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Original poster

“I read it in one sitting” ...really?!

212 replies

Offred2 · 01/05/2019 21:46

I often see claims like this in the blurb on the cover of books or in book reviews. And every time I wonder - is this the truth? Is it even possible?

I’d say I’m an average speed reader and I read approx 25 pages an hour. So let’s be very generous and say someone can read twice as fast as me, so 50 pages an hour. I saw this claim on a novel that is 400 pages long. That would equate to 8 hours of solid reading time. Is that really possible in one sitting, even getting through it in one day works be a push wouldn’t it? Plus I think your reading speed would slow down over the course of that many hours.

Probably I’m being overly pedantic and it’s just an easy way of expressing how much you loved reading a book, but for some reason it always irks me! Anyone else ever thought this?

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 01/05/2019 21:54

I've done it, though not with a 400 word book. Something like an Agatha Christie I could easily read in an afternoon.

PandaG · 01/05/2019 21:54

The bit about book club is relevant - I often get passed a book on the Sunday which I need to have read for the Monday night. I can get home about 2.30 pm, do a few jobs, then read the book with time to share to cook tea etc before book group that night!

BornInAThunderstorm · 01/05/2019 21:54

Actually just read a new book in one sitting today. I am a fast reader though, it took 4 hours to read just under 400 pages.

It was a very engrossing book and I do find that helps

Oblomov19 · 01/05/2019 21:53

I've done it several times. I am quite a quick reader.

Including Tolstoy's 'War and Peace'. Which is very long. I stayed up all night. Years ago, at Uni.

Why do you suspect people are not telling the truth?

Aimily · 01/05/2019 21:52

I've done it a few times, depends how strongly the book pulls me in. If I'm that absorbed into the story not a lot pulls me out. My dp has been known to throw cushions at me to get my attention after talking at me with no reply 😳

PandaG · 01/05/2019 21:52

I genuinely often do read a book in one sitting - I am in a book club and we often share copies, I am a quick reader, so can read a 300 page novel in 2 1/2 hours. This month's book was a bit more complicated, three different versions of the same story with the same central characters so I had to slow down quite a bit, but still read it in one sitting Sunday afternoon to early evening.

birdinatree · 01/05/2019 21:51

I bought "Rebecca" in Glasgow airport years ago - read it solidly through the whole trip back to London, airport waiting time, flight, tube home etc and finished by the time I got home - it can be done - If it's a compelling page turner and you've nothing better to do! although I do think I skim read a fair bit!

Ikeameatballs · 01/05/2019 21:51

I read quickly and I’ve certainly read a book in a day

DaphneFanshaw · 01/05/2019 21:50

I read a book in one day before I had the dc.
I got up early, started reading, then carried on reading until I finished the book. Then I went to the pub, oh they were good days.

MonstranceClock · 01/05/2019 21:50

As in one book per sitting, several times. Not several books in one day.... even I'm not that quick

BlueAndYellowPurplePills · 01/05/2019 21:49

I’m sure I’ve done so a few times. Over a weekend. Very late nights. Partner that didn’t mind cooking or I ate toast and NO children . Tbh I miss being able to do that.

MonstranceClock · 01/05/2019 21:49

I've read several books in one sitting if I've had nothing else to do that day. I am a very quick reader though.