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Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings, where the blog's owner Heidi discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.
Here is what is on deck this week:
DO YOU READ/LISTEN TO MORE THAN ONE BOOK AT A TIME, OR DO YOU GIVE EVERY BOOK YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION?
First off, I apologise for skipping the previous round of TMST - the one titled Tell Me about the City/Town You Live In. I stated I'd participate, but I found myself pressed for time and - frankly - both mentally tired and not in the mood for a long-ish post. That left a gap in my schedule, but hey - new year, new me. I don't mean I'm going to slack at posting - actually, I mean to pour all the energy I can into my blog - but I don't want to over-stress about it either. (Not to mention, I have 6 posts up for January, so I guess I'm doing more than well...). Also, I wasn't sure how much I wanted to reveal about my place, because I wouldn't want anyone from my corner of the woods tracing me via my blog...that would be awkward, since I'm usually very open about certain stuff (like work stuff), and one never knows...Anyhow - let's move on to this week's question (that, incidentally, I submitted 😉). Is this you with your books?
Well, in my case, no gif could be less accurate LOL. I only read one book at a time - I can't even imagine doing otherwise, or thinking of a reason why I should/could. I want (and need) to live in that world, with those characters, as long as the ride goes on. Don't get me wrong - I can multitask quite nicely, just not with books (not even textbooks. At uni, I used to only study for an exam at a time...which accounts for me graduating EONS later than I should have 😕).
I have to admit, though, that I'm curious about your reason for reading/listening to more than one book at the time, if you do that - and I know many of you do. As for me, this is the gif that sums me up best...
I have to admit, though, that I'm curious about your reason for reading/listening to more than one book at the time, if you do that - and I know many of you do. As for me, this is the gif that sums me up best...
- January 28th: What type of books do you like to cuddle up with in winter?
- February 4th: Do you take advantage of free chapter previews?
- February 11th: Romantic reads recommendations
- February 18th: Who are some of the recent debut/new to me authors that impressed you?
- February 25th: What's your favourite underrated book/series? (this was a question I submitted!)
I'll be back for the meme on January 4th, because I'm not a seasonal reader at all...
Now tell me something...are you a book multitasker? and if you are...how do you do that?
I still want to know about where you live, since I have never been to Italy, but I forgive you for skipping and totally understand your reasons. I read one book and listen to one book. The time is separate for me, since I mostly listen as I do chores and work, while I read during my commute, early morning, and before bed.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that I live in a medium-size coastal town in Tuscany. I could probably be more open about it (especially since my boss isn't proficient in English - but his daughter is...), but with the Internet, you never know.
DeleteWhat you do makes sense, and I wouldn't expect less from someone who's able to blog 5 times a week and comment on all her friends' posts even with a brutal schedule as yours! 😉
The only time I book multi task is when I am reading for school. Then, I think it is impossible to time manage if I’m only reading one book at a time. I like to have multiple going so I stay on track with all my classes. But if I’m reading for pleasure, then I never read multiple books.
ReplyDeleteSchool is demanding, so it makes sense! Reading/studying one book/subject at a time would be a luxury. I should have done the same at uni, but since I was my own boss by then...I didn't 🙄.
DeleteI usually read one book at a time, but once in a while I'll juggle a few. I vastly prefer to focus on one though. The only real exception is graphic novels- I seem to be able to compartmentalize okay with those haha! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat topic!
I don't think I would be able to do that with graphic novels either. You guys are all better multitaskers than me LOL.
DeleteI think you have a good mind and probably is not easily distracted like me. For some odd reason, I can never finish a book in one concentrated time period, like if I stop reading for a bit, I would find myself reading a different book instead of finishing the ones I've been reading even though there's only a few chapters left. If it's a short book, it might be possible but long books, nope, not a chance. And book series is like my enemy because I don't read all the books one after another.
ReplyDeleteI used to read one book at a time because I don't have a piles of books to read, not like now, and with a Kindle reader, it kind of becomes worst because I can technically have a hundred books all ready to be read. Too many options, you might say.
Sorry, I have no tips for multi-reading. I don't think you should start that habit at all, believe me, it's probably for the best because I sometimes read far too many books at once and even mix up the storylines between books. You're better off with what you are doing now.
Have a lovely day.
I suppose that, with a Kindle, it's more difficult to stay with one book at a time. But you're right, it's just how we are wired. I'm very serious about all my activities...housekeeping aside LOL. Now THAT is something where I let myself get distracted a lot 😂. Thank you!
DeleteGIF twins! lol
ReplyDeleteI thought it was kind of funny when I saw you suggested this question because I couldn't imagine you would read more than one book at a time. But I guess it's good to know what other people's habits are.
I can do it if it's totally different formats. Like an audiobook or a graphic novel. But I tend to take longer (with audio) or breeze through (GN) so there isn't much overlap. And they can't all be review books.
But, as I said in my post, I read fairly fast so I tend to stick to just the one at a time.
Karen @ For What It's worth
That gif is priceless - and I never encountered another along the same lines.
DeleteI suggested the question EXACTLY because I'm a monogamous reader, but I kept seeing other people's tweets etc. about reading more than one book at a time, so I guess I wanted a poll of sorts to see how far it spread 😂.
I like the variety, there are times when I am really loving my audiobook and not my ebook as much and vice versa, so it’s nice to have one to look forward. When I am not feeling either, it’s bad.....
ReplyDeleteHaha, for sure!
DeleteI guess it makes sense to read two different books in different formats at the same time, as opposed as two books in the same format. It must make things easier.
