Cover to Cover Challenge discussion
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Increasing your reading speed
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I'm with you Vanessa & Kelly. Most of the times the sex scenes could be left out without marring the storyline.
I cringe during sex scenes in movies, too. Especially if there are other people around me, because it's kindof embarrassing. And if I'm by myself, I just cringe 'cause it's boring. It's just so not necessary to include that stuff, ya know?
I agree with skimming past the sex scenes (though the majority of what I read do not have them) but otherwise I do not skim as how can you call it reading if you skim the big chuncks of the book?
Kelly, I seen that before and it is amazing that I can read that paragraph like that.
I don't skim. I think that if the author put it there, I'll read it. I don't watch movies on commercial TV either. Why not just read the Reader's Digest version of things if you are going to skip sections?Moby Dick - Call me Ishmael. Crazy Ahab chases a whale for a while. They catch the whale. Whale wins. Ishmael alone is left to tell the tale. The end.
Same story as the original right? Why wade through 32 pages on the whiteness of the whale let alone the rest of the 822 tedious pages?
I'll get off my high horse now. Read what you'd like. If you'd like to read the last chapter of a book first, have at it. If anything makes you uncomfortable, don't read it. If there are actions or thoughts you don't like, don't read them.
Moby Dick is a classic. If you're going to read a classic, then, yes, you could argue that a person should read every page. I firmly believe that as well. Other books have wordy descriptions that set a tone, such as Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, another classic in a different type of genre. I'm 50 years old and read and have read almost every type of genre. I read what I like and how I like for my enjoyment. But hail to all you purists out there. Maybe I've just outgrown it. Really, I don't always need to know what position someone is in as they are writhing around on the floor, LOL
Years ago I used to be reading a book and I wasn't close to the end. I would skim and at times see the ending. Well I have long stopped doing that because what was happening then was I wasn't finishing the book because I knew the ending or all the good parts. What fun would it be to continue. My habits with reading and also my taste in reading has changed alot in the years since I've been online. At one time even before coming online I would only read Romance books that I think it was Grisham's first book had me moving onto mysteries, thrillers and other stuff. I'm still not into horror or should I say anything scary. And Classics really aren't for me. I keep trying every once in awhile a classic but I don't get very far. I was never a reader in school. Reading was my worst subject. Then little by little it would be books I liked not what I had to read for school. I won't even go into those horrible book reports I had to do back then.
Donnajo, it's great that you've been able to branch out and enjoy different types of books! I've always been a reader, but I think that most of us have restricted ourselves to only one or two specific genres at some point in our lives. I went from barely being able to find something to read a couple years ago (because I was very very picky about what I would read) to now having this HUGE world of books open up right before my eyes via GR. It's been wonderful. :)As far as reading for school... I rarely enjoyed the books I HAD to read in school either. It was all I could do to just pick the book up. I just knew it was going to bore me to death! But I think when we make our own decision to read a book, even the same book that we hated back in high school, we see it in a totally different light and are way more apt to give it a decent chance. I haven't read many of the classics either. If I ever do read something, I'll have to be in the right frame of mind for it, and be able to find something about it that intrigues and excites me.
Kelly and Donnajo--I too hated "having" to read books for school. But I think that what I didn't like was the REPORTS we had to do. Not that I thought they'd be boring or anything, just that I knew that I was going to have to analyze the poor thing to death. I mean, come on, do you REALLY think that the author was putting a ton of junk in it for people to analyze, or did they just write it so that people could enjoy it? (Personally I'm going with #2, cause I don't think they'd have made any money at all if they'd gone for #1.)
Ann, I have wondered this same thing myself!!! Especially about poetry. I remember how teachers/professors used to have us pick things apart in high school and college. And with the poetry, I'd just be thinking, "huh??" And whether it be novel or poetry, I did wonder how the author could possibly stuff all this meaning into his/her works and then expect people to know what he was thinking when he wrote it. This made little sense to me since we all take our own meanings from what we read. I sometimes had to wonder if maybe I just wasn't a "sophisticated" enough reader, but I like your #2 thought a whole lot better. :)
I don't reread I have too many books to do that. And I think it was because long ago when I didn't have as many books I would read the same ones over and over. Like maybe at some time in school when they had the newsletter you used to get and could order books. Or when the school had a book fair. Maybe I started young adult romances back then. I would read those over and over again. The series from back then that I liked was Donna Parker (can't remember the author) also liked Harriet the spy or Stuart Little or The Pigman. I think Pigman was one I had to read in school one of the only ones I liked reading. 
My eyes also get "heavy" when I am tired, I usually keep reading till the books falls on my face that is why I am a fan of paperbacks.I also say the words in my head as I am reading, sometimes I even imagine different voices. I don't think that I am insane yet?
I have always read everything and anything. I even think it might be a good idea to put printing on toilet paper, I hate getting stuck in the bathroom with nothing to read expect "wash and repeat" ;)
Colleen wrote: "My eyes also get "heavy" when I am tired, I usually keep reading till the books falls on my face that is why I am a fan of paperbacks.I also say the words in my head as I am reading, sometimes ..."
