Bookish Chat 🍂 Slow readers unite!

[@troubalore]

Donna Tartt - 'It is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially.' Slow reader here! Social media has increased our hunger for empty calories--everything (possessions, travel, relationships) is for the photo, for the clout. But we are only hurting ourselves by performing for others.

[@AngelasBookcase]

What a beautiful quote!

[@librarian1701-D]

i really appreciate your discussion about the almost competitive idea of reading 'more'. I'm a slow reader, i savor each word. When i read faster, i feel like i haven't absorbed the 'world' created.

[@twiceborn_by_grace]

The title alone made me immediately wanna watch. Everyone on “booktube” seems like they read incredibly fast and this video was a HUGE encouragement. 😊

[@_Mike.85]

most booktubers don't read fast, they're probably skim reading if they're reading half the books they say they do at all

[@gardenplots283]

And it's nearly always lengthy books.

[@Slothreadersclub]

I started my booktube because I feel there isn't enough slow reading. That is why I called my channel Slothreadersclub.

[@books_and_bocadillos]

I started my channel partly for the same reason. I just subscribed. It's great to find others who take reading slowly 🦥

[@Slothreadersclub]

@@books_and_bocadillos Thank you. I am looking forward to exploring your channel, too.

[@richarddelanet]

My channel has a similar idea at least in the background...

[@saramm3765]

Yes to this. I see so many in the book community talk about how they're sad they're in a reading slump but really they just need a natural break from reading and to maybe pay attention to another hobby or simply to chill and watch a show. Their brain is probably tired from reading non-stop as fast as possible to keep up. It's not really a slump it's just a needed change for a moment.

[@darcysnovella]

This sudden speed-reading = keen reading atmosphere that I found myself sucked into between 2019-2021 ended up causing me my first reading burnout (it wasn't a "slump") for two years, despite reading nonstop since I was a child. I couldn't even *look* at a book without feeling tense and pressured. I'm autistic and books are one part where I have learned to essentially run howtopeople.exe in my brain. Books are my oldest companions, and bookshops are an ever present risk ("Eh, I'll go in here, what's the harm!" 🤡) Two years away from books and personal growth has made things reflective -- I've just reached the end of the burnout, and not only am I going slow, but reading multiple books slowly at the same time ("moodreading") without a need to place a must-finish-by deadline, or to have a strict TBR stack per month, or to even record how many I have read per month/per year (deleted Goodreads). It feels much more natural to the person I am and far more comforting a process.

[@shawkitty2524]

You're correct--the culture of BookTube and Goodreads with their yearly "Reading Challenge" promotes the idea that more is more and the more that you read, the better your life is. This year, I reduced my "Reading Challenge" number from 50 to 25 due to rebellion of fast reading. Overall, I've had a better reading year. I will continue in this mode.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I set mine to 1.😂

[@eszternagy597]

I love this video and was thinking why not making videos while reading a longer book and from time to time making a video on it, initiating a conversation here in your platform about the things you would like to discuss about that particular part of the book. I would love that and would be encouraged to read together perhaps. Thank you for creating meaningful and thought-provoking content for us!

[@heathereads]

I have been doing that with longer non-fiction and Middlemarch

[@AngelasBookcase]

I’m think it’s a great idea 💡

[@ericsierra-franco7802]

Agreed. Quality over quantity read is most important.

[@novelideea]

Reading is a joy! I don't hurry, but I don't slow myself down either. 🤭 BookTube hasn't changed that for me.🥰

[@Kite562reviews]

I'm a slow reader as well and I love writing detailed notes on what I'm reading.

[@joyceredman2136]

I am a slow reader because I work full time, have to take care of myself, etc. I read a book in about 10-15 days. I loved the Lucy Worsley's book; bought her book on Jane Austen too.

