Bloggers Unite™ discussion

It’s not a competition or anything…but I was curious about how quickly we all read books.
I tend to read very quickly if I find the book really captivating, but generally I read about a book a day.
If it’s a REALLY long book, it might take me a day and a half.

Do love to take your time and read slowly or are you a rapid reader? :)

I guess speed-reading also has to do with wanting to get to the end of the book, so I can start writing the review lol ;)

Oh, I'm a rapid reader for sure. Once I start a book, if it really grabs me, I won't stop til it's done! I'm up to 568 for the year.
J

I'm a slow reader. Depending on the week and how much time I have, I'll usually finish 1-2 books per week. I really love the written word and try to savor it.;)

Like some of you I can polish off a book in several sittings. It really depends on how much time that week I have to actually sit down and read though. Usually I like to read for at least two hours, so if I don't have that kind of window open I generally just wait until I do.

I hear you all :)

Reading is great when you have time eh?
I've found that I don't like to be disrupted too often if I find a book really riveting.
Otherwise, I'm ok with putting my handy bookmark in and closing the book till next time.

I sometimes feel bad though, for want seems like wasting a good part of my life reading ;) lol
I know, it’s a crime that I admit it, but I honestly feel that way at times.

I think I feel the most guilt about my reading-obsession when others are like "you read how often & for how long??"
Ahhh well, its not like I’m ever gonna stop reading roflol :)

It depends on what I am reading. lol It takes me about 3 days to finish a book. I've been known to rush through chores so that I can read. :) I even have started the next days chores late at night so that I can have more time to read. I am determined to get through my TBR list.:) It seems the more I read of my TBR pile the taller it grows! Imagine that!! lol

I read about 200 novels every year. I read one book a day or with a longer book it will take 2-3 days (like "Acheron"). I read erotica and paranormal romance. I usually read for 2-3 hours after dinner every night.

I used to do a lot of professional reviewing for print and web mags around the world. But my novel-writing schedule got so intense three years ago that I stopped doing that. Now I just post my short reviews on Goodreads (and on Amazon and B&N from time to time). Which I love, because there is no pressure like there is in professional reviewing. So now I just read for fun and to keep up with what my readers/fans are reading in these genres.

Yeah, life is good! LOL

xoxo
Laura Stamps
Author of Paranormal Romance and Erotica Novels
http://www.LauraStamps.blogspot.com (to read excerpts from my novel series)
http://laura-stamps8.livejournal.com (my naughty Author Blog/updated daily)

And I usually have 3 or 4 books in different genres going at one time. That way if I'm not in the mood for one, I'll pick up one of the others. And I was ROTFLMAO about the comment regarding being disrupted since my hubby and kids know that if Mom's really into a book: you can interrupt once and it's OK, if you interrupt twice, you'll get 'the glare', three or more interruptions could mean the end of the world! So now if they need something, they'll interrupt and say 'how long til you hit a stopping point?', so I'll know to pull my head back into the real world fairly quick and see what they need.

If I get a new book I've been waiting on...I won't stop once I start. Did that recently with Acheron and Faefever.
JJ

I commute via mass transit to and from work so I always have 2 hours a day for reading - I generally am reading 5 books at a time and usully read 5 - 7 books a month

It definitely depends on a lot of things - how much time I have, how good the book is, what kind of mood I'm in, how distracting my surroundings are, etc.

Generally, though, I'm a pretty fast reader.. especially if the book is good!

When I'm not engrossed in finished my novel, I can read one a week if I have several hours of reading time. I'm not a fast reader and have a comprehention problem, so must go slow.

I try to read slowly. I find that with all the reading online my reading habits have suffered. I try to read things with short paras, lots of visual breaks, highlighted stuff, etc.

But with books I try to read slowly so that I can enjoy each and every word and sentence. Reading Virginia Wolf and Garcia Marquez was a great way to develop this habit, because their writing is complex and beautiful. You have to go slow to enjoy every bit of the juice!

I though I was a pretty fast reader until I started getting to know book bloggers!

It varies, but if I am interested and have the time, I can generally read a book in a couple of days. I have some basic speed reading knowledge, but I read a lot of fiction and I don't usually like to speed through it, unless it's bad. lol

I can read about 6-10 books a month depending on my work schedule. When I'm not working that number easily doubles or more.

I read very slowly. I average about a book a week, though I've been trying to get my rate up a little more. I worry about reading too fast and not spending as much time with some books as I should. So, it's a delicate balance. Still, I envy fast readers!

