Tonight I was scrolling through posts from my blog roll and I came across this post from Lori @ Escape Between the Pages. Basically she was asking how readers can read so fast? Are they in a competition with other blogs or do they actually read that fast and retain what they read from the books? I just knew she was talking about me! Not in a mean way Lori, I know. Yet, I felt like I needed to explain some things to everyone.
Yes, I speed read most of the time. It is not something I can control though. I happen to be a fast reader anyway. I think after having 3 kids of my own and a stepson, I have found myself reading alot more to escape mommyhood. Plus, you never know when these kids of mine are going to want something, so I read as much as I can at a time. I also can stay up until well after midnight reading because they are finally leaving me alone. The question is, am I reading 5 books a day? No.
It may look like I am reading a ton of books each day, but I average 2-3 books a day on good days only. If you notice, there are days I will post only one review, then a day or two later I have posted up to 5 posts. How do I do it? Well, here it is. I preplan. Tuesdays are my contest days. I usually try to only post the contest and maybe one other post on that day. The rest of that day is dedicated to reading and the occasional twitter now. I also have a ton of reviews that I have logged on my computer for emergencies, or when I just feel like posting something. I like to have back up posts in case I get sick, or my family needs me for a day. So at times, I will have 10 or more review posts just waiting to be posted. Now, if they get to be more than that, I will post many in a day to free up some space on my computer for more reviews to write up. Throw in the author interviews, author guest blogs, cover alerts and random thoughts in my head, and yes, the posts add up.
Another thing to remember is I also review childrens books. Those take like 5 minutes, or 10 minutes max if my child wants to really look at the pictures, and I have another post. Some people mentioned that people like me are doing it as a competition. NO! I am doing it because I want to. I enjoy my reading. I also want to point out that some people don’t understand how I can write a review and sometimes it has no plot points on a book. My reviews are mainly my feelings on a book. Quite frankly, you can look at the synopsis of a book and figure out the basic plot of the story. I am more interested in explaining how a book makes me feel, instead of retelling that. I like to express how the book got me mad, sad and heartbroken instead.
All I can say is yes, I read them at a faster pace than most people. Does that make me a cheater because I don’t spend days on one book? No. It shows I am addicted to reading I think. There are some who will say that they got a different take on the book than what I had written in my review. Not everyone is going to have the same thoughts about a book. Some people might take the meaning of the book a different way. Isn’t that the point in blogs? To share your point of view?
I hope this explains my book review status better.
Becky
That’s really interesting. I am always amazed at people who can get through lots of books. I always think that it has to do with work. Working full time means that I can’t get through as many books as others. It also means that my reading is limited to me sitting on the train to and from work, and whatever I can squeeze in at home or on the weekends. I read fast too, but its my limited free time that limits how many books I can read.
I think its great you have the time to read so many books. I am very envious of you. I also think it’s possible to take in a book properly whilst reading it fast, depending upon the book of course. A modern day romance, yes. The Protrait of a Lay by Henry James, no.
Point of view is what revieing anything is all about!
Sabrina M.
I think there is a difference between fast reading and speed reading. IMO fast reading is what you do. You use your time to read a lot but don’t speed read.
Speed reading means rushing through the pages and not really grasping all the details and nuances a story has to offer.
I’m also a fast reader and because I read books from harlequin (one book has under 200 pages) I can read up to three books a day. But I don’t speed through them, I’m just a bit faster than others.
I read because I enjoy it and rushing through a book would be no fun.
Diana (Book of Secrets)
That’s amazing!! I’m not a fast reader or a speed reader. I get about an hour a day (after the kids go to bed) to read, so I can knock out about two books a week. By 9:30 pm my brain is so tired that I can’t do anything fast…LOL! Probably when my kids are older and not as needy, I’ll be able to read more.
My 5 Monkeys(Julie)
so agree about reading and with kids.