
August 29, 2013 • Cee • Discussion

three c's

I have a really bad habit.

I am a self-proclaimed book juggler. A very notorious one, I might add. 

I start reading multiple books at once, which is not the greatest idea on the world. 

How does it start? Well…

I start a book with every intention of reading it ’til the end. I always tell myself I won’t get distracted, but oh man, my dear friends, I’m so naive to think that (considering my history of being easily distracted. It’s an actual problem). After a couple of chapters into the book I’m reading, I look up, muttering to myself how interesting the book is. Before I can continue, I get distracted by the internet or by my emails or by food. And when I try to return to my book, I get distracted again. Usually because my attention is caught elsewhere, specifically at my bookshelf. I imagine seeing a spotlight shining on the the spine of a book on my TBR bookshelf, and I remember ‘ooohh, I have been meaning to read that book.’  I get up, grab that book, and begin to read it. I keep doing this until I have at least four books I’m juggling, or reading all at once.

I’m on a Merry-Go-Around that I can’t get myself out of. Every time I think the ride has stopped, it continues. I always hear the circus theme going in my head as I switch from book to book, trying to decide which I should commit to. It is not the greatest thing to be doing. I know that. 

I don’t do it on purpose. Sometimes I do it because I need breaks, especially when the book is a bit boring or it annoys me or I get overwhelmed. And during those breaks, I realize that there are soo many books that I own and want to read, but I can’t (mainly due to time constraint). I guess starting four books at once is my way of trying to get my reading done? Maybe? It’s a race against time! And then, I feel like my book juggling is my way of testing myself? – “How many books can I read at once? Let’s go for a world record!” (BAD NEWS, EVERYONE. I have to admit, before I fool you all, that I’m a really horrible juggler, both in books and any objects that you can juggle. Everything will fall comically onto the ground and you’d see me attempt a bashful, yet awkward smile as I say, in Steve Urkel’s voice, “did I do that?”)

BUT THE GOOD NEWS, I do finish one of the books I started. I usually return to reading my original book…after I admonish myself…a lot. 

Are you a “book juggler” like me? Do you start a book, but stop to start another one just because? Do you ever return to reading the original book you started? How do you get out of it? 


 

27 Responses to “THE THREE C’S: CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH CEE | The Book Juggler Strikes! (My Bad Habit!)”

  1. I do quite the opposite. I don’t think I’ve ever juggled two books at once, except when necessary for school. I usually stick with one book until the end, but I don’t hesitate to DNF a book.

    Food does distract me too, though.

    • Cee says:

      That’s good! Book juggling is the worst idea. I agree, it’s necessary for school, but other than that, not really because it’ll cause you pain. ;D I’m a product of that pain. Lol.

      Food is great. You have to eat sometime!

  2. katayla says:

    I think I’m in the middle of six right now! (Seven, if you count the book I’m re-reading.) I’ve had a few lately that I’m read straight through, but I tend to need variety in my life. And sometimes it’s helpful for realizing, “Oh, I don’t really want to read this book after all.”

  3. Jenna says:

    I always have multiple books going at once, but for me it’s usually because I read them in different places (and leave the book there). I have a book in the kitchen that I only read when I’m eating breakfast (I eat breakfast alone but have dinner with my husband, so no dinner reading). I have a book in the living room. I have a book in the bathroom closet that I read in the tub. I have a lot of books on my Kindle but I’m usually only reading one at a time on there. The others are backups in case I finish or don’t like the one I’m reading. I have two audiobooks going: one on my iPod Shuffle and one on my Sansa Clip. The Clip’s clip broke so I can only take it running when I have a pocket. If I don’t have a pocket, I clip on my iPod and listen to that book. It’s weird because I seem to finish 2 or 3 books all within a matter of days, so I guess I get equal reading time in several different places in my house.

    • Cee says:

      That’s interesting! I rarely leave books around the house for fear I will end up forgetting about it or misplacing it. Lol.

      From your comment, I think you prioritize your reading time better than me. :D I feel like it takes me a while to finish because I keep switching from book to book (when I’m not fully invested in whatever book I’m reading).

