Thursday, December 11, 2008

Booking Through Thursday: Time Is of the Essence

This week's BTT topic:
1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read? (I’m guessing #1 is an easy question for everyone?)
2. If you had (magically) more time to read – what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?
Yes, I suppose just about everyone is going to answer "No I don't" to the first question. That was my first reaction, too. I'm a typical bookworm – when my nose isn't buried in a book I feel I'm wasting valuable time. I could be reading!!!

Of course, if I'm honest about it, I have to admit I really have just about as much time to read as I want to give myself. Since I'm not working anymore, my time is pretty much my own. My real problem is that I have fingers in too many pies, and too many other "interests" taking up my reading time.

But if I did have more time to read – magically or otherwise – I suspect I'd very likely read the same sorts of things I read now. I read for pleasure, so all my reading is already "comfort reading," and "escapism." I already read quite a few magazines, too. And blogs, of course – can't forget those.

It's not lack of time that keeps me from reading as much as I'd like. My real problem is that I generally read much too slowly. And I really shouldn't do that. I know all about speed reading and Reading Dynamics and all that stuff. And with all the editing and proof-reading I've done over the years, I'm able to read rapidly when the need arises. But no matter what Evelyn Wood may have believed, I find I really enjoy reading more (and retain more of what I've read) when I slow down and savor every word.

9 comments:

  1. Oh, I think that when you have a GOOD book, it's vital to slow down and savor. No to speed reading!

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  2. Slow is fine! and I too have other interests that I'm not willing to give up to create time for more reading. Other interests are a good thing.

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  3. I agree with you about having your finger in too many pies. I do too. :)

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  4. I agree with you completely about the speed of reading. I don't like to rush thru a book. I'm reading for pleasure and I don't want to miss anything that I may if I'm reading too quickly.

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  5. I usually read two hours over breakfast every morning, taking my time and sitting at the sunniest spot at my neighborhood coffee shop. (It's San Francisco...everyone has their coffee at the cafes). Then I'll slip in some reading time when no students come for office hour. I'll read a bit more at home in the evening since I don't watch much TV.

    As to reading speed, I'm all for slow and close reading.

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  6. I hear ya! I have my fingers in too many pies too.

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  7. I would like to spend much more time reading too - but I also have other interests that take up that time. But I supposed that having so little time would make one appreciate what reading time there is!

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  8. When I tried speed reading, it turned pleasure into a chore, so I stopped and went back to old habits.

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  9. I usually read pretty fast, but when it comes to classics I slow down. Mostly because the writing is so different. I enjoy my reading time.

    Robin of mytwoblessings

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