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How fast do you read?
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I subvocalize too. I can't read without hearing the words in my head. I don't know how to shut off that internal narrator, but I also don't think I would want to even if I could.
When I am in certain moods I subvocalise and not only does it slow me down it annoys me, like someone repeating everything I say. I used to read very fast when I was younger but have slowed down.
Sometimes if I am really enjoying a book I start reading faster and faster until I actually feel breathless.
I can go fast, but I usually go slow. I enjoy the words, and yes, I subvocalize. But I've noticed that when things get exciting, I speed up without realizing it, and then the pages just fly by!In the 9th grade (14 years ago - urgh, I'm getting old! *LoL*) I was measured to read 499 words per minute when I read as fast as I could. And that was before I started seriously reading.
But I'm reading for pleasure! I don't rush it. I take my time. Let the words turn to images in my head =)
I guess I read fast but I think it's more that I can devote a lot of time to reading so I get through books quicker, not that I read faster than the average person. I don't think I could ever get through 4 books a week though unless we're talking Dr. Suess or picture books. I don't normally skip descriptions, especially in fantasy books, unless they start to feel like info dumps. The author is just so proud or excited of all these terrains and towns and whatnot he or she's created that they can't help but go on and on about it. That gets very tiresome. Perfect example of this is in The Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel. She did so much research on these books, and they are wonderful stories, but I don't need 3-4 pages on what woolly mammoths look like.
Maria wrote: "But I've noticed that when things get exciting, I speed up without realizing it, and then the pages just fly by!"
I'm the same way. There comes a certain point in most books when I can't wait to get to the end and the words and pages just fly by. Can't seem to turn the pages fast enough.
I've never heard of subvocalization before, but guess I am guilty to some degree, in that I frequently have music playing in my head (even while reading) and am also blessed/cursed with an internal editor. I feel I am an "average" reader, and while I don't consider myself a fast reader, some of my friends do. For the past few years I have participated in the Goodreads Reading Challenge, with a goal of 100 books a year. Last year I just met my goal, while the previous three years I exceeded it by 3-5 books. I usually average about two books a week.
The most books read in a single year was 217 in 1995. The year before that I had only read 34; the year after, 184. It starts to drop off a bit every year after. (And, in case you are wondering, I've been keeping track of books read since high school, and often wish I'd started sooner.)
I have no idea how I accomplished more than 200 books in one year, other than that it was a few years before I had my own computer. I would sometimes finish a book in a single day. While a good number of them were around 200 pages, many numbered 300-500 pages. And yes, that was while working full time. As I said, I have no idea how I managed that quantity, and it's unlikely to be repeated any time soon.
I've never heard of subvocalization before, but guess I am guilty to some degree, in that I frequently have music playing in my head (even while reading) and am also blessed/cursed with an internal editor. I feel I am an "average" reader, and while I don't consider myself a fast reader, some of my friends do. For the past few years I have participated in the Goodreads Reading Challenge, with a goal of 100 books a year. Last year I just met my goal, while the previous three years I exceeded it by 3-5 books. I usually average about two books a week.
The most books read in a single year was 217 in 1995. The year before that I had only read 34; the year after, 184. It starts to drop off a bit every year after. (And, in case you are wondering, I've been keeping track of books read since high school, and often wish I'd started sooner.)
I have no idea how I accomplished more than 200 books in one year, other than that it was a few years before I had my own computer. I would sometimes finish a book in a single day. While a good number of them were around 200 pages, many numbered 300-500 pages. And yes, that was while working full time. As I said, I have no idea how I managed that quantity, and it's unlikely to be repeated any time soon.
Sherjav wrote: "Hey guys,I'm new to Goodreads (first post) and have been reading extensively for about 2 years.
I've seen people on Goodreads finish 4 books a week!
I wish I could read that many books in a wee..."
I am not a fast reader at all. I attempted to crack the Game of Thrones shell and haven't even made it half way through the 1st book!
However, I can read extremely quickly and am capable of quickly skimming documents for relevant information. But when I'm reading a book, I'm doing a lot more than just reading. I'm looking at the sentence structure, the words used, and I'm trying to understand the flow of language the writer uses to tell the story.
So I will often re-read certain sections just so that I could know why Stephen King or Hugh Howey or William Gibson, George R. R. Martin constructed the sentence the way they did. It helps me in my own writing and sometimes I feel I can enjoy the book more that way.
However, I know for sure there is no way I'd be able to bang out 4 books in a week. I can be pretty fast, but not THAT fast!