[@karend7539]

I'm so happy to have found your channel! Reading 20+ books per month is fine, everyone reads at different speeds. However, reading is not a competition and there are too many book videos on KZbin which focus more on statistics, than stories. I usually read one, occasionally two books a month. This is partly because of my schedule, but mostly because I enjoy immersing myself in a story. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos

[@SpacemanTheo]

I found that trying to keep up with a 'reading challenge' (number of books) nearly squashed my reading entirely. However, once I switched to Reading Projects, curating a book list that fits a theme/philosophy, I got so much more out of it despite reading half as much as I was when I was counting books. Currently I'm doing Ghibli films vs the books they were based on so sort of get a view of how Hayo Miazaki views the world through his art.

[@AngelasBookcase]

Good point!

[@kedi2064]

Me too, it’s lovely to just enjoy your books 📚

[@AngelasBookcase]

🥰

[@SimpleHealth83]

I'm also a "slow reader" (didn't realize it was a phrase) and also just recently learned about BookTube :)

[@codedecode878]

words of wisdom! one of my favorite quotes (i can't remember whose it is) is: you can't make the grass grow by pulling on it

[@user-cy6xl7ix6g]

Thank you so so much for this video!!! At least there are a few (?) fellow booklovers and readers out there who do not just gobble down their books in order to read as many pages as possible. Greetings from a slow, immersive, seasonal mood reader from Germany.🌻

[@darcysnovella]

Not me still getting a thrill every time I watch a booktube video that features a book I'm in the acknowledgements section of! This aside, I agree 100% with the pleasure of taking your time with a book. The books I remember dearest, the ones I consider old friends, are those that I took my time with -- and this also encourages me to return to them too! And authors like Deborah Harkness (The All Souls Trilogy), each return opens up a new Easter Egg for me, because of the way she writes and intertwines the world she has built up with human history, science, and lore. I also feel for other neurodiverse folks who are bibliophiles now presently surrounded by the idea that fast-reading = keen reading. I am autistic and have Irlen Syndrome. If I do not go slow, I do not process what I am reading. I work with students who have additional needs, and this message has seeped into academic circles. Breaks my heart, because there is no wrong way to read!

[@AngelasBookcase]

Excuse me sir, what book are you acknowledged in!? Loved your thoughts :)

[@darcysnovella]

@@AngelasBookcase The Palace by Gareth Russell 😃 Initially confused by the "sir" but then realised I forgot to change over from the Ian Mckellen icon (which I adopted for Pride Month) and Darcy has the Mr. Darcy link -- so that one is 100% on me! Though, gotta say, may swap my Professor prefix for Sir. What can anyone do? Not actually knight me? 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

[@AngelasBookcase]

@@darcysnovella bah! I’ve been laughing for 5 minutes straight at calling you sir and now knowing it was Sir Ian Mckellan in your profile pic! 😂

[@darcysnovella]

@@AngelasBookcase Just a dandy old man drinking tea with panache! Not a bad accidental identifier to have! 😂😂

[@TheAbyss..andyou]

I read about 40-50 pages of Anna Karenina in the last few weeks and it was great! No pressure of any goodreads goals or youtube. I just read to luxuriate in the prose n loved it!

[@shawkitty2524]

I mentioned the Goodreads Challenge in my comment--I reduced my number from 50 to 25 and I'm happier for it!

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

Even though I read 100+books a year I'm a slow reader. I like to take my time with the books. If I had to read 16+ books each month, I would just get tired of reading. Reading is not numbers or a competition.

[@folksurvival]

How though? Are you unemployed and just slowly read but for many many hours everyday and so you naturally get through two books a week without any rush because you happen to read for 60 hours a week?

