I love to read. American musician Frank Zappa once
said, "So many books, so little time." I agree. I read one book a month for my monthly book club. Right now, I'm just finishing up Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty (I'm loving it, by the way!).
But sticking to only one book at a time is not enough for me. I like to read at least two...sometimes three.
Whenever I share this fact about me, I'm often met with questions like, "Don't you get confused?"
Here are my secrets for reading two or more books at once.
1. Read two or more completely different types of books simultaneously. Reading books with too many similarities at once would definitely be confusing. If I'm reading more than one book,
they are all different genres. For instance, I might be reading a historical fiction book and self-help book simultaneously.
2. Choose different reading times. Part
of my bedtime ritual is reading before bed. I want to fall asleep by 11p so I am usually in bed and reading by 10:30p. This gives me a full half hour of glorious, relaxing reading time. This is when I usually read one of my books and I only read that particular book at bedtime.
In the morning or afternoon, I may read a completely different book, making that book part of my coffee ritual or my afternoon tea break ritual.
Doing this really separates what I'm reading completely. I don't even associate one book title with the other.
3.
Put a deadline on one book; and not the other. I have a month to read each of my book chat books because I want to be done by the scheduled book chat date so I can discuss it with my friends. The second or third book I'm reading doesn't have such a strict deadline with me.
So, while I'm more adamant about reading my book chat book every single night before bed, I'm not as strict with myself with the second and third books.
Right now, along with my book chat book, I'm re-reading the classic, A Tale of Two Cities. That's more of a meandering read that I indulge in with my morning coffee. I am reading it daily and am getting through it slowly, but surely, with no strict deadlines in my mind. When I finish it, I finish it.
Reply and let me know what you're reading this month (title and author). I'll compile this list and include it in an upcoming newsletter so GON readers know what other GON readers are enjoying.
