Discussion posts are some of my favourite posts to read. New ideas get shared that way, or old ideas are revisited and given a new spin. And of course, I get to be my opinionated self as I hoist my views upon others, while pretending to be objective. Or maybe not. I do welcome alternate views and I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Dear Books,
Today I write to you to defend my polygamous reading ways. I know, I know, I used to be a stickler for monogamous reading, and I’m sure you appreciated that kind of devotion very much. However, things changed as I grew up, and as you know, I’ve been a polygamous reader for a few years now.
When I was younger, I had a lot of time to spare. I would sit down one afternoon with a stack of you, easily working my way through seven; surely, one after the other. That’s no longer an option for me today. Firstly, you have so many more pages for me today than you did back in those days. Secondly, I don’t have that luxury of time anymore.
Hold on! you cry, just start with one of us, then read to the end, before you pick another! Easier said than done. You’re all so wonderful, and picking one at the expense of another is such a difficult decision for me to make.
Besides, I’m a mood reader, so if I’m in the mood to laugh, would I really want to read a tragic book? It would certainly make it more difficult to appreciate the stories you keep for me if I wasn’t in the mood for them. Were I still a monogamous reader, that might mean taking a break of days that I could fill reading stories that appeal better to my current mood.
At least I do consider your feelings. I pick a non-fiction book or two on very different topics, and a couple of fiction books from different genres. That way I don’t confuse any of you, and I can give you my full attention because I am fully invested in reading you.
See, being a polygamous reader doesn’t mean I love you any less. In fact, I think it proves that I love you all the more because I simply cannot abandon books. I must have one of you with me at any given time, even if I swap you around.
So please, try to see it my way, and I accept me the way I am.
Unabashedly yours,
a polygamous reader
PS: These sentiments only apply to books and not to my relationships with significant others. I wholeheartedly believe in monogamy but that’s just my personal stand.
Do you read multiple books at once, like me, or do you prefer to stick to one book at a time? Sound off in the comments below!
I’m a polygamous reader, too! I read depending on location. I have a book in my purse/nook for when I travel. I have a book at home. I have a book at work. I also am a mood reader, so I sometimes change which book I’m reading at home. The only thing I struggle with is sometimes I’m reading too many books at once, so it takes me a while to finish one book. Sometimes I wish I had the dedication to one story to read from start to finish. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of the unfinished books I’m reading.
This is so me! :o I used to read one at a time but now I have to be reading at least 2 books at the same time! I’m glad you cleared up the fact that you dont support polygamy in relationships :p I don’t either haha!
I’m loving this letter! <33
Hi five! :D Ah, yes. It was an afterthought but a crucial one, I think. Hahaha. Glad you enjoyed reading it :)
This is such a cute post :D
I am most definitely a monogamous reader, though. Whenever I try to read more than one book at a time, I end up ditching the other books so I can cleanly finish one, and then go back to the others and then finish them cleanly (and by cleanly, I mean no other book interruptions).
I think it’s funny though, because when I was little I WAS a polygamous reader. I just couldn’t decide what to read, because I wanted to read ALL THE BOOKS. There were easily ten books that i was currently reading at any time when I was kid. Oh, how things have changed.
I just like reading one book at a time, because it lets me immerse myself in one story, and I can truly concentrate on the characters and plotline. ;D
When I first started blogging, I gave up reading multiple books for a while because I got a little confused when writing my book reviews. But after a while my mind adjusted to concurrently taking note of the finer details, so I’m all good reading several books again. Gladly so because if I start a 400-page hardcover book at home, I’m not always prepared to carry to with me but I do a lot of my reading in the subway, so I need at least one back-up book. Hence I’m almost always reading at least two books. But yes, reading one book at a time surely is much better for immersion.
Cute post! I’m the same way…used to be a one-book-at-a-time girl and now I’m usually always reading at least one! I like being able to switch between books sometimes. If one is getting boring or I’m just in the mood for one vs. the other. And sometimes I’ll do something like I’m reading one physical copy, one Kindle book, and maybe even an audiobook thrown in there. I’ll read the Kindle book if I’m out somewhere since it’s easier to transport, listen to the audiobook in the car, and save the physical copy for at-home reading. And it all works out perfectly! I love that I discovered that it’s totally okay (and possible!) to read more than one book at once.
It’s such a wonderful system, isn’t it! Haha. I definitely save the heavier books for at-home reading too. I don’t have a car, so I’m always commuting by bus or the subway. Extra weight isn’t always welcome that way.
I always read multiple books at a time when I was younger, but as I got older and didn’t have as much time to read I was always reading one book at a time with months possibly in between. Now that I’m back in the full swing of reading, I find myself falling back into that habit again! I currently have two classics started on Goodreads Ebook’s, have another book on my nook, I have a nonfiction book started and I’m going to pick up another fiction book!
Same here! There was a year in uni when I barely had time to read, so I only read one book at a time, which in itself could take me two months. I’m so glad to be back to reading regularly! Here’s to reigniting our lives with books! :D
I read multiple books at once too! Unfortunately, this usually happens when I’m not super into a book, and I tell myself that I’d pick up another book for now and finish the other one later. (I’m obviously the victim in this relationship with my books.)
On the flip side, you’re giving those books a fighting chance since that means you don’t abandon them completely! :)
I’ve always juggled multiple books at the same time. I just can’t not do it! I remember being a child and reading six books at the same time, reading one chapter from each and going in a circle reading each one until I finished them all! It was kinda crazy but that’s where my whole polygamous thing started! I like it because it helps me read faster (I think, at least) and also because I have such a short attention span, it’s always good for me to have at least two books I’m reading at the same time so if I don’t like where I’m with in one, I can switch to the other!
Lol. Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever read books which such determination on a rotation basis! That is some hardcore polygamous reading, my dear. I do alternate between two books like that sometimes if I’m reading at night and one of them is a bit more disturbing than I’d like. That’s when a second, light or funny book helps balance my shivers.
The only polygamy I support is for books.
I like reading a lot of books at the same time because I can easily get bored of one, and leave a book at home. My only failure is when it’s an ebook, because I just get so lazy to read on my Kindle or on my phone. I always get sidetracked, and I hate it. I’m going to do a post about that soon.
And book polygamy is a person’s thing. If they can’t focus well or they easily forget plots and characters, just let them me. But these days, I’m quite the book monogamist. Just print books, with my kindle gathering dust.
High five! Loyalty is an important value ;)
I tried reading ebooks on my phone before. I just can’t get it done mostly because of the screen size. Although, I do prefer reading on my Kindle to my iPad because my eyes don’t feel strained reading on my Kindle. When I read books on my iPad it’s usually for image-heavy non-fiction ebooks. Fiction, not so much.
Yeah, there are times when I read just one book at a time because I know I’m too busy and distracted by other things to divide my focus among books.
I have different books going for different areas of the house. That way I don’t have to carry them around with me. I have one in the kitchen that I read when I’m eating breakfast, one in the living room, at least one started on my Kindle (sometimes two or three), an audiobook on my Sansa Clip and sometimes a different one on my iPod to plug into the car for my commute.
I wish I lived in a house big enough to do that! Haha. I usually just keep my stack of books together. Scattering happens when I’ve started a hardcover at home but don’t want to carry it with me when I go out. That’s when I either reach for another paperback or my Kindle.