Reading is just such a personal thing. Everything about it is experienced by each reader different. I like to read a book, a story the experience. If I have to skip sections or re-read sentences, for me it means the book isn't holding my interest. I want to go inside the book and be there so to speak. Those are the books I love reading and its why I read for leisure.
It doesn't mean that the writing can't be meaningful and beautiful, it just means that its all part of the experience, without throwing me out of it.
This isn't a competition, its a personal thing. I guess I just don't get why it is so hard to believe people when they say what they say. Why the need to insinuate that they either aren't truthful about the numbers or they must be just getting through the words. Why can't it just be what it is for each of us on a personal level.
Just getting through the words wouldn't be enjoyable to me. I read pretty much only fiction though. Back in school I am sure I had to go through the words with some non fiction stuff, but that wasn't for enjoyment then.
I get in the story, out of the story, on to the next one. And I still think about stories I have read in the past, they don't just fly out of my brain. I remember books I read 4 years ago and characters and settings. I can hold and treasure more than one book inside my head. Wish my brain worked that good on regular life activities.
I wish I could read faster so I could enjoy more of the stories that are out there. But my puny human lifespan will be getting in the way of that.
.
I can never transpose the way I read and experience books on someone else. It just doesn't work like that. Its just way to varied and personal. None of us share the same brain and how we consume the written word. There is no right or wrong here.