I'm a speed reader---never 'learned' it but just seem to read fast naturally. I could read a book a day if I wanted to and had the time, and I will recall it later. I am a little fuzzy on series books though. I am reading the new JD Robb right now and it makes references to a case they solved in a previous book, and I can't recall this at all. But the book I am reading now is number 31 in a series so I guess I can be forgiven for mixing up what happened in which book
If I read a stand-alone novel though, I will recall it.