Slow vs fast reading

[revathy sw]

I prefer reading fast because for some reason reading slowly makes me angsty. Especially for action- or mystery-centered narratives, the urge to know what happens next makes me read even faster. However, recently I have started thinking about the advantages of slow reading: understanding the text more deeply (its themes, symbols, motifs), appreciating the author's careful use of vocabulary, the book's amazing (or awful) characters, references to people or other books etc. On the other hand, I think with slow reading, maybe there's a chance of reading becoming too academic, and hence, maybe a bit boring and tiresome.
Basically, I think slow reading helps you truly understand and appreciate the book while fast reading is enjoyable because it keeps you engaged.
What are your thoughts on this?

[Alissa Nesson]

I just read at whatever pace is comfortable for me. I want to really enjoy what I’m reading and take in everything that’s happening, so I never rush through it, but I think I read at a pretty good pace. Not too fast but not painfully slow. I read whichever way makes me happy.

[Sakshi Bhageria]

Great topic! I find that I like to read novels or stories more slowly, as it helps me get in the scenario more deeply. I will take breaks when I become overwhelmed with emotions (yes, that happens) and do some work, and come back to the book if I have time. But if it is a really good read, I will have trouble even putting the book down when reading slowly.

On the other hand, when the text or book is non-fiction, then as you said, revathy sw , reading it slowly can become tiresome very quickly as I would delve too deeply into what the author intended. The author wants you to push forward and soak in the entire topic before you try and create your own understanding of it.

Does this seem familiar to anyone?

[Varisha Khanna]

I am a really fast reader. I think the more I read and over the years as I started getting older it automatically came to me to read quickly. The fact that I tend not to get up until a book is done is probably also the reason why I prefer reading fast!

[Genesis Haney]

Depends on the part of the story that I am currently reading if it is a part that I like I will read it slowly even rereading it but if I don't like the part then I will read it fastly.

[London Baum]

Unless I’m like down to the wire on a book needing to returned to the library I just read at my usual pace, which is admittedly fast. There’s times during a book I’ll read really fast to get to a big moment but otherwise I just read comfortably

[Diane C Johnson]

I don't intentionally control the pace I read. That is unless I'm trying to finish a chapter or get to a certain spot before my reading time ends like my lunch break is almost over or I have to get to bed, then I might read a bit faster. I would say my speed also varies depending on the subject matter or the writer's style. If it's a tough subject matter or poorly written, then I might read slower. I do find that my natural reading pace is slower when I read digital format than it is when I read physical copies.

[Koffie Micheal]

I've been reading slowly for sometime now and I really want to change my speed in order to finish more books quickly

[Donna Dozar]

I just read comfortably, I don't intentionally control the pace. But I do find that while reading at a normal pace, the more interested I am in the book, the faster I naturally read. I tend to read slower, when I'm not as interested. If I find myself reading too slow, I just tend to stop reading, I figure it's a waste of my time if it gets tedious and I'm not interested. When I am interested, however, I can read in one sitting.

[Patience Reign]

For me i don't have particular preference. On some books, i find i read fast on others i find the pace is slow. The more interesting the book is, i find i naturally jump into my fast reading gear and if it's boring, i switch on my slow reading gear