do you read fast...or take your time through a book?

United States
June 29, 2009 5:09pm CST
I finally got to read a book this week, and I mean by that I just finished a book last night for the first time in oh about 6 months ...it has been sad for me that I havent had time to read... but with 2 kids, working on the house and then the summer hit and my son is out of school and we started working on our back yard as well...by the end of the day I have been way to exhausted to even read!!! so sad considering my user name is book reader mom!!! LOL I dont read fast...I like to read a book and take my time... well I usually get through a book in a day or two... I like to really get into the storyline ...get swept away by it!!! but I havent been able to read until the kids are sleeping and that has been between 9:30 and 10 since it is summer time and it is still light out after 9.... so I only have had an hour or two a couple nights this past week and finished my book last night. so this got me thinking.... when you get a chance to read...do you read fast and get through a book a day or do you read slow/take your time ...read a book a week?
2 people like this
26 responses
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
30 Jun 09
For me, a book a week is fast! If I read a paperback, it will usually take me 6 months or more... if I ever even get around to finishing it. However, if I am reading an audiobook, usually I'll be done in a week or less. It just took me a week to finish My Sisters Keeper, which is a 12 hour long book.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
9 Jul 09
Yeah, I've gotta say that I don't think I have ever read a series or even started on one. I'm sure they have audio series too, but I usually don't want to start anything that I know will be that long. Plus I'm not into fiction generally, except for certain books.
• United States
9 Jul 09
wow, I wouldnt recommend series then --although by time you finish the book the next book would probably be out!! LOL thanks for the response and happy mylotting.
@LiAXaZu (183)
• Philippines
30 Jun 09
for me it depends on the book. if i really like the story, i usually take my time so that the book will last a long time and i can mull over it more. it also depends if i already have a next book in hand. if there is already a book that i can read next after i finish the first one, then it is okay that i finish it in a short time. reading is about enjoying. exploring other worlds and taking your time. thare are no guidelines in reading. there is really no appropriate time or place to read. as long as it's convenient to you then, it's okay. :)
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Jul 09
that makes sense...and I do enjoy my reading... I just need to find more time to do so....LOL I have several books right now that I need to find time to read but it is better to have the books than to have the time and no books to read!! LOL thanks for the response and happy mylotting.
@sameroad (3179)
• United States
30 Jun 09
I'm a slow reader. I don't like reading through things fast usually.. i only do that if i have too because i'm ina hurry or something.. other wise i like to take my time. when i read fast i tend to mess up my words sometimes or skip over something. so its better i read slowly to not miss anything or mess up on my reading
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Jul 09
that makes sense to me... I tend to read fast if I am reading a series, and I already know the basis of the storyline...but if it is a new book or a new series then I take my time to get to know the authors writing style and figure out where they are leading to with the story. thanks for the response and happy mylotting.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
29 Jun 09
I am a pretty fast reader, but I don't read more than one book in a week normally. I will start a book and read it quickly and thoroughly until I am finished. If it is s book in a series, I will continue the series reading one after another. If the book is not one in a series, I will take a break between books.
• United States
9 Jul 09
that is great that you read fast... I usually can get through a book in 2 days... and I love reading series, I love when old characters show up and you get a glimsp of what they have been up to!! LOL thanks for the response and happy mylotting.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
30 Jun 09
I think reading speed will depend on the reading material. Usually I read much faster with a paperback thriller. Since that is not as mentally exhausting as reading financial and economic books. Plus my reading speed is better than most people, since I have been reading for many years, on daily basis, and yes, I cannot live without a book.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Jul 09
LOL, I have 2 bags of books right now that I have to read... I am forever buying books even if I dont have time to read.. I figure it is better to not have time to read, vs. having the time to read and not having anything to read!! LOL thanks for the response and happy mylotting.
• United States
29 Jun 09
If I like the book, and it has me hooked, I can finish a book in two days. When I was younger, I used to start in the morning, and finish it before I went to sleep at night. However, if a book has a lot of description, and not much talk, I either don't read the book at all, or I skim through the pages where there is no conversation, just to get the jest of what they are telling me.
• United States
9 Jul 09
LOL, that is so funny you skim through those pages!!! I would finish a book in a day too when I was younger... but now with so much that has to be done I cant just focus on a book anymore... LOL thanks for the response and happy mylotting.
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
30 Jun 09
I tend to read quickly - I don't know why, just always have been a fast reader...
