Ebook fans who read slowly - Page 6

Polyglot27 · 03-19-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevindorsey

As long as you enjoy reading the book, it doesn't matter how long it takes to finish it.

I agree completely.
One book that took me ages to read was the Taiheiki, a Japanese war chronicle written in mid 14th century. I was reading it in the original pseudo-classical-Chinese style text peppered with sentences where phrases in Chinese had to be literally read backwards!
However, because of the subject matter (blood stirring battles and incredible voyages) and the style (elegant and poetic), I just could not put it down. It was only about 400 pages long but it took me almost a year to finish. (I also read other books during this time of course).

There is an English language translation. 'The Taiheiki : A Chronicle of Medieval Japan' by Helen Craig McCullough. It is a good translation but the style just doesn't come through.

Jovvi · 03-20-2009, 05:47 AM

I don´t know if I´m a fast reader, I usally read 6-7 books a week (not counting the books I read for work, I´m a librarian so I read quite a lot for work even in my free time) and I do remember the books I read for years and years... Of cause it depends on the book how fast you read(I read Meyers "Breaking dawn" in like 4 hours), but also I think on how much you read.I find it takes longer to read if I have not been reading for a while. Nowadays I read equally fast in swedish and english, but that has of cause not always been so.

I always remember what I read, but I also re-read all my books finding new nuances in them, same as with movies... But ask me where in a book somthing occured, and I will find you the spot years afterwards. That is probably why I miss a page count (true or not) in my Cybook.

Clara

astra · 03-20-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevindorsey

As long as you enjoy reading the book, it doesn't matter how long it takes to finish it.

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...

Jellby · 03-20-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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...

But the longer you'll be enjoying each of them

astra · 03-20-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellby

But the longer you'll be enjoying each of them

I give up.

busy91 · 03-20-2009, 01:25 PM

I never thought I was fast or slow, but just average. I read between 50-60 books a year, at the rate of ~5 books a month (depending on the size). I enjoy the books I read. I do notice that I read classics at a slower rate than current fiction, it is due to the language. I also think having more time is a factor. I will read to and from work on the subway, some people don't have that extra time as they drive.

Daithi · 03-20-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jovvi

I don´t know if I´m a fast reader... I read Meyers "Breaking dawn" in like 4 hours...

I think you're a fast reader. It took me around 16 hours (or maybe a little more) to finish it.

stevejay · 03-21-2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renaldo

I'm also what I'd consider to be a slow reader when it comes to fiction. I like to take my time and work my way through it. What's kind of funny to me is that with an ereader, I tend to read much faster than I do with a paper book. Almost twice as fast.

I find this true as well, turning paper pages takes a little longer than the Sony screen.

stevejay · 03-21-2009, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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...

True, but some books are better suited to linger a while on.

tompe · 03-21-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jovvi

Nowadays I read equally fast in swedish and english, but that has of cause not always been so.

I think I still read faster in Swedish in spite of reading mostly English books for maybe 25 years. It feels like that anyway. On the other hand the books I read in Swedish is mostly Swedish crime books and they are usually pretty lightweight and fast to read. Maybe I should measure this...

Seabound · 03-21-2009, 04:11 PM

I think that reading is one of those skills which you get faster at the more practice you get. And I also think that some books were meant to be savored slowly lest one misses the beauty and profoundness of the sentences (usually the classics). Some books can be read in one sitting, while some books one loses sleep over because of a brilliant plot.

purl4peace · 03-21-2009, 04:28 PM

I don't know if I'm a "faster or slower" reader than average in terms of words per minute. But the number of books per (favorite unit of time) tends to be pretty low since I tend to like long meaty books. For the most part, I like books that are going to be with me for awhile (like Michener, Trollope, Clavell, Tolstoy, Clancy) because I don't like to have to switch from one set of characters and story to another all that quickly, if that makes sense. I also don't have that much time dedicated to reading so I may read 3-4 books per year -- but I make sure they are good LONG books!

In short, I guess I prefer my books by the pound!

