I’m a devourer of books, a fast reader who just can’t stop reading. The speed can be good and bad. I developed into a speed reader as a child, eating up the Nancy Drew mysteries, Trixie Belden, and similar books. My speed helped me tremendously in college and in getting through countless books. But it does have a negative side — sometimes I go too quickly to really savor excellent writing. I’ll never forget the first book that made me slow down — Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain. I was whizzing through it, as usual, when all of a sudden it hit me — this was gorgeous writing. I slowed down. I enjoyed every sentence. It took me a long time (for me) to finish that rather slim book, but it was a great experience. It has made me slow down for fine writing — unfortunately, often a rarity.
I have to read. I must read. I cannot stop reading. While I prefer a really good novel or enlightening nonfiction book, I’ll read just about anything — from People magazine (not enough words!) to cereal boxes.
Friends of mine fall into this category and also into the frequent but not fanatical reader, and the infrequent reader category. I can only speak of what I know — the all-consuming reader.
We are the ones who are always reading in waiting rooms, on planes and buses. We are the ones who look at you rather blankly when asked what is your favorite book. There are so many! And, when asked what you are reading right now, the fanatical reader pauses. So many books flash through one’s head. Usually, there is more than one book being read. It may be worthy, but it may not be. It may be bubblegum reading or serious reading. For those of us who read all the time, these questions are very hard to answer!
What kind of reader are you? Do you find it easy to answer questions about your reading?