THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB discussion

I find that readers can be divided into several group' Genre being the most obvious. I, like so many on here, love many types of books- and also have a TBR list longer then the Nile River!! I am always reading between two and three books at a time. Always a current thriller (Vince Flynn, Cook, Sephen Hunter ect) and a classic and or fantasy- since to me books are like time machines- and simply by reading a couple of chapters from one book - then switching to another book written 100 years earlier- allows me take several literary vacations each day!
Curious if others do/ and or feel the same?

I am usually a one-book-at-a-time reader. I will read two, but one of them has to be either a manga (quick read) or maybe non-fiction that I am skimming through. I like to settle into a story and stick with it to the end.

I usually will read 2 to 3 books at a time. One is always a quick read. Sometimes my favorite childhood books. Most recent was Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden. I just got into reading Jane Austen books for the 1st time and find that I have to read a little slower because of the writing style, so its usually 1 book.

A TBR list longer than the Nile River, I like that Rick. I, too, usually have more than one book going at a time. Mostly because I read history and novels, so usually I'll have a history or historical fiction, a classic or current fiction, and a thriller of some sort. That way I have something for any mood.

I'm usually a two book reader. One at work from lunch and breaks and one book at home. I try to have a fiction and non-fiction book going at the same time but that doesn't always happen.

I am incapable of reading more than one book at a time. I have a limited amount of reading time. In that time I like to immerse myself in a story and let it take me on a journey. Just the thought of reading a second book at the same time feels like a violation of trust, I carry my book with me everywhere I go.

I am probably a bit weird that way.

for pleasure, when I get to read for pleasure, I'm a one book at a time person, primarily. I will keep one book in the truck and another in the house, but it's one on the other usually. In my work, I have to read several as time allows.

Typically, I am a one book at a time person. I am currently working on 4 different books, but am finding that I have had my focus on only one. So, I think that you can say I am a one book at a time kind of gal.

No, sometimes I'm reading 7. I get bored but if it's a really good book then I stick with that one.

Like most of those who've spoken up so far, I'm mainly a one-book-at-a-time reader. (I also eat my meals one element at a time, rather than a bite of this and a bite of that. If Gail's "a bit weird," I'm probably more than a bit! :-))

I used the term "mainly," because my currently-reading shelf will normally list two books at any given time, one of which I'm reading out loud, at intervals, to my wife. (We both like to read books to ourselves --often ones the other person wouldn't like, anyway-- but our tastes also overlap some, and she likes being read to as much as reading.) And I have a "being read intermittently" shelf for short story collections that I keep in reserve and dip into at times, such as when I'm waiting for an interlibrary loan book. But for a sustained, self- contained read that I'm doing by myself, I like to focus on just one thing at a time!

I'm a one book at a time person

Rick wrote: "I find that readers can be divided into several group' Genre being the most obvious. I, like so many on here, love many types of books- and also have a TBR list longer then the Nile River!! I am a..."

I am generally reading two or three at a time (even though my "reading now" list often has 8 books listed, LOL). I have a prioritized queue (Vine books, library books, eBooks that go on my Palm and are easy to transport, promised reviews, books for fun/interest). Right now, I have four books in progress.

Werner - My husband and I do the same thing. In the evenings before we go to sleep we read aloud to each other. It is really fun to find books that we both like, and to find out how we view them differently in some ways.

I will amend my above by saying that as a "more than one book at a time" reader, I, too, usually do that because I have one by my bed, one in the car, etc.

If I am reading a book I really enjoy, I will read that to completion. If I have a couple that are ok, I will read more than one.

I've got A.D.D., so it's hard enough to stay focused on one book at a time. Now, that's not to say I don't have a small stack of partially read books on the shelf - those that failed to hold my interest for one reason or another; some I'll get back to, some maybe not.

I am definitely a one book as a time reader. I just find I need to focus only on one story at a time and can't imagine myself reading more than one book at a time.

I think part of the reason I read one at a time is because I create voices and faces for the characters as I'm reading, so it's hard to switch between stories.

Werner wrote: "Like most of those who've spoken up so far, I'm mainly a one-book-at-a-time reader. (I also eat my meals one element at a time, rather than a bite of this and a bite of that. If Gail's "a bit wei..."

I like to have my wife read to me, too, though these days it's generally books we're editing.

Werner, I am the same way about my meals. I only eat one component at a time and I turn the plate as I go. Almost like a clock. And when it comes to sandwiches...it's the crust first! But when it comes to books, I generally always have 2-3 in the works. I carry one in my bag at all times, have one next to my bed, one on the coffee table and in between them all I grade undergraduate essays. It's like a reading extravaganza really.

Well, it's nice to know that I'm not alone in some of my reading (and eating) practices! :-) Probably one reason I'm a (mostly) one book at a time reader is that my time for reading by myself is fairly limited, and I only get to do it, for the most part, in one physical setting. So for me, it wouldn't be practical to keep different books in different parts of the house, like you do, Melissa. (And by the time I get to bed, I'm more than ready to SLEEP! :-))

I used to read one book at a time, now I'm usually reading 1-2 books. One will be my main book and the other will be something lighter.

Chichimo aka ~ "Vixhen" ~ wrote: "I used to read one book at a time, now I'm usually reading 1-2 books. One will be my main book and the other will be something lighter."

Chichimo- you summed up my reading list exactly!
main book- secondary book (and iF I am really brave 3rd book)

I think it will depend on the book, if its a favorite author I'll stick with just that, but otherwise I'll add in one 'alternative read' and maybe another 'quick read' to break monotony. Like right now my 'main read' is a Dickens, my 'alternative read' a set of short stories, and my 'quick read' a de Belzac which is actually in 3 parts, think I'll finish that tonight!!

