I have to admit, it’s a bit of a relief to know that I’m not the only one with overloaded bookshelves and a large personal collection of books. Thanks for making me feel normal! It’s fun to think of all you book-lovers who, like me, have books stashed in pretty much every room of the house.
Ready for this week’s question? Here it is…
Do you skim? Or are you faithful to read every word?
I clearly remember the evening (early in our marriage) when I first confessed to my husband that I have been known to occasionally skim while reading. I assured him that I usually only skim when I’m reading fiction, and only in rare circumstances. For instance, if an author insists on veering off into lengthy and boring passages of description that add nothing to the plot and do not capture me with their beauty…I feel no guilt in skimming right over them. Or if I find myself in the middle of a book that infuriates me, frustrates me, or bores me to tears…in that case, I’ve been known to skim along, gleaning what few key points there are along the way, just to finally get to the end and discover the resolution of the plot.
My husband was shocked and did not approve. However, I’m happy to say that he has since come to accept my periodic tendency to skim what I deem unnecessary material.
I will also admit that there are times when I zone out while reading, and come to the end of a page or chapter, only to realize that I have no idea what I just read. When that happens, it’s usually time to put the book down. And if it happens with the same book repeatedly, it’s probably time to set that book aside for good.
What about you? Are you dedicated to reading every word (even the boring ones)? Or have you been known to skim over some passages?
Every word.. even the boring ones.. hmm maybe thats why I read slower than most people
What if I missed a very valuable piece of information! I also have a super hard time putting down a bad book and not finishing it 
I have to say I am right with you….can’t skim at all! And I also am afraid to miss something important…LOL! I have tried though, just to go back and read the words I have missed!
But, with enough practice it is getting a bit better…I don’t necessarily have to read “he said” “she said” “said…” I actually can skip right over them!
Skimmer to the core. I have even gotten so bored and frustrated with books that I have not finished them and even returned a few! Sometimes during a very intense, fast-paced part of a book I get so caught up that my eyes will read faster than my brain can process… It’s all part of my ADD
I’m pretty much the same way. Generally I prefer to read it all, because the author put it in there for some reason, but if it is boring I might just skim through.
Barbara H.´s last post ..What’s On Your Nighstand: October
I’m a big believer in skimming especially through those lengthy descriptive portions. Not big on picturesque wording! I skip passages I don’t like, but sometimes that requires me to go back and reread in case there was important info in that section! LOL!
Basically I feel compelled to read every word. An exception is a book that has tons of description or that is just basically boring (so why don’t I just quit reading it altogether???).
Lisa notes…´s last post ..I don’t like messes
Oh yes, I’m definitely a skimmer! Sometimes there’s a lot of “yadda, yadda, yadda” that I don’t need to read every word, other times they get into (ahem) private details I don’t need to read. Sometimes I get so engrossed in the plot that I read and skim faster and faster to see what happens next. When an author is particularly gifted with words, however, I frequently slow down and even re-read passages to savor word choices and phrasings. So, tell your hubby it’s not YOUR fault if an author isn’t good enough to entice you to read every single word!
Oh, and btw, thanks to my running around the internet to see what everyone had on their Fall Reading List, I veered from mine and devoured “Unbroken” by Hillenbrand last week. It was OUTSTANDING!!!!
Now–back to my list. . .
Usually if I skim, I end up giving the book a lower rating. I’m more of the type to read every word, or at least nearly every word. If an author writes passages or pages upon pages that I feel like I need to skim, it’s usually because I’m bored. A good example is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. We read it for book club and I skimmed most of the book. I couldn’t stand all the rambling descriptions. My favorite books are the ones that make me read every word because I’m enjoying it so much. The only time I’ll skim a book that I’m enjoying is when I’m under a deadline either for putting up a review or finishing before a book club meeting!
Julie @ MyBookRetreat´s last post ..What Should I Read Next?
My short answer is that I tend to read every word. You can find my full answer here.
Every word reader, but I have skimmed if its too wordy or I am trying to stick with a book.
I am also an every word reader, but eventually I find myself skimming by the end, especially if its a book that I have read before.
