reading

While a voracious reader, I dread the question, "What are you reading now?" It's never a simple answer, and I am always afraid that I will forget something on my list. That's right...my list.

I can't remember the last time that I only had one book on the nightstand. At the moment, I can think of five books that I am currently reading (and one book on CD for my commutes to and from work, and one book as e-text on my PDA).

My wife can't understand this. She can't imagine how I can possibly read so many at a time, and not get confused. And I suppose I don't know how to answer this. I don't know how, or why, I am able to do this. I just can. It's extremely rare (though I know it has happened) that I pick up a book and don't immediately know where I am in the story line. If we were in conversation right now, I could easily tell you where I am and what has happened up to the point that I have stopped, in each of the books I am reading.

On occassion a book will grab my attention so completely and utterly that I can't help but read it until it's finished, but that, too, is rare (perhaps sadly so).

Why so many books at one time? Another question that I'm not sure I can really answer. Variety? Greed? The ability to have a book within reach wherever I am? The fear that there are so many books to read and not enough time? ADD?

I will say that I must not be alone as a multi-book reader. I remember a few years ago clipping a Sunday cartoon from the paper to show my wife (was it Fox Trot or Baby Blues?) in which the father/husband was being teased in some way for multi-book reading.

I wonder if any blog readers might have more than one book in reading progress?