Haha Colleen - or you could just wallpaper the bathroom walls in newspaper. But that might get a little messy. :P
Donnajo, I remember The Pigman!! I seem to remember enjoying it as well.
I have a new book and i am so happy now i am reading brian keene ghost walk i just started today
I'm starting the library copy of Look Again by Lisa Scottoline that my sister got out yesterday but it turned out she read it during the summer it was a 7 day book from the shore library. I didn't want to read it probably because I figured I would have had to rush it on a weekend and I knew I could get it from my library at another time. But I know I read a excerpt from Lisa that she sent me and it was a good book. So I'm hoping I can just skim the beginning chapter or 2 since I read that part already.
Tammie wrote: "I have a new book and i am so happy now i am reading brian keene ghost walk i just started today"This one looks good Tammie! I haven't read this author before (yet).
Um, what exactly IS the Pigman book? And I remember those Donna Parker books too. :o)
Lol... here it is - The PigmanI remember reading it, but only remember the story vaguely. There was this reclusive guy the neighborhood kids called The Pigman, I think. And then they met him and started to like him. Honestly, that's all I can remember. I added it to my tbr list to reread!
Donna Parker, I'm going to have to look her up.
That's about what I remember about the Pigman too. i probably should do a reread and see if I get the same out of it. I know when my niece and nephews were growing up I bought them the book. Donna Parker was the name of the girl in the series. I never can remember who the author is but I know there is someone on my other board who remembers because we got in a conversation about it once before.
I would love to be able to increase my reading skills also. I don't see how anyone can read a 350 to 450 page book in one day unless they read all day or they listen to the books in stead of physically reading them with their eyes. But I know there are individuals out there that do because I've noticed that a lot have already read 12 to 16 books this month and it is only the 14th of January.I feel lucky to read 100 to 150 pages in 7 hours. I love to read, it relaxes me and I rather read than watch TV. I think I may watch TV for about a hour and a half a day. I am retired and don't work and my only responsibility is keeping my house clean and cooking for myself and husband.
I guess I must be a real slow reader compared to some but at the same time, I think if you enjoy what you are reading the faster you will get through the book.
Ronda wrote: "I would love to be able to increase my reading skills also. I don't see how anyone can read a 350 to 450 page book in one day unless they read all day or they listen to the books in stead of physi..."Ronda, I think I get through more because of the audio books. I am a stay at home mom and so I listen to them on my mp3 player while I'm doing laundry, making dinner, out in my car, etc. It's not every waking moment, but it helps chores go down a lot easier.
Ronda wrote: "I would love to be able to increase my reading skills also. I don't see how anyone can read a 350 to 450 page book in one day unless they read all day or they listen to the books in stead of physi..."Ronda, I find that I read certain books faster than others. I just finished a 350-page book w/in a 24-hour period, but it was a quick read that flowed smoothly and kept my attention (it was The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinsky). On the other hand, it took me 3 days to read A is for Alibi and 4 days to read Sworn to Silence. This was b/c I had to focus and pay attention more with the latter two in order to keep all the characters and details straight. I think it depends a lot on the book itself.
Ronda wrote: "I would love to be able to increase my reading skills also. I don't see how anyone can read a 350 to 450 page book in one day unless they read all day or they listen to the books in stead of physi..."I agree with Kelly R. There are so many variables for each of us reading: number of pages, fluff vs. weightier subjects, reading speed, interest in topic, work and family requirements that take you away from reading, mood...I'm a fast reader, but I'd rather enjoy the book than worry how fast (or slow) I was reading it.
I started Look Again by Lisa Scottoline I guess it was tuesday night and it took me longer not because it wasn't good it was just easier to put down. But today I read probably little less than 1/2 the book to finish it. I wanted it done with. I remembered parts of it in the beginning because I read a excerpt from the author when it came out so I was finding I knew things but still didn't want to skim the book. Now I can get back to my own books and the one I started before this one which I had to read being it was a library book.
I ended up giving it a 9 rating out of 10. It was good it was just I remembered the beginning of the book. And after reading the amount of books I did before that I kind of slowed down. Plus I was out more on those days and didn't get as much read as the other days that I wasn't out. 
Kelly wrote: "Here's that paragraph, for anyone who has never seen it... pretty cool: Aoccdrnig to rseearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprm..."
I've seen this before, Kelly. I had no problems reading it, no hesitation whatsoever. My dad thought I was nuts, LOL!
I read fast. I don't know why or how I just do. My friends joke and say that I don't read books, I devour them.
Cindy, I'm like that as well. Since the beginning of January, I've read 14 books, and I'm halfway through the 15th. If I get my hands on a book that has all the elements that I adore, I'll devour it. People actually have to call my name a few times to get my attention, I'm that engrossed in the book.
lol, I'm like that too. Sometimes it actually takes touching me to get my attention when the book is really good. And I won't mention how many I've read so far except to say that I'm well ahead of the monthly count. I'm really trying to read books that are on my TBR shelf and my library books so I can get them back. Thank goodness my library doesn't have a limit on how many books you can have out at one time (I think I have 25 right now) so I can just keep renewing them until I've read them--unless someone places 1 on reserve, then I hurry up and read it and take it back.
