This meme is centred on the weekend, but yours truly is a Bookish Rebel who does what she wants, so I'm putting my post up on Wednesday.
(Wednesday is the new weekend, dearest nerdlets.)
This week's topic/question thingummy is:
Do you prefer to read a single book at a time, or multiple books at a time? Why?
Ha, I had to pitch in on this one!
I read soooooooo many books at a time!
Why? Well a variety of reasons:
- convenience/laziness (sometimes the book I would be reading is all the way downstairs! lol)
- genre-hopping
- short attention span
- a complete lack of patience and self-control (come on... who hasn't had that new and longed for book just call their name?!)
- an ever-expanding to be read (TBR) list which needs to be cut down on BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY
- depression
Wait... did she say depression?
Yes my nerdlets, I did. As I've mentioned before, what I'm reading affects my mood.
So in order to stay somewhat OK when living with depression and using reading as the lifeboat that it is, I have to pay attention to the way my mood is sailing.
Sometimes, what I'm reading brings me down.
And not like the 'ohmygodthefeels!' kind of down. I mean like depression-down. Which is awful.
It doesn't even always have to be a sad book. Sometimes chick lit and romances bring me down because I think I won't ever be that happy - and that's a worrying place to be in.
It doesn't even always have to be a sad book. Sometimes chick lit and romances bring me down because I think I won't ever be that happy - and that's a worrying place to be in.
So then I change what I'm reading. It doesn't mean I'm giving up on the book, it just means that I need to read something else for a little bit, and I'll go back to the other book when I'm ready.
Sometimes it's more a question of what I need at that time, rather than avoiding what I don't.
Self-care isn't just for the bad times (and not just for those with mental health problems - everyone has mental health, just like everyone has physical health, so everyone can take care of it.)
Sometimes you want self-indulgence - maybe a favourite genre, or a favourite author.
Sometimes you just don't feel like reading the 500+ page book with the dense prose. Sometimes you want a lighter read - romance, chick lit, some poetry, whatever.
And then sometimes you do want to get your teeth into the long prize-winning tome that you've been eyeing up.
In short, for me at least, it's all about what I feel like reading at the time.
I might literally read one book for ten minutes, and then switch to another for a chapter or two.
It's kind of just the way I deal with things *shrugs* we all need some breathing room every now and then - it's just this way, I get to keep reading! Lol.
And of course, I'll often read romances according to what my sexuality is that day ;)
If I'm not attracted to dudes that day, steamy m/f romances aren't going to hold as much appeal.
That's not to say that I never read m/f romances when I'm not attracted to men, but I tend to want more storyline, more character development etc.
If a book is all sex scenes, at a time when I'm not attracted to anyone, for example - because I do have asexual days or periods of time - then I'm really not going to appreciate it *shrugs* simple as that.
Sometimes it's more a question of what I need at that time, rather than avoiding what I don't.
Self-care isn't just for the bad times (and not just for those with mental health problems - everyone has mental health, just like everyone has physical health, so everyone can take care of it.)
Sometimes you want self-indulgence - maybe a favourite genre, or a favourite author.
Sometimes you just don't feel like reading the 500+ page book with the dense prose. Sometimes you want a lighter read - romance, chick lit, some poetry, whatever.
And then sometimes you do want to get your teeth into the long prize-winning tome that you've been eyeing up.
In short, for me at least, it's all about what I feel like reading at the time.
I might literally read one book for ten minutes, and then switch to another for a chapter or two.
It's kind of just the way I deal with things *shrugs* we all need some breathing room every now and then - it's just this way, I get to keep reading! Lol.
And of course, I'll often read romances according to what my sexuality is that day ;)
If I'm not attracted to dudes that day, steamy m/f romances aren't going to hold as much appeal.
That's not to say that I never read m/f romances when I'm not attracted to men, but I tend to want more storyline, more character development etc.
If a book is all sex scenes, at a time when I'm not attracted to anyone, for example - because I do have asexual days or periods of time - then I'm really not going to appreciate it *shrugs* simple as that.
So what about you guys? Are you a single-book kind of reader, or a 'I read what I like, when I like,' kind of soul?
Like this post? Try these:
- Conversations - Book Series: Yay or Nay?
- Conversations - Lending Out Books
- Conversations - Is 15 Years Old Too Young To Be Reading 50 Shades of Grey?
Yeah I just can't seem to get into reading multiple books at the same time. I wish I could, but I would feel so overwhelmed with multiple books. I like my books one at a time lol!
ReplyDeleteHa, that's fine - do what's best for you! That's what it's all about :)
DeleteI tend to feel overwhelmed when I read multiple books at the same time, but I have been experimenting with book polygamy in the last few months. I’ve been reading one short story collection and one other book at the same time. It’s working out well so far.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Ha, glad to hear it's working out ok for you! I'm a serial book polygamist, I have to admit! :)
DeleteI just tried reading two books at once for the first time this week---one ebook and one paperback---and I hated it lol. It makes it so much harder for me to actually sink into the book I'm reading. But I totally understand your reasons for reading numerous books at once!
ReplyDeleteHa, if it doesn't work for you, then it doesn't work for you :) it's all about what you wanna do, after all :)
DeleteI also read a lot of books at the same time! Usually because I am reading one for class, one on my kindle and one in physical version. I usually have one I am reading at a faster pace than the others, but when my mood changes, it's nice to be able to change book as well.
ReplyDeleteI also find that you can get more read sometimes that way! :)
DeleteMost of the time, I am definitely a single-book reader. I rarely ever juggle 3 books at a time and admire those who have the bandwidth and memory to handle that many different stories! It's just not my style and will probably never be x)
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone - a lot of people have said the same!
DeleteI always wonder when people say they can't keep track of that many stories though, like, don't you watch different TV shows at once? I feel like it's kind of the same - although I might be wrong! (and judging by the amount of people who can't read several books at once, I probably am!) :)