Sometimes I marvel at the sheer number of books people can get through. I love reading and, as a child and into my teens, would have considered myself a “big reader”.

I studied English Literature at university, so reading a lot was a major requirement. But even leaving that aside, I think I’ve always just liked focusing my mind on a story as a form of escape. Especially nowadays, with work and other “proper grown-up” commitments, my mind tends to race and so I find reading a good way to clear my head of everything else and relax.

I have to lament that the amount of books I get through has decreased dramatically though. I just can’t find the time like I used to, much as it pains me to admit it. As a kid, I had a book in my hand every chance I got, but reading has now become maybe a few chapters over the occasional lunch break at work, or a couple of stolen chapters before bed.

When it comes to new releases, I tend to be late to the party and I also do enjoy revisiting old favourites – so, even if I’m getting the chance to read, I’m not necessarily adding to the overall tally.

I sometimes envy those blasting their way through book after book ...

But I have this friend, right? She’s a big reader, so we’ll chat about books over coffee sometimes. Recently, it turned out that, for once, we had actually read the same book at around about the same time. I won’t go into the detail of what book, since that’s not the point.

During our conversation, she brings up the back story of one of the main characters and tells me she loved that he ... blah blah blah. And I gawped at her. What? That didn’t happen ...

Now, I know what you’re thinking – reading so many books, it’s easy to mix them up. Nope. After a lengthy conversation on the subject, it was clear that she knew exactly which book and which character she was talking about and she remained adamant that she was right.

We checked. She wasn’t.

I don’t say that to be all: “I was right, she were wrong.” It’s no big deal - we didn’t row, nothing like that. I just found it interesting because it’s not the first time I’ve found this. Big readers who skim.

Look for it specifically when you talk to people about books, whether in the real world or online, because once you start noticing ... it comes up a lot.

“What did you think of plot point X?”

“Oh, um, I don’t really remember, but I liked how ... blah blah blah.”

Or: “How about character Y – I can’t believe he’s leaving.”

“What? We don’t know that! Do we know that? Did he say that?”

Some people manage to skim through a book, read between the lines and come up with their own interpretation. You could argue that’s all any of us do, but surely we need to be forming our opinions based on all the information that’s actually there.

I have to admit I’m not very good at reviewing because grabbing snatched chances to read during the day usually means I’m not in a position to get my thoughts down straight after. And, while I may want to let my thoughts on an overall story percolate, I’d want to at least jot down the details before they get hazy.

Maybe I should at least do the star review and come back to the rest when I get the chance – that way I can at least give an author a little of the kudos they deserve for the effort. But, while people review in different ways and that’s fine, I can’t bring myself to just note that I liked a book or I didn’t. I’m not saying I’d write War and Peace on every book I finish, but I guess I know from being on the other side of it that it’s the details that count.

And I guess that’s why I’m now more content with getting through my teeny pile of books that stick with me.

"Caress the detail, the divine detail." - Vladimir Nabokov