Do you read books word-by-word or do you scan the book?

[funcubs21]

I am a fast reader and will admit that I have been known to scan certain parts of a book. Long paragraphs describing the setting tends to get boring and I will skip/skim through it. I have found that when I do this it really has no bearings on the outcome.

[moderntimes]

I occasionally face a sadly difficult job. Since I review mystery novels for a website, I really cannot do justice with the book if I skim or skip over things, but from time to time I find that the book is just boring. However, writing a fair review is what I have to do, and so I have to also read the awful book so that it might, mmm, get better.

My impression however is that no book which begins awfully written recovers later on -- the author doesn't midway learn to write a better book. But I still must read the thing. Sigh. That's why I'm paid the big bucks, ha ha (typical for most book reviewers, I get zero money -- I do however get to keep the book which is mailed to me by my editor -- sometimes it's a "keeper" and sometimes it's a book to simply give away)

[VinuW]

I feel guilty if I scan a paragraph, even if I don't like it. I read word by word.

[lily_kh87]

I read word by word. I can never read quickly, I just don't enjoy the book that way.

[Tiff-thebookworm]

I am a fast reader but I like to read word for word so that I don't miss any aspects of the story. Occasionally I will scan if the book doesn't interest me in the first few chapters just to see how it ends.

[Jolyon Trevelyan]

Word by word

[ebeth]

I read a book word to word if it is really good because I don't want to miss anything which I agree can take longer to read. However, if it is one that I do not find all that interesting but want to finish it anyway to see if the ending is any different I will find myself scanning then.

[Beth Robinson]

I often don't really know. After the first couple sentences of most books I don't really think about reading or process that the ideas are coming from line squiggles. Sometimes, if it is really exciting I skim by accident and miss things but it's hard to stop myself.

[mcm1113]

I'm about an average speed reader but I love reading books word-by-word. I feel that this helps me get the full picture of the book. I hate it when I miss a word! I also like to take my time when reading and think about what I am reading. It helps me get into the book.

[Cowgirl888]

I read my books word by word because I don't want to miss one detail about the book.

[DennisK]

The most comfortable reading rate, for me, is about the same as someone speaking. The only reason I would read any faster is when I am bored with what I am reading. For me, each word is important, and I frequently will stop to analyze a sentence, or the use of a word.

[vaz222]

I read books word for word. I'm not a particularly fast reader, but I would say I'm average for speed. I wouldn't be able to just skim a book.

[Mary Garrison]

I read every word.

[Maroosh]

I also always read word by word. I don't understand what's the rush. And I don't really consider someone has read the book if they are just scanning or atleast they could not have enjoyed it as much

[Camille Turner]

I think I mostly read word-for-word but if it's especially difficult, I'm forced to scan. For example, last year, I read The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco and there is so much Latin in that amazing, wonderful book that I was forced to scan a bit more than usual.