Are you a skimmer or a read-every-word kind of person?

[Tonya]

I posted this in another group and it was interesting to see the answers so I thought I would post it here.

Do you read every word of a book or do you just skim it?

[Tonya]

I'm a read-every-word kind of girl. In fact, I'm almost a little OCD about it. If I skim a book then I don't feel like I truly read it and didn't get the full experience of it.

[Yz the Whyz]

I'm definitely a read-every-word kind of reader.

However, if the book is very exciting, I will skim ahead to see what happen, sometimes even finish it. But I will always go back and read every word before I consider myself done with a book.

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

I'm a read every word reader with the exception of books that turn out to be 1 or 2 star reads for me. I might skim read those just to get through it..though I do tend to feel I didn't get the full exerienc either. But definitely every word and sometimes I reread!

[Heidi]

I read...and sometimes re-read everyword!

[Pamela(AllHoney)]

I think most would consider me a skimmer. But I read fast and will often skim through long paragraphs and grab hold of the important stuff. If I feel I'm missing something I go back and try to slow down. I rarely feel like I'm missing out with the way I read. How fast I read sometimes determines how good it was. If it's really good I tend to slow down and savor it. If its so-so I may skim through quickly to get done with it.

[Carolyn F.]

I usually read every word, unless the book is lagging with the description of the fabric on the furniture and how many buttons are in a dress, etc. Then I'll skim that part until they move on to something else.

[D.G.]

Yz the Whyz wrote: "I'm definitely a read-every-word kind of reader.

However, if the book is very exciting, I will skim ahead to see what happen, sometimes even finish it. But I will always go back and read every ..."

We're twins, Yz!!

Although I've been known to skim a book if I'm not liking the language but I want to know how it ends.

[Auntee]

Every word. If I feel like I need to skim, then I know the book is not for me and I try something else. Doesn't happen often though.:)

[Julianna]

I read every word. I wouldn't feel like I truly read a book unless I did. I really savor the written language.

[Nissie Lambert]

I agree with Auntee. I read every word and if I find myself skimming, I'll put it down and start something else. I always go back and try to finish it,though.

[Fani *loves angst*]

I generally read every word with two exceptions:
a. books that I don't like and just want to get over with and
b. love scenes when I don't care much about the hero and heroine.
I know many people look forward to the love scenes, but to me they're all the same more or less and when I do read them, it's a definite sign that I'm liking the book and the characters very much.

[Mandy]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "I think most would consider me a skimmer. But I read fast and will often skim through long paragraphs and grab hold of the important stuff. If I feel I'm missing something I go back and try to slow..."


Same here.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

I tend to read every word. Occasionally I might skim a few descriptive words if I'm really wanting to get to a more exciting part.

[Anne OK]

I'm a "read every word" and I ALWAYS finish the book -- even if I don't like it.

[Grace]

I read every word. If I love an author and love her books then I want to savour every word, make the book last as long as possible. If I occaisionally find myself skimming the odd paragraph its usually a good indication the books not holding my attention.

[Regina]

for me it depends no the book -- if the book is boring -- i will skim, or if parts are boring (like the lessor parts in the BDB series). Also, some authors are very careful with the words -- the writing is intricate and beautiful -- these I read every words. Other authors write less detailed and more generally, I skim those.

[Grace]

Interesting that some people write they always finish a book - there's a certain responsibility when you've invested time in getting so far, to finish it. I can think of a couple of books that were so awful that I really felt I was wasting my time and stopped...but that's so rare. What is it about being obliged to finish what you've started when it comes to reading?

[Anne OK]

It's that "responsibliity" thing with me. Like if you don't vote, you don't get a gripe! For me, if I want to review or give my opinion, I feel the responsibility to finish the product so I can give my full and honest opinion on the entire product.

[Tonya]

Thanks for all your responses! Looks like most people read every word.

I've always felt that if I skimmed a book that I didn't really read it and therefore couldn't give an honest opinion on it. If I ever do skim it is just a page or two then I always, always go immediately back and read what was skimmed. I'm afraid that in skimming I will have missed the one pivotal word, sentence or paragraph that turns the whole book into something more.

