Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post, from Rebecca at Just one more page, is about a random book.I’ve seen several bloggers mention reading multiple books this week. Do you frequently read more than one book at a time? Do you try to limit this to a certain number? Do you have different books for different purposes/topics?
Well, I would like to say that I only read one book at a time, because it sounds like the adult, mature thing to do. But I can't really. And I don't have the very acceptable excuse of having a book of poetry or essays that I am sort of reading on the side. You are not necessarily meant to read a book of poetry straight through are you? I don't think so. But novels...no, you can't use that excuse, so I just have to admit it.
For me, rather than having a couple of active books, maybe a book on the bedside and a book at work and a book next to my recliner, I tend to have an active book and a couple of inactive, sidelined books. Orphan books if you will.
Have you ever heard the quote, from JFK, that “Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.” Well, I feel like that about some of these inactive books. The big, popular best sellers have lots of people but some books are all alone...and I don't want to leave then all alone. So just sit over here, my little sidelined tomes, and I will come back to you.
Soon.
Really...
It may be a book I started and could not get into, or one I just did not feel like reading at the moment when I picked it up. And so it joins the inactive mini-pile. A pile that will be revisited at a near future day. Because, as I recently discussed in a comment on a blog elsewhere, I hate to give up on a book and as long as it is in the 'inactive' pile, I have not given up on it. You are not an orphan, just sort of sent off to boarding school for awhile.
As is true of many a reader of books, of many a person who loves books and has received countless hours of pleasure from reading, I greatly admire the people that have given me those books...the authors. I have said it before, but authors are my rock stars. I can only imagine all the work and love, yes, love that they have poured into their writing and to read a few pages and dismiss the book just seems so wrong. It's like telling someone their baby is ugly.
Granted, there are bad books, poorly written books, out there but usually, I blame myself rather than the book. That I just not in the mood for it at the moment...and so it goes in the inactive pile. That I don't want something so serious...light...real life...fantasy...whatever...at the moment, so I will come back to it. Right after I finish this great book that I am reading.
Really, I will! Really....
Maybe.
I can have up to four books going without confusion: an audio with my kids, a hard book with my kids, an audio for me, a hard book for me. Just to fill in any dead space, you know. The only path I haven't traveled is an audio for my husband and I. After all, we rarely are alone except when sleeping.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way with books. Someone poured their soul into it, so I hate to give up on them. I try really hard to push my way through.
I can read one book and listen to one book, but that's about it for me.
ReplyDeleteI hate to abandon a book too ... which I why I just read one at a time so nothing distracts me from what I'm reading -- no matter how bad it is!!!
ReplyDeletehahaha I feel bad for those poor ugly babies being sent off to boarding school!
ReplyDeleteI can understand what you're saying though, I don't really like giving up on a book wither, which is why I have my own mini inactive pile.
I'm always in a couple of books at a time, but a really good book, one that I just can't put down, will get finished first. Lucky book!
ReplyDeleteboarding school books...unpopular stepchildren books...poor things...
ReplyDeleteSandy, four active books might send me off the deep end.
Kathy...I wish I could grow to love the audio book, I really do.
jenners, you are right but I am very undisciplined.
Wacky, you are right. if I get a really great book, the others are put aside and it's all about he great book.
I've got quite a few on the inactive pile, that I do get to eventually!
ReplyDeleteLOL, you sound just like me! I'm trying to rein it in but it's so hard. I mean, all those books, right? Seriously I think I need to give up reading multiple books at a time for Lent or something! :-)
ReplyDeleteI pretty much just read one book at a time.
ReplyDeleteOne book at a time for me. Here's Mine
ReplyDeleteNise, so do I...depending on how you define "eventually".
ReplyDeleteMarie..the real sacrifice at Lent would to give up all reading! :-0
Lenore...so do I...sort of.
Lori, one book...how dull...lol
I like how you described a book as somebody's baby. I just participated in the Woolf in Winter reading group and had such a struggle reading both of the books I tried--perhaps I owe Ms. Woolf an apology for saying her child is difficult :)
ReplyDeleteauthors are indeed rockstars. i like your allusions to ugly babies and such.
ReplyDeleteit is so appropriate...
I guess every author thinks their "baby" is the most beautiful in the world. Even when they are not.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I can just read one book and listen to one audio.
ReplyDeleteI ususally have one main book that I am reading and one piece of ligh fluffy reading that I occasionally pick up and read a few pages or a chapter. Anything beyond that is too much for this old brain.
ReplyDelete