Have you ever thought about how other readers read fiction? I have. I’m even sort of a reader voyeur. I watch people read on planes, in the library, and at the airport. How their eyes move along the print can be very revealing. How quickly do they turn the page or scroll on the screen?
Are they frowning or smiling? Jaw clenched or relaxed? Do they pause to think or mull over the words? Or are they sucking them in like a warm delicious soup, eager to get to the bottom of the bowl and emotional satiation?
I’ve been analyzing readers for a long time. Not only to I stalk er..watch them but I follow them on review sites and read all their reviews. This has nothing to do with the reviewing of my books. This has to do with understanding the psyche of a reader. I want to know what makes them tick.
I have discovered that there are four kinds of readers.
1. Skimmers. These are the professional readers. They have spreadsheets and they know how many books they need to read each month to reach their yearly quota. This breaks down to x number of pages per day. These readers are always on target, hitting their daily target without fail. It’s important to remember that skimming does not necessarily translate to lack of comprehension. These readers are simply fast and not bogged down by details. They absorb quickly. Many binge readers are skimmers.
2. Repeaters. These are a very special kind of reader. They are looking for a particular emotional response when they pick up a book. Yes, they read new releases, but they tend to read similar types of reads and rarely venture outside of their emotional comfort zone. They more likely to reread than the average reader and they know exactly which book to grab from the shelf to match their emotion du jour. These are readers who prefer print and their personal collection of keepers rival the local library.
3. Savourers. Time has no meaning for this reader. They read like honey dripping from the bottle. Each word is tasted. This reader often stops to look up words, terms, and phrases so they can absorb each flavorful nuance of every word and sentence and paragraph. They want the complete experience. These readers never read reviews and avoid blurbs. That would spoil the meal and reading is just that. A Joie de vivre. An exultation of reading spirit. The savourer always finishes a book once they start.
4. Inspectors. Before these readers will commit to a book, they study and analyze reviews on multiple platforms. They read the blurb and the ‘Look Inside’ feature on Amazon. Often, they will go to the author page to study the author. Inspectors read the acknowledgments and dedications carefully. It is important to note that these readers do not feel compelled to finish a book. They are looking for a five star and are known to abandon a book that is anything less than a four. There are far too many books in the world to waste time on a three. Readers who read the last page first are inspectors.
Along with these four, there are mash-ups. Mathematically, that means a combo potential of six.
Skimmer / Repeater
Skimmer / Savourer
Skimmer / Inspector
Repeater / Savourer
Repeater / Inspector
Savourer / Inspector
As a reader, I am your basic run-of-the-mill Skimmer/Repeater. I binge read quite a lot. And I also keep a large collection of emotional reads available. Some of those on my shelf include your basic swoony hero emotional read and the underdog heroine who triumphs over insurmountable obstacles emotional read and the hilarious romp emotional read.
I’m proud to be a Skimmer/Repeater!
It takes different readers to make the up the reader world and all are equally valuable and necessary.
What do you think? Have I missed any reader categories? What type of reader are you?
Leave a comment for the opportunity to win books! A $20 Amazon gift card and a print or ecopy of Christmas with the Cowboy, my latest release from Love Inspired and the third book in the Big Heart Ranch series.And be sure to note on the Rafflecopter below to get your entry counted, plus more entry options!
ABOUT CHRISTMAS WITH THE COWBOY
Title: Christmas with the Cowboy
Series: Big Heart Ranch, Book 3
Author: Tina Radcliffe
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: September 18, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Western
Home for the holidays
A second chance at love on Big Heart Ranch
Former Navy SEAL Zach Norman has been avoiding his ranching roots—and the woman he couldn’t have. Back to visit his brother’s widow, Emma Maxwell Norman, and her adorable toddler twins, the bah-humbug cowboy is roped into helping prepare the ranch for the holidays. Working side by side, can Emma and Zach overcome their troubled past…and receive the greatest Christmas gift of all—love?
Preview Christmas with the Cowboy HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A freelance writer for over twenty years, Tina Radcliffe is an RWA Honor Roll member, a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, and three-time ACFW Carol Award nominee. She is a 2018 ACFW Mentor of the Year recipient and a 2018 Carol Award finalist. Her 10th book for Harlequin released in October 2018. In addition to novel-length fiction, Tina has sold over two dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. A former library cataloger, Tina is a frequent presenter on writing topics and an online instructor. She currently resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Visit her on the web at https://www.tinaradcliffe.com/TO CONNECT WITH TINA:
website, facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram, Book Bub
Stay up to date on all her releases by signing up for her newsletter HERE.
GIVEAWAY
(1) Winner will get $20 Amazon Gift Card + Print (US) or Ebook (INT) of Christmas with the Cowboya Rafflecopter giveaway
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
GIVEAWAY
(1) Winner will get $20 Amazon Gift Card + Print (US) or Ebook (INT) of Christmas with the Cowboya Rafflecopter giveaway
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Skimmer / Repeater. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Good luck and Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI am a Savourer / Inspector. I read at a slower pace and take in all the emotions, the word play, and creativity of the writing. I do read reviews without spoilers to find my next book because my reading time is limited and so precious to me.
