One of the privileges of participating in large book groups is hearing from a lot of readers. A topic that comes up often is what the reading experience feels like: it is now clear to me that reading experience is as varied and diverse as readers themselves. Sure, there are certain commonalities, but I have seen them divided into two kinds: sensory readers and non-sensory readers. These are not scientific terms, purely my observations.
I don’t have the research to understand why it is, but different readers experience books differently. This could possibly explain why they choose to read certain kinds of books over others.
Sensory readers experience a novel in technicolor, and four dimensions. Not only do they find themselves transported to the world of the story, their senses engage with that fictional world so that they can hear, touch, smell or even taste the dishes on offer. They find it very difficult to watch a movie based on a book they’ve already read, because the movie rarely if ever matches their imagination. Some sensory readers can distinguish between the voices of various characters, others can hear the narrator’s voice emoting all the dialogues.
Non-sensory readers mostly see the words on the page and understand them as facts. They don’t experience the scene described on the page, but instead, they gain knowledge of the events. They seek to logically understand what the text means, but experience no visual or auditory inputs.
Like in other things, there seems to be a spectrum between these two broad types of readers. My theory is that this is because our brains are wired differently allowing some of us to create a 4D movie experience inside our minds, while others perceive the words on the page merely as words. I can’t make a judgment on whether one is better than the other but I know I’m the first type.
I’ve always had books play out like movies in my head when I read, and didn’t realize that it wasn’t the same for everyone. When I write my books, it’s the same: I can see, hear, smell, taste everything, and it’s like taking down dictation. That’s why I need to research my settings before I write the book: so I know the experience as intimately as possible. I can never write a scene with no description of the characters and setting—to me, it would be an outline of story, not the story itself.
The difference in how reading is experienced may explain critiques of my work:
*ooh, so atmospheric, the book took me to Mumbai and I was swept away, fast-paced thriller*,
and the other:
*too much description, the pace was slow*.
The first type of feedback seems to come in from sensory readers like me. The second type is from readers who will skip descriptions in favor of what happens next: the plot. Since the words don’t create sensory input for them, their brains really appreciate getting on with the facts, please.
Personally, I find it difficult to read very factual writing: especially non-fiction that’s not creative. Maybe that’s why I can’t really get much from self-help books, or any non-fiction. The exception is creative non-fiction that uses the storytelling tropes of fiction.
All of this is pure conjecture, of course, and I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong.
What do you experience when you’re reading? Is your reading experience like a movie playing out in your mind with all the senses engaged? Is it an authorial voice, or words on the page?
If you’re looking for a literary thriller set outside the West, and love books by authors like Lisa Gardner, Tana French, Jodi Picoult, Mary Kubica, Ruth Ware, Rachel Caine, Ivy Pochoda, Louise Penny or Harlan Coben, check out my literary crime novels, The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon on Kindle Unlimited now. Add to Goodreads or snag a copy to make my day ! THE BLUE MONSOON IS ON A KINDLE MONTHLY DEAL FOR JULY!
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Every reader has his own circumstances. Sometimes we read with thought and deep feeling, happiness and success, and other times, dear, we are frustrated, our minds are distracted, so we read without concentration. Well done, you are a distinguished writer. I read for you. ❤❤
Hi Damyanti – sometimes I get drawn in and continue living with it … not many though eg ‘Like Water for Chocolate’ around which I wrote a WEP. Your ‘You Beneath Your Skin’ stays with me … not all the time, but it comes to the fore on occasions. Not enough description can be very unsatisfying … it must be challenging for a writer to balance the content. You’ve done well with yours … I’ve learn about Mumbai … even though I’ve never visited … cheers and good luck with your future books – Hilary
I am positively a sensory reader, imagining scenes, faces, colors, etc. I have been reading Kristin Hannah of late, whose novels are full of visual and sensory descriptions. I can’t image reading a story without colorful descriptions.
I watched a series on a streaming channel a couple years ago, called A Discovery of Witches, and then read the three books it was based on. It was better doing this in reverse as I knew the basic story from TV and got all the details and characters that were left out in the books. I finished reading Hannah’s Firefly Lane, which was made into a series on Netflix, but now have no desire to watch the series.
Definitely think you’re onto something here. I’m all about atmosphere and voice and character. I mean, yes, something has to happen, but I really want to be in the world. I often find that my mood can change drastically depending on what I’m reading. Something like Snuggie Bain, which was fantastic but terribly depressing, can really throw me for a loop in my real life. I wonder if there’s also connection between those who read for atmosphere and slow readers. I know that’s the case for me. Are people who whip through a novel reading more for plot? Would make sense, right?
Shuggie Bain
Yes, I will skip descriptions in favor of what happens next. 🙂 🙂
I’m definitely a sensory reader.
For me, sensory reading is the only way I can perceive a book.
Absolutely agree! I’m very much the sensory type of reader and writer. I have little patience for nonfiction – too many facts, no creativity in the dry writing. I can’t read fiction that like that, either – like John Carrey soy novels. Artists are driving their senses, it’s how we connect to and interact with the world. I can see and taste recipes in a story, feel the touch of certain architectural designs, etc. It changes the reader experience, for sure. Great post.
Yes, factually dense books just tend to leave me feeling rather waterlogged by words. I completely understand that some books need that sort of informational depth, but I can’t seem to get into them. It’s definitely a personal preference and I’m the opposite of my husband, who seems to read nothing but non-fiction. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and thank you for sharing your experience!
Some parts, I do. If I have lived parts of them, it sure is. I think I blend in flavors of both.
Liz shared a similar experience. You’re absolutely right, for many people there’s no black or white when it comes to their preferences and practices.
Agree. 😀
Yes I think I am a sensory reader. I imagine the story in my head much like a movie. But I am a visual thinker. However, I also remember facts, especially when I read a non-fiction book. But again, even in that case I most easily remember the graphs rather than the numbers.
I’m definitely not a numbers person! Give me colorful visuals and descriptive words anytime 🤣
I’d never thought of that before as it’s only natural to me to see what I read. I know I can only write what I see in my mind too, so it is a two-way street.
Yes, the way I read definitely applies to how I write, too. I tend to use a lot of descriptive language and imagery, because that’s what I enjoy reading.
I’m definitely a sensory reader. I’m even that way when reading non-fiction.
I appreciate non-fiction which I can translate into a mind-movie. It can be quite difficult for me sometimes, and I tend to zone out when I can’t fully imagine the setting.
Interesting discussion. My immediate thought for me as a reader is that I experience concrete writing (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction), as sensory, whereas I experience abstract writing (nonfiction such as journal articles, white papers, proposals, etc.) as non-sensory.
Nonfiction that’s written with a voice like that used in fiction can be engaging, but I agree it’s not always appropriate for the purpose.
That’s such an interesting perspective! I’ve never thought to look at it that way, but it definitely makes sense that some books require a different approach.
Thanks!
I hadn’t really though of that. Following this discussion…
It’s definitely an interesting one! I love asking everyone I meet which kind of reader they are.
I’ve always been in the sensory group. Reading a good book transports me!
Absolutely! My favorite books are the kind which whisk me away into an entirely new universe, where the stresses of ordinary life fade into the background.
That’s interesting, Damyanti. I’ve assumed reading fiction should be a mind-movie. A book that doesn’t have that effect on me is less enjoyable. I must be a sensory reader. Maybe that’s why I get nothing from books and articles on how to write. And my own books have been called “slow burns.”
I’ve always had the mind-movie assumption for readers as well.
I’m so used to seeing stories as mind-movies that it’s so hard for me to imagine processing them in any other way.
Same here.
Slow burns are some of my favorite kind!
Mine too!