I love books so much that if I was marooned in a library I would consider myself to have landed in heaven. Consequently, you might think that I am a good reader but alas you would be mistaken.
When I open a book I usually start in the middle and scan a few pages, I then go to the end for the conclusion, jump to the beginning, hop to the middle again and then read 10 lines of the preface. I continue to jump about at great speed absorbing stuff until the excitement dies down and I start to feel guilty. It is then that I start dutifully at page 1 and discover that I have already read 75% of the book. At this point I feel cheated because what should have been a relaxing evening's read has taken an exhausting half hour.
My style of jumbled reading is not only limited to books but also encompasses films which I enjoy equally well in any sort of order. Taking in information out of sequence may not work with punchline jokes but with almost everything else the enjoyment is untainted. In fact many film producers use this technique with effect as flashback scenes.
I find it hard to read lists, instructions, voting papers and forms. They demand total concentration, attention to detail, good working memory and discipline. I prefer to read for clues, flavour, poetry, cadence, reassurance and emotional nuggets, all of which require an altogether different form of comprehension.
The slower I read the less I understand as my brain hyperfocuses on the letters, spoiling the sentiment as the rhythm is lost. Browsing quickly seems to favour comprehension and if this is some variety of "speed reading" then no language teacher has ever taught it to me. On the other hand, perhaps I didn't listen but that is a different story.
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