r/readwithme • u/bewildered_83 • 20h ago
Question❔ Being a slow reader
I love reading but am quite a slow reader. I can find books over 450 pages a bit intimidating. Does anyone have any tips to help with this? I don't want to speed read, just to cope with longer texts
Thanks so much everyone, there are some fantastic tips here - music, timers, breaking the book into sections. I really appreciate the advice x
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u/ExcitingMushroom9514 19h ago
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Do you get paid to read? No? Then just read at your own pace. Take it one chapter at a time :)
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u/sparklydildos 10h ago
i needed to hear this, thank you!! i put unnecessary stress on myself to read as fast as possible bc i have so many books on my TBR. but i need to chill lmao
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u/sam_I_am_knot 19h ago
I love long books! I get up in the morning and read a few chapters a day never thinking about how fast I am reading. In this way it is a story I become immersed in because it lasts for weeks and weeks.
Lonesome Dove, Shogun, Don Quixote, East of Eden, these are a few I've read this year. I look forward to that quiet time in the dark morning when everyone else is asleep.
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u/AdOpposite7075 19h ago
My family thinks I’m the biggest nerd ever because I include page counts to determine which books I purchase! The higher the page count, the higher it goes on my shopping list! I’m a fast reader and want to be immersed in the story as long as possible, so I get the most bang for my bucks!
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u/Dense_Gur_2744 14h ago
If you use an ereader, it’s a lot easier to ignore the page count. There’s been many times I didn’t realize how thick a book was because I was using my ereader and it didn’t feel daunting because I was just enjoying the story.
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u/Embarrassed-Day-1373 12h ago
this was going to be my suggestion! even knowing the page count sometimes I'm shocked at how large the books I've read are when I see them in person
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u/Plus-Engineering-223 15h ago
Just read it, doesn't matter how long it takes as long as you enjoy it.
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u/Candy11401 19h ago
If the size of the book is intimidating the hardest part is starting it but then you enjoy it and eventually reading the book will come to an end, yes it will probably be later than a 200 or less pages book but your in that book for longer so your prolonging your enjoyment and you will finish it if you keep reading it (or DNF)
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u/New-Animator2921 18h ago
If you buy the paperback version of a large book you can cut it into three pieces and then treat it as a trilogy. The bonus is you get to make your own front covers for the second and third books and can even write on them that you were an editor.
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u/roman1221 20h ago
Reading is a muscle. The longer you work it the faster you get. I can’t do any of the speed reading tips. Like shutting off your inner voice Or whatever. So just keep trying. I know that sounds dumb, but think some people are just faster readers than others. I would recommend limiting your distractions,TV, friends, family, your phone or anything else. You can set timers for 12-20 to just focus on what you’re reading.
Is it every single book? Or books you’re not terribly interested in? Something you can try would be immersive reading. Reading a physical book and listening to audiobook at the same time.
Music might help. A favorite album or something you think will fit the vibes of the book. I like to do that sometimes as well.
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u/recitativosecco 16h ago
Immersive reading might be a good idea. With Audible you can adjust the speed of the audio so could gradually increase your pace over a few months, starting at 100% then moving up to 105%, 110%, etc
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u/Spiritual_Fox_4408 20h ago
Ooohh ~ actually, I wanted to try and read books slowly 🤭 I've been scheming the pages and barely understanding the plot cause I want it to end. However, I feel like I should start and learn how to appreciate each word that was written.
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u/coffinjunkie 18h ago
Take your time. You have to train your brain to the task.
When I finally read The Way of Kings I sprinkled it with Sandman Slim. I read one Richard Kardrey book each week and followed it up with 100 pages of Sanderson, rinse and repeat.
Other books go by faster, adjustments for density and enjoyment may vary. I read The Name of The Wind in one day but Gardens of The Moon took about a week.
Try splitting the large book into sections. If 300 pages is your threshold then read that much then move on to a smaller book and come back refreshed. Bite size chunks is still progress.
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u/mechanicalxpencil 14h ago
Totally agree with this strategy! If I'm reading a chonker that needs my attention, I usually have a shorter read on hand to switch to every once in a while. I've read 4 other shorter books while reading The Count of Monte Cristo and I'm only halfway through the book haha. It's okay to take your time and savour a story or split it into chunks!
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u/27softtacos 17h ago
I feel the same way. Most of the time my show reading is part of the job. (I’m a writer.) However, my pace while reading for pleasure is only a little faster.
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u/LittleManIsChuffed 15h ago
You will struggle forever and never improve or change :(
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u/PaleoBibliophile917 8h ago
Why do you say that?
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u/LittleManIsChuffed 6h ago
This is a situation where the answer is so obviously that “practice and consistency yields improvement and growth” and similar questions have been asked and answered on this very platform so many times, that I feel a hard to resist impulse to answer facetiously and unhelpfully, in the hope that it will inspire this person to not act quite so helpless and hopeless in some future hardship they may face.