  4. jen ryland says:

    I do that too. I have one physical book going and one on my kindle. It usually works out. I’m just a multitasker by nature….
    You can find me here: Jen @ YA Romantics

    • Cee says:

      Ha, that’s good! I’m the worst at multi-tasking. I want to do so many things, but I don’t end up doing it (usually in favor for reading things off the internet. Lol).

  5. I must say that when I read two books (the maximum number for me – otherwise I get confused, and forget about them, and it just turns into mayhem), I feel like I am accomplishing more, and getting more reading done. Even though I am probably not, since I am taking turns, and in all reality it most likely takes me longer to finish reading those two books together, than reading them separately. Which is why I only read one book (most of the time). It means I can devour it, and still keep tabs on the story, and the characters. :D

    • Cee says:

      I definitely agree with that. Reading a book at a time makes the story more linear and understandable. I just wished my mind wasn’t always so distracted by different things. It would make reading so much easier for me.

  6. kezia1098 says:

    To be honest, I don’t juggle books :P I always stick to one book at a time mainly because I tried reading more than one before and I was so confused when I wrote the reviews. Well, unless I am reading a really boring book then I might procrastinate it and go read something else that grabs my attention more. Haha, once I was reading a book it was sooooo boring I could barely understand or keep myself awake so I put it off for a month and actually finished four books!! And then after I finished them, I went back to that boring book and apparently I had forgotten everything. So I ended up DNFing xD

    • Cee says:

      Good for you! I totally understand about confusion.

      That has totally happened to me too. I put the boring book aside and read something else. Those aren’t officially DNF because I think I will pick it up. Strangely enough, with some of the books I put “on hiatus,” I haven’t picked up those books back up yet. :P Yeah, I always end up rereading the book again to remember what happened. It takes more time when I could be reading something more interesting.

  7. I’m even worse, not only do I read so many different books at once, I also listen to multiple audiobooks at once. But, I’m usually reviewing the books, so I have notes to keep me oriented. I can only really do three at a time though.

  8. Book Juggler. I am almost always reading more than one book. It’s hard for me to read one book at a time. I enjoy juggling books:) Great post.

  9. Stacie Cruz says:

    OMG I am exactly the same way!!! I only read one book at a time, but I get distracted so easily lol. I feel like the dog from the movie UP. This is me on a daily routine…I’m reading my book having a good time, then BAM my child is hungry. I go feed her and go back to reading, then I hear a beep. Oh I have a message! Spend some time on that. After a while I realize oops I have to read. So I start reading again. A few minutes later I see my bookshelf and think oh I want to read that book, how come I haven’t read it yet? Lol the list goes on and on.

  10. Lizzy says:

    I’m a total book juggler.

    Within the last 24 hours I’ve read parts of these four books:

    Silent Echos 80% finished
    The Whisper Jar 20% finished
    The Companions 40% finished
    The Mad Scientist’s Daughter page 270, it’s my mandatory paperback…for all those times that I can’t use or find my Kindle.

  11. Haha no way! That freaks me out. I can only read one book at a time, out of fear that I’ll lose my mind. I will say that now that I own an e-reader this might change slightly because I can see myself reading a physical book but also reading an ebook based on what I’m doing or where I’m at. But by choice? Heck no! I rather suffer through one and just get it over, than get all split up. It scares me! :P

  12. cfiel25 says:

    Juggling sometimes happen to me but that’s very very rare. Although it’s very tempting to juggle between books, I hate doing it because it makes me confused. And there’s a very good tendency that I would interchange the characters. That would be too embarrassing when I’m writing my review. Plus, I am OC when it comes to finishing a book no matter what. Come hell or high water, I am going to finish reading you, boring book. :D

    • Cee says:

      Juggling between books do get confusion. I hate when I can’t remember what happened and have to reread it again. (That sucks when the book is boring or doesn’t capture my interest.)

      APPLAUDING YOUR DEDICATION. I wish I was that strong. :D

  13. Lisa says:

    I do juggle books every once it a while. If I’m really loving a book, its hard for me to put down. But I am always juggle a regular book with an audio book! It works for me!

    Lisa
    Become Blogger of the Week:
    http://turningpages94.blogspot.com/p/blogger-of-week.html

  14. Bookworm1858 says:

    I will sometimes read two or three books at a time and alternate every few chapters between them but I usually end up finishing both the same day-I’m pretty good about finishing books though I wish I was better at DNF-ing them.


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