Do you read books word-by-word or do you scan the book?

[crazyrussianmaria]

I was just wondering how many of you are fast readers because I'm not. I actually read a book word-by-word and this is why it takes me a while to finish reading a book. I have known people who can kind of scan a book and they get exactly what was written and what's happening. I've always been a bit jealous of that. Or some people look at a word and see the words around it too, which is what I mean by scanning as well.

Also, how carefully do you read books? I am super anal about not missing any part which is why it makes it harder for me to listen to audiobooks.

[rssllue]

I always read word by word. I don't like missing any of the story at all either.

[gali]

I am a fast reader. I still read word by word.

[rssllue]

[Gravy]

I wouldn't say I'm a fast reader, but maybe faster than avarage. I read every word. In fact, if I feel like I've missed a word I'm forced to go back until I'm sure I've read everything.

[rssllue]

[crazyrussianmaria]

Yeah me too, but I'm not fast by any means. I had a friend who's mind registered like a word and the two words on either side of it so that she basically read three words at once. It was interesting and I bet it helped her read much quicker.

[moderntimes]

I don't know what you mean by word-by-word or scan. I guess that "scan" means to simply brush through the book. I might do this with an article on some issue, or a long winded comment on the internet.

But when I read, I read the whole book, every word of course. And fast, about 640 wpm with excellent comprehension and retention.

Which makes sense, in that reading is my "job" as an author myself, reading being an integral factor in being a writer.

[LivreAmour217]

I always read every word in a book. I find it hard to believe that someone could simply "scan" a book and get a good comprehension of it.

[literarycat]

I am a fast reader, and do read word for word. If you just skim through, you might miss out on something or not catch a hidden meaning of foreshadow.

[bluemel4]

I read every word. I find my pace depends on the book. If it is a thriller I tend to read faster or if I am really invested in the characters.

It's an interesting question. Recently I was having a discussion with my husband about how he reads. He can read 4 words at once and have complete comprehension. It makes browsing together at the bookstore frustrating because he usually blasts through the entire place in the time it takes me to look down one aisle.

[falloutlunartic]

I read word for word, BUT sometimes a book will have unnecessary parts/details and I skim those(unless I am reviewing that book) so that I still understand everything. I am a fast reader, especially when I am enjoying a book and don't want to miss anything!

[moderntimes]

Thinking about this again, I suppose that another reason I read every single word is from my "day job" career in science and engineering, where I spent 40-odd years reading precise technical and scientific documents, and writing them as well. When you're dealing with specifications which deal with offshore exploration and drilling -- I was deeply involved in safety and environmental tech docs, so the safety of offshore workers was essential, and of course the need for protecting the financial investment by having good standards.

And much of my fiction reading is for reviewing mystery novels, and I own it to the author to read the book thoroughly.

Also, as a Joycean who's read "Ulysses" at least a dozen times, I value the precision of each word used.

I'll of course skim a news article on the net or casual stuff. But "real" writing? I read (and savor, hopefully), every word. Luckily I'm a fast reader.

[swodom7]

I read word by word but I get into this kind of rhythm where the pages just seem to fly by, but other times I am not able to read as fast. I don't know, I guess it's like being in the zone as a reader, especially when things gets really interesting

[kimmyschemy06]

I read books word-by-word. I don't want to miss any single thing. At first I thought that was the reason why it takes me a long time to finish a book. Then I learned that my daughter can finish a book in a short period of time and she reads word-by-word just like me. Well, maybe I'm just not a naturally fast reader