Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Just Out of Curiousity...

This is just going to be a quick hit (haven't had a lot of free time lately, darn you work!), but I was just wondering what everyone's normal reading pace was? Like how long does it typically take you to read a book? How long per how many pages, let's say? Does it depend on the type of book?

I ask because I normally read very quickly, especially once I get to a certain point in a book and then it just picks up like lightening. Boom! I'm gone! Give me four days and I'm on to the next book (it would be even faster but I have silly things like a job and feeding myself that get in the way). But I usually read classic literature, which means fiction. When I pick up a non-fiction book (about 10% of my reads) it usually takes longer because it's full of juicy facts that need to settle in my brain and yes, parts can be rather tedious no matter how intriguing the story or well written (even us history majors can admit to that much). So those books will take a bit longer. Maybe at the most 2 weeks. But that's still rare. And if a book pushes the 2 week limit, chances are I'll move on to something else more worthy of my attention. Too bad book. You lose!

And what is curious to me right now is that I'm reading this book that is really really good, but it's taking a while to get through (and by a while I mean that I should finish by tomorrow but I've already been reading for a week, what is the world coming to!). And it perplexes me. It's a good story, but it's just slow moving. It hasn't had that grab-you-by-the-throat-and-won't-let-go moment yet. So I'm able to continuously put it down. Weird. Again, I think the book is great. I just...I don't know...

7 comments:

Unknown said...

what book is it?
i used to read fast (all things fast...if i didn't read fast, it meant i wasn't going to finish and probably didn't finish it) and then i graduated from college and had to work (i teach)making lesson plans and reading stuff for the classes i teach. then i had a kid...so i'm averaging a week for any book and 2 weeks for books that require any thought at all like non-fiction. it's frustrating...i no longer have the luxury of getting lost in a book whenever i want to, but when it's convenient.

llevinso said...

It's The Poisonwood Bible. And it really is very good. Very important feminist read. But I don't know why it just hasn't grabbed hold of me like normal, you know?

I can only imagine how if I had any children my whole reading life would change. My only child is my cat, haha, and she already takes up plenty of time. And she loves loves loves to sit in front of my face when I'm reading. Bah!

llevinso said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wall-to-wall books said...

It totally depends on the book for me.
I have been known to read a book in one or tow days, BUT... The norm is about one or two books per week. I do have other things in life that I enjoy, LOL.

Becky said...

I've been averaging two weeks per book. I'm only able to squeeze in 15 minutes of reading time here and there on a given day. ( I'm a working mom with a 5 month old, so life is VERY busy!)
It sounds like you're thoroughly enjoying the book, which is why it's taking a little bit longer. I've read some books that were so good, I intentionally savored every page. Some books are just like that. =)

Anonymous said...

It depends on the book. Do I want to skim or do I want to savor. If it's a classic, I typically take a long time to read it. If it's a literary fiction book, same, but a bit faster. If it's chick lit, a day max. If it's ya, same. POisonwood Bible would probably take me two weeks..but I'd be reading something else, too.

llevinso said...

Interesting comments everyone. I guess even with the savory ones I just tend to really dig in and not be able to put them down so I sacrifice certain things, like my favorite tv shows and sleep, so I still get through them very quickly.