How many books do you read at once?

[SparklingOne]

I currently have my nose in 4 or 5 different books, I read everyday so I usually read a little bit from each unless I hit my stride with one of the books in particular and finish it before all the others.

[jhankins8]

I usally read about two books about the same time.

[jamiemarie21]

I generally read only one book at a time. I find that I become absorbed in the book and I want to completely finish one before starting another so I can really stay within the story.

[njzeba]

Depdning on which books I come across and depending on time, I would read from about 1 -5 books. Currently, I'm reading like 3 books.

[jungkookblog]

I can only read 1, or otherwise I'll think one plot into another book.

[RachelAnneMaria]

I've always read more than a book at a time. It used to be any books. There was no specific way I would go about which books to read at the same time. Lately, however, I have been reading one book for pleasure and one book that falls into the hobby or self improvement category. It's nice to be able to alternate and I really do think it helps me to achieve my reading goals.

[LD2131]

I usually read one or two while listening to another on audible.

[anotherbook]

2 or 3. Typically for different parts of my life. One always in the car for when kid practices are running late, one at the bedside and usually another in my purse. Although sometimes I get so caught up in one that the others (and my life sometimes) get pushed to the side so I can finish!

[Vermont Reviews]

I really try to do just one at a time.

[barb429]

I usually only read one book at a time.

[melanieharris14]

I honestly cant get into more then one book, Most the books I read I have been waiting on them to come out so I cant wait to start it and have my full attention to that particular book.

[Allerdale]

I used to not want to read more than one book at a time. The trick now, for me, is to mentally organize plot points based on the cover of the book so I don't end up confusing them. This makes it possible to read 5+ books at a time for me.

For example, I'm currently reading R.M. Drake's "Beautiful and Damned." His book has a super bright green color, so when I pick it up to read I absorb myself in "the neon green book." I don't have to read back to remember what happened unless I haven't read for a month or more, plus my way of memorizing in general works best when I have a visual to associate memory with.

In the case that associating colors with the books won't work because there are multiple black books or grey or what have you, I pick up on the mood of the cover. My best example is for John Le Carre's "The Night Manager." The cover picture is a mosaic of character pictures and thriller scenery pieced together to look like an army rifle. Clearly that spells an intense mood, but because the colors are more dull, it's a slow thriller, so when I pick it up I remember the slow burn espionage novel it is.

(Plus, Tom Hiddleston. It's hard to forget his brilliant acting in the BBC adaptation as the main character with his face on the cover.)

So my suggestion to those who want to read more novels at once is try to associate the cover with the plot, so when you pick it up you don't scramble another plot into it.

[Mama2002]

I read one book at a time. I can't imagine putting down a good book to start a different one. I stick with it until the end, then feel bereft when the story is over. I usually try to find another good book to fill the void left by the last one. = )

[Songbirdpark]

I usually read one book and listen to another or just read two. I prefer having my car book and my anytime book though.

[Mike_Lang]

I rarely read more than one book at a time. There are exceptions; If I'm reading something that is very dark or serious then I might set it aside for a bit and read something more lighthearted then alternate as I proceed through the first book.

Also, if I am having trouble connecting with a particular book - just can't seem to get into the story for whatever reason - I will often pick up something else and then try to come back to the other book and see if I have better luck.