Reading Two Books at a Time: Classic or Dud

classic, i do it almost all time, usually one is heavier stuff and the other lighter

I like to have a book of essays or just some art books in general while I read fiction. Except I'm weird in that I consider art stuff light reading compared to a novel. Mainly cos I'm an unrepentant skimmer when it comes to theory.

I will often read one fiction book and one non-fiction book at the same time, to cater for different moods etc. I'm not sure I'd want to read two fiction books concurrently though. I simply don't have the time enough to dedicate to reading anymore to be able to give two books the time that they need each day/week to actually be able to get on with two stories at a time; I think I'd just get nowhere very slowly in both.

I'm usually a one book at a time person, but I do have a few anthologies (fiction, non-fiction and poetry) by the bed to carry on with in case of sudden unexpected midnight book-finishing and still being awake situations.

Classic, until you start confusing the two.

Classic, until you start confusing the two.

When I was in high school I read multiple books a lot--what brought this to an end was the point where I was reading a book and its sequel simultaneously, and I couldn't work out what the hell was happening. (I'd started with the sequel, not realising it was a sequel, got partway in and then found out about book 1, thought I'd better read that too, started it, but then got impatient to find out what was happening with the characters in book 2, swapped back and forth, completely ruined both books)

i tend to have several books going at once. one or sometimes two novels, one book of nonfiction or essays, and a few story (or lately poetry) collections to dip into when i'm feeling it. plus a magazine or two. and something longish on hold, to return to someday.

the novels are for commute, daytime, and early evening reading; the magazines for mealtime/bedtime; the nonfiction/essays for early evening or bedtime; the stories and poetry for...whenever.

having multiple types of reading going at once means there's always something i want to read, no matter what my mood or concentration level.

Classic, unless the book I'm reading is intricate. For example, when I read Paterson I couldn't read anything else.

But when I'm doing my normal, entertainment based reading, I like to bounce around.

I like to pair (or triple) up books that I think are gonna talk about similar ideas/subjects. Dead Souls and Huck Finn have a plot insofar as it provides a backdrop for a series of encounters, etc.

I'll probably read Midnight's Children and Kim back-to-back.