I start, so in that case, I will alternate between a few chapters of the book that is boring me and something else until I get to end. This is a very rare occurrence. It has only happened to me once or twice a year, but when it does it's the only way I can finish the book without wanting to throw it against the wall.;-)

That said, I also have at least one (no more than two) non-fiction books going at the same time. These are my appointment books, the ones that go with me whenever I think I might have to wait somewhere for any length of time, and I rarely read them at home. I might also have a children's or YA book going if I'm reading something with my kids. That's about the extent of it though, so I guess you could say that I'm marginally polyamorous, but prefer to be monogamous whenever possible.;-)

My appetite for books is so voracious, I feel I'm covering more ground if I read more than one book at a time.

I, too, am a prolific reader. But I am completely boringly (?!) monogamous. I have actually had to train myself to put a book down rather than read until 3 or 4am to finish it. Working full-time put a LARGE crimp in my reading habits. So, I now put my reading down about midnight(ish). I also have had to train myself to stop reading a book altogether if I am not enjoying it (this happens rarely). I used to read a book I picked up through to the bitter end even if I was completely not enjoying it! Now I usually give a book about 60 pages and will stop reading it or justly simply read the last chapter. (rule of thumb according to my library manager is to subtract your age from 100 and that is the number of pages you should give a book before giving it up)

However, I cannot train myself to read more than one book at a time. I end up getting the plots mixed up or rewriting the stories in my head or having very weird dreams. I give my 100% "loyalty" to whatever book I am reading at the time. The only exceptions are if I have time on my hands and haven't got my current read handy, I will pick up a children's book. But then I have to finish that before going back to my other one. Weird I know. In fact after 'previewing' this post, I think I am extremely odd. ;)

BTW Photojim, very cool posts. You aren't a writer perchance are you?

LibraryLass wrote: "BTW Photojim, very cool posts. You aren't a writer perchance are you?"

Thank you LL. But a writer? Too funny. Writers are people with a strong work ethic who generally function in an organized manner. That is so not me. I work as a photographer (thus the name). I've written perhaps two dozen pages of fiction in the last two years. Each page from a different idea. I don't see me changing my lazy ways anytime soon.

LOL, Photojim. You must have an 'artistic bent' though because you have quite a hook to your posts. I enjoy them.

I can't read more than one book at a time any more - does my head in trying to keep plots and characters straight between books.

Like LL, I have to make myself stop reading at a reasonable hour - usually somewhere between midnight and 1am. I can't read in bed, (a) I'd stay up all night (like I used to before marriage and kids), and (b) my husband doesn't like it, mostly because of reason (a)!

I used to be able to read anything and everything when I was a kid. Nowadays, if I can't get into a book I will put it aside and try again later down the track. If I still can't get into it, I'll skim ahead and read the last chapter. If that doesn't work then the book is declared unfinishable and goes into a bag to be taken to the second hand book store or given away.

If, for some reason, I pick up and start another book while reading another, I will finish that book, and then go back and re-start the one I was previously reading.

So, LL, I don't think you're odd at all:)

Oh, and I also read the first few chapters of a book, then skip ahead and read the last, then go back to where I was to see how the ending comes about. I sometimes do something similar in the bookstore with a book I'm thinking of buying, by reading the first few lines and the last few lines. I get tut-tutted by my family for doing it but I still do it anyway :)

LOL, Mel W! If it is a new author to me, I ALWAYS read the last page. I just simply have to see whether the ending is worth the committment of either the purchase price or the reading time! My colleagues cannot believe I do it (I am a children's librarian in a public library). I buy far less books now (they are WAY too costly to buy new over here), but I have 58 books out on my library card, 5 interloans, & 2 books from Tosca to read - and my own collection of over 1,000(unread) books, so am not too worried I will run out of reading anytime soon. =)

I have no choice but to purchase my books new as the public libraries here are mostly for locals. I don't think I'd have much luck finding the books I like to read in any of them! There is a second hand book store but I tend to use it to off-load books rather than buy. I am thankful Borders opened their doors here last year - my son says that I must be their biggest customer :)

I am not now, nor have I ever been, monogamous. When it comes to books I am most assuredly indiscriminate. I easily juggle 6 or 7 physical books at a time and about another 5-6 ebooks - probably because I am easily distracted. In ever other aspect of life I believe less is more but books *sigh* MORE is more and I want it all right now :) Working in a public library is how I feed that addiction. I'm also an impulse reader - whatever catches my eye, imagination, whimsy is what I'll choose to read at that moment - from classics to gay male romance to graphic novels to children's books and biographies. If it's got words I'll read it not just once but, sometimes, over and over again. Strangely enough I only have two very close friends, lots of acquaintances and hundreds of books. I also read ahead - it is done with lots of guilt and maybe that is why I do it LOL

Hymmm... I've never tried reading ahead, never felt compelled to do so. I either like it enough to keep on reading or call it quits. But I do skim on occasion. It's usually either the predictable stuff in between the dialogs or some boring battle descriptions (I love fights and battles, but some people just don't know how to write them right, sigh).

