Speed reading

Balazs

Hi All,

I wonder how much you read. I'm a bloody slow reader and I also suffer from a terrible time shortage. I saw a survey on Facebook asking how much the group members read and most people said they read 100-300 books a year. I. just. do. not. believe. that!
So I thought I would look up some stuff about speed reading in Google. There are courses, not as if I had any time to attend them. But you know the joke when Woody Allen said he's done a speed reading course and then read the War and Peace in one day. Conclusion: it involves Russia.
Well, I'm the same. I've tried speed reading at home and I managed to understand nothing from the book.
How are you with this?

Emma B

I would not want to speed read, it would take the enjoyment out of it for me.

I tend to read a book a fortnight on average I guess and I'm happy with that.

Liz

I read a book a day or so sometime... maybe not every day, so probably about 200. I have thousands. Some from the library to save money, some borrowed.

Balazs

How the hell do you do that, Liz?

Phots Moll

I'd guess I average about a book a week, or 50 a year.

Phots Moll

I guessed wrong! As I typed that I remembered I could check how many library books I'd borrowed. In 2014 it was 66. There were a few I didn't finish, but mostly I did and I've read books on kindle and which I've bought too.

I read for a couple of hours a day - again on average. I believe some people spend as long as that watching TV.

Liz

I don't know. I work full time at being a poet and have time to read - you can't be a writer and not read. A lot. I read at any time I'm not doing anything else. All evening, while on here or watching TV. Or, half watching TV.

aeschylus

When I trod the employment treadmill (banking) and then when I ran my own retail/service business for 6 years (17 hours a day) I'd read on the beach for a few hours a year.

Now, because (other people's) literature is my business, I read more than ever- but not in a disposable way. Speed reading is useful for the paper, or reports, but, if we're reading to become better writers, it's the difference between necking Frosty Jack's cider on a park bench and savouring a fine wine.

I find that, with serious or literary fiction, two readings are the minimum, to see under the bonnet.

Liz

I think you can absorb without doing two readings, unless you are trying to analyse someone's story mechanics.

But I agree wholly about the type of book, it definitely influences the way you write afterwards, although if I'm about to write a poem for a book called 'A Sea Creature Ate my Teacher' I read a lot of frivolous and funny poems. If for a book called 'Moon, Myths and Magic' I'd choose something deeper and lyrical.

Johnnywriter

Most of my reading time is on my commute. I stick to "easy reading" books for this as I just need something to take the edge off the monotony (I'm lapping up Carlos Ruiz Zafon at the moment, brilliant!) I tend to get through around three a week.
I keep my "heavy" reading to home where I can eradicate all noise, curl up with a glass of wine or a mug of tea and indulge. I don't get as much time as I'd like for this, I guess I average about a book a week.

Tiny Nell

I can gobble up a book in a day or two if I love it, reading at every opportunity, but then I feel sorry that it was all over so quickly. Otherwise, I just tend to read in bed, when the day is done and I can relax. Those books can take anything from a week, depending on how quickly I fall asleep. I read a lot in a year, but I haven't kept count. I know I've left lots of reviews, but not for everything. I always leave them for good books, less so for mediocre ones.

Carol

I have weeks when I don't read, then will have a spell where I'll read 2-3 books in a week.

Jen

I love reading, it all depends what I'm reading if I'll read every day. I have books on my kindle and I'm often reading more books at once. I only have one right now as I'm waiting for one to be delivered. I'm making a record of books I read this year to see how many I read in a year, I'm hoping to read more and write more too.
But I do have days where I don't read but I can't go long without reading I'll have withdrawal I'm a bookworm

Mutley

I 'read' about 50 a year for pleasure, but because I have to read millions of words for work I have them as audio books and listen as I walk the dogs / drive the car / wash up etc.

Carol

I like to listen to 'A Book at Bedtime' on Radio 4 at 10.45 pm Monday-Friday.

They have old and new books, so I get to hear books that I just wouldn't persevere with reading otherwise.

Tiny Nell

So, is that serialised, Carol? It's a bit late for me - plus it would be irritating to miss one!

ana s

Speed-reading a great book would be like speed-eating five courses at Noma. It isn't a rushed pleasure.

Dwight

I know what you're getting at, Balazs, and it's been a constant regret of mine. I used to know a colleague who could devour two novels a day while she was on holiday, but my technique of reading is slow and ponderous, even if I'm loving the book.
But like Liz says, I love savouring the mechanics of the artist as I go. You know the old notion of the book triangle: author, work of art and reader, all needing each other.

Balazs

Mutley, what do you do exactly, if you don't mind me asking?

Balazs

Yeah, I get it, Dwight. I just constantly hate not having enough time.

Mutley

Sorry Balazs I've only just seen your question I set up Alfie Dog Fiction www.alfiedog.com. I read and edit all submissions that are published - we now publish over 1600 short stories.

Balazs

Thanks for sharing, Mutley. How is this related to speed reading?

Mutley

You asked in relation to my comment about reading millions of words for work so having switched to audio books for pleasure.