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Original poster

How fast do you read (in your head)?

54 replies

McEwan · 14/02/2021 22:38

I hope this is the appropriate place to post this.

I would like to ask how fast you read fiction. I read a lot for my work and I also frequently read non-fiction. Often I find I can read quickly and grasp the main points, sufficiently to do my job and be informed. However, when I read fiction, I find if I read literary novels in a similar way, I don’t grasp the story, and I have to go back to re-read passages. Do you find you have to slow down when you read fiction, and if so, how much? Do you ever read at “talking pace”? Interested in how others read

OP posts:
SJaneS49 · 17/02/2021 18:19

Very fast too! We didn’t have a tv for some of the time when I was a kid (Brit in Kenya) and through having not much else to do I read loads. I was reading adult books through lack of new books and would skip through pages to get gist of things and ignore what I didn’t understand. I still scan and skip through easy reads but have to really stop myself doing that to actually focus on books that deserve it. Finished Hamnet 2/3 weeks ago and the writing was so beautiful I did drag reading sentences out in my head!

zafferana · 17/02/2021 16:01

I find the same thing sometimes - that I'm reading too fast to a) get the subtleties of the plot and b) to enjoy the language. I get frustrated when a book has been hanging around for too long though or if it isn't gripping me to the extent that I can't wait to get back to it.

When I'm really into something though I read fast and on the VERY rare occasions that I get the chance, I can read a whole book in a day.

whatswithtodaytoday · 17/02/2021 07:08

I read very fast, and skim read a lot. I can take in the jist of the story just by scanning a paragraph. I do miss things because I skim read (I have to force myself to read work stuff properly!) but I get through novels very quickly.

My partner doesn't read books - he wasn't bought up with them in the house and doesn't enjoy reading. He reads every word on the page, at talking speed. I find it very odd, I can't read that slowly - my eyes run off ahead!

Lucion · 17/02/2021 07:00

I prefer to read fiction much slower because I am interested in its plot