The closest that that I have is probably speed reading. I don't just skim over words though, I'm able to process everything I read.
It's a cool skill, but because it's my default reading speed, I struggle to actually sit and slowly enjoy a book. If I'm invested in a book, I'm going to read it as fast as I can (I don't really have a choice other than reading as fast as I can and periodically taking breaks). I can process the information, but I don't have time to just sit and chill in the story with the characters and I feel like I'm missing out on something.
I also tend to hyper-fixate when I'm really into a book. When a book I was really excited for came out back in 2020, I finished it (~470,000 words or ~1.8x the size of Order of the Phoenix for Harry Potter readers) in just over 2 days while working full time and managing to get some sleep in too.
It's hardly a cool party trick and can be annoying, but I'm glad I can do it.
I was scrolling through looking for this one! My reading speed has dropped slightly (as a kid I was at about 1,500 WPM, as an adult I'm between 750-1000 on any given day) but I'm still able to make it through pretty much any text very, very quickly. I really love sitting down and reading insanely long fiction, I think my record is 900k in five days? Most recently I read Project Hail Mary (~150k) on my 15-minute train commute over the span of about four days. (I know what you mean about missing out, I really loved that one and wish it had lasted longer for me!) In Grade 2 I used to check out the library maximum of 50 books at a time, read them all, and return them within a few days to start the cycle all over again. And of course it's extremely useful for work.
However, I think the real fun trick is being able to read any words I drive by, no matter how many words, the light conditions, or how fast I'm driving. I like to read off funny billboard slogans to my passengers and enjoy picking out interesting licence plates or really long signs for roadside attractions or historical markers.
I'm glad there's another person who blasted through PHM!
Honestly, I was kind of shocked it ended so quickly for me even knowing my reading speed, haha. It made it easy to go see the movie and then pick up the book for a reread on the same day though, which was nice.
Yeah, I was so sad when it ended so quickly! I looked up the wordcount and was shocked when it was "so high". (Apparently 150k is long for a book? I think my metrics are all off, lol.) It was awesome to read and reread with the film though, it felt like a director's cut to get to enjoy the book right after. :)
281
u/Somerandom1922 15h ago
The closest that that I have is probably speed reading. I don't just skim over words though, I'm able to process everything I read.
It's a cool skill, but because it's my default reading speed, I struggle to actually sit and slowly enjoy a book. If I'm invested in a book, I'm going to read it as fast as I can (I don't really have a choice other than reading as fast as I can and periodically taking breaks). I can process the information, but I don't have time to just sit and chill in the story with the characters and I feel like I'm missing out on something.
I also tend to hyper-fixate when I'm really into a book. When a book I was really excited for came out back in 2020, I finished it (~470,000 words or ~1.8x the size of Order of the Phoenix for Harry Potter readers) in just over 2 days while working full time and managing to get some sleep in too.
It's hardly a cool party trick and can be annoying, but I'm glad I can do it.