Let’s talk about anything bookish!
Hello, my name is Ezrah and I am a serial book hopper. I define book hopper as someone who reads multiple books at one time and regularly jumps from one book to the next while not finishing the current book being read. I know, that’s crazy. But for the most part, it works well for me, especially when I am in a book slump.
At this moment, I am currently unable to focus on a specific book and I’m juggling 5 books at the same time. Currently, it’s 4 new books and 2 re-reads.
Now, you may ask WHY I do this, or if I forget the plots of each of the books. Yes and no. since the 2 books are re-reads, I mostly don’t have to worry about that. For the 3 that I am currently reading… Well, to be honest – YES.
Reasons why I’m a serial book hopper
- I read multiple formats. This means that I mostly listen to audiobooks during my commute to work every day (that about 3 to 3/5 hours per day), and I also listen while doing chores. Then I read ebooks or physical books at night before bed.
- Sometimes, a book just doesn’t hook me. This reason really sucks because there are books that are slow to start and if a book doesn’t initially catch my attention, I usually jump to another book. I’m bad, I know.
- I’m also a mood reader. I won’t go into detail on that since I already wrote about that in a previous post.
- Then there’s that ever-present reading slump! Because I binge-read a lot, I always fall into a slump. When that happens, that means ANY book I try to read won’t capture my attention! Which leads to starting AND NOT FINISHING multiple books at the same time!
Reasons why being a serial book hopper sucks
- I never finish a book! I mean, I do finish reading, but not as many as I want to!
- I forget some plot point and will almost always re-read previous chapters. This one just sucks the life right out of me.
- I mean, just what am I thinking? How can I even read multiple books at the same time is even SANE?
Reasons why being a serial book hopper works for me… sometimes
- Because I’m crazy, that’s why it works!
- I love mixing the formats. It helps me read more books, actually. (See why I read multiple formats.)
- It keeps me entertained.
And I actually ran out of reasons why reading multiple books works for me! I guess this is because book hopping is a sign of an epic book slump coming on? If so, please wish me luck and help me get out of this funk!
Do you read multiple books at the same time?
If yes, why. And if no, do you think I’m crazy for doing so?
Share your thoughts on the topic and/or my craziness below!
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I am a serial book hopper as well. Although usually I do finish all of them. Once in a while there might be an e-book that ends up lost in the shuffle if it isn’t grabbing me, and I have other ones to read for a scheduled review. But like you I always have many books going at one time. I almost always have an audiobook going in my car. Then I have a physical book that goes from place to place with me. I have an ebook on my phone at all time, usually to read when I’m somewhere that I might not have my book with me, or right before bed. I was trying to only read real books right before bed to get away from staring at a screen, so I always have one of those, although I’ve been reading that one AND the ebook I have on my phone before bed lately. Sometimes I’ll have one I’m reading at work on my laptop when I have a day that I can’t get away from my desk, but don’t have that much to get from it. Fun post! Great stuff to think about!
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Blog Tour Review with Giveaway: The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton
Oh, Lisa! Me too! I always have a few audiobooks already downloaded and ready to go on my phone just in case! I don’t usually read when I’m out unless it’s going on a trip, then I bring my Kindle with me. Sometimes I may carry a physical book, but not as much as I used to!
I am currently reading 4 books at once, I enjoy starting books and then go back and get into them. I actually thought I was the only one who did this. But it inspires me to keep reading and I only read one format!! I enjoyed this post!
Yeah, I thought I was the oddball with reading multiple books! I actually didn’t use to be this way… 🙁
I don’t know that I could be a serial book hopper. I do typically have one book and one audiobook going at a time but I make sure they’re different genres so I don’t get confused. And that’s really the reason I can’t book hop…I’m old and my brain can’t handle it! LOL But I’m happy it works out for you most of the time. Great discussion! 🙂
I have to admit, I miss a few things! LOL Some of the books that I have read at one time have gone to the on-hold pile to be revisited on audio or at a later date. I find that audiobooks help me finish a book that I normally have problems reading.
I can handle one audio and one book at a time, but that’s my limit. I forget too many details when I try to read too many books simultaneously, and then my reviews suffer. I also like the feeling of accomplishment when I finish a book. Another one on the read shelf! When I tried juggling books, it made it seem like I was reading the book forever.
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I KNOW! I have been reading these 5 books for the last 2 weeks! To be honest, it’s a little annoying! haha
I always have one I am reading and one I am listening to. At this time though, I am reading two and listening to one. Two more I’ve started and really want to go back to. So yeah, I totally get you. If you are crazy, then I am too ?
Yay! I thought I was the only one! Some of the books that I am currently juggling may end up on my on-hold list. There are just a few books that I can not get through.
I’m a book hopper too. I always listen to an audiobook on my commute which is 1 1/2 hours roundtrip. I will also read an ebook or paperback. I always finish the books but it does take me longer to read ebooks or paperbacks (sometimes I’m too tired to read). I usually pick different genres for each format, that way I don’t get confused with the storylines lol. You’re not crazy and you’re not alone lol. It is a great way to tackle our stack of books!