[@insearchofwonder]

Love this conversation and the thoughts behind it. I agree that with everything in life, quality is better than quantity and that intention is required to help us pull back from constant doing and gathering rather than being. However, I will say - some people just read really fast. I myself am a pretty fast reader. I can read quickly with understanding, and be able to discuss a book at a pretty good depth. My son can read almost twice as far as me and his literature teacher is always raving to me about his ability to quickly grasp the themes of a book and be able to articulate what an author is doing. My younger sister is the same way. When I was reading Les Mis with a group earlier this year, everyone was reading it significantly faster than me (I am, in fact, still reading it lol), and were having fantastic discussions about what they were reading. So I've learned when it comes to reading, some people really just can read faster, and the quality of their reading doesn't suffer. I can generally read a contemporary novel within a couple days on my normal schedule, but a classic will take me longer. And if I'm reading multiple books at a time, which I usually am, then of course they all take longer. But two books a week has been my average for many years.

[@AngelasBookcase]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts - completely agree we should read at our natural pace :) whatever works best for each of us 👍

[@kristinmarra7005]

Couldn’t agree more. Quality over quantity makes so much sense unless you’re shucking peas. Don’t avoid a classic,or any book, because of the size. Maybe you could talk about what section you’ve read that week. A big classic is like a sumptuous banquet instead of a tasty fast food. What a great chat!

[@AngelasBookcase]

That's a great idea!

[@LovewarpstainIV]

I'm a slow reader. I really linger over the words. I've been reading Moby Dick for the past five months and I've still got 100+ pages left. It's just my nature processing speed. But luckily, because I'm not on KZbin, I don't feel much pressure to blitz through books or to read anything other than what my fancy dictates.

[@folksurvival]

You are on KZbin.

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

I think this goes along with the no reread mentality. I love rereading, it gives me so much satisfaction even if it doesn't add to my stats.

[@darcysnovella]

When I was still using Goodreads and the communities I was a part of were big on believing that rereading doesn't count toward your yearly challenge. Like, shush, I am going to read the All Souls Trilogy for the 16th time since 2012 and I'm going to *enjoy it*. I know that, historically, reading has come with shifting societal goalposts and rules, but gosh, in 2k24 can we dispel with the "you're a fake reader" myth. Kind of like the whole "to have a bikini body, you have a body and you wear a bikini", to be a reader, you read a book (including listening! oh gosh, don't even get me started on the ableism people spout when they say audiobooks don't count either)

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

@@darcysnovella Audiobooks are great, specially if you're learning a new language. Gatekeeping is so passe, I'm here to have fun, you know.

[@darcysnovella]

@@TheLinguistsLibrary Yes! I was born partially deaf which put me behind in my language development. After surgery age 5, my parents had me listening to both English and German (dual national) audiobooks to support my ability growth at the time. My love of books started there. Gatekeeping is weird when we are, like, all just here to have fun with it. I read clinch cover romance novels too, and apparently that doesn't count as "real reading" with some people. Reminds me of Jane Austen's aside in Northanger Abbey defending literary novels because they were considered "not real" books meant solely for a female audience. 🙄

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

@@darcysnovella Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are the only two I haven't read yet. I don't want to 'run out' of Jane Austen's work so I only read one a year. (weird and unnecessary, but oh well)

[@folksurvival]

​​@@darcysnovella Audiobooks don't count and it has nothing to do with the fake term "ableism". Listening to someone speaking is not reading, it's listening (obviously) so it is not reading (again, this is very obvious). Much like watching a film is not reading or playing a sport is not reading or listening to music is not reading or painting with watercolor is not reading.

[@KristinaLuvsBooks]

Thanks for this. I definitely want to start to take my time reading instead of rushing through books.

[@Tetsujin-28]

I definitely need to slowdown or re-read passages. Eons ago I 'd read Big Boi Books (Outlander series or Brandon Sanderson), but now it's 275-350 page books that I pick up and try to get in a few hours total, complete the story and think about what I just read. 650pg + books: I feel I need to "put in the time" and that doesn't work for me anymore.

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

This is SUCH a good point about forward movement and productivity. So well said. 😊. I totally relate to the Booktube effect. And I so agree that reading for the experience is so so much more enjoyable to me.

