Today I’m curious. I’ve always arbitrarily considered myself a slow to medium paced reader, especially because compared to other bloggers I finish significantly less books per year. This may be because I have overall less time in which to read, but I’ve even observed amongst friends that have purchased hot releases such as Mockingjay that we may start the book the same night but I’m usually the last to finish. Obviously this is not enough information to measure or judge what speed I read at, but it’s led me to conclude that I’m definitely not a fast reader. In other cases I’ve noticed that what may take one person an evening (approximately three hours) to finish a book, it may take me an hour or two more to finish the same book. Obviously it depends upon the book, but on average, I feel like a slow reader in the blog world and perhaps a medium paced reader to the rest of the world.
Going along with this – and tell me if this is not normal – but ever since I can remember (long before the blog) it’s become a habit of mine to note the minutes spent reading and do the math to find out how many pages I’m reading per minute.
I realize that reading speed is more accurately judged on a book by book basis depending upon how effortlessly the writing style reads and how invested you are in the story, but in general, do you consider yourself a slow, somewhere in between, or fast reader, and have you ever timed yourself during reading periods to come up with your reading speed for that period?
Oh, boy, have I got a site for you! This one, http://mindbluff.com/askread2.htm, will tell you your speed, and also give you a chance to score for understanding (though in my opinion, it’s a little weak in this area, as all it asks is whether you remember a phrase word-for-word). So, puzzle no more, test if you dare! I read 300 WPM, which is down from a college level of 900 WPM. I was singlehandedly responsible for breaking a couple of testers at the University of Oregon in my day. Which occurred in the last century, if you must know. Anyway, bonne chance!
Oh, thank you for posting the link! I will take it when I have a chance, for sure.
I haven’t really tested my reading speed (I also think it largely depends on the book), but I also consider myself a rather slow reader. It seems like no matter how hard I try I can’t average more than 4-5 books a month, and I envy people who can read 100+ books in a year.
That’s my average books read per month as well! It’s my dream to read 100 books a year one day.
Great discussion topic, it’s something that I’ve wondered about too. I think I’m somewhere in the middle. I may even be a slow reader, it’s just that I usually read everyday (although not lately) so I can finish several books in a week. I try to write reviews as soon as I’m done reading so that the details of the book are still fresh in my mind.
You know what, I’ve never timed myself while reading. LOL I don’t think I’d want to do it! I might get pressured to read fast and then I won’t be able to properly absorb what I’m reading.
I almost always read a little bit everyday too, but sometimes I only have a few minutes so I don’t get much read. I’ve pushed myself to read faster only a few times, and it never lasts because I miss things and it takes away from my enjoyment of the book. I still like to see how fast/slow I’m reading a particular book.
Pre-blogging, I used to be a very fast reader but that’s when I was in high school(homework back then was nothing in comparison to college!) and more free time. I also didn’t really analyze what was I reading–I would just zip through one book and pick up another. But now with the limited time I have, I’ve become a slow reader. But I actually prefer to read slowly since I’m more aware of the story I’m reading, the style of writing the author has and the characters that make the story so enjoyable (or maybe not). My critical eye is sharpened by slow reading and I wouldn’t have it any other way
Great answer! And I always thought being a slow reader was a negative thing…
I think I am a bit of a fast reader, because given the time, I tend to finish books really quick. Sometimes it annoys me because I think I skim over some parts and when I encounter a quote or discuss something, I forget some parts. But you’re right, it usually depends on how interesting the book and how good the writing is. I remember finding Delirium such a slow read, but I remember zipping through Storm Front just a few weeks ago, and they’re roughly the same length.
I’ve never timed myself while reading, too. I just tend to count the number of books I read in a week to see how fast I read, but that’s hardly accurate especially if I’m reading a classic and that’s always a slow read for me.
Seems like I’m alone in timing.
If I read more than one book in a week I’m very proud of myself, slow-poke that I am.
I don’t think I’m that fast either. Sometimes I want to be faster, but I think if I think about it., it makes me not be able to concentrate on the book! So.. I think I’m in the .. probably average side? I took the reading tests above. I got between 300-350 words a minute for one test, and I took another and got between 350-400. So I guess I’m around 350! Whatever that means. It says above average, but I’m thinking for book bloggers, it’s average.
I know what you mean. It seems like you really can’t change the speed at which you naturally feel comfortable reading unless you want it to take away from your reading experience.
I can’t wait to take this test! I’ll post my results.
Ha! I love this thread. And I’m vastly relieved to discover that there are other OCD-minded people out there who also time how many pages they can read in a time frame. I’m not quite sure how fast I *actually* read, speed wise, but I think I’m probably on the quickish end. Mainly cause when I was younger I would force myself to read faster so I could find out what happens in books and the habit sorta stuck. But there are favorite books I find myself purposefully slowing myself down on just to wallow in the language/story just a little bit longer.
Yay! I’m not alone in my OCD timing habit! I would’ve guessed you were a fast reader, you read some many books a year! I’m jealous.
Loved this! I used to think I was pretty fast, then when I started blogging, I saw all these people who read way more and much faster than myself. Mind you, I did get 100+ books read last year. That includes some much younger MG books as well as very few adult books, though. I also didn’t think I timed myself while reading, but I remembered that sometimes I’ll look at the clock and think “10 more minutes” and then check how many pages I read in that time. I don’t actively see how fast I read, but I have done it a few times.
For me, it depends on what type of book. If it’s like a fun, light one with a “conversational tone” (if that makes sense) I can read it pretty quick, usually around 120 pages an hour (if my hours divided by pages math is alright xD). For literary/classic books I tend to take more time to make sure I read and understand every word :p I’m totally lost when it comes to reading words per minute, it seems bizarre for some reason! Anyways, really interesting post!
i read really fast. whenever i am sharing a newspaper with some or magazine or a computer screen, I always am ready to turn the page while the other person is still half way through. same if reading the screen on a movie.
i love this discussion post btw.
i often read a book a night (especial if it’s YA) and am embarrassed to admit how many books i read a year (so far this year i have read 70 books, 20 of them adult fiction and quite chunky). i often make a goal to read less. to slow down and take a breath between books ~ but i am too impatient to stick with it
Thanks! And wow! I’m impressed. And a bit jealous.