How much of a book do you remember?

[Cameron]

I was just wondering how much of the books people read do they actually remember?

As for myself I can remember all the books I read mostly but only vary vague and over arching sense with barely any of the actual dialogue. I've come to notice that a lot of people in the reading sphere are constantly quoting this and that, so what do you actually remember?

[Kev]

Lately, very little without some reminder - even of books I really enjoy. I find myself looking at the list of books I've read recently thinking "I read that? What was... oh yeah! I liked that book."

[Jeff]

I'm definitely the vague and over arching type. Always amazed by folks that remember the nitty gritty details and especially can quote things. They're usually the same that can spew out movie/tv lines. Makes me feel so small.

[Sara]

If I like it I'll remember most plot details for a couple of years. If I reread it I'll practically be able to quote chapters from it.

[Kristina]

I only vaguely remember things. It's so frustrating! Glad I'm not the only one.

[Jeff]

For the most part I generally need some sort of reminder. But once I get that it usually comes flooding back to me.

[Morgan]

Ha, I actually did that recently, where I didn't recognise the title or description or even the dustcover summary, but I remembered the book halfway through the first chapter. I reread it anyway and it was good. (Graceling, Kristin Cashore). Fortunately I read quickly enough that it's not too much of a disadvantage to only remember the general plot. Then again, maybe reading quickly is the reason why I only remember the generics.

Does speed of reading correlate with retention for anyone else?

[Theresa]

I have been reading so fast that it is hard to remember some of the books. I have now started to jot a few notes down while reading, especially if I borrowed the book from the library and will need to discuss it later in the month. Unless it is a really good book, then I can quote away!

[Todd]

I remember some scenes as vividly as if I were there, especially from my favorites. But only some scenes, usually the more poignant ones.

Dialogue and quotes I've never been good with. There are a few that stuck with me, but only a few, and I went to college for literature. I find poetry easier to quote, like a song is easier to memorize. Something to do with the verse.

[Dawn]

It is rare I can recall anything verbatim so I really admire people who can do things like that especially people who can memorize full speeches.

Anywho as for books I tend to recall vague points or the plot IF I like the book but books I think are meh or not memorable I forget.

I do like it when I reread books and I catch stuff I missed the first time. Or I see how far back a subplot goes in a series. I love stuff like that.

[Mark]

I can at least paraphrase the entire hitchhikers guide ive read it so many times...

Otherwise i need a reminder. Its why i keep a list of the short stories i read with a summary
To that end, somebody with time on their hands needs to make a goodreads like site for short stories

[Daran]

I'm generally very good at remembering stuff I read months, or even years ago. This only applies to narratives, texts and other instructional materials flow through my mind as spring rains down the slopes of Mt Fuji.

Two problems I have though: If I read it more than a decade ago, I sometimes add scenes I've thought should have been in a book; and if I read a whole series at once, I have problems remembering what happened in which book.

[Rejo]

Depending on my emotional investment in a story, I can retain quite a bit of detail for a period of time. But it will fade away after a year or two. If I mildly enjoy a book, I'll remember it for a few months, after that it's mostly generic plot info.

It's funny that this was brought up, because I had been thinking how so many people are comparing Old Man's War to Starship Troopers, which I read and liked about 16 years ago. I've just realized I remembered NOTHING about that story, so I've put it in my to be read pile...

[Will]

I've wondered this myself, especially people who fly through books.

I vaguely remember details.

[Rich]

I'm glad to know I'm not alone out there. Generally, it all depends on how fast I can cruise thru the book. If the author has made me work to read it, I tend to remember more.

[Jonathan]

Morgan wrote: "Ha, I actually did that recently, where I didn't recognise the title or description or even the dustcover summary, but I remembered the book halfway through the first chapter. I reread it anyway an..."

Not really. I read fast and usually remember all the plot elements. It generally depends on the complexity of a book how much I retain.

[Joe Informatico]

For me, it's an age thing. I very clearly remember books I read in my teens, Saturday Night Live sketches from decades ago, and episodes of Star Trek, Buffy, Babylon 5 and the Simpsons I watched in university. These days, I'm lucky if I can remember the plot details of a book I read last month.

Then again, I probably read/watch/play a lot more now than when I was younger despite having more free time back then, and I don't reread/rewatch things nearly as often.

[Nils]

I sometimes stare at my bookshelves and wonder what the hell some of the things were about, but mostly I remember broadly and often some highlight scenes. Perefect quotes almost never, only onliners or such. Sadly, I am loath to reread things, as my reading time is limited and there is so much more out there to read.

That is one of the disadvantages of ebooks to me - I forget those even quicker and don't even have my bookshelf to remind me of the stories.

[Dara]

I can remember the general plot of most of the books I read but I can only really remember stuff I've re-read a lot. Especially with how many books I've read recently, it's getting harder. Although I can still remember quotes and exactly what happened in the 7 Harry Potter novels.

