Hey! You’re not stupid. You reached out for help, which shows wisdom.

Other people here can also probably help, but what works for me is to take notes - get a notebook, index cards, postits, whatever l, and take notes about what’s happening. If you have to stop and think about it, do so.

If this is a difficulty you have all the time, please talk to someone - does your school have any kind of counselling? The important thing is you’re not to blame for some minor quirk in how your brain works, but you can find out how to manage it.

Good luck!

Hi!

I'm so happy you reached out, that is a great first step! I am a high school English teacher and I can confirm that you are not the only one that feels this way/struggles!

There are many reasons that may be causing this, but generally the reason this is happening is because you are so focused on getting the words that the meaning gets missed. This is really common, especially for people who struggle with focus, decoding words, or remembering information. It's difficult to read for understanding, while also trying to follow a plot, remember what's going on, and answer random comprehension questions to make sure you read.

Strategies that I suggest for my students:

• listen to the audio version while following along (any PDF or website can use text-to-speech functions, and many novels (especially school ones) have audiobook versions online.
• focus on small chunks at a time (a chapter or page at a time)
• annotate what you're reading
  • if you can, take notes in the margins about what you've read or questions you have
• take notes as you go
  • use page tabs/sticky notes to add information/questions
  • write down key points that you think may be important
• if you know what your teacher is looking for, keep that written down nearby and in your mind as you're reading so you can highlight/add notes when you notice an answer
  • add to those notes as you go (ex: identify the main character and add traits about them as you read and learn more)
• only read a chapter at a time, and try to identify the main important thing that is happening
  • is it a big event, did it tell more about the characters, did it set up something that may happen next
  • write down what you think the main point is for each chapter when you're reading
  • re-read your notes about the previous chapter if you don't read the next one right away
• keep practicing!!
  • I know you probably hate this one, but the more you read (or listen to audiobooks) the more vocabulary you build, and the more patterns you'll recognize when it comes to things like plot

Last thing: if you find academics a struggle and you need support, see if you have a resource (Special Education) teacher. They can help you with strategies as well as give accommodations that may help you in the future :)

Some books are harder than others. Check online for a summary of the book. r/homeworkhelp may have some ideas. If this is an ongoing problem, it may be your teachers or it may be a disability. You can talk to a school counselor or a doctor. Other people here will also likely have good advice.

Do you have a problem with reading or a problem with understanding or a problem with attention span? Like, if you listen to an audiobook, can you follow the plot? Can you sit down and watch a movie without feeling distracted by random other things going on around you or in your mind?

Are you reading in a quiet environment without any distractions? Do you have any major stressors happening in your life at the moment? These can affect your concentration and retention of the material. You are certainly not dumb but I would talk with a counselor or teacher at your school and see if they can arrange a talk with a specialist if needed.

I know that a lot of people have suggested dyslexia, but I wondered if you've experienced some trauma? I'm a therapist and have spoken with people in the past who struggle to take in what they are reading because their head won't allow it. I wondered if that rings true for you? Only because you said you used to be fine.

If I'm wrong, I heartily apologise, maybe this isn't the ideal suggestion for a public forum about books.

You're not the problem here though, well done for being brave enough to ask. I'd definitely start with light books, in the morning in a well lit room, with a notepad alongside you to jot down points. I get this way when reading academic literature and these things definitely help me.

There's nothing wrong with having a hard time understanding books you're reading. Don't fight against your skill level, accept it and work on it. I personally read very well, but I have had family members who have struggled due to the kind of issues (dyslexia etc) people are suggesting you might have. The best thing isn't to battle against that, but to accept what works and what doesn't for you, and build on it.

Importantly, nothing you do that works for you is wrong. Nobody is going to die or get hurt because you take notes about a book, or read in short bursts, or need quiet to read. If it works for you, it's great. If you need to stop and think, do it. Don't think this is wrong or bad of you. It's not, it's how you need to understand things. I've read books before that I've needed to put down and read later in life to understand. Everyone has their own pace.

Lastly, please have confidence in yourself. You can do it, whether it takes long or short.

When you read the book out loud, what happens?

When the book is read to you (say, an audiobook), what happens?

It's there anything else going on? Do the words just look like squiggles? Are you tired and sleepy? Do the words look like other words? Is it blurry? Do your eyes hurt? Does your brain hurt? Etc.

We'd like to help but things are going in the direction of "you have a very specific reading comprehension issue or disability" which means that the things that will actually help you are going to be the answers and tools for that very specific thing that you have.