HA! When you posted about how your brain works..or doesn’t work…a few weeks ago, the first thing I thought of was my freakish ability (or disability) to not actually read books, but rather look at a page and just sort of spot the important words. I am a skimmer to the core, or as I would prefer to be called, a speed reader! I think it goes back to elementary school, where someone taught me to write a paragraph as 1 sentence of introduction, 3 or 4 sentences of support, and 1 sentence summarizing the paragraph. Well, in that case, reading the last sentence of a paragraph should tell me everything I need to know! I also think this is due to the fact that once I start reading a book, I have a very hard time putting it down..regardless of things like math class (Mr. Gower’s desks were the best for hiding illicit reading), screaming children, burning dinners, etc. So, I must read FAST! I am making a concerted effort to actually read more words as I get older, however, it is honestly difficult for me. Reading to the kids has also slowed me down a lot, but even reading out loud, I have to fight the urge to just skip over the non-essential parts. Does it really matter that we don’t like Green Eggs & Ham on a boat or with a goat? or in house or with a mouse? NO. We don’t like them. We tried them. Now we like them. End of story. One thing I find interesting is that I have no problem using lots and lots of words when I write, when if I were the one reading what I write, I would skip 90% of them. Too many writing assignments that started with 7-9 double spaced, typed pages….
The only time I skim is when I’m getting bored or if the author makes way too much use of descriptive words. I find I’m apt to miss alot when skimming.
Definitely guilty as charged though I try not to! I used to skim a lot when I was younger and realized later how much I was missing from the plots thanks to my liberal skimmings so now I tryyyy not to, but it definitely happens!
Jen E @ mommablogsalot´s last post ..FIR ’11 Question: Are you a skimmer?
I’ll occasionally skim. When I was reading Lord of the Rings, I definitely skimmed past some of the “scenery.” If a book frustrates me (in a bad way) or bores me, I’ll probably give up on the book. Life’s too short and the books are too many! But occasionally, from a writing point of view, I’ll stick with a book I don’t care for and skim to see how the authors resolves a plot.
I pretty much read every word, very rarely do I skim. I do tend to read a head a bit when a plot gets exciting but I make myself slow down and re-read what I missed.
I tend to do both depending on what I am reading. I do find that if I skim too much though, it’s because I’m not enjoying the book.
http://curlingupbythefire.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-into-reading-question-5.html
Posted my answer on my blog.
http://markcarstairs.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-into-reading-question-5.html
I skim only when I’m reading an incredibly uninteresting book.
I skim. Oh yes, I do! When the content isn’t interesting, or when I’m trying to figure out if the book is REALLY worth my while, that’s generally when I skim. Trying to make a hasty determination usually drives me to it.
Yep. I’m a skimmer.
Though I try to fight it, I have a bit of a perfectionism streak! So, I do usually read every word and very rarely skim. I explained it more in my post. Another good question!
Sue
I rarely skim. If I find myself skimming because I’m bored or I can’t get into the writer’s style, I will just put the book aside with zero guilt whatsoever and move on to something better.
I skim very rarely, but if I do it’s because I got bored or the book takes a really graphic tone. My answer is here. Sorry it’s a day late, I didn’t have the energy to do it yesterday as I was out later than expected.
Claire´s last post ..Booking Through Thursday (8)
Ha! I don’t usually skim, but I do on occasion rush through a lengthy passage as you suggest. I also skim/skip “steamy” sections that occasionally surprise me in fiction.
I skim some books, especially if they seem boring. I usually read most books copletely. I abandon very few. Why? I keep hoping thy will get better
Like you I tend to skim parts with descriptions of hair, clothes and so on because I find it totally uninteresting. Luckily, the better a book is the less you see of those kinds of passages, so it’s not that often that I have to skim.
I’m a name skimmer, I’m always skimming names especially if I’m reading something from a Russian writer, once I know who’s who names become just a blur. I too think I only skim other stuff when it’s not important but I do skim all those unimportant words in books like, the, and, in, of, the boring filler words that you don’t really have to read you just know. But like you I have found myself at the end of chapters and realised I have no idea what happened, this usually happens when I’m tired or my mind is wandering normally to my next crochet project. I finished my 2nd book on my list last night and it was great. xx
Wrote a blog about it. Here’s the link. http://themancrew.blogspot.com/2011/11/fall-into-reading-question-5.html Goodness, this is fun!
Blessings, ~Kristy~