I’ve been thinking more and more lately about the ways people read—partly because of the continuing conversations around e-publishing / e-readers / e-books, and partly because I realized the other day that my husband and I have completely different reading habits.
To be fair, I knew that he was one of those “weird” people who doesn’t re-read books. The only time I consciously don’t re-read a book is when I hated it upon finishing…and even then, I’m likely to give it another try after a handful of years have passed. But he rarely re-reads books, and this boggles my mind. What about all the things you might miss the first time around? What about that chance at a different experience with a book, or a deeper understanding of character motivations? I love seeing what I discover in a second (or third or fourth) reading, but for him, once is enough.
This I knew. But this past weekend we got into a debate about the number of books read at a time. He will choose one book and devote himself to it entirely until he’s read the very last word. I tend to have a few books that I’m reading at one time. Sometimes I’ll read a book from cover to cover in one sitting because it’s just that good. But usually my books fall into categories like my “just before bed” book, or my “read it in snatches of time like when I’m waiting for a coffee date to show up” book. Sometimes I feel like reading a short story and other times I feel like reading a novel. So I pick and choose depending on my mood.
And this is why my husband now considers me one of those “weird” people who doesn’t read one book at a time. His argument is that I am losing out on the experience that comes from a one book commitment, that something is lost in the time I spend fraternizing with other books. I’d never given it much thought before, if there was value in book monogamy. But the back and forth debate got me wondering about the reading habits of others. So please share—how many books do you read at a time? Do you re-read books? What are your reading habits?
I read the same way you do! There are some books that have captured my attention to the point where I devote myself to them until they’re finished… but in general I have probably at least three books going at once. Probably more, actually. Sometimes I love a book so much I can’t bear to finish it for a year.
And I drove my parents nuts as a child in my refusal to read library books… I wanted to own my books because I reread my books.
And let’s not get into fanfiction and how I tend to start reading fics that aren’t finished yet.
Aa, reading. <3
Wow, no library books? What are your thoughts on e-books?
One of the hardest parts about being an expat is the limited books. Not only are the majority of my books boxed up in storage back in Michigan, but there aren’t many stores in Japan that sell reading material in English. Plus, it breaks my heart to know that I might not be able to take the books I do manage to buy here with me when I go. Le sigh.
What kind of fanfiction do you usually read? Do you write it as well?
I definitely read books more than once, but NEVER more than one at a time! I have tried it before and I end up getting crucial characters and plot points mixed up. I agree with your husband; I definitely prefer to really commit myself to a single book at any given time.
Speaking of reading, I need to do more of it. What have you been reading lately?
What do you usually like to read?
I’m currently reading Moby-Dick and Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things. I just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
As for books on my list to order/read next, I think you’d like Pamela Ribon’s latest, Going in Circles. It’s about life changes and roller derby
You should also check out her site, she’s hilarious.
I try very very hard to read one book at a time because I’d like to give it my undivided attention at a goo too, but I’m always getting book reviews from my Time magazines that I get tempted to buy new ones and can’t wait to start on them.
But sadly, I never do re-read books coz there are just too many books out there left to be read and I think I just can’t find enough time in this lifetime to re-read books anymore