Why I’m Not a Fast Reader

Welcome to another blog post!

In a world that always celebrates speed, being slow at reading can feel like a negative. We’re surrounded by people who breeze through books in a day, rack up reading challenges, and somehow absorb it all effortlessly. You see some people are able to read 100 books a year. I struggle to read 50. Meanwhile, I find myself rereading paragraphs, pausing mid-page, and taking a long time to actually finish a book.

For a while, I thought that meant I was doing something wrong. I’m not though and that’s okay.

By the way, if you are a fast reader, that’s okay! This post isn’t meant to shame anyone or anything like that. At the end of the day, we are all different and the world would be a very boring place if we were all the same. Anyway, let’s get to it!

The first reason why I’m not a fast reader is it’s simply how my brain works. I don’t skim well. When I read, I tend to hear the words in my head, almost like a voice narrating the story for me. I picture scenes vividly, pause to think about what’s just happened, and sometimes go back to make sure I’ve understood something properly. It’s very much an immersive thing for me.

I don’t just take the time to read books. I sit with them, process them and think about them in detail.

Another part of it is my attention span. Staying focused for long stretches doesn’t always come naturally to me if I’m honest. My mind wanders a lot, I get distracted, and sometimes I’ll realise I’ve read a whole page without taking anything in. So I go back. And that, of course, slows me down even more. Oops. I’m very lucky if I read an entire book in one sitting. Don’t get me wrong, it can happen but very rarely.

There’s also the pressure. The idea that reading should be quick, productive and almost competitive. Think about the massive reading challenges you see each year. “How many books have you read this year?” used to feel like a loaded question. If the number wasn’t high enough, it felt like I was falling behind somehow, even though reading isn’t supposed to be a race. Like I mentioned before, if you do have high numbers for your reading challenges, that is absolutely fine!

I might take longer to finish a book, but I often remember it more clearly. I notice small details, reflect on themes, and sometimes feel more connected to the story because I’ve spent so much time with it. Slowing down gives me space to think, question, and actually enjoy what I’m reading.

Not every book needs to be devoured quickly. That leads to my next point. Some are meant to be taken slowly, to be paused and revisited, to linger in your mind long after you’ve closed the cover. My reading pace allows for that and I’m starting to see it as a strength rather than a weakness. It allows me to write a detailed review in my media journal.

So no, I’m not a fast reader. You know what though, that’s okay.

And that’s it! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read this post and I will see you soon for another one!

Beth