What exactly do you call "reading a book" ?

Quexos · 10-29-2011, 04:29 PM

OK I decided to create this thread because I hear of people that read millions of books every week, while still sleeping at night, working at day, having a social life, going out, seeing movies from time to time, reading the paper, playing video games, traveling and so on ...
I just don't understand how that is possible.
So please answer the poll honestly and explain yourselves. And yes you are on trial here and I'm the judge !

Ok I'm not the judge, but I'd like to understand what you, ladies and gentlemen call "reading a book".

So I'll start by answering the question with my perspective:
To me reading a book means reading it from the first word to the last, always, no exception. I don't skip sentences, pages or chapters, If I decide to read a book I do it from A to Z.
Granted I don't read the copyright stuff and appendixes, but the story with prologues, epilogues, forewords I do read. Maybe that's why I can't read as much as many seem able to, I don't know but that's my way for better or worse.

Ravensknight · 10-29-2011, 04:33 PM

first off, what poll? [I'm guessing something didn't go right and it wasn't included?]

second, why worry? If this is just for fun, then cool. But your post seems rather serious, like it is a competition between you and everyone else and if everyone isn't playing by the same rules, then there is some cheating going on. Or something like that.
[am I reading your post too seriously?]

I count reading a book when I "read" the whole book. Not listen to it. Not read a magazine artice. Not read a short story.
But for those who do, it is no skin off of my nose...[thankfully, cause it is snowing here in New Hampshire now and that would really hurt]

Quexos · 10-29-2011, 04:34 PM

Sorry I was still making the poll when you already posted.
And I'm not worrying, I am curious as to the habits of readers and how they read any given book. No harm there, right ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

first off, what poll? [I'm guessing something didn't go right and it wasn't included?]

second, why worry? If this is just for fun, then cool. But your post seems rather serious, like it is a competition between you and everyone else and if everyone isn't playing by the same rules, then there is some cheating going on. Or something like that.
[am I reading your post too seriously?]

I count reading a book when I "read" the whole book. Not listen to it. Not read a magazine artice. Not read a short story.
But for those who do, it is no skin off of my nose...[thankfully, cause it is snowing here in New Hampshire now and that would really hurt]

The Terminator · 10-29-2011, 04:45 PM

The only book I have ever skimmed a bit was "The Count Of Monte Cristo" not the whole book but a few chapters that where REALLY sloooooooooooooooooooooow.

wvcherrybomb · 10-29-2011, 04:51 PM

It's never occurred to me to skim a book. If it sucks, I'll just quit reading and move on to something else.

Laine · 10-29-2011, 05:19 PM

I'd never skim a book. I read it all unless I really hate it and just give up for ever. And that doesn't happen very often.

Ravensknight · 10-29-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quexos

Sorry I was still making the poll when you already posted.
And I'm not worrying, I am curious as to the habits of readers and how they read any given book. No harm there, right ?

No harm at all

I just wasn't sure if you were being curious or rant serious.

And I will skim if things start getting tedious. Of course, that has caused me problems when the author sneaks in something important into the middle of of one of their page long descriptions of the dahlias. 5 pages later I'm like "wait, when did X die?" and of course, it was in the middle of the description of the dahlias. Figures...

Todd Young · 10-29-2011, 05:44 PM

As a writer, I read every word, and because I want to know how they (authors) have done it, my reading has probably slowed down over the last couple of years. I will often go back half a page or so and try to see how they've achieved a certain effect. I have tried reading a novel out loud. I have tried typing one into my computer. My latest effort was to read "This Sweet Sickness" by Patricia Highsmith three times in a row, just so I wasn't caught up in the story, and could eventually, the third time, work out how she was doing what she does.

Reading for me means reading every word one after the other. I don't skip, though I often give up on books if they are boring me.

Apache · 10-29-2011, 06:23 PM

I read the complete book. I even read the copyright and any indexes that are included. For example, I just finished reading The Battle of Midway by Craig l. Symonds. I read the maps, Editor's Note, Acknowledgments, Appendix's and Bibliography.
Apache

Victoria · 10-29-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache

I read the complete book. I even read the copyright and any indexes that are included

Me too...and the dedication, the acknowledgements, footnotes ......it all part of the experience.

Interesting poll - thanks

howyoudoin · 10-29-2011, 07:15 PM

I read every word of the body of the story. To me it's about picturing all the aspects of the story, and not just going along reading enough to know what's generally going on.