Unfortunately I'm still on my first book of the year. Work has been insane and I just haven't had time. Of course the fact that my book is over 1400 pages is a contributing factor but it doesn't usually take me this long to read a book that long.
1400 pages, wow! What book are you reading, Cindy?
Gone With the Wind. I used to read it once a year but I haven't read it since 2005 so I decided to make it my first book for '10.
Lately since this challenge I don't pick a big book that I know will take me longer if I do then I still do faster books and the bfb is to the side as an extra. 14 books this month so far and I'm still hoping to finish at least one I have started that has taken awhile to get though and also hope to get in some that will grab me and I'll be able to zip though. 
I love Gone With the Wind and its been years since I read it. I think I will add that to my TBR . lol although I will probably save it for a longer month in the summer when I have more time to read. :)
Since I'm pretty much snowed in this weekend I should definitely be finishing it today.
Jennifer wrote: "I love Gone With the Wind and its been years since I read it. I think I will add that to my TBR . lol although I will probably save it for a longer month in the summer when I have more time to re..."I love GWTW too! I have read it so many times I can pick it up, open to a random page and just start reading. I could kick myself though..the first time I read it, it was a copy that I got out of my Aunt's donation box - it was about 1982. The copy said on the back "Coming soon! In color!" - about the movie! I read it until it fell apart. Looking back, I should have spent $5.00 to buy a new copy and saved that one. But oh well :) Such a great story.
Sherry wrote: "I don't know if this will help, but just find a book that you can "fall" into. You know; where the story just draws you in. If you cannot get into the book your reading at the time put it back an..."I agree with you completely, Sherry. There were times when I'd start a book and without finishing it, would pick up and start reading another. I still do that :P, but over time, I've realised that the best way to read "fast" is read "fun", that is, take up a book that you actually cannot put down! :)
Connie wrote: "Darcy wrote: "I don't have the problem of getting sleepy when reading. My problem is one more chapteritis, where I tell myself only one more, then only one more, I think you get the picture. LOL..."
I agree! I just had "chapteritis" for 5 chapters last night.
I assume the reason for wanting to read faster is to read more books. I maximize my reading time a number of ways.I have a Kindle and Audible so I get the "immersion" if it isn't too costly. You can get it for $2-$3 a lot of the time. That way I can listen to the book while I am doing something else and switch to the Kindle version when I can't do the Audible. It gets me through more books even though it doesn't actually increase my reading speed.
I read a lot of books at the same time so I can switch from "distracted reading" to "concentrated reading" to "audio" depending on my circumstances.
I also go to sleep listening to a book at night. If you have a sleeping partner then an ipod works well and if you aren't a CD player, Kindle Fire or some other mobile device works well. On Audible books you can tell it to only play for 15 minutes up to 60 minutes and then it switches off. The result for this type of reading is interesting. Sometimes I find that I have gone to sleep within 5 minutes, which is amazing for me.
I'm learning to set aside books that don't hold my interest. Sometimes a book just isn't right for me at the moment. I've had a few that I came back to later and fell in love with. For example one of my all time favorite books is Stephen King's The Stand. The first time I tried reading it I sludged through the first 3 chapters and set it aside only to pick it up two years later and greedily devour it and I've read it at least 3 more times since then. Sometimes it's all about the place your in at the moment.
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Sherry wrote: "I don't know if this will help, but just find a book that you can "fall" into. You know; where the story just draws you in. If you cannot get into the book your reading at the time put it back an..."This is a very useful tip. For some books, I find myself forcing to read them, I should instead just put it aside and move on to some other book. Sounds like a relationship :P haha. Thanks
I like to soak up every single word, phrase, meaning and I have often found myself dwelling on the thought, wondering how the author would have come up with this, what they might be thinking etc. I am an over thinker, imagine that at every sentence. Takes me ages to finish a single book! Need some really awesome tips so that I am also soaking in every word I read but at the same time also be able to finish it on time.
Meg wrote: "I like to soak up every single word, phrase, meaning and I have often found myself dwelling on the thought, wondering how the author would have come up with this, what they might be thinking etc. ..."Meg, I read that way with some books and read other books much more rapidly. In a lot of light reading, I skim the descriptions, scenery etc. If I feel that the author is describing the scenery to set the tone and mood of the book, I read more slowly.
I ALWAYS read the brief description which tells what the book is about. It's like the framework that the text of the book is set on. It makes comprehending the first few chapters of the book much easier and quicker to read.
If I am reading a classic or something difficult, I find a summary online and read the first half of the summary. I never read the ending though because that spoils the book for me. I'm just looking for a guide map so I don't start out with a false idea and have to go back and reread
If you have a problem focusing it helps to use a bookmark or even your finger to follow while reading. But I have problems with concentration anyway, so it might just be me.
Cover to Cover Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Sworn to Silence (other topics)A Is for Alibi (other topics)
The Secret Between Us (other topics)
The Pigman (other topics)
Rebecca (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Barbara Delinsky (other topics)Daphne du Maurier (other topics)
I usually skip sex scenes too... they are usually boring lol.