In Unfinished Person Sunday Salon post today, he confesses that he tried polygamy and it didn’t work for him. He has no choice but to be a monogamous….reader. (I’m talking books here, people.) He then asks his readers where they fall along the monogamy/polygamy scale, so I’ve decided it’s confession time.
I am a polygamous reader. I never read only one book at a time – haven’t in years. In fact, it’s only gotten worse. Normally, for my Sunday Salon posts, I mention a couple of books I’m reading, but for the sake of full disclosure this week, I give you the complete list of books I am currently in the middle of.
On audio:
~ The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee
~ Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
~ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (with Noah)
In print – my nightstand books:
~ Poet’s Choice by Robert Hass
~ Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
~ The Intellectual Devotional: Biographies Edition by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim
E-galley on my computer:
~ Bumped by Megan McCafferty
In print – read-aloud:
~ Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
In print – the rest:
~ A Discovery of Witches by Deborah E. Harkness
~ What Good is God? by Phillip Yancey
~ The Girl Who Was on Fire: Essays
~ Villette by Charlotte Bronte
~ How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill
I didn’t used to read this way, but I find I actually love having this many books going at one time. There is a book for every mood and purpose: entertainment, education, spiritual enrichment. It takes longer to read a book this way, obviously, but I find that the longer I spend with a book, the more it becomes like an old friend.
Sometimes, one of the many books I’m in the middle of will grab me and not let me go, and I will read it exclusively until I finish it – like I did this morning with Gayle Forman’s Where She Went. So I read that book in only two days. This happens often when I get toward the end of a novel and I have to find out how it ends.
So, I offer to you the same question Bryan asked: are you a monogamous or polygamous reader?
Twitter: unfnshdprsn
says:
Well, you know how I’m going to answer already
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I don’t know. I think I inherit the single-mindedness from my father. I have a hard time focusing on more than one thing at a time. Maybe it’s just a man thing. I don’t think we’re really good multi-taskers. At least, not most of us.
unfinishedperson´s last post ..My Top 10 Facebook Hates
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Bryan – having been married to a man for the past 16 years, I would have to agree.
Twitter: Vasilly
says:
At first I was thinking “that’s not so bad”. But after counting every book you’re reading, I’m like “wow”. That’s a lot! I’m a pretty polygamous reader too. I would probably stress out if I knew exactly how many books I’m in the middle of. I think the difference between the two of us right now is that I’m reading more ebooks than print books and virtually no audios.
Vasilly´s last post ..Nebula Award Nominee- “Ponies” by Kij Johnson
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
V – I know, it is a lot. More than I thought until I actually listed them all out!
Twitter: bookjourney
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OOH – how are the audios? I am always looking for good audio. I want to read Discovery Of Witches and I had better check out date due for the Yancey book
Sheila (Bookjourney)´s last post ..Morning Meanderings… The PLUNGE The Day After
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sheila – well, the Harry Potter series is amazing on audio! I just started Heart and Soul, but so far am enjoying it, and the Irish woman doing the reading is wonderful. I’m also enjoying The Piano Teacher – the woman who reads it does a great job, but is a bit slow. It’s taking a lot of patience. If she didn’t do such a good job, I would have put it aside and read it in print instead, but she does read well. Just lots of long pauses, which drive me a bit crazy.
I’m definitely with you. At the minimum I always have one audiobook, one ebook, one fiction, and one nonfiction going. Usually there is a graphic novel or book of essays in there as well. I love having multiple books going, I feel like I read more and I read certain in books in specific places. Ebooks at the gym, audio at work, nonfiction on the bus or between classes, fiction before bed.
Ash´s last post ..Sunday Salon- Spring Break Reading
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Ash – glad I’m not the only one!
I’m usually in the middle of at least three or four books – one or two non-fiction, a sci fi/fantasy, and a historical fiction/something else.
I’m impressed at how many you have going, though! If I go much higher than five or six, I tend to lose track of some of them and never finish them.
M Light´s last post ..Recipe for 10-000 Chocolate Chip Cookies
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Laura – the key is to make sure they’re all very different from each other.
Twitter: debnance
says:
My list would look like yours…times two…or three!
Here is my Sunday Salon post: http://www.readerbuzz.blogspot.com
Do you have any recommendations for good books about New York City?
debnance at readerbuzz´s last post ..Sunday Salon- New York- New York!
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Deb – I’m glad there’s someone out there who out-numbers me! And as for New York fiction, I loved Pete Hamill’s North River.
I’m afraid I’m mostly monogamous, I’m just reading two books now and I’m afraid Frank might end up with Jennifer or Rosaleen in my reviews. (Faithful Place and Book of Tomorrow) I loved doing that as an activity with my kids, throw a bunch of children\s stories, like little red riding hood and goldilocks and then maybe green eggs and ham, and get them to write their own stories.
irene´s last post ..Faithful Place- read a long
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Irene- what a great idea for your kids!
Twitter: lakesidemusing
says:
I’ve been dabbling in (reading) polygamy lately, but I usually stick to one audio and one print book at a time. If the book I’m reading is more ‘difficult’, I like having something lighter and easier to pick up in the evening when I’m tired.
JoAnn´s last post ..TSS- The Persephone Pilgrimage Our Trip to London
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
JoAnn – I think my reading moods are capricious- I like having choices!
Twitter: youvegottaread
says:
Wow, I thought I got around! I’m not even in this league. I always have a print, and an audio going, sometimes two audios (one on iPod and one in car).
Sandy´s last post ..Sunday Salon- UCF Book Festival and Pig Care
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sandy – yes, just call me the book tramp! LOL
Wow! How do you keep track of all of them?!
I can read up to 2 books at a time, that’s all.
Misha Mathew´s last post ..Review – A World Without Heroes Beyonders- 1 by Brandon Mull
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Misha – as long as none of them are too similar to each other, I do okay.
Twitter: MargReads
says:
WOW! I am polygamous, but generally no more than 3 or 4 at a time – but generally 2!
Marg´s last post ..Upcoming release- Calebs Crossing by Geraldine Brooks includes giveaway
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Marg – you could say you’re bi-biblial!
I switch back and forth. Sometimes I read only one book at a time, but other times I read many. If I am reading non-fiction I tend to have a fiction book on the go, too, just in case it gets overwhelming or anything. I have never had as many books on the go as you, though… Not that I remember anyway! That’s a bit impressive.
Kailana´s last post ..Week in Review 10
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kelly – I didn’t realize how many it was until I listed them all out!
I used to be mono but now I am poly. An audio, a read along, a book at work, and the one on my night stand.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Elisabeth – another polygamous book lover!
Twitter: robnmccormack
says:
I used to be monogamous, but seem to be turning into a reading polygamist. One fiction book, nook book for working out and a few non fiction. Never thought I could keep it all straight. My son wants me to get Harry Potter audio book. He enjoys them so much.
Robin´s last post ..Sunday Salon- My reading deprived life
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Robin – the Harry Potter books are truly fantastic on audio!
I’ve tried polygamy and it just doesn’t work for me. I’m definitely a monogamous reader. Every once in awhile I find myself being polygamous but very, very seldom. I actually envy people like yourself who can read so many different books at a time.
Kathleen´s last post ..Commentary- You Dont Love This Man by Dan DeWeese
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Kathleen – I figure whatever works, as long as we all get to read, right?