I've always considered myself a book monogamist, finishing one book before I started another. But I've recently branched out - once on purpose, once not so much.
On purpose, I have four books currently in progress:
On purpose, I have four books currently in progress:
- My main book, whatever it may be at the time
- Dante's Divine Comedy, of which I'm reading one canto every morning (for the Classics Club)
- Daniel Deronda by George Eliot, which I'm reading only over breakfast (for the Classics Club)
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, which I'm reading only when I put my son down for a nap (for my Newbery challenge)
And then this happened.
This past weekend was the 24 in 48 Readathon. As Sunday evening approached, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. I was reading a nonfiction book, but I knew that wouldn't keep me awake as the hours progressed. So I picked up a Newbery Honor book. But that turned out to be a creepy story, and I didn't want to read it before bed. I decided to pick another book off my shelves, and ended up with a Christian fiction book which was perfect to finish up the readathon with.
Well, that was all fine and good for a readathon. But when Monday morning arrived, I found myself in a bit of a panic. I now had three main books going, and I didn't know what to do. Should I focus on one until it was finished, then move on to the next? Should I take turns and make progress with all three of them? It was actually stressing me out.
This past weekend was the 24 in 48 Readathon. As Sunday evening approached, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. I was reading a nonfiction book, but I knew that wouldn't keep me awake as the hours progressed. So I picked up a Newbery Honor book. But that turned out to be a creepy story, and I didn't want to read it before bed. I decided to pick another book off my shelves, and ended up with a Christian fiction book which was perfect to finish up the readathon with.
Well, that was all fine and good for a readathon. But when Monday morning arrived, I found myself in a bit of a panic. I now had three main books going, and I didn't know what to do. Should I focus on one until it was finished, then move on to the next? Should I take turns and make progress with all three of them? It was actually stressing me out.
I ended up deciding to finish one at time, starting with the fastest, which was Doll Bones by Holly Black, my Newbery Honor read. I finished that one Tuesday morning and was amazed at the instant sense of relief I felt. I now only had two main books I was in the middle of. That seemed a bit more manageable.
This reaction of mine to reading multiple books surprised me, and I wondered how everyone else handled such situations. Do you read multiple books at a time on purpose? How do you decide which one to pick up at any given moment? Or are you typically a book monogamist, sticking with one book at a time? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts in the comments!
This reaction of mine to reading multiple books surprised me, and I wondered how everyone else handled such situations. Do you read multiple books at a time on purpose? How do you decide which one to pick up at any given moment? Or are you typically a book monogamist, sticking with one book at a time? I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts in the comments!
RSS Feed
