How well do you retain what you have just read? - Page 2

Maggie Leung · 07-31-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

I'm looking forward to re-reading the entire Travis McGee series. I've forgotten virtually everything about it except loving the books.

After a certain point, you really don't need to buy any more books. Eventually, you'll only need one.

Wow, high school flashback. I used to imagine drinking Boodles with him aboard the Busted Flush.

astra · 08-01-2010, 01:41 PM

Unfortunately, I forget easily.
It is the main reason for not reading series until they are complete. I tend to forget all the details within 1 year and I read slowly, something like one book in 3-4 weeks. So, I cannot afford re-reading.

iphitus · 08-01-2010, 11:36 PM

Sorry, what was this thread about again?

I had the fun of re-reading LoTR recently. Other than that, I rarely re-read books, I recall just enough to remember what happens and spoil surprises. I also have too many on the 'read next' list.

TimMason · 08-02-2010, 03:26 AM

I remember quite well what I have read, but I still like rereading, just as I like hearing or singing the same songs over again.

Remembering non-fiction better than fiction is perhaps not all that surprising: a fiction creates a unique world, while non-fiction adds to the world you already live in. You link the new information into the old network, and then later information tamps it down solid. Imaginary worlds have to be fired up new every time, unless you belong to a fan group that constantly talks about it, or if the fiction bleeds into real life, rather as LOTR has done.

Lady Fitzgerald · 08-02-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMason

...Imaginary worlds have to be fired up new every time, unless you belong to a fan group that constantly talks about it, or if the fiction bleeds into real life, rather as LOTR has done.

That may explain why I will never give up my books, why I refer to them as my preciousss, and that media change is really a form of shape shifting.

dlmartin6 · 08-02-2010, 08:37 AM

I can remember books I've read pretty well, but people's names??? Forget it, unless I mentally repeat someone's name I've just met a few times while I'm talking to them, it goes right out of my brain.

FlorenceArt · 08-02-2010, 08:43 AM

I have a good memory but it's very selective, and it has its own criteria for deciding what it remembers. I wish I knew what they are

Anyway, I forget most of what I read very quickly, except for a general impression (usually) and a few snippets (sometimes). Which is why I re-read often, maybe.

As for whodunnit, I just don't care, and besides, by the time I get to the end I don't even remember who was killed

Lady Fitzgerald · 08-02-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmartin6

...but people's names??? Forget it, unless I mentally repeat someone's name I've just met a few times while I'm talking to them, it goes right out of my brain.

I can so identify with that. Even if I repeatedly repeat someone's name, I'll forget it. I tend to get around that by just forging on into a conversation with them, hoping I'll remember, but I frequently have to break down and admit I've forgotten:

"Well, it's been nice chatting with you but I really have to go now. Uh...I hate to admit this but...uh...I've forgotten what your name is...oh, yeah, thanks...bye, Mama."

Ea · 08-02-2010, 10:35 AM

If I need to remember what I've just read, I take notes. Lots of notes. The process of writing them helps me remember. I don't generally remember details from fiction books, but the more times I've read a book, the better I remember it. Seems obvious to me

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

I can so identify with that. Even if I repeatedly repeat someone's name, I'll forget it. I tend to get around that by just forging on into a conversation with them, hoping I'll remember, but I frequently have to break down and admit I've forgotten:
...

Me, too. Or rather, I forget in the moment, even if it's people I know relatively well. I also forget names of things. I've once had to ask for a ... um... you know... a white square thing you can write on.

astra · 08-02-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

If I need to remember what I've just read, I take notes. Lots of notes. The process of writing them helps me remember.

On the other hand I don't want to do it when I read fiction because it is supposed to be a relaxing thing.

FlorenceArt · 08-02-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

Me, too. Or rather, I forget in the moment, even if it's people I know relatively well. I also forget names of things. I've once had to ask for a ... um... you know... a white square thing you can write on.

I never call people by their name, ever. Because I usually don't know it

And I also forget words all the time, or sometimes (as just happened this morning) I can only remember the English word but not the French one

kilohertz53 · 08-02-2010, 11:06 AM

I best remember books that were either exceptionally good, or exceptionally bad. In between the extremes were many books that were entertaining at the time I read them, but easily forgettable shortly thereafter.

