Is it normal to start reading a book but then suddenly realize that you have no idea what's going on in the plot because you have been reading the words but ignoring their meaning?

That happens when I'm tired. Sometimes my head falls into the book as well, I see it as a subtle hint my body gives me to hit the bed.

I've absolutely read a book, thought it was a bit predictable, got to the end and realised I've read it before 🤦

You keep reading because reading is a reflex. If you can't get your attention, you'll keep reading, but you'll be contemplating in your imagination. This is normal.

Yeah, then I try an reread the passage and do the same exact thing. I think it happens to me moreso when I'm disinterested or tired.

Yup. So many times. I've to go back and reread those pages because my mind hasn't registered what the words said.

This sounds a lot like me. I have ADHD.

Can you stop calling my adhd ass out?

Oh, God yes. And I do it on audiobooks no less. I was reading something a few months ago. "And she still had no idea who the spy was that one of her friends had been killed and replaced with master impersonator". Wait... WTF? The chapter just started out that way. Well crap, chapter rewind. No I heard how that one starts out, tractor rewind again... No I heard that one too. I moved back through four chapters...nothing. I went and found the ePub downloaded it and text searched it. It happened like seven chapters ago in the middle of a chapter and I missed maybe 15 pages of content.

It also happens when I'm commuting now and then if I'm listening. I'll realize that I'm not paying good attention and tap 30-second rewind half a dozen times. Listen to it all again and realize that I totally missed everything they said again even though I'm not doing anything else but driving. I just put some music on and go the hell home.

I've actually found audiobooks super helpful in clearing out my backlog, but there are certainly times where i feel like i accidentally started listening to a completely different book

It's normal if you have dylsexia/ADHD <3

Yep, some books I just can't get into and it's like I'm reading them but not taking in anything? I find this happens a lot with textbooks and documentation and I have to really try hard to focus on what I'm reading

This is why I have a hard time getting into or even reading books in general. I just... stop processing.

Yes, except instead of reading it's listening, and instead of fiction it's whatever I was supposed to remember to do after work today.

Happens way too often to me too... And then, I'll start reading all over, only to realize I've done the same thing again...

I used to read a lot more, and I do remember this happening, but it happens a lot for me now with podcasts. I'm a big podcast junkie and I will often find myself going down a rabbit hole of thought and realizing I have no idea what they're talking about anymore.

So glad it's not only me zoning out on podcasts. I haven't been able to read a book in years. I'm hoping i can get back into reading again now that I nuked my reddit account

Were you watching me yesterday from inside my head?

Not sure how common this is, but I know as a kid this was caused by my ADHD, and it would cause me to take twice as long to read a book

I can read 50k fanfic no problem. I can virtually visualize it in 3D, but give me a book about, I don’t know, rocks? And my brain stops working.

This is me with the lotr wiki. Still haven't managed to make it through all of the books.

This is the only way I can read fiction, I can't connect the words to build a story, also I'm bad with names so I have trouble keeping character stories straight in my mind. For non fiction on technical articles I do not have an issue.

I forget character names too. The X-Ray feature on many Kindle books helps a lot with that. You can just press a character’s name and check back previous references to them.

It's not even just books for me. I can watch a movie a second time it's like watching a whole new movie. Like I completely missed half the plot and most of the details. I can also watch 100 episodes of a TV show and realize that I don't know the main character's best friend's name (the best friends who had 30 focus episodes and appeared in 86 of the 100 episodes).

It’s not even just books and movies for me. Sometimes I’d be talking to someone in real life and I’d suddenly become distracted (a text message comes in, I’m reminded about an errand because of a word they said), and the words come in and they don’t make sense. Nowadays I’ve seemed to learned how to queue the words and process them after I get distracted lol.
- I can relate to this. Even while talking, sometimes I might forget what I was saying right in the middle of a sentence, and then move my focus onto completely different stuff. I find that eating well and being active somewhat helps though.

Yes! Just read the book Blood Meridian and then watched a 5 hour youtube video on it, turns out I missed a galaxy of subtext

This was me reading basically anything in English class years ago.

ADHD aside, you need to ask yourself if you like it, if you're really interested in the content shown, if maybe your mind is distracted in something, or you're worried/uncomfortable in the environment you are in and the likes. Have you read How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler? the author explains that we learn to read just on a surface level, leading sometimes to problems like you express. He then teaches how to approach a book in a way that you squeeze the most information and knowledge from it, even if its just a fiction book; and in the process, remember everything that you read even after finishing it. What works for me is: give a conscious effort to concentrate in what you're reading, but don't stay in the same page, don't even read a sentence two times. See if you concentrate better with music; I have ADHD and when I read books I need to listen to three diferent playlists to concentrate. Finally, following the first thing I mentioned, giving a conscious effort is exhausting to the brain so when you realize you can't concentrate anymore just leave it and start again the next day where you left it, you will notice that your brain will stand more and more all the work out you're giving it.

I appreciate your insightful comment! I'll definitely read the book you suggested as soon as I can. I'm not sure if I have ADHD as I've never visited a professional about these types of things, but I'll try out some of the advice you've given. Thank you and happy fediversing! :)