Sydney's Mom · 03-22-2009, 02:51 PM

I think I am more of a "blue-collar" reader. For example, I used to inhale mysteries - several a week. When I read my first Scott Turow, I was irritated at this writing style. I recognized it was more "lyrical" than I was used to, and took my attention off the story. It was kind of like it was saying "look at me!"

demoric · 03-22-2009, 05:53 PM

I read books at a much slower pace than I'd like. I seem to only have time to read them at work during break. So I get about 30 minutes a day 4 days a week. I used to read about 12 books annually.

I can say that since I've gotten my ebook reader I've been able to read more books because it's just easier to carry my kindle around than hardback books. I've already read 3 books this month, and have a large backlog of novels (75 books as of this post) that I intend to enjoy. The kindle makes it easier to find literature that I like, and in a price range I can afford.

Daithi · 03-24-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I think I am more of a "blue-collar" reader. For example, I used to inhale mysteries - several a week. When I read my first Scott Turow, I was irritated at this writing style. I recognized it was more "lyrical" than I was used to, and took my attention off the story. It was kind of like it was saying "look at me!"

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.

03-21-2009, 04:11 PM	#86
Seabound Steerage Class Posts: 711 Karma: 505995 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest, USA Device: Won't fit here anymore, see sig for a list of liseuses.	I think that reading is one of those skills which you get faster at the more practice you get. And I also think that some books were meant to be savored slowly lest one misses the beauty and profoundness of the sentences (usually the classics). Some books can be read in one sitting, while some books one loses sleep over because of a brilliant plot. Last edited by Seabound; 03-22-2009 at 05:19 PM. Reason: Typo.

03-21-2009, 04:28 PM	#87
purl4peace Mommy of Many Interests Posts: 139 Karma: 660 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Device: Kindle DX, Sony PRS-505, Cybook Gen3	Size matters I don't know if I'm a "faster or slower" reader than average in terms of words per minute. But the number of books per (favorite unit of time) tends to be pretty low since I tend to like long meaty books. For the most part, I like books that are going to be with me for awhile (like Michener, Trollope, Clavell, Tolstoy, Clancy) because I don't like to have to switch from one set of characters and story to another all that quickly, if that makes sense. I also don't have that much time dedicated to reading so I may read 3-4 books per year -- but I make sure they are good LONG books! In short, I guess I prefer my books by the pound!

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03-20-2009, 05:47 AM	#77
Jovvi Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 948222 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sweden Device: Cybook Gen3, Cybook Opus, iPad and HTC Wildfire (Android)	I don´t know if I´m a fast reader, I usally read 6-7 books a week (not counting the books I read for work, I´m a librarian so I read quite a lot for work even in my free time) and I do remember the books I read for years and years... Of cause it depends on the book how fast you read(I read Meyers "Breaking dawn" in like 4 hours), but also I think on how much you read.I find it takes longer to read if I have not been reading for a while. Nowadays I read equally fast in swedish and english, but that has of cause not always been so. I always remember what I read, but I also re-read all my books finding new nuances in them, same as with movies... But ask me where in a book somthing occured, and I will find you the spot years afterwards. That is probably why I miss a page count (true or not) in my Cybook. Clara

03-20-2009, 01:25 PM	#81
busy91 Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 264 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC Device: Kindle 2, Nook Color	I never thought I was fast or slow, but just average. I read between 50-60 books a year, at the rate of ~5 books a month (depending on the size). I enjoy the books I read. I do notice that I read classics at a slower rate than current fiction, it is due to the language. I also think having more time is a factor. I will read to and from work on the subway, some people don't have that extra time as they drive.

03-22-2009, 02:51 PM	#88
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I think I am more of a "blue-collar" reader. For example, I used to inhale mysteries - several a week. When I read my first Scott Turow, I was irritated at this writing style. I recognized it was more "lyrical" than I was used to, and took my attention off the story. It was kind of like it was saying "look at me!"

03-22-2009, 05:53 PM	#89
demoric Kindle 2 User Posts: 98 Karma: 496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: S.E. Kansas Device: Kindle 2	I read books at a much slower pace than I'd like. I seem to only have time to read them at work during break. So I get about 30 minutes a day 4 days a week. I used to read about 12 books annually. I can say that since I've gotten my ebook reader I've been able to read more books because it's just easier to carry my kindle around than hardback books. I've already read 3 books this month, and have a large backlog of novels (75 books as of this post) that I intend to enjoy. The kindle makes it easier to find literature that I like, and in a price range I can afford.

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