Skimming: Good or Bad?

So here I suppose the question because I've thought a lot about it recently. I am not ever really sure where I had gotten the idea that skimming was a bad idea, only it had somehow just filtered into my thought. As if I was cheating the author of something, when they spent all that time writing the lines, and I wouldn't even give them my full attention.

So do you ever feel bad about skim reading a book? Skimming here, I am not talking about necessarily it being a bad book or boring part. Sometimes it can be a very exciting part, but you want them to stop stringing you along, and so you skim read so you can find out quicker.

I think it some part it can have nothing to do with the author. Simply you are in a mood and wish to skip some parts that don't interest you. That's natural enough. I think some parts are up to the way the writing is set up too.

I don't think we should frown on skim reading either way. I know that when I have gone painstakingly through a book for some reason, though the passage in question didn't interest me, I felt a small amount of resentment to the book. stupid really. I think people should just read as they can, for whatever reason. The more you can read the better, and whatever helps you do that too, whether its skim reading or not.

My own few examples are reading the 'Daughter Of Smoke And Bone' book. The first few chapters were really quite good, but to me, most of the middle didn't interest me too much. I skim read to understand general events and started to like it again near the end few chapters. Near the ending, I was really enjoying it, and so I am glad in the end that I read the book. There was a moment I got to when I thought I would just stop because I couldn't bare really reading the book. That's when I started to skim and found that easier. Evidently, if I hadn't skimmed I wouldn't have gotten to read the end.

Same with Pride and Prejudice. I first read it when I think I was 17 years old. I had not really read any classics at the time, and I found the book a lot harder to read in comparison to understanding the 2005 film, but I enjoyed the film so much that I thought I would have to enjoy the book. It was sooo hard to read. I remember I just had to start skimming pages when it got all too much. The ending too disappointed slightly I remember. It's funny because three years on I've probably reread that book 5 times, and its one of my favorite along with the rest of the Austen books.

So, what I am trying to say is that skimming is a masterful tool. I don't know if you did, but free yourself from any guilt when you skim read. Some books just weren't meant for you to get anything from, or perhaps just a little, so if you don't fully understand and don't want to go back to it, then don't feel like you've disappointed someone. It's the same if you watch youtube sometimes. Sometimes a video is good to a certain point, or you have to fast forward the video. You just have to get the most you can out of it, without slowing yourself down or forcing yourself. Whatever you're doing, you need to ask yourself if you're still having fun or getting some enjoyment out, and if not, is it still worth it?

Hanza

p.s. comment below if you've experienced the same feelings, or different...

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