Suggestions for speeding up reading? - Page 2

some call me tim · 08-30-2010, 01:55 PM

I'm not a fast reader myself, either. Probably faster than the average joe, but slower than most "bookies." I remember in my school days, I looked into speed reading so I could get through my assigned reading faster. One of the techniques I remember reading about is to split the page up into sections and try reading those sections at a time rather than focusing on each word. Basically, they recommended drawing vertical lines down the page to break it into thirds or one line down the middle to break it into halves. It helps with not pronouncing words in your head, like others were suggesting. I actually drew lines onto my pages (I'm sure my English teachers weren't amused)...it'd actually work well on an ereader if you found a non-permanent solution. Dry erase marker, maybe? (I don't want to be the first to test it though!)

I know you said you don't want to speed read, and neither do I, exactly. But like Solicitous said, now I have such easy access to all the books I want to read, I want to get through each one so I can dive into the next! It doesn't help that I seem to be attracted to sprawling, epic series.

socal9 · 08-30-2010, 02:04 PM

I enjoy reading but am a pretty slow reader. I had also thought about trying speed reading and have used an app called Quick Reader on the Ipod Touch. It exercises your eyes and helps you to take in more words at a time. However there are times when I feel as if I am just trying to read faster for the sake of reading faster. I tend to lose the enjoyment of reading. Perhaps I am not yet trained in the techniques yet but when I read at a "comfortable" pace for me, I enjoy the book much more.

Perhaps I should not feel rushed to finish a book but rather just read it and enjoy. There are other aspects of life that can be too rushed. Reading is my time to relax

some call me tim · 08-30-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socal9

I enjoy reading but am a pretty slow reader. I had also thought about trying speed reading and have used an app called Quick Reader on the Ipod Touch. It exercises your eyes and helps you to take in more words at a time. However there are times when I feel as if I am just trying to read faster for the sake of reading faster. I tend to lose the enjoyment of reading. Perhaps I am not yet trained in the techniques yet but when I read at a "comfortable" pace for me, I enjoy the book much more.

Perhaps I should not feel rushed to finish a book but rather just read it and enjoy. There are other aspects of life that can be too rushed. Reading is my time to relax

I agree with pretty much all of that. I just don't relish being "the slow kid" when it comes to my reading friends.

dcptcons4evr · 08-31-2010, 02:27 AM

I've always been a fairly slow reader I think it helps you better savor and understand what your reading though because you have more time to dwell on it, it's not a race

Kumabjorn · 08-31-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Format C:

Don't pronounce in your mind what you read with your eyes.

I am a horrible, horrible person. Because I not only pronounce it in my mind, I have to find the right voice and cadence. If the protagonist is an Irish homosexual, then I have to make it sound like that in my mind, if a character is an Australian crock wrestler then it becomes an entirely different voice.

bitemeok · 08-31-2010, 01:54 PM

Skip the boring parts.

some call me tim · 08-31-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitemeok

Skip the boring parts.

That's how I ripped through LOTR.

khalleron · 08-31-2010, 06:01 PM

I've often wished I could read slower, myself. My mom taught me to read when I was 4 and I haven't stopped yet.

I say just read at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Reading is a pleasure, don't rush it.

Fast is not necessarily better.

socal9 · 08-31-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I am a horrible, horrible person. Because I not only pronounce it in my mind, I have to find the right voice and cadence. If the protagonist is an Irish homosexual, then I have to make it sound like that in my mind, if a character is an Australian crock wrestler then it becomes an entirely different voice.

I started listening to audiobooks earlier this year on my commute to and from work. Having the right narrator can really enhance ones enjoyment of the material. I now also find myself at times imagining different voices for the characters of a book I may be reading.

speakingtohe · 08-31-2010, 09:13 PM

Quote:

I am a horrible, horrible person. Because I not only pronounce it in my mind, I have to find the right voice and cadence. If the protagonist is an Irish homosexual, then I have to make it sound like that in my mind, if a character is an Australian crock wrestler then it becomes an entirely different voice.

Last night Iinadvertantly caught myself visualizing a badger from one sentence in a book. Even worse for a moment I was the badger. (Shadow Pavillion by Liz Williams)

meromana · 09-05-2010, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I am a horrible, horrible person. Because I not only pronounce it in my mind, I have to find the right voice and cadence. If the protagonist is an Irish homosexual, then I have to make it sound like that in my mind, if a character is an Australian crock wrestler then it becomes an entirely different voice.

OMG! Thank you for being the first one brave enough to admit it. Now all of us who suffer from "theater of the mind" while reading can come out of the closet. Such a relief to know I am not the only one. Maybe we need to start a support group for...ah...I don't know what to call this affliction. Anyone got a suggestion?

I attribute mine to years of reading aloud to my children. My daughters will officially be teenagers next month, and they still enjoy having me read to them, complete with various voices, personalities, and accents. I channel my inner movie star...

