Thursday, August 12, 2010

How Fast Do You Read?

What book blogs will I find this week I wonder?  I enjoy discovering what people are reading, and the Book Blog Hop at Crazy for Books is a great way to do that. (thanks Jennifer, for hosting the hop!)

This week's conversation starter?  How many books do you have on your To Be Read shelf?

Well, LibraryThing tells me that I have 125 books on my shelf that are currently waiting to be read.  That isn't counting the 104+ Junior level books that I have on my shelf and want to read (I split them into two different lists so that I don't feel so guilty.)

Now, those books aren't even close to all the books that I want to read, that I plan on reading.  Those are simply the ones that I've purchased because I somehow thought that I'd be able to get to them immediately...mixed in with a handful of books that have been passed on to me by well meaning friends and family members because they know that I love to read.

I suffer from an acute case of my-eyes-are-bigger-than-my-free-time.  And this is why, friends, I have convinced myself--contrary to assessment results and popular opinion--that I do not read fast enough.  I should be moving through these books faster than this!  (Nevermind my big old house I have to keep clean, the six people living in it that need to be fed and clothed, the three kiddos I school at home, the teenager I'm trying to keep alive.)

Not that faster is necessarily better.  Unless you have over 200 books staring you in the face and more waiting not-so-patiently to join them.  Do you think about your reading speed?  Are you happy with it?  Do you sometimes wish--like me--that you could read books without actually spending the time to read them?

13 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    I read fairly fast. I can take down a 300-400 pages book in 2 days so long as it hold my attention and schedule isn't too crazy, faster if it really sucks me in.

    Sometimes I'll catch myself skimming instead of reading, usually when I'm not really liking a book and/or trying to get through a particularly dull section. I try to stop myself from doing that because inevitably I miss something, get confused a few pages down the line and then have to come back and clarify things, wasting more time. So that bugs me but other than that I'm OK with my reading speed.

    I just wish I had more spare time to do it!

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  2. I know your feeling I think. I have about 60 - 90 books on my shelf that I haven't read, all because I buy books at a faster pace than I can read them. I don't think that I read slowley though, I think I can read pretty fast, just not fast enough to keep up with my book buying addiction, lol. I love your blog by the way!

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  3. Sometimes I wish I could stop time just so I could have some quality 'time' to get more reading done! ;) Reading fast could help with quantity, but slowing down has its advantages too - it helps me 'taste' the story better.

    Anyway, great blog! I know I will be returning (just became a follower).

    Have a great day!

    Elle (Media Molly)

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  4. Happy Friday!!!--Stopping by from the hop!--I'm a new follower!!!

    I'm pretty happy with how fast I read--It just depends on what mood I'm in--Sometimes it seems like the authors can't keep up, and sometimes it feels like I'm swamped!!!

    my tbr number is a little high right now, but to be fair, I'm also including all the classics and such that I'd like to read "someday." The actual pile on my desk is much smaller ;)

    (\__/)
    http://nymfaux.blogspot.com/

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  5. I can read reasonably fast (side-effect of reading social theory at PhD level), so I'm reasonably happy with my reading speed.

    I've done a couple of short speeding reading courses, and I know I could read faster... but it's the TIME thing.

    You see, this thing called work gets in the way.

    I notice that your library thing widget is flashing some very interesting books my way... :)

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  6. Just hopping by from It's time to read!. I read quite fast but I have a lot of books and little time! Hope you can drop by and have a good weekend!

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  7. The time it takes to read a book is part of the fun for me, because when I'm not reading it I'm thinking about it. Or telling people about it.

    Sure it would be nice to be able to read like a maniac, but it's not about getting to the next book but enjoying the one your reading. Does that make sense?

    Haha well I'm just dropping by on the blog tour and thought I'd say hey :)

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  8. Love your blog! As for your question, everyone tells me I am a fast reader, I can usually read a 300 page book in about two to three hours if its good. My challenge this year that started my blog is to read 210 books in honor of the year 2010. I have never kept track before so this is new. I start to feel the pressure though when I slide behind schedule! But I can make it up pretty fast with at least one a day during the week.

    http://stephsreadingjourney.blogspot.com/

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  9. Happy Friday. Come see how many books I have on my TBR pile. I think my TBR pile reflects my reading speed. I read 600 books last year.

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  10. Wow, you've got a handful!! --You've got a nice blog here... great selection of books so I'm a new follower (Wonder Woman pic...cuz she's awesome!!)and looking forward to reading more.

    Visit me some time and perhaps you'd follow me as well. :D

    Have a peaceful weekend.

    Jinky
    @booksthattugtheheart.blogspot.com

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  11. hi!! i'm stopping by from the blog hops today :) I"m your newest follower!!

    i feel like I'm a pretty fast reader. it totally depends on what i'm reading though!!

    http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com

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  12. LOL! I loved your final question! Paraphrasing-- "Don't you wish you could read all of these books without actually spending the time reading them?"

    Answer-- Yes! But then I always stop and think...but I want to read them, and read them I must. I am a fast reader (thank God), and I am able to plow through a goodly number of novels each year. Some I read twice because I am so damned impressed the first time around.

    Thanks for your visit and comment, Melody! I shall be back for visits! Cheers! Chris

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  13. Actually, I've always felt I read TOO fast. I get caught up and want to see what happens but then later I find there are details I miss. That said, I always wish I had more time to read and never feel like I'm caught up. And I don't have kids so I do get lots of good quality reading time.

    These days I wish I had time to re-read books more than I do. And here's another question, with so many books to read, how quickly do you put a book down if you're not loving it?

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I'd love to hear what you have to say, leave a comment!