I've been basically monogamous until now. I only leave a book to jump to another if it's VERY boring, and then I usually go back after I've finished the newer one. But that only happens once, maybe twice a year. However, I've already requested from hubby an i-pod from his next travel abroad, so I can buy audiobooks and listen them at work, while I continue to read paperbacks at home.

I also have no problem whatsoever coldly jilting a book (sometimes at the altar). When I spot it on a shelf (or in the catalogue and request it) I'll read a bit of the first chapter and a bit of the end and, if it grabs me enough, I'll take it home. But if I get it home and it does nothing for me, if it doesn't engage me or impart quirky (but not always useful) information, I feel no guilt at throwing it back. In any one month I will have 50 books to juggle from (e-book and physical) and I don't want to spend my time guiltily obsessing over one. Having said that, I have done that with 2 of the books our bookclub chose to read this year: Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I made 3 attempts with each book to try and finish them and made no headway - but reading them with the group allowed me to listen to some intereting discussion and obtain insight I wouldn't ordinarily have gained on my own - for that reason I persist with successive bookclub choices. But I believe, left to my own choice, I would not have carried on - probably I may not even have chosen them.

One of the downsides of juggling so many books for my newsletters/personal interest is that I'm constantly aware, in the back of my mind, that I need to push on - which means I probably miss some quite pertinent parts of a story because I'm racing the clock. Huh - my goal this year, although not hard and fast, was to try literary monogamy. That's not going so well :)

Fani: I love audiobooks but find them rather expensive. If I can't find them discounted on iTunes or audible.com, I look for podiobooks in the iTunes Store as Podcasts, and/or at podiobooks.com. There are tons of FREE audiobooks to download! Just thought I'd pass along the tip. ;)

tosca: I suffer from tremendous guilt over ditching a book unread, but I'm slowly getting over that the older I get. Life is too short! I soothe the guilt by putting said book on my "to-finish-later" shelf (even knowing I will probably never go back to it...shhhh!) My TBR list is already too long for me to get to everything in this lifetime, and it doesn't help when, for every book I finish, I add three more! As you say on your profile, too many books, too little time! :)

Mary wrote: "Fani: I love audiobooks but find them rather expensive. If I can't find them discounted on iTunes or audible.com, I look for podiobooks in the iTunes Store as Podcasts, and/or at podiobooks.com. Th..."

Thanks Mary! That's certainly useful to know, since my credit card is already loaded from buying too many paperbacks:)

This is a fantastic discussion thread! I love your wording Photojim! Me? I am, for the most part, monogamous with my reading because I have a hard time focusing on more than one book at a time. However, I do have a tendency to start an Anthology, read one or two stories, then put it down for months unfinished because I start a new novel and have to see that book to its conclusion.

Thank you Shannon.

My wife says she has a hard time keeping characters separate. (Who knew that keeping track of more than one man at a time was a problem?) I pointed out that last season she watched Bones, Chuck, and Pushing Daisies. She said, "yeah, but not at the same time." I asked her when she'd seen me reading from two books at the same time?

I have no qualms about being unfaithful to a book to scratch and itch so to speak. But I'm afraid I'm just not man enough to pull off the book menage. I'm afraid that in that tangle of words, rushing back and forth between the two, trying to get pleasure from both, I'd just end up frustrated. With all of those verbs and clauses from which to choose, I'd end up with a dangling participle. Then if I'd try and go back to either book on its own, things would be awkward. I'd always be thinking of the other book.

***See what happens when I post before six in the morning? I have to learn to sleep better.

LOL nicely done, Photojim :) I have just finished juggling a couple of gay male romance novels so 'dangling participle' had me in stitches. I have such a juvenile sense of humour. A colleague suggested that my inability to stick with one book (he made it sound like I was faithless) was probably a sign of ADHD - uhh no, I think it's a sign that my reading choices are all dictated by mood. Or whimsy. And maybe partly a short attention span heh. I live for the book menage - the more the merrier (only in books, thank you very much, my personal life in no way resembles a Laurell K. Hamilton plot with too mny limbs for me to keep track). A couple of times I've mixed up characters and, maybe too often, I get far too excited about stories. Even the bad ones. Especially the bad ones. It's after midnight and my coach is about to turn back into a pumpkin - sleep sounds good.

Photojim wrote: "Thank you Shannon.

My wife says she has a hard time keeping characters separate. (Who knew that keeping track of more than one man at a time was a problem?) I pointed out that last season she watched Bones, Chuck, and Pushing Daisies. She said, "yeah, but not at the same time." I asked her when she'd seen me reading from two books at the same time?

I have no qualms about being unfaithful to a book to scratch and itch so to speak. But I'm afraid I'm just not man enough to pull off the book menage. I'm afraid that in that tangle of words, rushing back and forth between the two, trying to get pleasure from both, I'd just end up frustrated. With all of those verbs and clauses from which to choose, I'd end up with a dangling participle. Then if I'd try and go back to either book on its own, things would be awkward. I'd always be thinking of the other book.