For me, it depends on the book. If I'm reading fiction or something that really intrigues me, I can churn out three or four books in a week. If it's something that requires more thought or is more dense (textbook, nonfiction, etc.) then it'll take me up to a week or two to get through it.I'd never heard of subvocalization before, but it sounds fascinating.
It definitely depends on the type of book and how much i'm enjoying it. Some books can be finished in a night and others are better when savored and require more time.
Wilmar wrote: "However, I can read extremely quickly and am capable of quickly skimming documents for relevant information. But when I'm reading a book, I'm doing a lot more than just reading. I'm looking at the sentence structure, the words used, and I'm trying to understand the flow of language the writer uses to tell the story."Maria wrote: "I can go fast, but I usually go slow. I enjoy the words, and yes, I subvocalize. But I've noticed that when things get exciting, I speed up without realizing it, and then the pages just fly by!
In..."
Lori wrote: "Hey there.
I subvocalize too. I can't read without hearing the words in my head. I don't know how to shut off that internal narrator, but I also don't think I would want to even if I could."
That's how I think books are intended to be read and comprehended as though the author were speaking aloud to the reader. But it keeps me from reading more books than I really want.
Heather L wrote: "I've never heard of subvocalization before, but guess I am guilty to some degree, in that I frequently have music playing in my head (even while reading) and am also blessed/cursed with an internal..."
That's insane! And to think that people say that subvocalizing slows you down! Do you always hear your own voice while reading? If not always, when did it start to fade away?
Sometimes the characters develope their own voice, and sometimes I "hear" the actor who portrays a character in movie adaptations. For example, I have never seen either The Descendants or The Lincoln Lawyer, but just knowing the actos who starred in the films meant "hearing" their voices speaking the dialogue in my head. While reading the Harry Potter books, I pictured and heard the characters from the movies. Thankfully, it doesn't always work that way.
And FYI, refering to the fact I often hear music playing in my head, I've had Bette Midler's "Every Road Leads Back to You" in my head since I woke up, even while reading and doing other stuff. Sometimes a song or piece of music pops into my head at random, sometimes it's a result of having heard it recently. My mind is never quiet. ;)
Hi Sherjav,there are number of articles and such devoted to the topic of speedreading out there on the internet. One of the most common tips I have heard is to use a pointer while reading and moving it a bit faster than you can subvocalize the text. However, learning these techniques takes time, and they aren't as useful in reading beautiful fiction as they are in searching for information for its own sake. Also, it's worth remembering that some books are faster to read than others, and that what matters most is maintaining the ability to enjoy and understand what you read :)
I personally could never stop subvocalizing entirely in order to read more. It's too much fun as it is, editing the book internally and picturing the situations as I go - and hearing the text is often strangely soothing, too.
With fiction, I tend to read quickly when I am interested in the story, but I drag my tail when the story doesn't fully captivate me.I read poetry slowly so I can savour the language and nuance.
Non-fiction slows my propensity for speed because I want to retain details.
Ultimately, if what I am reading slows me to a stand-still, I stop reading it. I am old enough to be beyond accommodating anyone else's reading list (unless a friend buys me a book - then I am bound by the rules of loyalty and respect to read said volume!)
Well, I tend to read about a page per minute to 1.5 pages per minutes, depending on the book's vocabulary, among other things. I haven't read a book in a while though. :o
I'm with you. I sub-vocalize and read all the descriptive parts, even going back to make sure I didn't miss anything. Because of this it can take me months to read a book. It's unfortunate. My brother can finish 800 page books in one or two days and understand everything. I don't know how he does it but I always tell him he should be a slush pile reader or an editor.
I subvocalize and I read at a decent speed. I finished The Deathly Hallows in about two days, though I hardly put it down during that time lol.For me, it can depend on everything from my mood to my surroundings to any noise that might be in the background. Though, with books that I'm really into none of that stuff can matter (though sometimes it still does, I'm a fickle reader and I wish I weren't).
I absolutely sub vocalize, and like Lori, don't want to "turn that off". In addition to reading a lot of actual books, I audio books in the car instead of listening to the radio and I think I enjoy it so much because that's the way I "read to myself". Out loud, but in my head, if that makes sense.I do not skim. Well, almost never. The only time I do is in the In Death series by J.D. Robb. I've read almost all of them and have gotten to the point that I flip through the sex. It's my least favorite part and there are only so many ways to describe sex between the same two people. Otherwise, no skimming. I love loooooong descriptive passages.