--Maria

:
(some of my many roles)

harryE123 · 09-05-2010, 01:21 AM

I always pronounce when I read, or at least I think I do most of the time. Is this bad? I wasn't aware of this. But then again I wasn't aware that people actually read without having an inner voice pronouncing in their heads.

Kumabjorn · 09-05-2010, 03:10 AM

Maybe that is why I often get disappointed when I watch the movie version of a book I have read. The director and I very often seem to have divergent views as to how a character is supposed to act and sound.

sassanik · 09-05-2010, 03:35 AM

For me reading is a skill. When I don't read regularly my reading speed slows down. So my suggestion is just to make sure you read regularly, it will help you speed up.

I don't have to pronounce the words when I read, but I was taught whole word recognition, instead of phonetics when I was learning to read. It takes longer to learn but apparently it results in you being able to read faster. I can't sound out words to save my life.

Anyway, I hope that you enjoy your new ereader!

Amy

09-05-2010, 03:35 AM	#29
sassanik Guru Posts: 774 Karma: 1211741 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oregon Device: EB1150, iPhone, Cool-er Purple, Pocketbook 360, Kindle Fire	practice For me reading is a skill. When I don't read regularly my reading speed slows down. So my suggestion is just to make sure you read regularly, it will help you speed up. I don't have to pronounce the words when I read, but I was taught whole word recognition, instead of phonetics when I was learning to read. It takes longer to learn but apparently it results in you being able to read faster. I can't sound out words to save my life. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy your new ereader! Amy

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Reading list for Holiday suggestions	stustaff	Reading Recommendations	9	08-30-2009 03:47 AM
Speeding Up The Load Time of Scanned Books	owl123	iRex	0	06-04-2009 10:11 AM
Speeding up reading of PDF on iLiad	Malder1	iRex	3	05-15-2008 06:33 AM
iLiad Speeding up the system?	firekat	iRex Developer's Corner	6	05-14-2008 10:34 AM
Environmental study: 30 min of e-paper reading = 30 mins of print reading	Steven Lyle Jordan	News	36	12-14-2007 03:29 PM

08-30-2010, 01:55 PM	#16
some call me tim Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 22620 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Device: Kindle Voyage, Kobo Libra	I'm not a fast reader myself, either. Probably faster than the average joe, but slower than most "bookies." I remember in my school days, I looked into speed reading so I could get through my assigned reading faster. One of the techniques I remember reading about is to split the page up into sections and try reading those sections at a time rather than focusing on each word. Basically, they recommended drawing vertical lines down the page to break it into thirds or one line down the middle to break it into halves. It helps with not pronouncing words in your head, like others were suggesting. I actually drew lines onto my pages (I'm sure my English teachers weren't amused)...it'd actually work well on an ereader if you found a non-permanent solution. Dry erase marker, maybe? (I don't want to be the first to test it though!) I know you said you don't want to speed read, and neither do I, exactly. But like Solicitous said, now I have such easy access to all the books I want to read, I want to get through each one so I can dive into the next! It doesn't help that I seem to be attracted to sprawling, epic series.

08-30-2010, 02:04 PM	#17
socal9 Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southern California Device: waiting for kindle	I enjoy reading but am a pretty slow reader. I had also thought about trying speed reading and have used an app called Quick Reader on the Ipod Touch. It exercises your eyes and helps you to take in more words at a time. However there are times when I feel as if I am just trying to read faster for the sake of reading faster. I tend to lose the enjoyment of reading. Perhaps I am not yet trained in the techniques yet but when I read at a "comfortable" pace for me, I enjoy the book much more. Perhaps I should not feel rushed to finish a book but rather just read it and enjoy. There are other aspects of life that can be too rushed. Reading is my time to relax

08-31-2010, 02:27 AM	#19
dcptcons4evr Avid Reader Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City,MO Device: kindle3	I've always been a fairly slow reader I think it helps you better savor and understand what your reading though because you have more time to dwell on it, it's not a race

08-31-2010, 01:54 PM	#21
bitemeok Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 42 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Silver Spring, MD Device: Sony PRS-300	Skip the boring parts.

08-31-2010, 06:01 PM	#23
khalleron Kate Posts: 1,683 Karma: 3165009 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oregon, United States Device: Nexus 7 2013, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	I've often wished I could read slower, myself. My mom taught me to read when I was 4 and I haven't stopped yet. I say just read at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Reading is a pleasure, don't rush it. Fast is not necessarily better.

09-05-2010, 01:21 AM	#27
harryE123 Banned Posts: 272 Karma: 70 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: irex reader	I always pronounce when I read, or at least I think I do most of the time. Is this bad? I wasn't aware of this. But then again I wasn't aware that people actually read without having an inner voice pronouncing in their heads.

09-05-2010, 03:10 AM	#28
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	Maybe that is why I often get disappointed when I watch the movie version of a book I have read. The director and I very often seem to have divergent views as to how a character is supposed to act and sound.

Advert

Advert