That said, there's nothing I hate more than verbosity when it comes to descriptions of location or surroundings. I love writers who concentrate on their characters' thought processes and the plot, rather than on 'setting the scene'.

Loosheesh · 10-29-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

It's never occurred to me to skim a book. If it sucks, I'll just quit reading and move on to something else.

Even when a books sucks I sometimes read way more than I should in the hope it'll get better, because I hate leaving books unfinished - they haunt me

Quexos · 10-29-2011, 07:47 PM

Yeah it would feel kind of something was missing if I'd quit a book before the end of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loosheesh

Even when a books sucks I sometimes read way more than I should in the hope it'll get better, because I hate leaving books unfinished - they haunt me

Kevin8or · 10-29-2011, 08:06 PM

My use of fiction and non-fiction are different. I read every world of a fiction book, but I approach non-fiction books as tools for learning, meaning I tailor my use of the book depending on my ojectives, the book itself, and the time I'm willing to devote to it.

I might read a non-fiction book cover to cover, for example most biographies and histories. I might read only the first several chapters, if I believe I've obtained a good understanding of the author's thesis. Many books front-load a distilled overview of the author's argument, using the latter chapters for a detailed walk-through of the "unpacked" arguments or studies. I may or may not be sufficiently interested to read these. Still other books, I might pick and choose the chapters that interest me most.

In all these cases, if someone asked me if I'd read so-and-so's book, I'd probably answer yes. At least, for a simple, general answer.

emellaich · 10-29-2011, 08:07 PM

I'm one of those 'fast' readers.

First, let me say that reading fast or reading slow doesn't seem like an accomplishment to me. It's just how I (or you) read. So I'm not describing my practice in terms of superiority or humbleness -- its just how I read.

I don't skim, but I do. I read every word, but I don't always pay attention to every word. I usually do, but sometimes I don't. I'm more interested in the progression of the plot than in the endless details. Secondly, I read continuously. I start a book, and I read it for a while, then I have text to speech read it to me when I'm in the car. I get out to go somewhere and I take my book with me and read while I walk. In line, I have my book with me and read it. I'll read and 'watch' a TV show at the same time. Actually, its usually the TV show that gets 'skimmed'. I usually have little idea what is going on in the TV shows.

On the other hand, along with reading fast, I reread quite a few books. Ones that are just so-so, the initial read is enough. Others, that I enjoy I will reread many times. Which leads to another reading difference. I have over a thousand books on my Kindle. At any given time, I might open a new book or reread an old one. On the other hand, I know of others who only keep a few books at a time around. After, they have read a book once they won't go back. I suspect these are also people who read slower and savor each book.

MLH

View Poll Results: How thorough are you when reading any book ?
I read every words, sentence, page, chapter of every book, no exception	175	65.30%
I read most stuff on any given book, skip some stuff occasionally	92	34.33%
I can skip pages, sometimes chapters if I don't want to read it all	1	0.37%
I barely read any full chapter, Just getting the general idea of the plot is enough for me	0	0%
Voters: 268. You may not vote on this poll

10-29-2011, 04:29 PM	#1
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	What exactly do you call "reading a book" ? OK I decided to create this thread because I hear of people that read millions of books every week, while still sleeping at night, working at day, having a social life, going out, seeing movies from time to time, reading the paper, playing video games, traveling and so on ... I just don't understand how that is possible. So please answer the poll honestly and explain yourselves. And yes you are on trial here and I'm the judge ! Ok I'm not the judge, but I'd like to understand what you, ladies and gentlemen call "reading a book". So I'll start by answering the question with my perspective: To me reading a book means reading it from the first word to the last, always, no exception. I don't skip sentences, pages or chapters, If I decide to read a book I do it from A to Z. Granted I don't read the copyright stuff and appendixes, but the story with prologues, epilogues, forewords I do read. Maybe that's why I can't read as much as many seem able to, I don't know but that's my way for better or worse. Last edited by Quexos; 10-29-2011 at 04:37 PM.

10-29-2011, 04:45 PM	#4
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	The only book I have ever skimmed a bit was "The Count Of Monte Cristo" not the whole book but a few chapters that where REALLY sloooooooooooooooooooooow. Last edited by The Terminator; 10-29-2011 at 10:24 PM.

