Are you a book-eater?

Book discussions63 Comments

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, bookish friends! I hope you had a great week! I couldn’t be happier that it’s now Sunday, because, well…sunday means sleeping in, and basically doing NOTHING except reading, watching tv shows, eating and…yes, TALKING about books. Today, yes, it’s time for another bookish discussion…where I will ask a dreaded question…ARE YOU a book eater?!

The beginning of the year is usually the time for new goals, new challenges. Even if I’m not one to make resolutions, especially personal ones, I decided to be part of this resolution-frenzy, and did some. Thanks to Goodreads, every bookworm’s best friend besides BOOKS, we can all decide HOW many books we want to read this year. It’s fun, it’s challenging. But, isn’t this also a little bit, pressurizing?!

stress

Before I entered the wonderful world of the book bloggers, I didn’t know that some people could read 100, 200, or even 300 books per year. That’s a lot. Almost a book per day. If you’re one of those people, just one question: HOW DO YOU DO THAT?! I guess that there are two kinds of readers in this world: slow readers, and fast ones. Or maybe there are three, in between, the average reader, crazy enough to read a book per week, but not fast enough to read a book a day.

So, why does that matter, you’re asking?! I will admit it, I admire people who can read a lot of books. Who have enough time to read a book per day, because there are so many amazing stories out there I really want to read, and never enough time to do so. I get envious, sometimes, of those kind of people who just EAT books like I eat chocolate. But does reading more, necessarily means, READING BETTER? Are fast-readers more enclined to remember every characters’ names, every plot line, everything about a book? Or do you think slow readers are like slow eaters, savouring every single second of their meal, dreading the moment when they’re done?!jess

If you ask me, I will tell you this: there are three kinds of people in this world. Book-eaters, eating a book for breakfast, lunch, dinner, devouring pages every second of the day. Sloths, taking time to look, smell, pat the book like book lovers and taking the time to print every word in their minds. And then, there’s the average reader. In between sloths and book-eaters, in between everything. Then…Well, there’s ALL of us. Because, it doesn’t matter if we read FAST, SLOW, no matter if we eat a book and then struggle at remembering names, or read so slowly we can’t remember what we’re actually reading… What matters, really, is this. We read, and we LOVE IT.

Do you consider yourself a slow, a fast, or an average reader? Does challenges, like fixing a goal of books to read, during the month, or the year, stresses you, or stimulates you? 💬

Do you think that reading more necessarily equals to reading worse, or reading better? Or are those just words, because everyone is unique and has their own way of reading? (because we all know thats the truth) ? 💬

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Book blogger, travel blogger, writer. 📚 |🌍 | 💞 Writing & Communications Graduate. French. Living on love, wanderlust and ya books.

63 thoughts on “Are you a book-eater?”

  1. I’m a fast reader. I devour a ton of books. I don’t watch much tv, but I work full time and have a six year old so it’s not like I’m swimming in free time. I just make time to read every day. Even if it’s just 30 minutes. I have insomnia so I get in a lot of night reading sometimes. Right now I’m challenging myself to finish a story a day. Whether it’s a 30 page or a 304 page. As long as I finish it.

    I don’t skim. I savor. I just savor at a much faster rate.

    Takes a lot to be a standout book to me, and I don’t read many series so I tend to not obsess easily over a fandom, but really good reads still stay in my head.

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    1. Wow, you’re so lucky to be able to read so much! Even if I want to, it’s sometimes hard to make time for reading, in between work, life obligations and other stuff. I guess that’s when insomnia is kind of “good”, when it gives me time to read, too, ahah!
      Wow, that’s an impressive challenge, and how are you doing with it so far? 🙂
      Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this!! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m at 29 stories read, 3624 pages total. I’m that person that always has a book going, even on my phone, so if I’m walking down a hallway and it looks like I’m wrapped up in my phone, in reality I’m just sneaking a few pages in.

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    1. You’re so right, reading really depends on our mood, too! There are days where I feel like I could read all day long, and others where I’m just, meh, I’ll finish that book another time. It depends on the book I’m reading, too! 🙂
      Thank you so much for stopping by!! ❤

      Like

  3. Haha fabulous post. I’m a pretty fast reader, but sometimes I don’t have time to read at all, so that messes with the number of books I read in a year. Honestly though, I don’t think it matters how much or how little you read, it’s whatever suits you.

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    1. Aww thank you so much, I’m so glad you liked it! 😀
      I understand, reading really depends on whatever is going on in our lives at the moment. And YES, I really think that what’s most important, is that you’re content with how many books you’re reading! 🙂
      Thank you so much for your comment!! ❤

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  4. I’m definitely a fast reader. I probably finish a book every 2-3 days but that of course depends on the length. I’m also pretty adamant about setting time aside to read. As a student who doesn’t have a job, I have the luxury of having a pretty flexible schedule. So I get up earlier than I have to (though I am a morning person) so I can read for an hour and then I try to “go to bed” early so I can get another hour in. Reading is a big stress relief for me and so I make that effort to have that time.

