While some people love to dwell on the books they read, others zip through their favourite tomes, often having two or three on the go.

One author, however, has been accused of ‘book bragging’ by fellow writers after somewhat implausibly claiming he reads 50 books at a time.

Author Will Self, 56, said he always has dozens of books on the go, claiming: "Before I read digitally, I’d be reading perhaps 10 books simultaneously – but now I read as many as 50 at once, if you mean by 'currently reading' books I’ve begun, left off, and returned to. "

His remarks have been met with derision, with authors accusing Self of “being disrespectful” to the books he chooses.

Dr Fern Riddell, historian and author, tweeted: "I hate this I hate book bragging, it is DISRESPECTFUL TO THE BOOKS. Give the story your full attention OMG."