A solid next step might be to find some online screening tools for different disabilities and see if any of them apply to you. Or, better yet, just tell a teacher. They should have programs that can help you figure out what's going on and then get you very specific support for that issue

Please don't feel shy or bad, everyone is different and that's ok. You're not dumb, you're actually pretty smart!

Have you looked into dyspraxia? People with dyspraxia can sometimes struggle with reading and may take longer to understand the text. It helps to read slower and then reflect on it in steps rather than reading and trying to make sense of it at the same time.

Unhelpful comment, but I just want to say I love how everyone in this thread is genuinely trying to help ❤️

Are you dyslexic? It sounds like you could be

Break it apart. Read a chapter take a breather and see if you understand what’s going on until that point if not do it again and take notes by comparing from what you remember and so on.

Maybe you have aphantasia? Most people are able to create an image in their mind about what they're reading, almost like watching a movie. Some people cannot and often are unaware that others have this theater of the mind happening. I would imagine that being unable to visualize what you're reading could make it more difficult or less interesting.

What book?

It's quite possible it just sucks.

I studied English literature at university and I used to have this same issue and I think it was largely caused by the pressure of feeling like I had to complete and understand the text in a short time. I would treat books like a puzzle, I’d be half writing the essay in my head as I read it, would focus on key words without reading the sentences.

The best advice I could give you is to step back and give yourself plenty of time. Read the text like a book and try and divorce it from being a ‘school assignment’ if, by the end, you can’t make sense of it in the context of the essay you have to write/questions you have to answer you can go back an reread sections or the whole thing. You’ll find it easier for having already known the story, plot and charactersz

Sounds like you might have dyslexia or something similar mate. Have you ever taken a test for it?

I'm not a doctor or expert of anykind but have you been tested for dyslexia?

I agree with another comment that suggested just pausing more frequently when you read. There's also nothing stopping you from rereading the same passage over and over so you can process it better before you continue on.

It doesn't work for everyone, but I do recommend trying to read aloud and really listening to yourself talk. Especially for dialogue- I always try to read dialogue as I imagine the character would, in order to help me understand what's being said.

Paraphrasing is another strategy- if the book has complex/flowery language that makes the plot hard to follow, perhaps try taking each paragraph one at a time, figuring out what is happening, and reword it in your own words?

Online resources are good for understanding what's happening in the book, but don't let that be the only thing you do. If anything, maybe find a plot summary online and then read the book, so you'll at least have an understanding of what's happening story-wise to help you figure out other things like themes, characterization, etc.

I know this can feel discouraging if these strategies (or any others that've been suggested) make this work so much harder for you. I do recommend talking with your teacher(s) about this, if only to communicate to them how difficult assignments like these are for you and the steps you're taking to try to accomplish this. Most, I imagine, will be very understanding; the may not be able to change any assignment guidelines for you, but they will appreciate the fact that you're communicating with them about your struggles.

And you're not dumb, friend <3

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There are plenty of things that help different people. Some people have the audiobook version playing while reading and others need music. I don't know if it will help you, but that's what I would try

Do you prefer to read non fiction or fiction?

I think we all have the issue a bit. Have you tried Wikipedia or some summary site overview simply to brief you, not to cheat? Then explore areas of the book and see if it gets more interesting. It may be a terrible start to the book. It’s really hard to be interested in anything if you are confused or can’t follow it. Names are a killer for me. I forget them and can’t follow the plot sometimes. Movies and books. Others I’m hooked.

If you usually do more short-form reading, you may just have to build up your attention span and reading comprehension to get used to long-form reading like novels! Start with shorter simpler books and work your way up :)

What kinds of things are you really interested in, what really captures your attention? You might still have yet to find your favorite genre, the one that makes you unable to stop turning the pages!

There are several different components to being able to read. One of which is comprehension, which is what you are struggling with.

I met the people who created the spell read program, which works directly with issues pertaining to literacy. Digging around, they seem to have sold out to Kaplan, but I also see some online schools which offer the program: https://www.halifaxlearning.com/theprogram. I do not know if this would be affordable to you, but at least back then it was a very effective program.

All the best.

what books have you read?

I would try audio books. I use audible and it helps tremendously with trying to focus because all the characters are dramatized. Some books are even read by the authors themselves.

I think it's just inexperience. Like anything, you get better with practice.

As people have suggested, try reading a summary, but experiment with reading the summary before you read the section of the book.

Also many people hate this because it destroys books but if it helps it helps - try reading with a highlighter and highlight key phrases. It helped me understand marx in college so maybe it will help you too.