I cannot read

Test Preparation
1

<p>This is a desperate cry for help. I simply cannot read. I just don't understand what I'm reading.</p>

<p>I know HOW to read. I TRY to concentrate and I TRY to read deeply. In fact, when I read, I make a CONSCIOUS effort to read vigorously.</p>

<p>But I simply get lost in the paragraphs. I read words, not meanings. Either I don't understand the grammatical structure and thus lose sight of the subject, or I simply cannot the connect the ideas together. This happens often when I'm reading poetry. I can't synthesize anything. It all registers in my mind as a random series of images, metaphors, ideas, words that have no connection among them at all.</p>

<p>The problem is that I AM TRYING MY BEST when I read, but I still don't understand the words. Don't think that I'm the typical poor reader who glosses over the text and does not concentrate. In fact, I try to be deliberate, exact, precise when I read. I read very slowly, and make a conscious effort to concentrate. But it feels like I am just concentrating on concentrating, not actually engaging myself with the text.</p>

<p>It's frustrating to read the same lines over and over again, gaining no understanding, trying my best, and reaching the nadir of futile exertion.</p>

<p>Someone please help.</p>

<p>I don't want typical advice about "look at the images, consider every word, ask questions, identify connotations, etc". I know all that. I just cannot APPLY it.</p>

<p>I need something deeper. Perhaps a psychological solution. It is the ideal reading MINDSET that I cannot acquire. I need a solution to the ROOT of the problem!</p>

2

<p>Do you try picturing what you read, like acting it out in your head? I know that won't work for philosophy in most cases, but it might help you with some other things, especially if you understand movies you watch (which I'm guessing you do)... It's just finding a way to relate to the material.</p>

3

<p>Yes. I do form images in my mind and I understand the general scene that the author depicts in fictional literature. I guess it's just abstract ideas that aren't explicitly stated in the text that I have trouble recognizing. And I struggle with anything written in an unconventional style (poetry, old English, 18th century). It feels like I'm just reading words.</p>

<p>Thinking about it more, it almost feels like a catch-22. When I read fast, I miss the comprehension. But when I try to read slow, I concentrate on each word too intensely to establish any connection among them to build any meaning. I don't know. It seems like I'm just biologically incapable of reading well.</p>

<p>I didn't do well on the Lit MC as you can tell...sigh</p>

4

<p>Cherrybarry, not to worry. you're like me.
read it...sometimes skim it...yet u think you know what you're reaidng
..then after reading 10 pages you're like oh hell *** did i just read</p>

<p>u have 2 solutions
1) read slow as hell. an hour for 10 pages. analyze every freaking sentence.. just read SLOW. for RIGHT NOW.</p>

<p>2) u have ADD. or ADHD or that kind of crap. I have it. undiagnosed. i KNOW i have it. but undiagnosed :(</p>

<p>oh, and FORCE yourself to have interest in EVERY WORD of the thing.</p>

<p>bc u lose focus because u lose interest (thats how i am)</p>

<p>oh, and re read the stuff. (for right now!)
read the 10 pages a 2nd time. I bet you'll understand it then.</p>

5

<p>haha...you might be right about ADD. It's weird. When I do calc problems, my mind feels at ease. It's like nirvana and everything makes sense.</p>

<p>When I read, I feel like my brain is burning in hell.</p>

6

<p>Sounds like me and science, actually. I can do the reading and math stuff great, but science just... it doesn't work, my brain doesn't like it. I don't take science anymore. I dunno what to tell you, giving up probably isn't the best option. Sorry =/</p>

7

<p>"When I do calc problems, my mind feels at ease. It's like nirvana and everything makes sense."</p>

<p>cherryberry, you're my twin.</p>

8

<p>No, no.. You're just like me too. I mind wanders at whatever chance it gets: if I see a peculiar word, I analyze it.. if I notice a strange sentece structure, I think about it. It is downright exasperating. And I know just what you mean. Sometimes I read words mindlessly, and keep reading them to struggle through the mire.. but yeah, I'm not understanding anything.</p>

<p>The trick is to practice. I'm dead serious. Especially the week before the lit. test, I just whipped out my couple prep. books, and I just read and read the prose and poetry passages. The cliffsnotes book, with six practice tests, was extremely helpful. I'm a math/science person myself, and I could read assigned novels at my own pace.. but I know what you mean, the 19-18 century writing was just ridiculous. Seriously, just practice.</p>

<p>**For example, when you read posts on the message board, you do with ease, right? Likewise, the more you familiarize yourself with antiquated literature, the easier you will be able to read it.</p>

<p>Oh, and the calc. thing, I can totally relate to. I'm eager to find out what problems they've written up for me, so I can kick some ass.. but the last thing I need is a challenge when it comes to English.</p>