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
DeleteNice Danielle!!
DeleteI think I'm mostly a Savourer/Skimmer, but with a dash of Inspector/Repeater thrown in. I can see myself in all of these. How's that for beating around the bush? LOL
ReplyDeleteLOLOL, Winnie!
DeleteHahahah. I see that in you, Winnie! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHi Amelia! Love your name. Must find a heroine in a book to name Amelia. What is your nickname? Heroine's need nicknames.
ReplyDeletehahaha. I also love that name! But please don't use "Amy" as the nickname! Heheh
DeleteI have a granddaughter named Amelia. They call her Mia. I sometimes forget that her name is really Amelia. :-D
DeleteGreat post, Tina! Very interesting! I guess I'm a savorer/inspector. I do all the leg work of checking out a book first, then dive in to savor it once I finally buy it. :) I may also have some tendencies of the repeater as well because I love romance novels and mostly stay in my genre.
ReplyDeleteHA! I love that. Thanks for stopping by, Missy.
DeleteLOL Missy! I wonder if all readers have a bit of every kind in them?
DeleteThanks, Tina, for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Would love to win a print copy of "Christmas with the Cowboy"! Interesting analogy on the types of readers. . . I think I'm probably a "skimmerer/savourer:)
ReplyDeleteHi Lual! You are entered. You too, have an interesting name.
DeleteRight Lual? I love what Tina put together here. I'm thinking hard what I could be. LOL.
DeleteI am most definitely a savourer. I take my time and really get lost in the story. I tried for about three years to record what I had read and found that I was competing with myself as time wore on to read more and more to surpass the previous year. The joy of reading for story was getting lost. After I discarded my books read list and went back to my norm I enjoyed reading so much more.
ReplyDeleteKAT! I did the same thing and it's WRONG, isn't it? Good for us. I tossed my list too.
DeleteNICE KAT! It's all about what works best for us? Isn't it?
DeleteAwesome post, Tina! Well done! I think I am a Savourer / Inspector. I read at a slower pace and like to take it all in. I do read reviews to help me select my next book in supporting my book addiction...lol. Thank you for this wonderful giveaway!! ~Alison Boss
ReplyDeleteAlison! Thanks for stopping by and you are entered. Happy to contribute to the delinquency of a reader. lolol
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Alison!
DeleteI am a serious reader who gets involved with the book I read and don't like to be bothered when I do read. Vivian Furbay jtandviv(at)q(dot)com
ReplyDeleteVivian! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
DeleteHahah. I believe my Darcy will say that about me when I'm focused on something. Heheh. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI am a savourer. I usually pick my books to read from certain authors and genres and then add them to my bookshelf afterwards.
ReplyDeleteLove that, Linda Orr!
DeleteAwesome!! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI loved this! I think I'm a savourer/repeater. I am not adventuresome in my genres...basically romance is what I want to read. :)
ReplyDeleteStand proud savourer/repeater!!
DeleteNothing wrong with that at all! Romance is quite fun to read!
DeleteI'm mainly a Repeater with Skimmer tendencies ;)
ReplyDeletehehehe Me too!!!
DeleteHhahahah.
DeleteNone of your categories quite fit me, I would say I am a combination repeater/inspector.
ReplyDeleteThat's what makes the world go round. Creating new categories Patty!
DeleteTime for the 5th kind of reader!!
DeleteI think I'm a skimmer/repeater. Thanks for a fun post :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. Thank YOU for stopping by!
DeleteTina always have great posts! Thank you!
Delete"What do you think? Have I missed any reader categories? What type of reader are you?" Maybe there is a "Dutiful" reader category? I generally feel I'm "supposed" to read every book I pick pretty much cover-to-cover, and anything short of that makes me feel somewhat guilty. It's probably somewhat short of being an "Inspector." I'm probably a combination of Savourer, Dutiful, and Inspector.
ReplyDeleteHey, John, thanks for weighing in on this discussion. I like your category.
DeleteHahahahah. Great one! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteDefinitely 25% of each one �� yep, all four!
ReplyDeleteHA!!!! I love that, Natalya!
DeleteI like the way you think Natalya!!
DeleteSkimmer/Savourer right now, but I tend to change my category at times depending on the book. Fun post, Tina
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cindy! And thank you for stopping by!
DeleteSweet. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm usually an Inspector. Probably a tiny bit of all the other categories except repeater, also.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have a keeper shelf, Ellie?
DeleteInspector!? You'll make a great beta reader! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI can take and leave something from each of the different categories.
ReplyDeleteSKIMMER: I'm very organized (a little bit neurotic) in my reading, but I don't actually skim books - I fear I would miss something vital.
REPEATER: I feel closest to this one, but I rarely re-read the same book. Yet at the same time, I do look for books that give me a similar emotional response. In fact, I crave that emotional response to a story. I also don't venture too far out of my comfort zone.
SAVOURER: I read at a nice clip, but I try to read every word. I've been know to look up
unfamiliar words and have been prompted to look up additional facts related to info. I found interesting in a story. I also have a hard time quitting a book.