I have found that some books are harder to read at a quick rate. If the plot or storyline is choppy or disjointed, or there are grammatical errors and/or a poor plotline or story, I have a difficult time breezing through it. These kinds of books make it harder to review quickly, because they really slow the process down.
If it’s a great story that is really entertaining and I can get into, I'm usually finished it in a day...unless it’s one of those 400-600+ page books which take an extra day or so; it really depends on how good it is.

I read about 50-100 pages a day right now. I am usually doing homework or knitting, or one of my million other hobbies. I don't read till everyone else goes to be either. But when I'm done with school I'm sure I'll read more, until I can find a job at least.

I also usually have multiple books going at once so it takes me more than a day to read a book cause I'll sit it down for a day or two then pick it back up.

But if it's a good book I've been known to finish it in a matter of hours. I just finished one like that. I think it took me 3 hours cover to cover.

WHOA! read a book a day??? Last time I did that my eyes were aching. Nope. I can just about manage 4/5 books a month, a week for each. And if it is a really good book (I'm picky) then it might take 3-4 days to finish off.

I have no speed-reading skills.

Good advice for aspiring writers.(like me)

If I really get sucked into a story it usually takes 4 days to a week for me to finish, I'm a pretty avid reader.

When I finish one book I tend to take a short break afterwords I guess you could call it a preparation of sorts for when I start another one helps me get my head on straight so I can focus on the new book I'm reading.

Well I actually did the math(math nerd)and it take approximately and hour to read 100 pages. I usually end up finishing a REALLY good book in one day. Even if its long, I don't sleep nor eat till its done.

And I usually read at least 2-3 books every week.

I'm a fast reader and usually read books within a few days, but when I'm busy, like I have, I'm tired and don't read much so it takes me longer.

I am a slow reader and I hate it. :( I wish I was faster I hear about people finishing a book in like a couple hrs and I am like WOW.

I was just talking to someone about how I read "slow" and so funny she said that we don't read slow - we savor every last word and syllable of the book - we are savorers! LOL!

Cathy wrote: "I was just talking to someone about how I read "slow" and so funny she said that we don't read slow - we savor every last word and syllable of the book - we are savorers! LOL!"

I've said that many times, Cathy. I'm "slow" too, but I don't think I would want to speed read even if I could learn. For me, the written word is like fine cuisine that must be savored.;-)

Julie (Mom2lnb) wrote: "Cathy wrote: "I was just talking to someone about how I read "slow" and so funny she said that we don't read slow - we savor every last word and syllable of the book - we are savorers! LOL!"

I've ..."

I feel the same way. I feel if I read to fast I may miss something important. Also reading slow/good pace helps me to put myself in the world of the book. I like to feel like I am there with the characters.

I have concerns with some of the challenges I have entered about having to read so much and so fast. I don't want to not enjoy what I am reading. Like you all said above I want to savor each book.

Lynn wrote: "When I have books to review I am ususally on a time limit and I read them faster. In school years ago I took a course on how to read and get the main story line and comprehend what it was about so ..."

Lynn who do you review for?

I read rather quickly if it's a 'good read' haha. Only takes me a few hours, so generally 3 books a week I have time for. If it drags... I can take a few days to read a book, but then if a book doesn't catch me from the beginning I read several at once :)

Lynn wrote: "I have several,
Readers Favorite
Tyndale
Thomas Nelson
Waterbrook/Multnomah
Bethany House
Net Galley
And then I have several authors who send me books to


eview."

Wow. I review for Chicklitclub.com. I was wondering if there were others ways to be involved. Thanks Lynn.

Lynn wrote: "Net Galley is great to review fior because you get an assortment of publishers. The only thing they are ebooks and you either have to have Kindle or Adobe Digital Reader"

Lynn thanks for the info. Unfortunately I am still looking for an e-reader. I would definitely be interested in any other ideas. Thanks :)

Jencey - I am in with a few of those you named - not ones like Bethany House or Tyndale or Thomas Nelson - and I enjoy their titles - do you contacts for those or how would I go about finding their contact?? Thanks!! Great ideas!

Becky wrote: "Jencey - I am in with a few of those you named - not ones like Bethany House or Tyndale or Thomas Nelson - and I enjoy their titles - do you contacts for those or how would I go about finding their..."

Becky I would like to be involved with more myself. I write in my blog but am really involved with three: chicklitclub.com, chick Lit Central, and Chick Lit Plus. I don't know if this answers your question.

Oh ok - I thought maybe you had contacts with the others you mentioned - I do not have those names so it's hard to get in! I did sign up for Net Galley today - that one looks good. I also do Book Sneeze.

