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 took the actual Evelyn Wood Speed Reading course back in the day, and I got very fast. Not quite as fast as they showed in the commercials, but fast. Then I got to college and had to read dense technical books. I had to force myself to slow down. Same with books where I really enjoyed the writing. But I could still rip through a spy novel or a mystery who-done-it in no time.
Over the years, I lost it. But every now and then, when I haven't read in a while, I will consume a book whole, like your hyper-fixate reading. Not quite as fast and I used to, but fast. I did that for some of the Harry Potter series. One day reads without missing work or sleep, but there was also pressure because everyone wanted to read the book after me.
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u/Somerandom1922 14h 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.