Loose_Appeal · 08-02-2010, 01:11 PM

I understand that not everybody has a photographic memory, but the amount of memory loss people are describing makes me wonder if they're putting something in our water.

rblover · 08-07-2010, 03:38 AM

I read at slightly faster than average speed, and retain most of it for quite awhile. In HS I took speed reading courses, and read much faster, and retained the gist of it, but missed a few small details. After the courses, I returned to my normal speed, which is just a bit faster than most of my friends. I get more details, and recall them longer, now. At age 58 I recall large parts of many things I read at age 7. At age 7 I was reading things like: Rise & Fall Of The Third Reich, War Of The Worlds, and The World Of Jeeves. Most of my friends, then, were reading Richie Rich comics. What I read impacted me more, so I retained more of it longer.

FlorenceArt · 08-07-2010, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rblover

I read at slightly faster than average speed, and retain most of it for quite awhile. In HS I took speed reading courses, and read much faster, and retained the gist of it, but missed a few small details. After the courses, I returned to my normal speed, which is just a bit faster than most of my friends. I get more details, and recall them longer, now. At age 58 I recall large parts of many things I read at age 7. At age 7 I was reading things like: Rise & Fall Of The Third Reich, War Of The Worlds, and The World Of Jeeves. Most of my friends, then, were reading Richie Rich comics. What I read impacted me more, so I retained more of it longer.

Interesting point. I think, in my case, what I retain from a book is the emotional impact. Sometimes that helps me retain some factual details associated with the feelings, when the emotional impact was especially strong. Humor also helps, but I suppose humor is also linked to emotions. When I read non-fiction, even if it's a subject I am very interested in, the emotional impact is much lower, so I have more difficulties remembering.

For most book, I will retain a vague memory of what I felt when reading it. And if that memory is good enough, I will sometimes re-read.

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08-01-2010, 01:41 PM	#17
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Unfortunately, I forget easily. It is the main reason for not reading series until they are complete. I tend to forget all the details within 1 year and I read slowly, something like one book in 3-4 weeks. So, I cannot afford re-reading.

08-01-2010, 11:36 PM	#18
iphitus Member Posts: 17 Karma: 372 Join Date: May 2010 Device: K2i	Sorry, what was this thread about again? I had the fun of re-reading LoTR recently. Other than that, I rarely re-read books, I recall just enough to remember what happens and spoil surprises. I also have too many on the 'read next' list.

08-02-2010, 03:26 AM	#19
TimMason Big Ears Posts: 191 Karma: 2229 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pontoise, France Device: Onyx Boox 60, iPad	I remember quite well what I have read, but I still like rereading, just as I like hearing or singing the same songs over again. Remembering non-fiction better than fiction is perhaps not all that surprising: a fiction creates a unique world, while non-fiction adds to the world you already live in. You link the new information into the old network, and then later information tamps it down solid. Imaginary worlds have to be fired up new every time, unless you belong to a fan group that constantly talks about it, or if the fiction bleeds into real life, rather as LOTR has done.

08-02-2010, 08:37 AM	#21
dlmartin6 Debra L Martin Posts: 79 Karma: 114 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Boston area Device: Kindle	I can remember books I've read pretty well, but people's names??? Forget it, unless I mentally repeat someone's name I've just met a few times while I'm talking to them, it goes right out of my brain.

08-02-2010, 08:43 AM	#22
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	I have a good memory but it's very selective, and it has its own criteria for deciding what it remembers. I wish I knew what they are Anyway, I forget most of what I read very quickly, except for a general impression (usually) and a few snippets (sometimes). Which is why I re-read often, maybe. As for whodunnit, I just don't care, and besides, by the time I get to the end I don't even remember who was killed

08-02-2010, 11:06 AM	#27
kilohertz53 Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 671 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Harwichport, MA Device: Sony PRS-500, Sony PRS-350, Augen "The Book"	I best remember books that were either exceptionally good, or exceptionally bad. In between the extremes were many books that were entertaining at the time I read them, but easily forgettable shortly thereafter.

08-02-2010, 01:11 PM	#28
Loose_Appeal Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish? Posts: 85 Karma: 162 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: Current: PRS-650, Previous: Books	I understand that not everybody has a photographic memory, but the amount of memory loss people are describing makes me wonder if they're putting something in our water.

08-07-2010, 03:38 AM	#29
rblover Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 26 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: none as yet	I read at slightly faster than average speed, and retain most of it for quite awhile. In HS I took speed reading courses, and read much faster, and retained the gist of it, but missed a few small details. After the courses, I returned to my normal speed, which is just a bit faster than most of my friends. I get more details, and recall them longer, now. At age 58 I recall large parts of many things I read at age 7. At age 7 I was reading things like: Rise & Fall Of The Third Reich, War Of The Worlds, and The World Of Jeeves. Most of my friends, then, were reading Richie Rich comics. What I read impacted me more, so I retained more of it longer.