***See what happens when I post before six in the morning? I have to learn to sleep better. "

LMAO, I hear ya Photojim!

This is an interesting question :) Well, I usually read 2 books at a time - and usually very different books. I've decided to read the 100 books on the BBC 100 books to read list. A lot of them are classic books and those are often (though not always) more difficult to read. I just finished Anna Karenina by Tolstoj and could only ready 20 or so pages at a time and for me that's not enough so I "have" to read two books at once. That said, I could never read two romance, two crime or two whatever books at the same time - that would be too confusing :)So I guess you could say I read whatever I'm in the mood for!

I am so OCD and so anal that I have to finish a book once I start it and I also MUST read the entire series before starting another one. So, not only am I monogomous, I'm anally so.

i am 100% before i buy a book i make sure that i have the first one and track dont the rest.. its more a game for me.. i hit up all the discount book stores and see what i can find..

I used to be strictly one at a time but now, thanks to my netbook I'm a two-timer! I love my ebooks but I need a paper book for lounging in the bath or for when I'm out and about with the kids or on a bus. I carry a book pretty much everywhere! Although my netbook is small, I don't often feel comfortable flashing it about in public.

Kelly wrote: "i am 100% before i buy a book i make sure that i have the first one and track dont the rest.. its more a game for me.. i hit up all the discount book stores and see what i can find.. "

Kelly I am like that, but I've tried to cut back since I have so many series I read.

Alas, I am definitely a regular book bigamist. I read several books at a time going with the mood of the day. I used to be faithful about finishing every book I started until I reached my 50's. Now if a book doesn't "hook me" by page 50, I will toss it aside. There are times I will try it again at a later date to see if it then strikes my fancy.

I NEVER read more than 1 book at a time. I feel like I lose the whole purpose of reading when I do. I read to get into the story and escape reality (hence the reason I love paranormal romance), but when i read another at the same time it makes 2 worlds collide. To me, it's like reading about your past and your future at the same time...impossible, confusing, and altogether not necessary.

Usually I finish the book I'm reading. The only times I don't finish are when the book is repulsive. When it hurts just to pick up. Which has happened a total of about 3 times.

Sara wrote: "To me, it's like reading about your past and your future at the same time...impossible, confusing, and altogether not necessary."



Really good analogy! I feel the same way

Bah! Different characters. Different settings. Different stories. Were I reading two stories from a series simultaneously then the analogy would fit. Otherwise, it is more like watching Bones and CSI. Two different worlds with different characters. I may watch a whole episode of one or even two episodes of one before an episode of the other. Both have an overall story arch that never intersects with the other.

Just my two cents.

sorry to say but i am a major polygamist when it comes to my books lol at the moment i am currently re-reading j.r ward's dark lover, sherrilyn kenyon's acheron, lynsay sands' accidental vampire and the first in a new series by sydney croft called riding the storm :p i just cant help myself when it comes to reading ... i only read one book at a time when i just can't put it down >:D

I'd say I'm mostly monogamous. Usually when I start a book, I won't read anything else until I'm finished. But I have been known to, say, stop in the middle of a book and start up a new one that interests me more and not go back to the first until I finish the newer one. It's rare for me to be reading more than one book at a time, though.

I'm only monogamous when it comes to romance (books that is :P). All other genres must be willing to share! It's not unusual for me to have 5-6 books on the go but I almost always read my romance in one sitting - regardless of the length. This has given me many sleepless nights!

I am mostly monogamous. I also have a hard time leaving my romance novel until it is finished. Most all books are done in a day or two so I can normally wait. If I happen to be reading a book that I am just not that into and I receive a new book tha I have been waiting for, then I am lible to read the new one and come back to the old. I also try to read the whole series if possible. I just finished Shiloh Walker's Hunters: The Beginning and after the first story I had to order the other seven books that go with it. I can't wait for them to get here in the mail. I may drop whatever book I am reading at the time and delve into the rest of the series.

I have always been monogamous, I can't put my book down let alone divide my attention between more than one. I get way to into my books...especially good ones. And I read them so fast, 1 every day or two. Just in the last couple of weeks I've tried reading more than one at a time. I'm re-reading a re-edit of a very long, very intense book and tried to read a lighter one along side...it didn't work for me. Instead I had to put the intense re-read aside completely to pick up lighter stories for a break. I'm sure I wouldn't have put it aside at all except that its a re-read. I'm kind of a freak about finishing my books. They have to be really bad for me to put a book down unfinished and pick up another.

I a very monogamous reader. At one point in my 28 years of living I tried to do the two books at one time and I just really wasnt connecting to either book. I am a committed reader so I cant have two books at once. It doesnt make me lose interest in either book, its just that I cant connect to characters or follow the plot cause I start to think Im reading the other book and all hell breaks loose. So I a cover to cover, one book at a time kind of woman. Its what I know.

polyamorous...

normally an audiobook on the itouch for the drive into work in the am; 1 book on the kindle and a huge tome that i've been reading for a while and isn't available in kindle format...sometimes more than 1 book in progress on the kindle