The Booking Through Thursday for Thursday wasn’t posted until later in the day, and I was gone most of the day, so I am just now getting to it. It happens to be one I submitted:
What do you think of speed-reading? Is it a good way to get through a lot of books, or does the speed-reader miss depth and nuance? Do you speed-read? Is some material better suited to speed-reading than others?
I don’t speed-read, and that’s why I asked the question. It seems as though you would miss a lot that way. I like to really slow down and savor some parts of the plot. Actually, if it is really suspenseful or I am really into the plot, I’ll read quickly to see what happens and then come back and go over it more slowly.
I do wish I had known how to speed-read in college, though, especially in some classes where one could make an A without reading the textbook except that points were taken off for not completing the reading. And when I am reading for some types of specific information, I’ll skim, but speed-reading would probably give me more depth than skimming.
But to me the point of reading is not to just get through a lot of material. I want to glean something from what the writer says and to enjoy not only the story but the way it is crafted. I like the nuances, the fine details, the choice of words. In fact, one book which has been on my TBR list for ages is How To Read Slowly by James W. Sire. I’m hoping it will help me read in a way to comprehend and retain more.
I’m looking forward to reading some of the other answers here to see what people think about speed-reading.
Stray Thoughts 
Great question! Thanks for submitting it. I take a balanced approach, which you can read about here: http://www.mswallow.typepad.com/
I’ve never understood speed reading. I don’t get how you would begin to get the meaning of what you read that way 🙂
Barbara, this was a great question, and I agree with you. I think that speed-reading has its place, but not in reading for pleasure. I try to think about all the time the author has put into writing a novel, and give it the same care and attention.
I am a fast reader. Speed reader, no way!
Booking through speeding
That was a great question. I am also a fast but not speed reader. i think it is weird when people what to read for quantity as opposed to reading for enjoyment.