On Midmorning with Kerri Miller, the recent topic of conversation was “How our Fast Culture Hurts Reading.” The guests, David Ulin and John Freeman, talk about how the instant gratification of the World Wide Web has hurt people ability to concentrate and really dissect reading like we did before the internet was widely available. I thought that this topic of conversation was especially interesting in terms of book blogs and the many books that pass through our fingertips.
I learned the fine art of skimming while in college. There was no way I was going to get through five novels in one week. So I skimmed and I found that I could get what I needed to pass the class without really digesting the book. Then I finally got out of the habit of skimming when I graduated. Then came my book blog and I am constantly fighting the urge to skim, especially when I am online. There are literally thousands of book related items to read online and I want to soak it all in, but there is not enough time to allow me to do so. So I skim. I miss important parts of someone’s post or I don’t absorb it like I did before I was trying to cram it all in. Once I noticed that I was doing it, I have now made a concerted effort to slow down.
Also, I am completely amazed at how many books many book bloggers are able to read. I used to think that I had to keep up and now I have completely given up. I can read a book a week. I’m fine with that and if I really love a book, I’ll go back over the passages that I liked and try to absorb them. I think that is why poetry is not very popular. Poetry requires you to absorb each line, then sit and stare into space as you think about each word. In this world, where we are constantly in action, who sits and stares into space anymore? Well, I do…sometimes.
Do you find yourself skimming articles and posts online? How about books, do you absorb each word or do you race to finish it?
6 Comments
Interesting post. I also enjoy daydreaming/deep thought about what I’m reading, but it’s become quite an inefficient way to live with all I’d like to read. So for online, I usually skim. For books, where I want to spend that time reading but feel time pressure, I have moved to audiobooks. There, you know there is a definite pace – the book continues whether you are paying attention or not. I continue to get lost in thought, but the book will always pull me back. I’m interested in trying technology like the Kindle that will read my blogs and news to me.
Hello! I came across your site via book blog Ning site. I love the look of your blog! I also loved Kite Runner and Tears of the Desert looks good too. I’m adding that one to my list. Have you read A Thousand Veils by DJ Murphy? That one is really good to.
As to your question, i read every word of the book, i’m so afraid if i don’t i’ll miss something! I also like to picture it in my mind, every detail. Plus i get lost easily so really do have to read everything! I wish I knew how to speed read!
Thanks!
Natalie :0)
I still read fiction very carefully, to the point where, if I realize I read something wrong, I can’t move on until I go back and read it correctly. Now, sometimes, if it’s a very exciting moment, I will find myself trying to look ahead at the next page, but I won’t let myself skip ahead. I have to go back and read every word.
I will skim magazine articles and blogs online, although when something really captures my interest (like your piece, which I received by e-mail) I will take time to read the whole thing, every word.
My attention span has suffered a lot since the internet. My husband made fun of me this week because I lost interest in a music video/performance piece that was only seven minutes long, but I was out of patience after about two-and-a-half minutes. It was interesting, but I guess it just didn’t fascinate me enough to take up another four-and-a-half minutes of my life.
Time seems to be my constant enemy, so I listen to a lot of audio books as well. I commute to work, so I feel like it’s a good way to spend my time in the vehicle.
I’m a bit leery of the Kindle. I’m not sure how the audio will sound…is it robotic? Will that effect my interpretation of the book or post? However, if I received a Kindle for free…I’d definitely check it out
Thanks, Natalie, for visiting my blog! Thank you for the nice compliment. I like the look, but am never sure what others think
I haven’t read A Thousand Veils. I put it on my TBR pile on my Goodreads profile.
My husband reads the same way as you, he absorbs every single detail. It takes him awhile to get through a novel, but he remember everything in it. Sad to say, I don’t always.
When I’m reading, if I feel like I’ve missed something I will go back and reread until I get what the author is trying to say. However, I will skip ahead in a book if it’s a mystery. I like knowing who the killer is so I can see how the author pieced it together. I know that a terrible taboo, but I can’t seem to help myself.
My attention span is awful since I’m online all day. I’m still trying to develop tricks so that I pay attention better. Now, I’m starting to understand why there is so many kids diagnosed with ADD these days.