2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Reading Books Faster
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April
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Mar 13, 2015 06:16AM
I have a bunch of friends on my friends list that read a book in one day. I tend to finish a book within a couple of months. I don't have time some days to read, or I get so tired by the end of the night, I can't, I usually just go to bed. Can someone help? I am a single mom.
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April, a book a day is a pipe dream for most people. Don't worry about the speed you finish a book compared to anyone else. But you can always try audio books which you could listen to while you do other things. Or just set aside a tiny part of your day, even 5-10 minutes, that you read. Just don't make it a chore but something you look forward to and you will probably read more.
I actually am going to start a new book today!! :) I didn't finish the last one because someone on goodness put up a spoiler without telling anyone it was one... so yeah im starting gone girl today :)
I think too that you don't should compare something like that.
I'm one of the people who can read sometimes a book in a day. But that's not because I'm some sort of super-speed-reader, it's just that I spend A LOT of time reading, most days several hours.
That's not something to be proud of, that only shows I'm kind of an addict.
On a normal day, I wake up, get my kid ready for school, read until I need making myself ready for work. Mostly the mornings at work are slow so I read there, too. If I'm lucky nobody wants talking to me at lunch break - more reading. If I'm extremley lucky I can get some time in the afternoon, too (I'm allowed to read at work when there are no customers and when nothing is to do). After work, I go to bed early and most evenings I read at least one - two hours before I'm too tired.
You just have to cut out most of your other hobbies, most of your friends, every thought about some sort of relationship, get a job where you can read a little, wait until the kids are teens and spend all their time in their room ore their friends rooms and forget everything about good housekeeping.
Voila. More reading speed. ;-)
I'm one of the people who can read sometimes a book in a day. But that's not because I'm some sort of super-speed-reader, it's just that I spend A LOT of time reading, most days several hours.
That's not something to be proud of, that only shows I'm kind of an addict.
On a normal day, I wake up, get my kid ready for school, read until I need making myself ready for work. Mostly the mornings at work are slow so I read there, too. If I'm lucky nobody wants talking to me at lunch break - more reading. If I'm extremley lucky I can get some time in the afternoon, too (I'm allowed to read at work when there are no customers and when nothing is to do). After work, I go to bed early and most evenings I read at least one - two hours before I'm too tired.
You just have to cut out most of your other hobbies, most of your friends, every thought about some sort of relationship, get a job where you can read a little, wait until the kids are teens and spend all their time in their room ore their friends rooms and forget everything about good housekeeping.
Voila. More reading speed. ;-)
lol Rosa that was entertaining :) thank you
Their are times I will read a book a day other times It takes me a lot longer depends on whats going on at the time. Their are times I can't go out at all so loads of time for reading.
Also I ve found certain book I will read faster eg. YA books I can normally read in a day or two max and classic book can take me months.
Also I ve found certain book I will read faster eg. YA books I can normally read in a day or two max and classic book can take me months.
I use a kindle so I try to set a goal for how much I'm going to read each day depending on the book. Kindles have a percentage marker on the bottom so I can say 20% per day or something along those lines. It helps me stay awake and I tend to find more time with small amounts here and there. I'm a grad student so I have to read an absurd amount for classes. I try to tell myself that I can read my personal book for a half hour after I complete an article. Or a section of a paper. I also read on commercials when I'm watching tv and then before bed.
Right now I'm doing the popsugar challenge but before that I was lucky to get a book done every month or two but have worked myself up to no more than a week per book. I think it's partially a mindset where you really get into reading the book and carve out small sections of time and are devoted to reading. I know my schedule is probably even less hectic than yours but I definitely get what you're saying- a book a day is a little crazy to think of!
I always have a book on me so I grab minutes whenever I have them. But I'm also an insomniac so the book or two a day routine can be pretty normal for me. That being said, I'll go through slumps where I just want to take my time with a book and I'll slow down with it. I used to think that was awful, like I wasn't keeping up the pace I should be going at or whatever. Now, it's just a style/pace/pattern that works for me. I figure I love reading but there's not a whole lot to love about it if you're rushing through it or forcing it into your life so that it's like an obligation. I do like doing challenges because it kind of keeps me motivated while not really putting any pressure on me. If I'm tired and feeling lazy maybe I'll think, meh, I'll read a couple chapters because I need to add this to a challenge but then I'm done for the day.
My advice is that you treat your latest book like most people treat their phones. Always have it around and dive in whenever you come up for air during the day for a few minutes. Make yourself some tea (personal addiction here, feel free to substitute preferred liquids at will!), find a child-free nook, and give yourself 20 minutes when you can grab them. Go at your own pace because it's supposed to be interesting and fun, not a chore. :)
Ariel wrote: "I always have a book on me so I grab minutes whenever I have them. But I'm also an insomniac so the book or two a day routine can be pretty normal for me. That being said, I'll go through slumps wh..."Thank you for your advice Ariel, this made me feel better. :) Though the only thing is that I can't take my book along with me to work that's the only thing. I work at Burger King :P Don't have much down time. Unless I do it between customers, but that wouldn't be much reading. Lol. :)
A book a day is my pipe dream. I think I read about 200 words per minute, about 2 - 2.5 minutes per page, 25-30 pages per hour, or a 300 page book in 10 hours spread over 9-14 days on average. I always have a book with me, but do most of my reading between 1:00 and 3:00 AM. I highly recommend sleeping at that time.In middle school, I compared reading speed with two of my friends who where avid readers. One friend read about 600 WPM (3x my speed) and the other was at 2000 WPM (10x). Friend #2's house currently has books scattered all over and he regualarly reads a book a day.
