What kind of reader are you ?

[Poppaea]

I read extremely fast and I love thick books. The bigger the better, a 800 -1000 pbook pages are my favorite book size, now even more so as they weigh now 155 gr

I read around 1.5 books per week. Obviously more when they are small. Sometimes less when they are hard to read. But the average is 80 - 100 books per year. As I read mostly classics this is a very fast pace.

Forgot to mention I only sleep 4 hrs per day

[astra]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Forgot to mention I only sleep 4 hrs per day

Lucky you!
Margaret Thatcher slept 5 hours only when she was PM and boasted about it. I need 8-9 hours, although on weekdays I sleep only 7.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by astra

Lucky you!
Margaret Thatcher slept 5 hours only when she was PM and boasted about it. I need 8-9 hours, although on weekdays I sleep only 7.

In the winter I used to earn strange looks from my cat for getting up at 4.30 h in the dark morning when no bird was singing He even shielded his eyes with his paw when I switched on the lights, turned around and went back to sleep.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

In the winter I used to earn strange looks from my cat for getting up at 4.30 h in the dark morning when no bird was singing He even shielded his eyes with his paw when I switched on the lights, turned around and went back to sleep.

Cats are the masters of the "Strange Look" and my cats sleep about 23.5 hours a day, or so it seems.

I'm with Poppaea though, when I get more than 4 hours of sleep I tend to be sluggish. If I sleep for more than 4 hours I tend to sleep 9 - 12 hours and feel like hell when I do wake.

I have read somewhere that people "NEED" 8 hours, but do we really?

[Belle2Be]

I read about a book a day(sometimes 2 or 3, depending on page length, the day, and interest in the book) when I have something that really grabs me. I start at the beginning, and stop when I get to the end. I read every word, I understand and get a lot out of reading (if I didn't, why would I read?).

I'm stuck on one book now though, it's killing me. I read (and LOVED) the outlander series, and now I'm stuck on the last one. It's the second time I've started reading it again and it's put me in a lull. I really want to finish it though!!

[Belle2Be]

Originally Posted by HarleyB

My husband certainly thinks so!

I don't know it's just what I have always done. Even as a little kid I always wanted to know what happened next...so I kept reading until I knew.

Wow I've never been called OCD for it, but I could've written your response! I very rarely read a book over a long period of time (a week), I'm not big on cliffhangers and 99% of the time finish the book in one sitting too

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by Mortis

I have read somewhere that people "NEED" 8 hours, but do we really?

Well, I certainly do, but different people have different needs obviously. I envy you, though sometimes it must be annoying to be the only one awake in the neighborhood.

[RolandD]

I always thought I was a slow, but tenacious reader. After reading this thread, I guess I am a fairly fast reader. I average about a page per minute and can double that when reading a really good book, or rereading a familiar one.

I read one book at a time and have only quit reading one book beyond the first chapter. I have also been know to read in excess of 1200 pages in one sitting. When my wife and I were newlyweds, my in-laws would by me a book for Christmas. We'd open presents on Christmas eve and by the time everyone got up on Christmas morning, I would have the book finished. I started getting clothes after the first few years.

Originally Posted by Mrraow

One thing I have noticed; 'arty' books where the emphasis is more on the writing than the plot or characters slow me down; and books which have been translated from a foreign language slow me to a crawl. Foucault's Pendulum, for example, took me around 20 hours to read.

I agree with both statements, but i think it has a lot to do with the person doing the translation and the language it is being translated from. French and Italian seem to be the worst; Eco, Camus, etc. I had no problems with the Millennium Series or the Nightwatch Series and found them easier to read than many American authors.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Well, I certainly do, but different people have different needs obviously. I envy you, though sometimes it must be annoying to be the only one awake in the neighborhood.

I don't think I would use the term annoying, I find that from about 5am to 8am the most productive for me and I used to always be in the office until 7 or 8, my ex-boss liked it, my ex-wife didn't, funny that.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Mortis

I don't think I would use the term annoying, I find that from about 5am to 8am the most productive for me and I used to always be in the office until 7 or 8, my ex-boss liked it, my ex-wife didn't, funny that.

It is annoying. Now in this flat it is ok as the neighbor downstairs does not use the rooms beneath my apartment, but in the old condo it was like ok, what do I do now? Can't do yoga 'cause all this jumping and bumping about is to noisy, doing the dishes, house cleaning, noisy... It comes down to reading quietly or leaving for a walk or an early swim. Now I am into swimming in the wee hours and thats great.

As the topic here is reading, I'd recommend reading fiction that doesn't make you laugh out loud

@Mortis
And now? Are you still single? Hmmmm, a guy with cats who likes to read and gets up early in the morning....

[jerrywojo]

Originally Posted by Mikelo

I am limited to 7 or 8 books a month because I can't afford to spend more in books; Sometimes I have to force myself to watch TV for an hour so my books last longer. I am constantly reading; I read everything from Internet forums to the ingredients on a shampoo bottle that crosses my way. I just can't stop reading so there has never been a book I dropped no matter how bad they are.

Now thats hardcore!

[jerrywojo]

Originally Posted by GreenMonkey

I timed myself in the 9th grade - I read about 2 pages/min then. Testing these days on the internet pegs me about 600-700wpm. I kinda read by the paragraph somehow. Hard to explain to read-aloud-in-my-head-readers, they never quite get how I can read that fast.

I tend to read one book at a time. I read a 2nd book only if I misplace the 1st. These days sometimes I read a 2nd on my Nook or NC if I don't have my hardcover available (as in, not at home). Sometimes it's possible I am reading a non-fiction book for a history class at the same time.

Oh yea the voice in the head. Subvocalizing can really slow you down. People often become drowsy while reading for this reason.

I had the eureka moment a few years ago after months of training. Depending on the book structure I can read 800-900 wpm with good comp.

Not speed reading here either. Speed reading is a fantasy inho.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

@Mortis
And now? Are you still single? Hmmmm, a guy with cats who likes to read and gets up early in the morning....

And honny I just love show tunes and isn't that Liza just divine!

Well I'll pay for making fun of poor little Liza, that Karma lady is such a beach.

[Poppaea]

I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not flirt. I must not

[Mortis]

errmmmm.....so, hows that weather? :P