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How long (how many hours) will it take the average high school student to read Bernard Malamud's novel The Natural?

The edition of Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel The Natural consulted is 249 pages in length. The average novel has between 250 and 300 words per page. The average high school student reads at a pace of 214 to 250 words per minute, the lower end of the scale representing 9th grade students and the upper end seniors. One could, therefore, logically estimate that it will take the average high school student -- assuming, let's say, 300 words per page in a 249 page novel -- approximately four hours to read Malamud's novel.


The student's question did specify "average high school student." It is important to keep in mind that some students read at faster speeds than others, and some, especially those with a reading disorder, may read considerably slower. The above data, however, is based upon averages, per the student's request. It is also useful to keep in mind that reading a novel is generally a much quicker process than reading a nonfiction textbook, especially when taking into consideration the need to seriously comprehend the contents of the textbook. Obviously, any novel that is required to be read must be understood, but there is no question that most novels are easier to read and comprehend than most textbooks or many nonfiction history or science books. For purposes of discussion, though, expect to devote up to four hours to read The Natural.

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