INSPECTOR: I am a researcher by nature and I like knowing more about an author before reading their books. I also look into a book (ratings and vague overview), but do not read reviews, excerpts, or comments. I like to go in not knowing much except genre rating consensus.
I feel like I can't take a little bit from each, but there's not one or even two that can fully define my reading style. Probably the closest would be REPEATER/SAVOURER
Geez! Sorry for the long response. I didn't realize how I jabbered on until it posted. LOL.
DeleteI like you're uniqueness. You are not a jabberer, Terrill. I enjoyed your comments.
DeleteI love it, Terrill! I think it totally makes sense. When I first read this post, I did a mental note of every category too! LOL. Thanks for stopping by, as always!
DeleteI am a repeater.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteYAY!! I LOVE rereading !
DeleteI'm a repeater/savourer for sure! ;D
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks for stopping by, Savannah Grace! Beautiful name, btw.
DeleteSweet. Thanks!!
DeleteFascinating analytics--I am a Repeater / Savourer--Best Wishes for all releases!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Virginia and thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment.
DeleteThanks Virginia! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm a savourer reader.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Kim! Thanks for stopping by and adding your thoughts.
DeleteHi Kim! Thanks!
DeleteI am close to being a Savourers but I don't look up words, I love all kinds of books. If I start to read a book I usually read it to the end, good or bad. I only remember one book that I could not finish to the end.
ReplyDeleteOOOH! Very interesting, Darlene. I do look up words and sometimes get lost down rabbit holes. LOL
DeleteI'm with you on the DNF part. Very very hard for me to not finish a book I started. Thanks Darlene!
DeleteI think it depends a bit. I'm mostly a skimmer/inspector, but I have a few that I reread, especially when I have to kill 10 minutes and I don't want to get too absorbed in a new story. Those I can pick up and put down because I can tell you everything that happens anyway.
ReplyDeleteNice Kat! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm an avid reader who reads a book a day or two depending on the book. I devour a series in a few days once its complete. I don't re-read fiction. I do have a few favorite authors on my "keeper" shelves. Thanks for the fun post and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Caryl. I do reread.
DeleteInteresting too for me, Caryl! I would've pegged you for rereading some favorites!
DeleteSkimmer/inspector :-)
ReplyDeletePleased to meet you, Amy Skimmer/inspector!
DeleteYay! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI think you have it covered. I'm a repeater/savourer.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura! Thanks for stopping by and weighing in on the topic.!
DeleteSweet. Thank you
DeleteIdk none really fit me except maybe Inspector
ReplyDeleteThen inspector it is, Sabrina!
DeleteInspector it is, Sabrina! LOL. I typed my response, and then realize Tina said the same thing. *wink wink. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm a repeater definitely. But I can be a bit of a savourer and an inspector. I take my time when I read. I look up and save words I'm unfamiliar with and ones I don't see that often but love. But I'm also an inspector. I read reviews and the book blurbs, but not to the point I spoil the book. And sometimes I do abandon books, but not permanently or due to low ratings. Sometimes I'm such a savourer, if I'm away from my book for a long time I start all over to get the full experience from the beginning. But sometimes I lose momentum because I've already read those sections. At that point, I get distracted by other books in the sea and abandon the one I've been reading for a while to start and finish another book I can finish in a day. Plus, I tend to read more than one book at a time...so I'm definitely a dabbler.
ReplyDeleteA dabbler. I do that too.
DeleteNice! It's so fun reading other avid readers' responses. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI am a skimmer/repeater definitely! Thank you so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteFun! I love Tina's posts. Thank you.
DeleteThank you, so much for stopping by, Christi!
ReplyDeleteI am a reader in this order, depending on mood, I guess,
ReplyDelete1. Savourer
2.Savourer / Inspector
3.Repeater
4.Repeater / Savourer
You know your reading types, Shirley!!!
DeleteHahah, Shirley. I love that you're a mood reader.. well. I mood type of reader??! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI think you're doing great.
ReplyDeleteHugs, to you , Debbi P!
DeleteI LOVE READING AND GETTING LOST IN THE STORY WHEN I AM READING THANK YOU FOR THIS AWESOME GIVEAWAY TINA!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, Thanks for stopping by and you are welcome. I heart readers.
DeleteI love historical romances. I grew up and still live in Charleston, SC, so I really liked when they have love stories set in the south. (Audrey Stewart / jozywails@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteHi, Audrey! I actually started on historicals. I read nothing but them until Debbie Macomber came along. I think I overdosed. Now I read nothing but contemps. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI'm a Savourer reader. (Audrey Stewart / jozywails@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteI like you am a Skimmer/Repeater!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds. Great readers~
Deletei am an inspector although i still read a book even if it doesnt have amazing reviews
ReplyDeleteLove it, Amanda. A true devoted reader!
DeleteI am mostly a repeater but I don’t have time to re read. I have too many ARC and influencer copies to get to. But I read all the blurbs and author notes.
ReplyDeleteI love that you work so hard as a reader!
DeleteI am a combination of a savourer/inspector reader. I do always try to finish and review each book I read.
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Merry
Hi Merry! I love readers!
Delete