Ebook fans who read slowly

[Angst]

I'm also a slow reader, but I have a lot of time to devote to reading. I only watch about 3 hours of tv a week leaving lots of time for books: 2-3 hours/night + 10 hours/weekend. Like most people, technical books take much longer to absorb than fiction. Still, I manage about 100 books as year.

[SpiderMatt]

Originally Posted by Bob Russell

I'm constantly amazed at the rate at which MobileRead members devour books. I mean, 20 books a year seems almost hard to believe. But some people here reach the impressive rates of something like a book every day or two, and I think that a book a week (>50 per year) is not uncommon.

Surely there are a few readers out there that can't read that fast (like me). Some of us don't have that much time to spend on reading. In fact, I do most of my reading on technical materials, often not done cover to cover anyway.

I'm pretty darn slow when it comes to pleasure reading, like novels, biographies, history, sci-fi, etc. If it's an all-consuming "page-turner" then maybe I'll finish it in as little as a week. Even a weekend in an extreme case. But the average book takes me about a month or so, and that's only if I am reading on most days.

Even when it comes to each page. I think I take a whole minute or more per page on a good book, so I don't exactly burn through pages either. My mind doesn't really work that fast, and I also tend to daydream and think about other stuff when I'm reading for fun. If I find myself skimming a book or having to re-read all the time because my mind wandered, I usually just go find another book that's more fun to read.

As far as I'm concerned, the worst kind of book is one that makes me really want to know what happens next, but hate reading the pages in-between. Especially, if the event's that I care about are sort of subtly hidden amongst hundreds of uninteresting words. Then it becomes like a "where's Waldo" game while I hunt for the plot events while trying to avoid actually reading the text!

So am I a strange creature when it comes to reading? Is there anyone else out there who really loves to read, but who reads for pleasure in a more leisurely fashion, finishing only a handful of books each year? Tell me I'm not alone in the snail's pace!

I'm the same way. I'm a pretty slow reader compared to most of my friends. I think I read a lot and often, I just can't burn through books like everyone else does.

[Mrraow]

I thought a brief summary was in order:

- fast/slow reading speed seems largely unrelated to the number of books we read in a year. The most important factor seems to be the amount of time we can spend reading each day.

- not all books can be read at the same speed; books that emphasise information or writing style are harder to read quickly, as are books that didn't originate in ones' native language, even when translated (this last bit may be just my own personal prejudice speaking)

- fast (in terms of pages per hour) readers seem to either not notice the writing style, or to actively find the style annoying if it draws attention away from the plot or characters.

- water is wet.

Have I missed anything?

[astra]

Mrraow
Nicely put

[Bob Russell]

Originally Posted by Mrraow

I thought a brief summary was in order:

- fast/slow reading speed seems largely unrelated to the number of books we read in a year. The most important factor seems to be the amount of time we can spend reading each day.

- not all books can be read at the same speed; books that emphasise information or writing style are harder to read quickly, as are books that didn't originate in ones' native language, even when translated (this last bit may be just my own personal prejudice speaking)

- fast (in terms of pages per hour) readers seem to either not notice the writing style, or to actively find the style annoying if it draws attention away from the plot or characters.

- water is wet.

Have I missed anything?

I love this summary! It's really interesting to hear all the different observations and comments from such a variety of people!

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by Daithi

I'm with you Sydney's Mom. I too prefer a book that simply tells a good story and allows me to connect with the characters, and I find that "lyrical" prose gets in the way of my enjoyment. For me, this even applies to authors that write literature as opposed to other genres. For example, I'd much rather read Steinbeck or Hemingway than Joyce or Faulkner.

I tend to like both, but this isn't some egalitarian diplomacy, but simply that I would tend to rotate the styles. I'll go from spare, blunt, writing, to rich, "lyrical" prose, usually alternating, and certainly after a book-or-three of one particular type. This is not usually a fully conscious "plan", but just how I happen to feel at the time, and something I'm noticing in hindsight.

Cheers,
Marc

[Sydney's Mom]

I love to read lyrical tax cases (I'm serious, don't hate me because I am a nerd!), but for pleasure reading, just the facts! For work reading, I do enjoy the writing, and do pause to digest the text. But for pleasure reading, it is "how far until I get to the good parts." For example, on the last HP book, I was sooo bored waiting for Harry and Hermine to finally get going!

[JasonB]

Originally Posted by Mrraow

- fast (in terms of pages per hour) readers seem to either not notice the writing style, or to actively find the style annoying if it draws attention away from the plot or characters.

I'm one of the faster readers - I'll read 1-2 books a week, depending on their size and writing style. But I still appreciate interesting writing styles even if they "slows me down". Spending time thinking about what's being said, how it's being said, and understanding it is just as enjoyable to me as speeding through something that doesn't require much analysis. (Both have their place.)