I don't think I am such a quick reader, but like someone else said, I spend a lot of time doing it so get through a lot of books. I'm not a great sleeper so often read 4 or 6 hours after the rest of my family has gone to bed.
I think of myself as a fast reader; with a typical novel I read a page in about 30 seconds to a minute. Dense text (like a science reference book!) will go much more slowly because of the number of "unusual" words that I have to slow down to grasp.I believe the reason I can read fast was that I started very early: I was reading novels before I was six. But I'm not posting to say how wonderful I am!
My first point is that not everyone has the same abilities. Secondly, training can help, but only within the limits of your natural abilities or potential.
Mainly what I want to say, if it helps anyone, is that I think my own process of learning to read fast went something like this:
learning to spell (to quickly distinguish between similar words);
learning to read words;
learning to read in phrases (see and comprehend a whole phrase as if it was one word);
learning to grasp extended phrases, even from one line to the next.
So when I read I'm reading everything, not skimming, but I scan pretty much straight down the lines.
But, bottom line, to learn to read fast, read a LOT!
I've always been curious about the relationship to reading speed and comprehension of the content being read. I have a close friend who is a passionate reader like myself. It seems like she can plow through books at twice the speed that I can. I used to be jealous of this skill, but while discussing certain books that we both read, I realized that she had often forgotten certain parts of the book, didn't make as any nuanced connections as did, often didn't remember characters names, and, overall, didn't seem to comprehend the book as well. Perhaps this is just related to memory or personality. I've met people who will watch a movie and remember almost nothing about it two days later. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that rapid reading diminishes comprehension and retention. When I find a good book, I enjoy savoring it. I want to understand everything and really "feel" the story even if it slows me down. It usually takes me a week and a half to read the average sized books, or about a month for the Song of Ice and Fire books.
Until recently I assumed that everyone 'subvocalised' (though the word itself is new to me). I do it even if I'm reading a newspaper or similar. I think it's an important part of enjoying a book (that's why people talk about narrative 'voice' I guess).I probably read novels etc at about a word a minute which is fairly fast (and why I'm poor at reading aloud because I forget that I need to slow down...).
Skimming and other speed-reading techniques are useful for non-fiction, where you want to cut out the bits you don't need to know, but the only time I'd do it in a novel is if I wasn't enjoying what I was reading - in which case I'd question why I was reading it at all!
J. wrote: "I've always been curious about the relationship to reading speed and comprehension of the content being read. I have a close friend who is a passionate reader like myself. It seems like she can plo..."I learned to speed read in the sixth grade (someone thought it was worthwhile then for students to learn but must have died because neither of my kids were taught) and I remember being tested after reading to see if I retained key items. I continue to use it for reading fiction — where I'm reading mostly for enjoyment but to retain key points — but do slow down a bit, and write myself notes — when reading a book that has numerous characters (like the Harry Potter books) or bios/histories where I do want to remember dates, events, etc.
That said, I read a book on average every three days -- faster for the lighter stuff, longer for heavier/nonfiction -- but I read at least half an hour every night. I work, have a computer and play computer games (not a lot), don't watch much TV and have lots of other activities, so I think its that time at the end of the day when I slow down and focus on books that is the reason that I do work through as many books as I do.
I wish I could read speed read or read 4 books in a week. I tend to skim read some times if I want to finish up a book but I'm afraid I'll miss out on something important by doing it that way. I watch a lot of tv-but want to start getting in a habit of reading before I go to bed. I have a big stack of books I'd like to read.
Once I start a book-my GOAL would be to finish it in 3 days.
J. wrote: "I've always been curious about the relationship to reading speed and comprehension of the content being read. I have a close friend who is a passionate reader like myself. It seems like she can plo..."I think your sneaking suspicion is probably right, or at least I share it! Fast or very fast readers do retain less detail, and certainly don't have time to make the links to nuances in the writing. So there are certain very special books which I choose to read slowly, or, having read fast first, will go back and savour at whatever fine-wine-sipping pace suits best!
Good point David. I think that goes with just about anything-if you speed through it, you probably won't enjoy it as much as if you take your time with it.