Becky wrote: "Oh ok - I thought maybe you had contacts with the others you mentioned - I do not have those names so it's hard to get in! I did sign up for Net Galley today - that one looks good. I also do Book..."

Lynn is the one with contacts. I know how to get connected with some. I was asking Lynn about her connections.

Going to check it out - thanks!!!

Jencey wrote: "Becky wrote: "Jencey - I am in with a few of those you named - not ones like Bethany House or Tyndale or Thomas Nelson - and I enjoy their titles - do you contacts for those or how would I go about..."

Jencey, I read somewhere that Library Thing has an Early Reviewers Program where bloggers gain access to ARCs to review - maybe that's another avenue to search?

Cathy wrote: "Jencey wrote: "Becky wrote: "Jencey - I am in with a few of those you named - not ones like Bethany House or Tyndale or Thomas Nelson - and I enjoy their titles - do you contacts for those or how w..."

That is definitely worth checking out! Thanks Cathy!

Jencey wrote: "Cathy wrote: "Jencey wrote: "Becky wrote: "Jencey - I am in with a few of those you named - not ones like Bethany House or Tyndale or Thomas Nelson - and I enjoy their titles - do you contacts for ..."

Awesome - Let us know how it goes!

Wow, Jackie. You make me feel like slug. I tend to read slowly because I'm usually dissecting what the other author is doing--how they handle POV, backstory, information plants, and other writerly issues. If I lose myself in the story and forget that I'm a writer too, I speed up some, but I still love to savor the words as I go.

Jackie wrote: "I was not always a great reader, I posted on my blog where I grew up where everyone makes fun of me. I had a huge comprehension problem for years and years. As I got older, my ex husband got me i..."

Our youngest daughter found reading difficult too. We did tons of read alouds when she was little, but she still wasn't sold on reading for pleasure till she found the Twilight series. Then she jumped to Kelly Armstrong and now she's devouring THE HUNGER GAMES. Three cheers for YA authors!

Reading is such an important skill. Movies and TV may try to deliver the story experience, but it's not the same. When we read, we have to bring our imaginations, our backstory to the printed word. It's magical.

I'd hate to have to go through life only listening to my own voice in my head. Reading lets me visit the minds of others.

I read at 560 WPM, which is insanely fast. However, when life gets in the way I end up reading more slowly. lol I hate it when it takes me forever to read something because I am busy. :(

J.D. wrote: "I read at 560 WPM, which is insanely fast. However, when life gets in the way I end up reading more slowly. lol I hate it when it takes me forever to read something because I am busy. :("

Amazing, JD. That's blinding speed. I don't think my brain works that fast! LOL!

Mia wrote: "J.D. wrote: "I read at 560 WPM, which is insanely fast. However, when life gets in the way I end up reading more slowly. lol I hate it when it takes me forever to read something because I am busy. ..."

What's funny is that when I was really young I was SUCH a slow reader. No one ever really spent time reading to me or having me read to them. I ended up having to go to the extra reading session, but then I started getting really good. I went to live with my grandparents for a year, and my grandpa made me read aloud to him everyday. Then in junior high, my best friend was a book addict and got me into reading. I started spending my allowance on books every week and naturally improved after a while. For a college course, we were required to test ourselves to find out how quickly we read and it turned out that I read much faster than the average person. It comes in handy when I only have a short time to read. :)

J.D. wrote: "Mia wrote: "J.D. wrote: "I read at 560 WPM, which is insanely fast. However, when life gets in the way I end up reading more slowly. lol I hate it when it takes me forever to read something because..."

Isn't it wonderful that the people in your life, your granddad and your best friend, gave you a reason to read? That's priceless. I always read aloud with my girls when they were small and now they always have their noses in a book. Not only that, we have a shared vocabulary, a shared context. When one of us says something "provides so little scope for the imagination" we're all channeling Anne of Green Gables.

Well, I thought I was a quick reader, but some of y'all put me right to shame.

Before I started reviewing and blogging, I easily would read a book in a day or two depending on the size.

But since I've started doing reviews, and especially since I've started blogging, there's less time as I work on promoting my blog, always trying to find ways to improve it, researching best blogging practices, etc.

Now? I read about 2 books a week. But that's the balance life requires for my books, my kids, my job, etc.

It depends on if I have the time to sit and read. I have a fairly strong attention span (or maybe I'm just obsessive), so I can sit and read for hours on end without getting board. If I have the opportunity to do this I finish books very quickly. But if I am only able to grab a page or two here and there I am significantly slower. Not just because I can't dedicate as much time to it, but also because the longer I read in one sitting the more I sink into the world of the book, the fast I read.