    As for remembering names/what happens, I have a pretty crap memory so it wouldn’t matter if I took my time or read too fast haha. Though I do think because I read so many books, sometimes I struggle to keep stories straight–especially if they are in a series I powered through.

    Great discussion post!

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    1. Wow, you’re so lucky! I really envy people who can read as much as you do. I always try to make time during my day to read, but lately with my new schedule, it’s been hard to squeeze in 30-min reading during the day. You’re so right, about the stress thing. Reading relaxes me, too, and since I’m a very, very anxious person, I should really try and read more in those times, it should help 🙂
      There are SO many books sometimes, characters names, places and plots gets confused in my mind, and afterwards I feel like a bad reader, ahah.
      Thank you! and thank YOU so much for sharing your thoughts on this, Lauren! Always a pleasure to read your comments ❤ ❤

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  5. I go through phases of being all three 😄 But when I’m a book eater, later I only remember the plot and not the characters’ names (unless it was a really really good book). I hate being a book sloth – if I read slowly, the book seems to drag on forever. I want to be in the average, normal reading pace 😀

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    1. Haha, me too, I think, actually! Depending on my mood and what I have to do, I feel like I’m a sloth, and I HATE reading so slowly. I feel like I remember even less of a book when I do that, than when I read very quickly. Maybe that’s weird?!
      Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      1. No I totally get it! When I take a really long time to read a book, sometimes I forget what happens in the start or it just takes so long that I lose interest and I just don’t like it anymore :\

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  7. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit I’m a bookeater. I usually read about 4 books a week, depending on length. I’m a fast reader. People would think I have a lot of extra time to read because I’m a stay-at-home mom, but I don’t read much during the day — only when I’m on the treadmill or having lunch. Otherwise, I read at night. It’s usually when my husband’s watching TV.

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  8. I think I’m a slow to average reader, especially since recently I’ve found myself with less and less time to read. It’s really annoying since I have SO MANY BOOKS I need to read. When I was younger I used to read really quickly, but I also know I used to skim books a lot, which I don’t do anymore… And as I’ve slowed down, I think I’ve enjoyed the books I read more? Like, really appreciated their writing and everything

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    1. I completely understand the feeling! Lately I haven’t had much time to read, either, and it’s so annoying. So many books, so little time… But well that’s great, in a way, because like you say, we can appreciate every book we read, when we have the time! 😀
      Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this!! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Great post Marie! I am personally an average (?) book reader: not fast, not slow. I finish 2-3 books per week, depends on how much I love the book I’m reading. Long books are my favourite, I don’t mind taking my time and memorizing the maps and the appendices with the family genealogy 🙂 I also have a good memory so even if I stopped reading for a few days I can still remember the plot when I start again.
    I joined challenges this year, but I trued to keep my goals within the attainable range since reading is pleasurable for me, I don’t want it to cause unnecessary stress 😀

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    1. Thank you so much, I’m so happy you like it! 😀 Well, that’s already a lot of books, and damn, I’m so jealous of that impressive memory!! Sometimes, I have a hard time remembering, places especially, when it’s a complicated setting, and I find myself coming back to the map (if there’s one) often…but well, maps are useful for that then :p
      You’re right! Reading can become stressful when you join some challenges, I hope that won’t be the case for you! And good luck!! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I’d say that I’m a pretty average reader. During school, I have a lot of work to do, and I’m always super tired, so I only get to read for a maximum of an hour a day, in the week. I probably get through 1-2 books a week (depending on the size), though I’d say my actual reading speed is really fast!

    Though in the holidays, I’m definitely a book eater. I often read a book a day! I’m super envious of people who can do this all the time though. I’d love to be able to read more, but I’m thankful for the amount that I can read, anyway!

    I take part in the Goodreads challenge – this year I’ve gone for 100 books, but I’m already behind schedule! It doesn’t really stress me out though, haha 😀
    Great discussion, Marie! Thanks for sharing ❤
    Denise | The Bibliolater

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    1. I get to read the same amount of books as you, during work, it’s kind of annoying me. I wish I could read more all the time, but well…being a grown-up kind of sucks! ahah 🙂
      Ohh, well that’s so great if this doesn’t stress you out, it certainly would for me! 😀 Good luck for the challenge!! And thank you so much for your comment Denise! 🙂