So I pretty much always read two- one physical, one ebook. And the reason is mostly that if I only read one at a time, I'd never read any of my physical books again! Because I can read ebooks anywhere (you know, like work, the bathtub, hah) I almost have to read an ebook (and then when you consider eARCs, well, you know) but I want to get to the physicals, too! But I DO always make sure they are not the same genre, otherwise I think that would get confusing!
ReplyDeleteYou must have LONG bathtub sessions LOL.
DeleteI don't know if I could read two books at once, even in different genres! But I get what you mean - ebooks are easier, and ARCs are usually eARCS nowadays, so...
Great topic idea, Roberta!
ReplyDeleteI can totally see your side to this - and if I am absolutely in love with a book, I find myself reading that and only that in order to be fully immersed. But for the most part, I read several books at once. It stops me from getting bored and I feel like it helps me get more reading done too. The main two ways I do this are ensuring each book is from a different genre and also reading them in different circumstances eg. before bed, while traveling etc.
I can also relate to only studying for one exam at a time - it's really difficult to memorise lots of things from different topics at once!
- Sabrina @ Wordy and Whimsical
Se-several books?! And here I thought two or three were a lot to handle LOL. Reading them in different circumstances is a great trick though!
DeleteI also prefer to read one book straight through without being distracted by others. I like to be immersed in the world too, and if I'm not immersed because the book hasn't captured my interest, to stop and read something else means I may never get back to it. In the past couple of years, I only DNF if it means I'm never planning to finish.
ReplyDeleteThere are some exceptions though. I've done a year-long read of an intimidating classic for the past two years, so I guess I'm technically in the middle of that one from January-November. In that case, it's usually a relief to read a section and move on to something else though. Classics can be punishing, and if I don't pace that out, I'll try to read it as fast as I can, and it will be painful. 😂
I decided to give audiobooks a try with the first Harry Potter book, so I guess that one is also on-going. (Not sure I'm ever going to finish it, tbh. Much as I like the idea, I don't think audiobooks are really for me. Too slow, for one thing!)
Two years? Yikes. Why are you so committed to reading it to the extent of stretching it through two whole years? and are you able to follow it nevertheless? (Yes, I know you have a first-class mind, but that sounds really hard). Just curious 😉.
DeleteI know most people listen to audiobooks at a slightly higher speed than average (which I don't think I could ever do, and I'm not even talking about books in a language that isn't my own), but the hour count is brutal. Fast readers like you and I could probably read a whole encyclopedia in the same time span 😂.
Ooh, no! I pick a different book each year, which I've been doing for the past two years. (First Les Mis, then The Count of Monte Cristo, now the complete works of Poe.) Sorry for the confusion! I'm usually able to follow the novels well enough over the course of the year. Thousand page books aren't known for staying on topic. 😂 Taking two years to read a book does seem excessive.
DeleteI didn't realize you could change the speed on audiobooks! That's interesting. But yes, exactly. I can get through a lot of pages in an hour. I hear it's great for long commutes and stuff though.
"Thousand page books aren't known for staying on topic."
DeleteLOL, I guess they don't! Anyhow, your commitment level is admirable.
"I didn't realize you could change the speed on audiobooks!"
Even without the language barrier (you know I'm MUCH more fluent in written English than in its spoken counterpart), I don't think I'd like to listen to someone talking like a Chipmunk 😂.
I always preferred reading one at a time, but I started doing more when I started reading multiple formats. I found that there were times when ebook was better, but I also had print books to get to, and audiobooks were great to listen while making food and stuff. But now I'm only doing audiobooks, so I'm back to one at a time! It is nice to get fully lost in one world at a time.
ReplyDeleteIt is - but of course it's unfortunate that the choice was forced on you. I hope you'll be able to go back to reading more than one book at a time in multiple formats soon - if you want to, that is 🙂.
DeleteI used to have a book for every room: One for school, one for downstairs, one for my room, etc. but that was back when I used to read for quantity instead of quality (plus I was lazy) :) I've learned to relax a little more with reading and not worry about if I don't finish three in a week, so long as I enjoy what I'm reading. Now I only read one at a time. You're right - it's much easier to get deeply lost in that world and with those characters when you do.
ReplyDeleteYou're not the only one who's had a "I want to read everything at once" phase LOL. From what I hear, it's pretty common. But it's indeed more difficult to get lost in more than one world at a time, no matter how exciting and enthralling they are.
DeleteI definitely read multiple books at a time. One of the reasons could be that a book is not "the right fit" for me at a particular time. I started the second Fifth Season book by N.K. Jemisin towards the end of my semester, when I had my finals... then came the exam period. I had to put it on hold for the time being, because I just couldn't concentrate/appreciate the detailed, dense fantasy world at that time.
ReplyDeleteMore frequently, though, the thing is that I'm reading at least two books, because I like to read a physical and an ebook - not to mention that recently I've started to get into audiobooks. Basically, in most cases I'd read the ebook at uni/on the train/subway/wherever I need something to read, and the physical copy at home. On top of that, I found that the audio is a good way to get in some reading time when I was doing other things - e.g. I listened to a Christmas novel while decorating the Christmas tree, or even while doing mundane things like getting ready in the morning, brushing my teeth etc. 5-10-15 mins can really add up.
Great post!
I'm a one-track mind gal, so it's difficult for me to understand how one can read multiple books at once, but I'm starting to get a hold on it via everyone's answers - e.g., most people, like you, seem to read on different formats to take advantage of every single minute of their day, especially on commutes...and maybe the different formats help you to keep the books compartmentalised in your mind. It's funny (I mean, in a good way) that you listened to a Christmas novel while decorating your tree - I've never heard anyone else say that they occasionally pair their reading (or, well, listening) with an activity that matches it!
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