Reading Speed

[arjaybe]

My normal reading speed is in the range of two days per book to two books per week. Lately, though, I'm going through a slump where I only read a few chapters per day. I'm not having any of those spells of devouring large chunks of a book at a sitting. This happens once in a while.

It's not the book. I'm reading Ordinary Grace by William Krueger and it would normally have me zooming through it. Not now, though.

Anyone else have this type of reading cycles?

[Tarana]

The only thing that puts me into a slump usually are odd sorts of stress. Not quite depression but unexplained ennui. Right now is explainable - I have two very sick cats, but back in February, I struggled and there was no particular reason present. I find a couple days of marathoning something on BritBox or Netflix to usually get me over it.

[maddz]

Currently in a bit of a slump right now. I'm supposed to be reading the Hugo packet, but I've been cleaning up my iTunes library instead (my excuse: the Best Fancast shortlist). I find this sort of data cleansing relaxing.

Work-wise, I'm pretty stressed - we lost 2 team members in quick succession, and I'm up to my eyeballs with statutory work, business as usual, and stupid freedom of information requests wanting multiple years of data we don't record in a structured format. The submission deadline is in 2 weeks, and we'll need to get sign-off...

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by Tarana

... back in February, I struggled and there was no particular reason present. I find a couple days of marathoning something on BritBox or Netflix to usually get me over it.

Gotcha. I've been watching a lot of New Tricks. Giving the reading muscles a break, I guess.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Gotcha. I've been watching a lot of New Tricks. Giving the reading muscles a break, I guess.

That is a great show.
Apache

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by Apache

That is a great show.
Apache

Your favorite cast?

[Apache]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Your favorite cast?

The original cast was my favorites, but all were good.
Apache

[arjaybe]

Just starting this seems to have released the binders. I'm hurtling through the book now. That's usually the way it is. I just slow way down for a while, then ramp up again.

[tempest@de]

For me is not so much that my reading speed has changed but my focus has diminished, so I read less. Since I started reading ebooks I averaged 5 books a week, but last year it dropped to 3 and this year I’m at 1.
I also have struggled to be engaged with books more often, I start a book and it doesn’t grab my attention like before, and I tend to abandon them more often, even some of favorite authors.
I suppose this is the new normal for me as I’m discovering by learning about peri menopause, never would have guesses that it could affect the brain and pretty much all the body systems the way it does.

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by tempest@de

For me is not so much that my reading speed has changed but my focus has diminished, so I read less. Since I started reading ebooks I averaged 5 books a week, but last year it dropped to 3 and this year I’m at 1.
I also have struggled to be engaged with books more often, I start a book and it doesn’t grab my attention like before, and I tend to abandon them more often, even some of favorite authors.
I suppose this is the new normal for me as I’m discovering by learning about peri menopause, never would have guesses that it could affect the brain and pretty much all the body systems the way it does.

I agree on the actual reading speed. Even though I read less during my slowdowns, I still read what I read at the same speed.

I don't doubt that the changes during and around menopause can have an effect on the brain. With the large changes in the hormone environment, how could they not? I hope you come out of it one day and return to your accustomed reading rate.

[Renate]

My reading speed has slowed down. Mostly because something I read will resonate with my own life history and I space out for five minutes. If there's anything historical mentioned I end up going down the Wikipedia rabbit hole for longer than that.

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by Renate

My reading speed has slowed down. Mostly because something I read will resonate with my own life history and I space out for five minutes. If there's anything historical mentioned I end up going down the Wikipedia rabbit hole for longer than that.

Authors would swoon if they knew you were reading them.-)

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Renate

My reading speed has slowed down. Mostly because something I read will resonate with my own life history and I space out for five minutes. If there's anything historical mentioned I end up going down the Wikipedia rabbit hole for longer than that.

That's been my reading life since high school. (Well, the Wikipedia part doesn't go back that far.) General web time also takes a big chunk from my book reading.

Originally Posted by arjaybe

Authors would swoon if they knew you were reading them.-)

Even though it means I buy fewer books?

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

That's been my reading life since high school. (Well, the Wikipedia part doesn't go back that far.) General web time also takes a big chunk from my book reading.

Even though it means I buy fewer books?

Yes. Knowing they had that effect would be priceless.

[Sirtel]

I also turn to Wikipedia often when reading something historical. Sometimes for hours.

As to perimenopause affecting the ability to focus, yeah. It really does, from my own current experience.