How could you read just one?
The author’s Facebook question seemed straightforward. Then I realized it suggested a situation for writers I find virtually impossible.
His question: “What book (other than the Bible) are you currently reading?
Stop and consider that. Do you see something not quite right?
Of course he assumes any writer would be reading a book. What puzzles me is how a writer could be reading only one.
Maybe it’s because I’m always looking for the next book to read, but the idea of reading just one book at a time feels as unlikely as eating just one potato chip.
What am I currently reading? Considering just those by my nightstand, there are five: two novels and three nonfiction. That’s slightly more than usual, but only by a book or two.
I’ll be reading one book when another catches my attention. Sometimes a good book no longer suits my mood. When a deadline presses, I may switch to something lighter. Or it seems time to revisit one I’ve already enjoyed.
How do I keep track? Usually the books are so different, there’s little risk of getting them mixed. Patrick O’Brian’s British Navy adventures are poles apart from James Rollins’s scientific thrillers. Likewise, there’s little similarity between a history of the Ford Motor Company and a biography of illustrator Norman Rockwell.
Switching books to suit my circumstances keeps me attentive and each one fresh. If I had to, I suppose I could I restrict my reading to one book. But why would anyone want to?