1 person likes this
@OConnell87 (1042)
29 Jun 09
i read very slowly, although i am a good reader, i like to read few chapters at a time if its a good book to spread it out a bit. The harry potter books, the really big one took me 3 months to read. Those are the best words i have read, could not put them down.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Jul 09
Yes, if the book is very good, even when it is a page turner and you cant put it down... I tend to read each word carefully because I want to fully understand what I am reading and really live through it as I am reading it. thanks for the response and happy mylotting.
• United States
2 Jul 09
I haven't actually read a novel in many years but when I used to I could stay up all night until I finished it! especially stephen king, he is one of my favorites. I think it took me like 3 days to read the stand and that book was thick! I do not really have time to read books anymore. I might look up stuff in a book but not really read too much. Mostly if I am trying to research something I will look in a book that I have but I do not get to do it for relaxation anymore! My focus always seems to be working and if I goof off I am on myLot or facebook. My kids were big readers when they were little and 3 of them still are as adults. I think that is great. The other reason I think that I stopped is cos now my eyes are not as good as they used to be. When I hit 40 all of a sudden stuff got blurry,lol! so now I use those cheap dollar store glasses to go on the computer. I have been lucky my whole life so far that I didn't need glasses. so having my eyes change slowed me down from reading also.
• United States
2 Jul 09
I always take my time when I read, because I like to savor every word. I still sometimes finish the book in one day, but that's if I devote a lot of time to that book. Right now I am reading Wicked Deeds on a Winters night by Kresley Cole. I have been reading it for two days only because I haven't sat down long enough to finish it. I started it last night, got to Chapter 18 then stopped, even though it was hard. I kept saying this will be my last chapter until I made myself quit. Anyway, I love reading so yes I take my time.
@sniff188 (24)
• Canada
1 Jul 09
I don't usually think about it, for me I just pick up a book and finish it. Once my mom timed how fast I could read and still understand what I was reading. I think It was about 400 words per minute, but I barely understood the whole thing. So I guess that would make me a fast reader.
@jedopi (401)
• Canada
30 Jun 09
I like to take my time and enjoy the book that I am reading, and if I have read the book before I will still take my time. Lately I have been using audio books so that I can enjoy someone else reading the story to me while I get other things done at the same time. Sometimes if the book is too interesting, you just don't want to put it down, so that is a great problem solver.
• India
30 Jun 09
i usually go through the book at a slow pace even though i can really do it fast. going through the book slowly allows me to absorb the book and its contents. and i tend to enjoy it that much more.
• India
30 Jun 09
I always prefer taking my time to complete a book.When I read any book,I keep in mind not to complete it in a day because the book would not last long in my mind for more than a day.But,I read along as long as I feel comfortable with the book.
@mces0925 (195)
• Philippines
30 Jun 09
I don't read fast. I read word by word with meaning and while reading I use my imagination. I read book before bed time because I don't want them to disturb me. But lately I don't have time to read books because I'm a little bit tired. Hppy mylotting!
@chelsit (105)
• United States
30 Jun 09
I am the opposite I like to read fast, especially when the story is getting good I will say up until really late t finish a good book, it's like you cant wait for the next day.
• United States
30 Jun 09
Well Im usually a fast reader. But sometimes it takes me longer than others to finish a book. I read at random times. Sometimes at night before I go to sleep, sometimes during the weekend when there is nothing on tv and sometimes at work.
@gdesjardin (1918)
• United States
30 Jun 09
I think it depends on what I am reading. Most fiction books, I read rather quickly unless there are a bunch of characters...then I take a bit more time as I have a hard time keeping them straight. If I am reading a nonfiction book I take me time as I usually want to absorb what I am reading. Most fiction books I can read in a day or two as usually I can't put the book down.
@bingchen (1119)
• China
30 Jun 09
i read a book slowly.i like to share the meaning of the sentence,let me feel the author's expression to the chacrater and author's meaning at this book.when i read the book,i can learn something from this book.you know,there is very brif in human's life,i could not come through all of thing and could not understand life's meaning.reading book can make me more intelligent,i can think about what is culture ,fortune,intelligence,life.there is important for me to share the spirit of book,so i like to read slowly.
@flyisky (196)
• China
30 Jun 09
Well, right now reading a traditional book is replaced by reading on the computer and cell phone. Most of my leisure time is spent on the net, and I can available many book from internet library. I have forgot the last time I holding a book and reading. However, I do remember how I read a book. First, I like to read the title and get a general idea about what`s the content in the book. Then I start to read the book, if the story is very interseting and attractive I would like to read the book as fast as I can. Because I can`t stop thinking when I put the book down. The only way to solve the situation is to go through the book.