[@jennimc898]

You are so right, I’ve stopped recording on goodreads and I’m finishing my last 2 of an A to a challenge. After this I’m just going to read my shelves no pressure, makes life so much easier, especially now I’ve hit 60 lol 😆

[@fredhaier5526]

I am also a slow reader. So far this year I have read 17 books, but I read alot of short stories from different author collections I have. Sometimes I can read a book in a week. I read "Erasure" by Percival Everett in a week. Depending on the author and the length of the book---under 300 pages---I can read it in a few days. Right now I am reading "Middlemarch" by George Eliot. Taking a break between each individual book. I tried reading "David Copperfield" last year but had to give up. I just didn't care for it after awhile. I have ten books left on my TBR list for 2024. Not sure if I will get to all of them, because some are quite long.

[@MsBluheart]

YES, YES, YES, to everything you said!

[@starlasell5698]

📚❤ I loved this video!!! I had been flying through my books over the last two years and put off larger books so I could get more read. Then, I watched a video explaining that if you just read ten to twenty pages a day, you would absorb more (as you've said) and finish it! I started Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens (edit: 928 pages in my edition) on June 1st, and I'm about seventy percent done. I love it! I read it in the morning over coffee. Then, in the evenings, I read something a little more light and easy to read, but I have learned to slow down and enjoy and absorb more in those as well. 😁 I'm so glad you shared your thoughts on slower reading! Thank you!

[@AngelasBookcase]

I think that a daily page goal might be my goal too. Just to encourage the habit a little bit at a time 👍

[@von20808]

You sound just Tristen and the Classics. He said the same thing about reading slow. He said a fast reader is like a tourist, but a slower reader is like a citizen. Fast readers don't remember deep details of a book. I'm a slow reader because it's relaxing and I don't want to rush it. I like the journey. I'm subscribing to your channel.

[@AngelasBookcase]

“A slow reader is like a citizen” 🥰

[@shayne2471]

i’m a very slow reader but i read so many at the same time i can get through a pretty good many

[@LaughingStockfarm1]

Just discovered your channel, and I agree…the rate at which some people read on YT is insane! I figure an author spent considerable time crafting the story I’m reading, I should return the favor (even the badly written ones). I was appalled when one booktuber I mentioned this to stated that she felt books were products much like shampoo or toothpaste. 🤯 Clearly she knows no authors. Not to mess with your TBR, but have you considered reading ‘James’ by Percival Everett after ‘Tom Sawyer’? Brings another perspective to the character of Jim. Paired reads can be so fun. I’ve got ‘1984’ and ‘Julia’ on my TBR. And frankly, I would love to follow along, possibly join a slow read of one the the big fat classics, along with other shorter reads. I’ve been reading ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ for months now, in between many other books. Dumas’ writing is just so dense, and a little bit odd to my modern mind, I do need a break sometimes. But I’m loving the machinations of the count. 😁

[@AngelasBookcase]

You might know me better than you think - I actually read 'Tom Sawyer' to prepare to read 'James'! Very much looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing your suggestions. So much appreciated x

[@eileennielsen5165]

Once I started watching booktubes, I bought into: had to read so many a month, have a TBR list.forget some other responsibilities so I could get my reading done. Worst of all, comparing myself to book tubers. It only took maybe 4 mos. for me to discover I wasn't enjoying my reading and was stuck what to write about the book in my book journal! So I've been commenting ALOT this very same I'm about to write. First, I totally agree w/ you and it has been my opinion for a long time. I am presently reading a WONDERFUL book called The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. It is over 600 pgs. I am taking my time because the writing is SO GOOD! I don't want to miss one description, an important thought a main character might have, the feelings the tragedy evoked, the incredible selfishness of someone. I have re-read SO MANY descriptions of many sections of this MARVELOUS book.I do have an ETERNAL TBR list. I DO NOT have a set amt. of bks. to read every month. If I read 1 , fine, if I read3,4 fine. If I read 6 YA's fine; It's what I wanted to read. It gave ME pleasure, satisfied, stimulated me. Put me in R. Frosts world, reminded me when I was a swinger of birches. Envision AGAIN, Paul Revere's ride through my hometown. Yes, sometimes a book is SO powerful or SO sad, I have to take a break. Sometimes I deliberately don't pick up another bk. right away because I want to savor and think about and live in for days, what I just finished reading. So there's my long 2 cents. Tired of rushing through life. Don't like to. What is the name of Claire Keegan's C-Mas bk? Try to read The Shell Seekers if you haven't. Thanks for this, Angela😊