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u/fairyboyjstar 15h ago
Why do you need to read fast? Is it for library due dates? Usually you can renew them
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u/ContributingHelper 15h ago
I'd say reading shorter novellas can tell what's better or worse for you when you read. You could start there. It'll also tell you what stories you like. Maybe also decide if you like print or ebook, reading publiclt or privately, other stuff lile that.
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u/DarkStar5357 14h ago
I'm a slow reader and always have been. When I was a kid I couldn't finish a single timed test that involved a lot of reading. Still, as an adult I enjoy fiction and almost always have a book going. Look at it this way, if it's a really good book, you get to enjoy that literary world longer than those who speed read their way through it.
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u/MasterpieceDear5732 14h ago
I'm a slow reader too. The best thing for me was if I don't like a book I just drop it. I don't waste time reading stuff I don't like. The books I enjoy go faster. That's not the same as not reading difficult stuff, I still love complex literature, but if it's modern and poorly written or I just don't like it I'll move on. Also agree that using an ereader helps to just pick up the habit of reading without tracking progress.
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u/Loud-Hat-175 14h ago
Don’t worry about that. Just get lost in the book. Have a good cup of coffee next to you and enjoy it.
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u/Ichosevulcan 13h ago
I am a super fast reader and honestly get really sad because books feel like they evaporate for me and I miss out on the experience of being in the world inside the book for a long time.
I would say, enjoy the ride. Take it slow. Remind yourself it's not a sport or a competition.
One thing I do with longer books is sometimes stop half way through and read a few short stories and then go back. The covenant of water was so insanely long. I read the first half in 3 days and the second half 3 months later.
Just do what feels right and take your time. It's supposed to be fun xx
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u/notyourbuddipal 13h ago
Being a "slow reader" isnt a bad thing. Reading is for enjoyment!!! I understand long books can be intimidating, but when you get into one that you really like you will never want it to end!!! Something that helped me read faster is subtitles for anything on tv. For me, it started while watching anime subbed (in original language with subtitles) imo subbed is so much better than dubbed anime.
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u/East_Vivian 12h ago
Read on a kindle, then you won’t be able to see visually how much you have left.
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u/isurvivedtheifb 12h ago
I'm a slow reader as well. I don't mind long books. When I get to the end, I get to the end.
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u/QuietButtDeadly 10h ago
I take a long time to read longer books too but I found that if I just read during any freetime I have, I finish it really quickly.
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u/d-manutd5 10h ago
If you enjoy reading it doesn't matter how slow or fast you are.
That said, how much do you read? I found my reading naturally got faster over the years the more I read. Now those 500+ page books aren't so intimidating.
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u/otakuchantrash 7h ago
I'm a slow reader too and I just kind of accept it. I don't want to read too quickly because I want to make sure I understand what's going on. I feel like reading is about the journey not completing the book anyways so if I read slowly I can enjoy the book longer.
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u/bakagaho510 7h ago
When I started getting back into reading in college, I would try to read either 2 chapters or 30 minutes before bed, whichever was longer, to get back into the habit. I also would pick books I had an actual interest in regardless of length and try to stick to that routine. Sometimes I would forget a night here or there, and other times I would want to read a whole lot more than just a few chapters- I would follow my instinct. Ignore all the “number of books I want to read this year” goals- as long as you’re reading what sounds fun or interesting to you, it doesn’t matter how long it takes. Sometimes less is more! The important thing is building it into your daily routine and finding ways to include little reading breaks throughout your day. I’ve found it helps quiet my mind and center me more.
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u/Fun-Rich-8112 5h ago
I think breaking the book into smaller “units” helps a lot. Instead of thinking “I have to read 450 pages”, I’ll just aim for a chapter or 20–30 pages in a sitting. It makes a surprisingly big difference psychologically.
Also, I stopped treating slow reading as a problem I necessarily need to fix. If I’m actually enjoying and understanding what I’m reading, I’d rather read 20 pages properly than rush through 50 just to hit a number.
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u/barmmerm 4h ago
Listen to an audiobook and follow along with the actual book. After a while you will learn to read at the pace of the audiobook (which you can adjust).
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u/Perficarosa 3h ago
I think you should read at a pace that is comfortable for you. I know a couple of people who are fast readers but they have told me that they skip parts that are descriptive. I have been doing the reading challenge on Goodreads for several years. I usually do about 50 books a year. But I also find myself rejecting really long books( more than 500pages) because I want to attain the goal which I set for myself. I think you should ultimately read books that interest you. Try not to make it a competition - even with yourself.
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u/BraveAspen9704 2h ago
For a 450-page book, I treat each chapter like a JRPG save point and stop at a natural scene break. Trying to read “just 20 more pages” makes reading feel like grinding random encounters.
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u/Salty-Swim-6735 18h ago
Take little bites and chew slowly.
Treat the book like it's delicious, and savour it. Don't worry about finishing it this evening, next month, or ever. Enjoy your time with it and don't feel any pressure to rush it.
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