It's hard for me to claim that a writing style can detract from plot or character. Some of the most unusual writing styles (that parallel character thoughts and events) directly contribute to both plot and characters. Unless an author is just a terrible writer. Then a bad writing style can detract from the enjoyment of a book. But if they're that bad in the first place, it's unlikely that the plot or characters are faring well on their own anyway - or that I'd have been likely to pick up the book in the first place actually...

[rugbyfan]

Some personal observations on reading speed, number of books read, and time spent on a particular book:

This is a great discussion page on reading speed. Over 98 readers have contributed their views.
Here is an interesting recent discussion (abridged quotes to save space):
Kevindorsey: As long as you enjoy reading the book, it doesn't matter how long it takes to finish it.
Astra: Yes and No.There are so many books you can enjoy...the slower you read the smaller number of books you will be able to read in your lifetime, the smaller number of incredible worlds you will be able to visit and meet new great characters...
Stevejay: True, but some books are better suited to linger a while on.
Jellby: (and) the longer you'll be enjoying each of them.

Without making any attempt to generalize, let me record my personal observations:

1.I was a ‘voracious’ reader at 13, and could finish a book in 2-3 days.
2.Over the years my 'speed' has come down and I average 30-35 novels per year at the rate of about 10 days per book.
3.I never read more than one book at a time.
4.I am highly receptive to fiction and literature and tend to appreciate over 90% of the books I read. If I get stuck in a book(which is rare), I usually get through it s..l..o..w..l..y, and usually find much more to appreciate. However, I have abandoned 5 books because I didn’t like them, and 5 classic books because I couldn’t follow them.
5.In my experience, any book that is honestly written, invariably draws you into its characters, so that one becomes emotionally attached to some of them. When, in addition, one appreciates the quality of the language, as also the values and messages communicated by the author, there is very little point in rushing through a book, unless the book itself hooks you and compels you to rush through. Sometimes a sentence takes my breath away, or brings me to the brink of tears : I have to stop there for a while, and no wonder I am slow!
6.Astra has a valid point that one must keep a brisk pace in order to ‘visit more incredible worlds and meet new great characters’; but more often than not, the individual book dictates the pace; and every good book has to be savored at its own pace. To conclude, I must echo Jellby and Stevejay --- there are some books you don’t want to rush through, and some people and places that you don’t want to leave!

(NOTE: Administrators and readers please be kind enough to excuse any errors in posting protocol; I am inexperienced at posting in forums and unintentional mistakes may have occurred.)

[Sweetpea]

at that piece of discussion. That's exactly how I feel at times, when I just can't finish that book within 5 minutes so I can get the next one!

Originally Posted by rugbyfan

4.I am highly receptive to fiction and literature and tend to appreciate over 90% of the books I read. If I get stuck in a book(which is rare), I usually get through it s..l..o..w..l..y, and usually find much more to appreciate. However, I have abandoned 5 books because I didn’t like them, and 5 classic books because I couldn’t follow them.

There have been books which I just couldn't finish (the first time). I usually put them away for a while and pick them up when I'm in a completely different mood. Often, it's just a slow spot in the story and you must get over it. Some books I just couldn't get through are now amongst my favourites.

[Sparrow]

I'm a slowish reader; and I often wonder - Is it possible to speed read poetry?

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I'm a slowish reader; and I often wonder - Is it possible to speed read poetry?

Well yes, I suppose it's 'possible', in the same way that it's possible to pour a bottle of best Chablis down your throat in 5 seconds flat - i.e. possible, but pointless, you miss the quality of the product.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Well yes, I suppose it's 'possible', in the same way that it's possible to pour a bottle of best Chablis down your throat in 5 seconds flat - i.e. possible, but pointless, you miss the quality of the product.

That would certainly be the case if I tried to speed read poetry - but maybe other readers can do it; I was curious to know if that's the case, and what it's like.

[Sydney's Mom]

I wonder if those of us that read faster do so for the same reason - we were taught that once we started a book, we had to finish it. I am still bound by that maxim - I just can't stop half way through, even though I don't like the book, just because I have seen that rewarded once or twice. This morning, I finished a book I didn't like, just so I could remove the other 3 books by the same author from my wishlist. I didn't feel I could do that without finishing the first book.

[Jovvi]

I too tend to appriciate most books, however I see no reason to continue to read a book i don´t like, and I always tell the kids that come to the library where I work, "If you don´t like it, bring it back and we find you something else". No one can read every book, and I just can´t see the reason for forcing yourself, or a kid, to read a "bad" book. On the other hand I read my favorite books over and over (and sometimes both in english and in translation).
I read fast, and i read a lot, usally several books a week. Still there will always be a lot of books I will never find...
Clara