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10-29-2011, 04:33 PM	#2
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	first off, what poll? [I'm guessing something didn't go right and it wasn't included?] second, why worry? If this is just for fun, then cool. But your post seems rather serious, like it is a competition between you and everyone else and if everyone isn't playing by the same rules, then there is some cheating going on. Or something like that. [am I reading your post too seriously?] I count reading a book when I "read" the whole book. Not listen to it. Not read a magazine artice. Not read a short story. But for those who do, it is no skin off of my nose...[thankfully, cause it is snowing here in New Hampshire now and that would really hurt]

10-29-2011, 04:51 PM	#5
wvcherrybomb Sharp Shootin' Grandma Posts: 847 Karma: 1123940 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Sunny Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Fire, Literati (has been adopted by my daughter)	It's never occurred to me to skim a book. If it sucks, I'll just quit reading and move on to something else.

10-29-2011, 05:19 PM	#6
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	I'd never skim a book. I read it all unless I really hate it and just give up for ever. And that doesn't happen very often.

10-29-2011, 05:44 PM	#8
Todd Young Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1004164 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 2	As a writer, I read every word, and because I want to know how they (authors) have done it, my reading has probably slowed down over the last couple of years. I will often go back half a page or so and try to see how they've achieved a certain effect. I have tried reading a novel out loud. I have tried typing one into my computer. My latest effort was to read "This Sweet Sickness" by Patricia Highsmith three times in a row, just so I wasn't caught up in the story, and could eventually, the third time, work out how she was doing what she does. Reading for me means reading every word one after the other. I don't skip, though I often give up on books if they are boring me.

10-29-2011, 06:23 PM	#9
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I read the complete book. I even read the copyright and any indexes that are included. For example, I just finished reading The Battle of Midway by Craig l. Symonds. I read the maps, Editor's Note, Acknowledgments, Appendix's and Bibliography. Apache

10-29-2011, 07:15 PM	#11
howyoudoin how YOU doin? Posts: 1,100 Karma: 7371047 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: India Device: Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro 10.5”, Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Libra 2	I read every word of the body of the story. To me it's about picturing all the aspects of the story, and not just going along reading enough to know what's generally going on. That said, there's nothing I hate more than verbosity when it comes to descriptions of location or surroundings. I love writers who concentrate on their characters' thought processes and the plot, rather than on 'setting the scene'.

10-29-2011, 08:06 PM	#14
Kevin8or Guru Posts: 977 Karma: 43409226 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Device: Kindle 3	My use of fiction and non-fiction are different. I read every world of a fiction book, but I approach non-fiction books as tools for learning, meaning I tailor my use of the book depending on my ojectives, the book itself, and the time I'm willing to devote to it. I might read a non-fiction book cover to cover, for example most biographies and histories. I might read only the first several chapters, if I believe I've obtained a good understanding of the author's thesis. Many books front-load a distilled overview of the author's argument, using the latter chapters for a detailed walk-through of the "unpacked" arguments or studies. I may or may not be sufficiently interested to read these. Still other books, I might pick and choose the chapters that interest me most. In all these cases, if someone asked me if I'd read so-and-so's book, I'd probably answer yes. At least, for a simple, general answer.

10-29-2011, 08:07 PM	#15
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	I'm one of those 'fast' readers. First, let me say that reading fast or reading slow doesn't seem like an accomplishment to me. It's just how I (or you) read. So I'm not describing my practice in terms of superiority or humbleness -- its just how I read. I don't skim, but I do. I read every word, but I don't always pay attention to every word. I usually do, but sometimes I don't. I'm more interested in the progression of the plot than in the endless details. Secondly, I read continuously. I start a book, and I read it for a while, then I have text to speech read it to me when I'm in the car. I get out to go somewhere and I take my book with me and read while I walk. In line, I have my book with me and read it. I'll read and 'watch' a TV show at the same time. Actually, its usually the TV show that gets 'skimmed'. I usually have little idea what is going on in the TV shows. On the other hand, along with reading fast, I reread quite a few books. Ones that are just so-so, the initial read is enough. Others, that I enjoy I will reread many times. Which leads to another reading difference. I have over a thousand books on my Kindle. At any given time, I might open a new book or reread an old one. On the other hand, I know of others who only keep a few books at a time around. After, they have read a book once they won't go back. I suspect these are also people who read slower and savor each book. MLH

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