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Oh, I think I did forget to mention that most of these books are in different genres… at least, I try to make it different genres. So right now, I’m listening to a 1 YA Dystopia and I alternate with a relisten of an HR, a PNR, and an NA. I have 2 HR ebooks too… but these may have to be restarted because I have put them on the back burner for now!
Glad to hear I’m not the only one! I also read my books like I watch TV. One episode of each book at the time 🙂
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I also can’t binge watch for long! I get bored easily! I’m mostly okay binge-watching a few series at a time!
Hahahha I loved this post as soon as I saw it! I do read multiple books too! I just do it because I will forget about books if I don’t start and get it into goodreads. Then I tend to read the ones that I can consume the fastest. Sometime that is one book… at others I’m reading 2 or 3 books pretty equally. Then I have manga and web toons I’m reading too. I actually don’t forget plot unless I only read a chapter or if I allow like months to pass which I try not to let happen as that is why I started the book in the first place (so as not to forget it!) I can see why though you may forget because sometimes we start a book that just isn’t getting us! Those I typically drop from goodreads totally. I just delete it off my shelves and forget I ever even tried it! <3 Love this so much!
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OMG! I do the same, too! If I only read a chapter or two and don’t like the book at all, I also remove it from Goodreads and not count it towards my books read for the year. I thought I was the only one who does this!
I am a book hopper more by necessity than by choice. I am currently in school, so I am always juggling at least three books at once, two for school and at least one for fun. On one hand, I need to read for assignments and papers, but I also love to pick what I want to read. Plus, add review copies and ARCs on top of that and my currently-reading shelf is always crowded. Most of the time I am able to keep books and plotlines separate, but that can be hard if I am reading two similar books.
Then again, I cannot blame homework for everything because I am also a mood reader like you. Depending on my mood, the time of day, or my level of motivation, I will read something different. The life of a mood reader is exhausting, but I love being able to pursue multiple stories at once than being trapped in only one.
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I remember being worse when I was in college. But then again, I read fewer books back then because I was in nursing school and there was just too much studying going on! LOL But I mostly read multiple books in different genres and different formats, so it’s easier not to confuse the books.
I feel like a lot of bloggers do this? So you’re not alone! Lol. I prefer sticking to one book at a time, but lately I’ve had 2-3 books going at a time because of the formats reason. I hate it though! I’d rather if I could just have both the ebook and the physical book for every book I read so that I could read one book at a time but always have the format I need lol.
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I wish I can read one book at a time, but I can’t seem to do it? But I also have multiple formats going at the same time too and sometimes it does get confusing 🙂
Hey Ezrah. I’m Zezee, and I’m a serial book hopper too. I can’t help it. I totally get where you’re coming from on this. I’ve always read many books at once because I get easily distracted (for books that are slow and don’t grip me right away), quickly lose interest (if the book isn’t what I expected at first), am impatient (there are many books I want to read and often I want to start them immediately), and just love the challenge of juggling many different plot lines in my head at once. I hardly ever get confused.
The downside is, yes, I seem to never complete books, but then the upside is that sometimes I complete many books at once in a month, which makes it seem as if I read faster than I do.
Hi ZeZee! My friends call me Zeee! LOL 🙂 I also agree that I seem to read more books, but it feels like I don’t read as much?
I also read the same way. But it actually works for me 🙂 always has. And I think I finish MORE books this way – because it prevents slumps. If I had to just read one book, and hept stopping without the ability to switch to another one, I’d get wayyyy less books read. I somehow don’t forget plot points too much, thankfully! I think of reading in this way sort of like changing the TV channel. Would be ridiculous to just keep watching one channel, after all.
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It is a good way to prevent slumps, too! Sometimes, it is also a good way to get overwhelmed! LOL But I also read more books this way! 🙂
Hello!
I mix formats all the time, and I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only person who does this! At any given time, I am probably reading at least two different books. A eBook or print book during my commute, or an audiobook when I exercise or do chores. And yes the unfortunate part is that sometimes it does take a minute or two for me to get back into a book when it’s been a while since I’ve last picked it up!
I hardly pick up physical books now 🙁 it’s just easy taking along my kindle with me than 1 book… but I listen to audiobooks on my commute 🙂
Hey Ezrah, I am also a big fan of reading. I like all type of books specially adventurous and comedy book. I love to read books on kindle. I can read three types of books in a day. Thank you for this lovely blog. Keep sharing!
haha I AM SO GLAD to know I’m not the only one! I read books same way I watch TV shows. More than one at the same time. A few episodes of each every day 🙂 for all the same reason you listed here! especially because yes. I AM A LUNATIC. So hello sista! 🙂
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Thanks, Daniela! I am soooo like this! 😀 I also do this with TV shows because I don’t like bingeing too much!
This works for me when it comes to listening to audiobooks and reading something else, but when I try to read two different books, I tend to let one fade and then forget about it. I won’t say that ALWAYS happens, but it happens often enough. I still probably won’t ever drop the habit of reading two books at the same time completely, though.
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Me, too! I try my best but I usually put the book on-hold if enough time has passed and I forget the plot… LOL