Confession: I'm a skimmer. When I read books, I am plot-driven. All I want to know is what happens next. As a consequence, I don't savor the language of the book itself. Upon rereading, I'm able to read more slowly. But the slowest of all is when I read aloud. Reading aloud forces me to slow down. I notice details and language I never noticed before. I don't do different voices for the characters or anything dramatic. But still, reading out loud has given me a deeper appreciation for what I'm reading.
I'm also a bad listener. I'm so used to seeing books that I think I'd be lost without the visual aspect. I'm impressed with how closely and carefully my daughters listen, how they pick up on details, moods, and intricate plot twists that I sometimes have to go back and double-check in the text. I guess the solution for me is to have them read to me!
Are you a slow, savor-the-words kind of reader, or a plot-driven skimmer?
I read to escape (laundry and dishes, hehe) I don't focus on details... I just want to enjoy. I have a friend who gets all kinds of anxiety when things aren't going her way in a book. That isn't me... I guess I'm more like you. I don't think I savor the words.
ReplyDelete