[@AngelasBookcase]

Thank you so much for sharing! I plan on reading my first Rosamunde Pilcher very soon! The Claire Keegan book is Small Things Like These 💕

[@books_and_bocadillos]

I'm a slow reader. Loved this video!

[@Draxtor]

YES ALL CAPS THAT IS MY GOAL FOR 2025 = reading MUCH slower damn it THANK YOU :)

[@sherylmorris9646]

Your comments reflected many of my thoughts . Please do other reviews. I felt the movie of the book did a great job of capturing the spirit of the book. It stars Anthony Hopkins and Anne. Bancroft.

[@AngelasBookcase]

Thank you!

[@randy8443]

Loved the video. I can totally relate to this. Right now I’m reading Jules Vern’s five weeks in a balloon and am reading it over the next week. I love reading slowly and also often read out loud to help with pacing and really taking in the grammar; not just the words.

[@AngelasBookcase]

I do that too sometimes! Some words are really just begging to be spoken aloud into world and hit a little differently than reading silently.

[@richarddelanet]

I have three books on the go at the same time. Would like to read 450 pages by the end of Saturday and therefore read them in sequence. But that might mean missing the meaning.

[@AngelasBookcase]

Goodness, what a goal! Some people read faster but I agree with you that sometimes that speed, means you miss some of the details. Good luck!

[@flawed1]

I have to admit. It’s kind of sad and confusing that reading in a way that makes sure you understand and internalize what you have read is now considered a special way of reading instead of just reading.

[@AngelasBookcase]

Like a lot of things these days unfortunately - but I like that we can always choose how we respond and can change our behaviours at any time :)

[@janethansen9612]

Reading is not a competition. I am usually a fairly fast reader, but this year my reading has slowed down a lot because life has become busy plus I've recently picked up a couple of quite dense books that I can only appreciate if I read them slowly.

[@Ali-AvidReader]

I’m not a particularly fast reader but I was getting to a place of having too many books on the go at once. I decided a while back that I was going to read one book at a time and boy has it benefited me in terms of how much I take in, it’s been a slowing down for me in a sense. Great to hear your thoughts on it. I definitely tend to go for booktubers who do a short, more detailed review of one, or a couple of books, rather than those racing through a long list.

[@cathyg.9996]

I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. I have slowed down my reading to enjoy it more. I don’t understand how some of these book tubers read 20+ books a month. I also have wanted to read Anna Karenina for years but am a little intimidated. Have you done a newsletter lately? I know time flies but it seems I haven’t received one in a while.

[@AngelasBookcase]

I haven’t done the newsletter for a while 😢 I just had a little too much on over a stressful few months but hope to pick it up again soon x

[@cathyg.9996]

@@AngelasBookcase I understand completely! These last couple months have been so hectic! 😊

[@apoetreadstowrite]

Ah, I am also a slow reader, it's certainly one of the things I most love about my bookish culture. Yes, do everything possible to read & ponder, it's the only worthwhile way. And I am also loving my discovery of Madeline Miller (& Emily Wilson - the new Homer translator) & Susanna Clarke. Susanna Clarke, actually, features in one of my latest videos. So much to ruminate on.

[@BeyondBooks-wt5il]

Slow down, savor and enjoy!

[@theresas709]

I am a very slow reader. That is one of the reasons I don't start a channel. I would have three or four books a month. I do enjoy what I read though and am okay with it now.