      Like

  12. Great discussion post, Marie! I would consider myself something between a fast and an average reader, but I really think that remembering every single detail gets a lot more difficult the more you read. It’s not that I didn’t savour every detail at the time I read the book, but as soon as the next one came along, my memory starts to get fuzzy … it’s a little frustrating, but not so bad that I want to read slower. I’ve tried reading slow and then I have to concentrate on the slowness and I don’t absorb anything from the book hahaha

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    1. This happens to me ALL the time, too. Sometimes I get confused in between books I read, and I have to take a step back, read the synopsis of the book I’m reading or something, just to remind me in what world I am, ahah. OH YES, I’ve tried reading very slowly, too, but then I feel frustrated and just read faster and faster. I sometimes want to swallow the words so quickly, because I’m too intrigued by the story!!
      Thank you so much Kat!! ❤

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      3. Oh yeah! I know what you mean! I don’t skip ahead entire pages, but sometimes I catch myself flying over paragraphs with descriptions because I don’t think there’s any vital information in it. That’s really bad too :/

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      6. Aw, well I understand, some books are just way too descriptive for my taste, too. But well, I have to say I have many examples of French books I had to read for classes that were WAY too descriptive (like, PAGES….) and I don’t mind so much now, as long as it’s not…pages, anymore, haha! 🙂 But yay, dialogue is the best!!

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  13. Wonderful, thought provoking post, Marie! 😀

    I think I often give the notion that I’m a slow reader (my Goodreads goal is set to 30, which is nothing compared to those who have have it at 100+ aspirations) but rather I think I just don’t prioritize a lot of my time for books. I have other hobbies (not that I’m saying avid/fast readers don’t have other hobbies or real life obligations too!) that I spend more time for compared to reading.

    With all that being said, I think I’m an average reader though. I like to read every word and soak in all the details (however I believe that readers have the ability to enjoy the details just as much as well; really all depends on the person!). Sometimes I reread a section that I particularly enjoy at that moment.

    And AGREED! It’s about the fact that we love reading and it helps us de-stress. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw thank you so much Summer, this makes me so happy! ❤
      I completely understand, some people are thought of as slow, or fast readers, but it really depends on whatever your life is like, and lots of other factors, I think. I don't, and can't read 100 books a year because of lots of other activities besides reading, too.
      You're so right, it really depends on the person! Some people have an incredible memory, and they can read at the speed of light and remember every detail. That's amazing, I think! 😀
      Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Summer! ❤

      Like

  14. For me, it depends on the book and my schedule. If I’m on vacation with nothing to do but read a book I’m really interested in, I’ll devour it in one go. Otherwise, I read when I can and take my time savoring it.

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  15. I’m a lot slower than my sister, and don’t make as much time in my life for reading. But that’s okay! I enjoy it anyway. I’m an average reader, I think. If I have time I can read a book in a day, but I have to basically have nothing else on. I have a pretty bad bookish memory anyway, but I don’t think your speed affects your enjoyment. It’s like chocolate- you can enjoy inhaled chocolate or when you have one piece a night. In general, I could imagine slower readers remembering more, but who knows? Are you a slow or fast reader? Great discussion, Marie!

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    1. I don’t think that it matters, whether you spend all your day reading, or just make an hour a day to do so, or less. What matters is that you’re enjoying yourself! 😀 Yes, I always imagine slower readers remembering everything about a book…Me, I don’t know, sometimes when I start a book, I’ll read at the speed of light because I’m so curious about what’s coming next. Sometimes, I’m even worth than a sloth. I guess it depends on the book I’m reading, and my mood! 😀
      Thank you so much for your comment, so happy you liked this post! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Depends on what else is happening in life, but I would say that I’m an average reader. The goodreads challenge is a good number challenge but I also like to do other ones that open my mind to what is really out there instead of just reading books from the same genre all the time. It allows me to mix it up and even discover new authors that I now love

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  20. I’m a very fast reader because I have a tendency to just go on reading whenever I start a book, but I’ve found that sometimes the book doesn’t have the intended impact on me precisely because I just breezed through a certain scene, or might have accidentally skipped over an important line somewhere, which usually leads to me being a bit confused as to how something happened. While being a fast reader comes with a lot of benefits (perks of being an English major… ugh), I think a few elements are definitely lost, so being an average reader is the best option in my opinion.

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    1. I completely understand the feeling! Sometimes, I get so into the story, I read so quickly and find myself skipping some lines, then end up being confused. I hate when that happens!
      It really is the best option, but sometimes, you can’t help reading fast or slow, depending on the book and life! 🙂
      Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this!! 😀

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  22. I consider myself an average reader. I can maybe read 4 books per month. I would not want to read so fast that I don’t absorb everything in the book. I like to read at my own pace.

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    1. I think that’s amazing! It’s so easy to want to devour all of the books, but I think it’s important to keep our own pace and most of it all, to enjoy what we read 🙂

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