I've started to wonder if learning to read by reading along while Mom read aloud may be why I read slow. I'm not complaining, it is the best thing Mom could have done for me, but I believe today I enunciate every word in my head as if I was reading aloud. I understand that people who read fast don't do that. I enjoy savoring a book, but with all the books I want to read, I wouldn't mind reading faster too.
Joe wrote: "A book a day is my pipe dream. I think I read about 200 words per minute, about 2 - 2.5 minutes per page, 25-30 pages per hour, or a 300 page book in 10 hours spread over 9-14 days on average. I ..."Joe I used to do that with my aunt as well, let her read out loud to me and then I would read some. We did this with a couple of the harry potter books. I'm not sure how many words I read per min. I get the time to read, but for some reason I have to force myself, I like reading its just I get distracted easily.
I agree that reading a book a day is a bit of a stretch, or at least it is for me. My wife can read nearly any book in a day and I have watched her do it on many a day. The thing that often slows me down is "getting into the characters". For example, When I read James Patterson's "Alex Cross" series, which I have gone back too recently, I find myself imagining Morgan Freeman speaking all of Alex's lines and I try to picture his mannerisms to go along with it (all because I watched "Kiss the Girls"). "The Hunger Games" trilogy is another example of this. I read the first two books after seeing the movies and spent all three books speaking and (vividly) picturing the scenes in my head as I read.
I will also, find myself speaking in accents if I am familiar with a/the general area the book is written to take place in. A great example of this would be "Mystic River" that I just finished last month. I was all "Jerseyfied" reading that one.
The only time this has not happened to me is when I read John Sandford"s "Prey Series" with Lucas Davenport as the detective. I just have a hard time picturing Mark Harmon as Lucas, so I play the guy I relate him too.
As long as you enjoy the books, it doesn't matter how fast you read them. I have found, however, that I tend to read a little quicker now that my kids have grownup -- so there is hope. :)
April wrote: "Thank you for your advice Ariel, this made me feel better. :) Though the only thing is that I can't take my book along with me to work that's the only thing. I work at Burger King :P Don't have much down time. Unless I do it between customers, but that wouldn't be much reading. Lol. :)"Ha, yeah, not a whole lot of down time there. You could always listen to audio books lol. Just shush customers if they bother you at the best parts. No, but seriously, it'd be wonderful if we all read mega-fast but as long as you're enjoying it and you fit it in when you can, you're doing a good job with it. :)
Barry wrote: I will also, find myself speaking in accents if I am familiar with a/the general area the book is written to take place in.That's funny! My wife would be a great voice for audio books and I'll catch her reading in different accents at times, especially Irish. And shoot... I didn't even know Lucas Davenport made it to screen. John Sandford is my favorite author of the detective genre!
I am torn... I like to take my time with a book and don't want it to end too quick, but there are just so many books and I think my biggest regret when I die will be the books I left unread!
One thing I do when I read is to make sure to finish on the first paragraph of the left page. Then if I only have a couple of minutes, at least I turned one page.
April wrote: "I have to force myself, I like reading its just I get distracted easily"I know how it is. Sometimes I can stare at the same page for quite a long time and I have to take a break. Once in a while I will get lost and turn 30 pages without realizing it, but that doesn't happen often. I love non-fiction, biographies and classics, but I know when I pick up non-fiction or a 1000 page book, I'm committed for a month or two. So my shelves are loaded with mysteries to keep up momentum.
Joe wrote: "Barry wrote: I will also, find myself speaking in accents if I am familiar with a/the general area the book is written to take place in.That's funny! My wife would be a great voice for audio boo..."
Joe,
The movie did not hit the big screen. It was a made for TV movie on the USA Network (2011). The book it was adapted from was "Certain Prey". Mark Harmon played Lucas and Tatiana Maslany played the role of Clara Rinker. Lola Glaudini (from Criminal Minds fame - she was Elle on that show) played Carmel Loan.
It was a good movie, but I had a hard time seeing Harmon in that role. I couldn't lose the image of Gibbs in my brain. I kept waiting for him to "Gibbs slap" Sloan for something silly.
I think the most important thing is to enjoy books whether it takes a day or a year to read them. I find my reading speed various a lot. Sometimes I can read faster than other times. I had to read some dry technical books this month and now when I try and read fiction I'm really struggling so I'm listening to more fiction audiobooks. Last month I could just breeze through reading fiction.
I agree absolutely that the type of book can make a big difference on how long it takes to read a book. Genres you love tend to go faster. I read lots of classics but they can be slow sometimes. Non fiction is a crap shoot with me. Some are so interesting and go quickly while others are harder to read much at one sitting. Audio books take me forever due to little time to listen, but I usually have one going.
At one point in time I was in the one a day category but then, life happened!. I became a mother, I was working and going to school and only had time to read school related materials. But recently I just decided that outside of my magazine addiction, Time, Newsweek, the economist and real simple, I honestly missed reading novels. A friend mentioned goodreads on Facebook, I had no idea about the site and I felt rejuvenated!! People who love books and reading as much as I do. I agree with some of the other posts. One habit I have implemented in my home is sustained silent Time. It is a 1-2 hr time period when there is no television allowed. My son can play with his toys, color, read. And during that time I its when I read. I also fall asleep to my books. Don't pressure yourself, although you set goals and want to meet. As long as you continue to enjoy reading, the speed will come.
thank you everyone I agree with all of you :) if anyone would like to be my friend on Here you can add me. lately I have been reading about 20 pages a day. :) so proud of myself!! I think it does matter what kind of book it is. right now I can only read one book at a time. its hard for me to read two at a time.
