Newsgroups: bit.listserv.literary
Date:         Tue, 25 Aug 1992 21:39:00 -0900
From:         the First and Only Nude Vaxer <FSCLL@ALASKA.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Speed Reading

My comments regarding speed reading not being such a great idea deleted...

>I'm with you, in theory and in my heart ofhearts - but what
>about those of us who HAVE TO READ AND UNDERSTAND A LOT IN order to
>to what we have to do: grad work/prof/ writing etc. : you have to both
>ead very fast AND understand/digest/savour, otherwise the
> reading is sueflessand the work does not get done. THAT's the rub.(I
> am not speaking necessarily of reading literature here): what does
> one do then?
>
> Agnes
>
> still sorry and still a pauper

You don't have to tell me about grad school, I know  :) But my point is not that
speed reading is not at times necessary, it is, nor should people avoid
learning how as best they can, they should learn, but I don't thnk it is very
profitable when it comes to really learning something from a piece. Whether it
be poetry or fiction. As a student and writer I am crammed for reading time
too, but I think quality is always better than quality, when you have that
choice to make. and you can read VERY fast and still get understanding, I just
think there is much to be gained from slowing down. With a lot of fiction,
most poetry, and some non-fiction.

Grad school is not the time (and this may seema a paradox but I believe it
from my experience) to truly understand any small group of works or single
work (except possibly where your thesis lies in which case you might be able
to give the work enough attention), it is the time to really get some
concentrted reading in and learn how to get a lot from a little as far as
analysis to reading time.

But to really "get into" a work, I think it is necessary to slow down and
really look at it. I agree with Ian that poetry is less conducive to speed
reading IN GENERAL, but I think a lot of fiction should be given the time that
poetry gets. Some writers may not demand this, but when i write, I work on
every word and combination of words, so I thnk that it is only right that I
get the same attention from my readers.

By all means, learn to read as fast as you can-- and there are logical words
for maximizing your reading time. But also be prepared and willing to read
slowly and carefully-- and with a pencil if you can-- and really see how the
work is constructed. When you have time. I have taken speed reading and am
pretty fast, but the rules are very common sensical and I don't know why it is
considered as esoteric as some people would have you believe. Most readers
know the rules naturally, but just don't work on them hard enough (or never
think about speeding up their reading).

I don't agree with Ian though that it is just "word clumps" or groups (I can't
remember the wording) that determines how a work should be read. Much poetry
is written in a very common manner, but it is the larger groupings that make
it-- or sometimes just one or two words in JUST the right place. I think that
this explanation of what work demands slower reading is simplistic, which is
probably intentional, but it could also be damaging advice in my opinion.

I thnk this is a good discussion if we stay away from the "oh yeah look how
fast *I* read" train of thought   :)

chris
poet and pauper with variable speed
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU