The Way I Read | Book Discussion

Hello, book lovers! 💕

I think I’ve mentioned multiple times on here that I’ve become a really slow reader, at least when it comes to physical books. But it’s something I noticed the other day and felt like I should discuss on here.

I might have done a similar post in the past, so I’m going to mix it up and discuss the pros and cons of being a slow reader. And how I’ve come to accept it.

So without any further ado, let’s get onto the discussion!

I’m going to start off by saying that I haven’t always been a slow reader. It’s only recently that my reading has slowed down. I think the main reason for that is because I have so many different hobbies now, and I’m also busy with other things in life that I don’t always have time to sit down and just read.

I’ve been really into video games on my Nintendo switch lately, which I wouldn’t be able to read and play unless I listen to an audiobook. The same goes for my drawing. I can’t read a physical book and draw on my iPad at the same time, again unless I listen to an audiobook. (That’s a discussion for another post).

So when I sit down to read an actual book, I get distracted by other things that I also want to do. But I’m learning to overcome that and just let myself read when I’m in the mood to read, even if it’s for a short amount of time.

That brings me to how fast I read. Because I don’t read in large bursts as much anymore, it takes me a lot longer to get through a book. I may read 20-30 pages in a sitting each day. And that’s not a bad thing.

Pros of being a slow reader:

The main thing about being a slower reader is the fact that I am able to spend more time with the characters that I’m reading about. In doing that, I’m able to develop a deeper connection and understanding with the main character that I might not have gotten if I sped through the book as quickly as possible just to say I finished a book.

I’m also able to pick up some smaller details that I otherwise would have missed throughout the story. If I speed through a book, a lot of the small details get breezed over, so by taking my time with a book, I’m able to catch those details which add to the reading experience.

That’s especially helpful when I’m reading a high fantasy book where there’s a lot of world-building and character development happening.

Cons of being a slow reader:

The only thing that I can think of in terms of being a con of reading slower is not getting through as many books a month or in a year. As someone who follows other readers on Goodreads or YouTube, it’s hard not to compare my own reading to theirs. When I see them reading 10+ books a month, I’m discouraged about my measly 3-4 books a month.

Like I said, I’m working accepting on that not only am I not able to get through that many books in a month, but I also don’t have to read that many books in a month. Reading is reading, regardless of how many books you’re able to get through. So what if it takes me two weeks to get through a single novel? At least I’m reading.

So there you have it. I know this post kind of seemed all over the place (at least it did for me). But I kind of just wanted to have a discussion of how my reading has changed and why that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Are you a slower reader? Or do you speed through multiple books a month? How do you relate to this post? I’d love to discuss it in the comments below!

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