[@AngelasBookcase]

I read 3 or 4 a month :) I think if it were less, I'd find it hard to do a channel though.

[@Justine_S]

I haven’t read Jasper Jones yet but it’s on my TBR. I enjoyed Honeybee. I am naturally a fast reader of physical books (especially when it’s a page turning story), but I’ve had to make a concerted effort to slow down because reading too quickly has suddenly become one of my migraine triggers. It has only become an issue in recent years and it has been so hard to slow down, particularly with certain genres. I have to read all suspense/thrillers on audiobook now because I just can’t help myself from speeding through a physical copy! Fortunately I can read most other genres slowly and take the time with books that are less plot driven.

[@AngelasBookcase]

That is a great tip to slow down reading!

[@LibroParadiso-ep4zt]

I think some youtubers put undue pressure on themselves to read multiple books quickly in order to produce videos. It does come across in their thoughts and reviews of books, especially challenging and difficult books. Did they read that fast before they started a booktube channel? Probably not. I am like you. I take my time with the books. Enjoying and understanding what I read, otherwise, why do it?

[@riffraffraves8741]

As I slow reader I wanted to share that Anna Karenina is actually an easy read, and a page turner. I wish I had tried it long ago. Don't let its length intimidate, the characters and plot are rivetting and its an easy read.

[@AngelasBookcase]

Oooh, you may have inspired me ... watch this space!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

What is this life if, full of care. We have no time to stand and stare. William Henry Davies

[@mikedonahue3001]

A Severe Mercy!

[@vikidprinciples]

I think rather than slow. It should be natural. I find my speed varies depending on what’s happening in the story.

[@AngelasBookcase]

I agree - I think 'slow' refers to that. Taking your time as you need.

[@mwitaemmy]

Currently I feel like am all over YT commenting on things... 😨.. I need to stop.. 😁.. Anyways, I want to comment.. (😀).. I just finished ANONYMOUS GIRL, started reading it on MAY and I feel so fulfilled because I could actually sit down and have a strong conversation on that book now, prior to reading it, most booktube reviews on it were negative so, I went into it with first regretting why I bought it and secondly, just wanted to read it so that I could have a value for money on it back.. But finishing it, I feel like it's a very good psychological thriller if you're into suspense, slow paced books... I feel like I got so much out of it because I moved with the RYTHM of the book, I think the authors intentions was to take you through the story in a slow motion as things unfold bits by bits, like a THERAPY SESSION.. You don't rush through a therapy session, and most people who read ANONYMOUS GIRL on a faster pace missed that point. That being said, I think slow reading has it's benefit and I only felt like I needed to read a bulk of books once I started watching Booktubers because most of them read like 100 books a year and I kept wondering how are they able to process all that information & give the brain time to sponge it and get the most out of the book?!?... 🤯🤕... Hence you fall into that pressure to consume more same as your fave booktuber... come to think of it, that's why sometime you find they pass a good book for bad and bad books for good.. 😊 Just my little opinions.

[@AngelasBookcase]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[@sterlingreads547]

I’m also a slow reader 😊

[@AngelasBookcase]

Welcome 🤗

[@heathereads]

Where do I sign up for the slow reader club? I can produce references, Middlemarch Meditations, etc. Maybe everyone doing this should include a tag in their videos #slowbooktube or #slowreaderlove. That would identify the slow readers, give us visibility in the Booktube community

[@anyonymswede]

As a person who have dyslexia I can not read fast.

[@heathereads]

Angela, would you mind if I also made a video on this topic and mentioned your video? It feels beneficial to make more noise about the need for slow reading

[@AngelasBookcase]

Not at all! Please go ahead xx

[@Sophiatrenzas673]

Que cambiarias en el mundo si pudieras

[@lieffax]

Hwí wolde God swa lytles þinges him forwyrnan, þe him swa miccle oðre þing betæhte? Gyse hu mihte Adám tocnawan hwæt hé wære, buton hé wære gehyrsum on sumum þince his Hlaforde.