I've almost always got three or four books going at the same time, but usually concentrate on just a couple. Since I started getting ARCs from publishers, one of my current books is generally one of those. I don't seem to have any trouble switching back and forth between plots and groups of characters, and it keeps things from getting boring.

And I think those comments about eating habits are very interesting. I'm definitely an all-over-the-plate kind of eater, but my hubby tends to eat one thing at a time and usually sticks with one book at a time, too. Strange.

I'm usually reading two or three, sometimes four, books at a time. One "main" book, one book in Japanese, and one audiobook. The Japanese books take me a while, since I (unfortunately) just don't read that fast in the language yet. And I'll be on the same audiobook for months, for the simple reason that I only really listen when I'm all caught up on podcasts and such.

As a rule I only read one book at a time. I can plow through it, completely immersing myself in the story (hopefully) or else the pain is over quicker, lol! Sometimes, however, I will be reading something heavy (usually a non-fiction) that is just too much before bed so I'll balance it out with a nice little bedtime novel. I'm always amazed at people that can have more than two books going at the same time. That's a talent as far as I'm concerned.

Thalia wrote: "As a rule I only read one book at a time. I can plow through it, completely immersing myself in the story (hopefully) or else the pain is over quicker, lol! Sometimes, however, I will be reading s..."

WONDERFUL REPLY!!

*blush* er..um...thanks? lol!

I'm reading four at the moment - and I hate doing that, but I can't seem to get out of the habit. At least one book always suffers, being religated to "I'll finish that another time", and I rarely do because I have so many others I want to read.
I'd like to say more, but I am writing a message to somebody else at the moment - will get back...

I usually read two to three books at a time. One is always and audiobook for listening in the car. Of the others, one is usually a buddy read or a group read (generally chosen by consensus with others) and one is just something I choose all by myself that I feel like reading.

Robin wrote: "I'm reading four at the moment - and I hate doing that, but I can't seem to get out of the habit. At least one book always suffers, being religated to "I'll finish that another time", and I rarely ..."

You are multi-tasking on-line, too, Robin! lol

Kari wrote: "I have also been known to read a book and put it down. Some books I have been reading for years. "

That's funny (or sad...) :)

I do read one book at a time. But I'm also always writing a novel and usually also editing another writer's novel. And those stories require great attention to detail. So I can only manage one reading-for-fun book at a time.

The Sex Club
Secrets to Die for
L.J. Sellers

Yes, I generally read one book at a time...At most 3.

- Jay

Jeannette wrote: "I think part of the reason I read one at a time is because I create voices and faces for the characters as I'm reading, so it's hard to switch between stories."

Exactly! Exactly! It is good to know I am not the only one who hears voices.

Gail wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "I think part of the reason I read one at a time is because I create voices and faces for the characters as I'm reading, so it's hard to switch between stories."

Exactly! Exactly! It is good to know I am not the only one who hears voices. "

But only when we are reading, right? :)

Of course! :)

I really enjoy giving voices and "faces" to book characters. I read a book yesterday and had pictured the villain as having dark hair until I noticed the author described him as having white hair! He still has dark hair as far as I'm concerned!

Well it's obvious. Authors sometimes get it wrong!

:)

I must say- the combo of books I am reading now- I Sniper by Stephen Hunter (A New Thriller) and Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett (Need it say more) compliment each other quite well - I tried 3 books at a time- but it was simply too much- so I am sticking to a new Thriller and a classic/and or comic novel.
Almost done with Wyrd sisters- next up FOOL by Christopher Moore

Sometimes I read a book in one day, but that is the only time that I don't have more than one going. I hate, hate not finishing a book, but if it is particularly awful I find those extra books help ALOT!

I also love to re-read favorites and I don't get lost if I have read them before.

I am a MBR (multi-book reader).....usually a mystery (British or Nero Wolfe) by the bed, something very light (such as "The Worst Rock and Roll Records") at the lunch table if I am eating alone, and a good history/biography for prime time reading. I just can't get enough!!!!......as they say "too many books, too little time".

Usually, I'm a one book at a time type of reader. However, if there is a book that is particularly uninteresting, I'll put it down read something that excites me and go back to the less interesting book after a bit. It's rare that I find a book so bad that I won't finish it. I just put it away until I'm in a better mood to tolerate it. And I always have the next book to read lined up and ready to go.

Multiple books at a time, so I can keep my reading momentum if one of them gets slow.

I read one book at a time. I have attempted to read multiples in different formats and feel as if I am cheating on the characters or being disrespectful to the author and/or characters since I am not giving them all my attention. I don't have a problem with keeping the plots straight I just feel like I am going to miss out on something important.

I usually read two books at a time. I always have one in my briefcase that I read at lunch time at work or when waiting for appointments. And another one at home. They are usually different genres. It adds a bit of extra variety to my reading.

I'm a one-book-at-a-time reader. Tried multiple reading, had a hard time appreciating all those books. But i have books all over my place - in the shelves, on my bed, on my bedside tablem under my bed, in the couch in front of the television, in the kitchen, on the dining table... The only place in my house where you won't find books is the fridge. :)

Lai my house is like yours, I have books everywhere. I have books everywhere. Hmmmmmm that fridge space is starting to look good! :)

LOL. Yes perfect shelving space. (It would also require less cleaning if it was occupied with books!Therefore more time for reading. Yay.)