How many books do YOU read each week?

[Tony Walker]

(Stands up and looks around) My name's Tony, and I'm a speed reader (murmurs of "Hi, Tony).

Speed reading can be a curse. While the ordinary reader struggles to finish an average-length book in a couple of days, I can finish it in two or three hours. While the ordinary reader buys one book to read on a long airplane journey, I have to load up my carry-on bag with three or four when I fly to England.

"Ah yes", you may cry, "but you must miss out parts of the book while you're scanning through it at high speed." Not necessarily, but I do confess to skimming through certain fiction writer's works. However, when it comes to non-fiction or biography, I do read everything, including footnotes.

Are there any more speed readers out there, or am I alone among those who don't read fast, because it makes their lips tired?

[Dalaina Renee Nuckolls]

I read books by the ton. At least three or four a week. I am always looking up something. I love a good story to pass the time away. Books are great. I am a speed reader as well. I can finish a book in an hour if I have the time.

[Mary]

Wish I could have finished a chapter in my hammock last week; a spider decided to drop in on me...big (ok medium) black one with wide legs...I thought I had it under control. Tried flicking him off with my book; hand and then he decided to take a trip towards my um shall i say happy land...I was outa there quick; grabbed my yoga mat & Pillow & went back inside. We have a beautiful backyard. Willow tree, white birch, 3 ornamental cherry, lots of pine lines and two huge ones about 6 feet apart....the crapppy trees don't count...purple berries fall & get all over my dog and my garden. My favorite is my Japanese maple...almost time for a good trimming. It and my 2 dogwoods have grown 3 times bigger since we bought this place 3 years ago.

Joanna Penn said:

Hi Tony - I am a total speed reader and love it, although I agree it is definitely a problem on long haul flights back to Blighty (I am flying back from Australia too!)
I was home sick today and managed to polish off 2 novels in the hammock before lunch - fiction is just very relaxing! I read more non-fiction though which sometimes takes longer - try something from the neuroscience, eastern theology or physics genre and the vocab might slow you down! - or maybe one of those fiction novels written in scottish dialect...?

[poetrydances]

crikey bananas- !


it takes me two weeks to finish a typical book!- I try to make it last if its a good one I guess- so I sometimes slow down towards the end-


regards Tony.

[Gena A. Etheridge-Seltzer]

Hmmm...I really like to take my time with a book. I'd like to think that I carefully select the books I choose to read, and therefore like to savor each word on the page. Depending on how tired I am, and my mood or frame of mind at the time, I may read faster or slower. Whether going on a 2-3 day weekend trip or a week-long trip, I usually carry 2-5 books with me. Oftentimes, none of them may get read or I may only read a few pages of several of them. I like to be reading more than one book at a time...sort of like switching gears, etc. Interestingly enough though, I can recall what I've read up to my last stopping point in each one. Over these last few days and weeks, I have about 4-5 that I am currently reading from. I'm also anxious to get to my next stack, which may result in me picking up yet another to add to my 'also reading now' collection. In my 'what I get paid to do' career, too much multi-tasking will drive me insane; however, with reading and writing, it's different for me somehow.

[graves]

I'm always buying books and my library keeps getting bigger and bigger. This week I read three books, about 900 pages (which actually isn't much). Once I read the seven harry potter books in two weeks. That is what I call pure addiction XD. Sometimes I don't want to read cause my head isn't into it or I don't feel well, etc. But usually, I need something to disconnect me from reality.

[Shannon Lynette]

I usually am reading 5 to 7 books at a time. I can never settle on just one book. I'm always reading something, whether it be a novel, poetry collection, or a memoir.