As a dad to two little imps, these days I tend to devour books at a frightening page. You never know when you will have to change your preferred reading into a diaper, after all. Also, after I began to create historical novels, I find I have way too little time to read anything other than non-fiction books on the subject. I'm bound to go through such books with a fine comb, making notes, but I don't take the time to enjoy them, and I am very grateful when the author has a style that doesn't equal eating dry sand.On the rare occasions I have time to devote on relaxation and manage to pick up a book I really want to read, I love to spend time on the story, hoping to find that special sort of a connection with the persons and their choices. I'll put on the brakes, and hope it doesn't end too soon.
I only ever do this when I'm having to concentrate. For example, if I'm on a particularly noisy train or if I'm not really into the book and I'm trying to convince myself to keep going. It annoys me so much as it slows me down to a snails pace.
I made an executive decision today to only read one book at a time. I find that instead of increasing my pages read, it slowed me down if I read more than one title at the same time. And I felt badly choosing one book over the other. LOL
Nancy from NJ wrote: "I made an executive decision today to only read one book at a time. I find that instead of increasing my pages read, it slowed me down if I read more than one title at the same time. And I felt ba..."At anyone time I have three going. an audio-book in my car that I listen to only as I drive, one on my Nook that fits in my purse and can go anywhere with me, and one actual paper book that I read only at home. I don't think it increases or decreases my pages read, but it does allow me to "read" wherever I am.
I have found that, for some reason, I don't do well separating the story thread if I am "reading" any two of the same (audio, e-book, paper). Maybe my brain "sees" the different media and is able to keep track.
I'm a little strange, I guess. :)
I've always read very slowly, and now I have a new word for this: "subvocalising"I also think the slow reading gives time to "feel" the words/story more deeply, but that must sound strange!
Kandice wrote: "Nancy from NJ wrote: "I made an executive decision today to only read one book at a time. I find that instead of increasing my pages read, it slowed me down if I read more than one title at the sa..."I don't find you strange at all. I do the same thing. Having a story playing in the car makes the drive much more enjoyable and I tend to take my time so I can hear more rather than speeding like some of the lunatics around me. I have books on my iPad which is easy to transport or read when all the lights are out in the house, and, of course, I love the precious feel of the book in my hands. We must be book soul sisters.
I do have a question. Why are so many wishing to be able to speed read a novel? I understand that it is a useful skill to have for university and the like, but don't you want to enjoy your book?Back in my highschool days I used to read many fantasy novels. Some I didn't finish, some I read in one day (500-700 pages), if they were really captivating. During that time I did manage to read some 4 books per week.
Now I don't have that much time to spare and am reading many books in foreign languages, which takes more time.
I always hoped to develope the ability to hear the characters' voices in my head or picture the scenery described in a book, but unfortunately I never did.
Nella wrote: "... I always hoped to develop the ability to hear the characters' voices in my head or picture the scenery described in a book, but unfortunately I never did..."Nella, I'm not convinced it's all up to the reader! Some writers are so good at creating pictures in your mind that, after a year or so, it's difficult to remember whether you've read the book or seen the movie! My favourite example of such an author is Twan Eng Tan who wrote The Garden of Evening Mists.
I am definitely a subvocalizer. I even catch myself forming the words with my tongue (although I don't go so far as to move my lips when I read). I have also heard that it slows you down because you have to take all that time to "say" the words. Your brain doesn't need that much time to process it.The faster you read, the more books you can read! That's why I would like to read faster. So many books, so little time.
Adrienne wrote: "So many books, so little time ..."I do agree, Adrienne, but on the other hand, if I read too many books I don't really remember most of them after a year or two. I'm sure many people have a better memory than I have! After reading too many books 3 years ago I've had a new year's resolution each year to read less.
I used to read a lot faster when I was a kid. I could finish an average-sized book in a couple hours. I flew through series like The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High and the Boxcar Children and then Harry Potter. I noticeably slowed down when I became a teenager, even though I still read several books at once. Now I read at that same adolescent speed, just usually one book at a time. But I do occasionally read two books at once and different literary styles produce different results.
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Garden of Evening Mists (other topics)The Descendants (other topics)
The Lincoln Lawyer (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Tan Twan Eng (other topics)Jean M. Auel (other topics)
I'm new to Goodreads (first post) and have been reading extensively for about 2 years.
I've seen people on Goodreads finish 4 books a week!
I wish I could read that many books in a week! After a bit of research I found out that I Subvocalize in my head which apparently makes me read slower?!
Also people seem to skim trough descriptive parts of the book? I always tought that part was most important to understand in Fantasy/SciFi books.
Can any of you confirm that Subvocalizing is indeed keeping me from increasing my reading speed?
Do you skim trough parts where the author describes the world/envoirment?