When a have participated in challenges, I have seen people read 2 or 3 books a day. It made me wonder if they are skimming or reading the books. My personal best is 1 book in 1 day and that would be a Saturday or Sunday when kids, husband, housework and anything else is completely neglected but my rear planted in a chair with all focus on the book in my hand. I so love those days!!

[Carolyn F.]

I've read 2 in one day but they both were smaller books (around 200 pages) and my husand and daughter were out and about.

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

I've never read more than one book in a day, but I do know a girl, I used to work with, who could read super fast. I gave her a book to borrow one day and she returned in three hours later read...it was like 400 pages. I was shocked...I asked if she didn't want it anymore and she said...no I read it. Every word???? Every word she claimed...and then she wrote me this really long e mail with detailed explanations about her opinion in regards to the book...I read it and she HAD to have read it to write what she did. I was and still am floored!

[Tonya]

I'm floored also, and, I have to admit, a little jealous!!! It will already take me like 15 years to read all the books I own right now.

[Grace]

Hmmm, I can speed read, it's not difficult to do, most people can learn...but that's not the same as savouring a book, soaking yourself in the atmosphere and feeling the tingle across your skin....
Word by word Rules!!!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

I really feel the need to finish every book I start. I may start a book, but if I know I don't want to read it, I only go for a few pages and put it down. But, generally, I finish 98% of the books I start.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Certifiable St. Vinnie's Ninny]

I forgot to say I will often put a book down that isn't catching me, to go back later.

If I start a book that's out of my comfort zones, I will not finish those.

[Pamela(AllHoney)]

I used to feel like I had to finish every book I picked up and then realised that life was too short and I should read books that appealed to me. But I admire ppl who have the perseverance to continue.

[Mandy]

Regina wrote: "for me it depends no the book -- if the book is boring -- i will skim, or if parts are boring (like the lessor parts in the BDB series). Also, some authors are very careful with the words -- the w..."


Good explanation. There are some books taht tell me all about the big tree in the front yard. Unless it relates, sepcifically, to the story I do skim those.

Cold Mountain is a perfect example. I learned more about the fauna the NC mountains that I EVER cared to know. How that worked in relation to the stroy, i couldn't figure out so it bored me.

Now . . .had that huge tree in the front yard contained a tire swing in which the character(s) played upon that somehow brought meaning to the story . .that's different. you HAVE to read about the tree then.

[Jane]

I feel like I had to learn to speed read (skim) for college, there was so much reading I had to do for my classes. Now I find it hard to read word for word. I try to slow down because there are some books that you just don't want to end, you want to savor them and you can't do that if you are speed reading. But I find myself reading too fast and then I slow down, back up a page or two to see what I might have missed.

I just discovered Lisa Kleypas a few months ago, I know I must be living under a rock, but I love her stories and the heroes in each of her books. I still have the Wallflower series to read. I'm not looking forward to the day that I have no new Lisa Kleypas to read.

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

Jane - you wait awhile...then you read em again!

[Autumn]

Bekah wrote: "Jane - you wait awhile...then you read em again!"

LOL! and, that my friend is the way to do it!!

[Samantha]

LOL! I read all the words. The only time I skim is when the book is getting really dry.

[E.]

I have (to my eyes) a variety of ways of reading. There is the skim-ahead-but-go-back-to-read-it-thoroughly way, then there is read-it-first-then-lose-interest-so-skim-the-rest, then there is just skim-this-and-that way, and plain-skim. I think there are more but I can't think of it right now.

I used to just read every word, but since there became so many distractions now, it became hard to just plain read a book thoroughly without having something else take over.

But seriously, I try to read every word. I want to focus on the whole story so reading it word-by-word is a MUST.

[Joeera]

I read every word and if i cant't get into the book by the second chapter i will stop reading it.

[Samantha]

Good way to do it Joeera. I sometimes try to stick it out further.

[Bekah, Fellow Kleypasaholic]

I read every word and try to stick it out at least halfway unless the book is sooo bad...if it does't get better, then I start to skim read.