I'm a rather slow reader, and I am a little envious of people who can speed-read. I once sold a copy of Zan-Gah at a play, and the buyer read it entirely during the fifteen minute intermission! He had been an editor, and was used to reading fast. I'm told that speed-readers have better comprehension than slower readers, but I can hardly believe it. When I read something, I want to savor it—to taste the words and react to the situations with feeling. How can you do that when you gobble down a page in ten seconds? It's like chug-a-lugging a bottle of wine instead of tasting it carefully, taking in its aroma, and delving into its deep color.
When I write, I struggle to find rich and poignant words and images. I try to write with sensitivity, and maybe my own eyes are wet as I feel for my characters. Do speed-readers get any of that? Do they even want any of it? The idea of a good book is not to get to the end. It is be enriched by the journey.
Maybe some of you fast readers can inform me about this. Feel free to comment.
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