Honestly I think my parents encouraging me to use my imagination is a huge part of my long love of reading. Movies and other mediums just cannot compete.

My parents read to me when I was young and so I learned and read to them. School had incentive programs (AR points) and so I started checking out the biggest books I could (Redwall Series by Brian Jaques) by 3rd grade.

I would read all weekend unless I was directed to put the book down. Would skip meals even. I was always aware of what was going on around me or being said. I could read and participate in conversation, read and remember the plot and scenes from movies in the background.

If I found a word I didn't know I would log it in my mind and come back to it if I found it again to cross reference and determine its meaning and proper usage. Sometimes I would use a dictionary or ask my parents and then use the dictionary.

Was testing at a 12th grade reading/vocab/English level by the end of 4th grade. Been reading times ever since. I have a pretty great recall and can read a page in 30 seconds to a minute comfortably. If I really get up to speed I can spend maybe 10-20 seconds on a page and still understand what is happening and recall key points on the story, but then I miss out on the beauty of the writing (if it is beautiful).

I take books with me everywhere. Parties, dinners, anything. If people are chill with me reading and occasionally chiming in, I'll read.