[Paul R]

usually over 90% so unless it is a really good read i won't ever pick it up again.

i can pick up a book i read 20 years ago and within a chapter remember the rest.

[AndrewP]

I find I can remember a lot from books I really loved, or really hated. Anything middle of the road fades away with time except for maybe a few key scenes and an outline of the plot.

[[deleted user]]

AndrewP wrote: "I find I can remember a lot from books I really loved, or really hated. Anything middle of the road fades away with time except for maybe a few key scenes and an outline of the plot."

Exactly this. I still remember Thomas Covenant who I hated, but for the life of mine I cannot recall what was going on in The Riddle-Master of Hed which was an OK book for me.

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

I remember the details, but not the specifics, so I won't be able to quote unless I've specifically made the effort to learn something, but I will remember the jist of what was said even from books I've read years ago, along with all the events. Sometimes I might need a little memory jog, and I will mix up order and other such things, and forget character names and things like that, but generally I'd say my recollection of books is pretty good.

[Dean]

After a few years I can only remember the title and perhaps the protagonists name. I can always recognize the book cover art. It's lovely sometimes when you can pick up a book you haven't read in 10 years and its like reading it for the first time.

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

Hmmm, that last comment makes me wonder if those who remember books better are also those who are more anti-spoiler. I love to re-read, but once I've read a book I never get that 'reading it for the first time' feeling again; I get a whole different something from a book when I re-read it, so if I get spoilers, it's like being robbed of my chance for the first read through.

[Jason]

I agree with that last comment by Ruth, I have 'accidentally' heard/read spoilers, and couldn't continue with a book.

Aside from that. I usually remember a brief over view of the plot and if not that main characters name I can remember the feeling I got for who that person was and how they behaved.

[kvon]

I can remember a book better if I've reread it at some point in the past. I think the memorable scenes stick in my head better that way.

I mostly remember specific scenes, and to a lesser extent tone. For instance, the above mentioned The Riddle-Master of Hed I remember pulling the crown out from under the bed; Deth standing on a ship; the first sight of the neverending tower in the ruins; running with the stags in the north; finding the different wizards. And of course, the ending. (I can remember Raederle's name, and Ghisteslwchlom, and Iff of the Unpronounceable Name, but not the main character.) I read that series three or four times.

[Michael]

I have a terrible memory. I can't remember passages or lines from books. Sometimes names but not often. Think I'd have to read a book several times to be able to give a thorough synopsis of the story. When I'm reading a book, I'm engrossed there and then in the story, part of it, rather than committing the scenes to memory to live out later.

[Rich]

I liked Ruth's comment about how spoilers will spoil the read for her, and how she can't enjoy a book as much the second time around. I'm just the opposite. All too many times I'll lose patience when reading a book and flip to the back of the book before deciding whether or not to continue. I'm one of those knuckleheads who is always trying to guess how a movie will end after it's a third of the way done, and I am no different with books. However, knowing the ending usually doesn't spoil the book for me, because even though I've only got the patience of a 5 year old, and sometimes all I want to do is get to the end, I still enjoy the journey when it's all said and done.

[Andrew]

Up to about my mid 30's I could recall almost everything I had ever read. for the last 10 years or so I have found it increasingly difficult to remember books I have read. I'm now at the point where I now have to go back and re-read a few pages every time I pick up the book to carry on reading. This has also coincided with a huge slow down in my reading speed in recent years. However, I can still quote entire pages from the books I read in my teens.

[Rich]

Andrew wrote: "Up to about my mid 30's I could recall almost everything I had ever read. for the last 10 years or so I have found it increasingly difficult to remember books I have read. I'm now at the point wher..."

I can relate to that. I suspect that between getting older, work, reading and television along with trying to memorize 56 different passwords for all the different social media, banking, etc. websites that the average person uses on a weekly basis, that our brains, untrained and unused to the need for memorization due to all the different mechanical methods of recording available nowadays, have become weak in the ways of memorization and are having a hard time coping. Or, it's just the getting older part. Take your pick.

[A.L.]

I have a terrible memory so not much. Often I remember having read it and if I have read it a few times the general plot and outline but often I don't remember the details, same with films.

[Andrew]

Rich wrote: I suspect that...our brains, untrained and unused to the need for memorization due to all the different mechanical methods of recording available nowadays, have become weak in the ways of memorization and are having a hard time coping. Or, it's just the getting older part. Take your pick.

I'll go with the getting older part :-) To memorise anything now I have to read, learn, memorise repetitively. I've found I never lie nowadays because I can never remember what lie I've used!!

[Casey]

I suppose for myself that it greatly depends upon the time period during my life that I read the book. For example, I can remember roughly 90-95% of a book's content I've read in the past five years but this percentage begins to fall off rapidly as the number of years increase. But for the most part I think I have good retention.

Of course I just experienced an interesting memory laps with respect to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I remember reading this andhaving this read to me as a boy. I just finished reading it and was stunned to realize that I only remembered two scenes from this story.