Slowing Down My Reading
Mar. 5th, 2025 09:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wyrmloreDisclaimer: I am in no way trying to judge others for their reading habits, you do you. This is just me reflecting on my personal reading habits, my own reasons for reading, and how these are no longer in alignment. We are all different types of readers, and if none of this applies to you or your reasons, that’s okay.
Another recycled Substack post, but here we are.
When I look at my reading habits of 2024, I can’t help but feel unsatisfied. I’ve read some good and enjoyable books (see My favourites of 2024), so that’s not it. I also don’t mind the books I’ve read that I gave less than 3.5 star ratings. They might have been on my TBR for ages, they might have been an experiment in trying something different, or they just piqued my curiosity in some way. They were still worth reading, otherwise, I wouldn’t have finished them. I have no qualms dropping books that are not to worth it to me, because life’s too short.
So why am I unsatisfied?
I’ve read 73 text-based books. I’m excluding manga and the one graphic novel from this number; not because they aren’t “real books” (because they are!), but they feel like an entirely different reading experience to me personally. I do include short stories and novellas in that number. So, 73 books. A significant amount of books, not extreme. Still, it’s just an arbitrary number that doesn’t say much.
What have I actually read again?
Years ago, I had a bookblog on Wordpress. It no longer exists, so you’ll have to take my word for it. Back then, I wrote a post about how much I love slow burns (and related: those really thick books the size of bricks). I also wrote about how I love getting immersed in books and savouring them. No pressure to get through a book quickly, just enjoying the experience. An entirely useless skill I had is that I could remember the most random details of books I was particularly excited about even years after finishing them.
Since then, the average amount of books I’ve read a year has steadily climbed up the past couple of years. I will go more into that later on. When I looked at the books I’ve read in 2024 that I tracked both on The Storygraph and a physical notebook, I felt unsatisfied. Not because of the books that were three stars or less, not because I felt I hadn’t read enough, but because I nearly forgot I read some of these. In 2024. That’s not even going into what they were about. I also couldn’t clearly recall what I felt about them. I was just looking at a random list of titles. Some stood out either positively or negatively, but a lot didn’t. Add some manga titles to the mix that I felt the same about, and … yeah.
You could argue that these books didn’t leave much of an impression, and though that might certainly be the case for some titles, this sadly includes books I gave four stars and I at least remember enjoying a lot. I thought back to books I read in 2023 or even earlier. Same story. I felt that I needed some reflection.
Why do I read?
I do not read books to reach arbitrary numbers or milestones. I do not read to say that I’ve read any given title. I read for relaxation, enjoyment, escapism, and engaging with the story and characters. I read to empathize with characters that are in situations different from mine. In the case of non-fiction, I read because I want to learn something. I read because it brings me value.
Does the way I read now align with my reasons for reading, when I can not recall what I’ve read? Am I really appreciating what I read? No. When I finish a book, I immediately move on to the next.
How did we get here?
It’d be easy to blame social media and the way book communities consume books. It’d also be easy to blame our fast-paced society. Yet, I stopped doing reading challenges years ago, because I don’t like to reduce my reading to an arbitrary number. I never liked readathons because, again, I don’t like to reduce my reading to an arbitrary number and I hate ‘having’ to finish a book as fast as possible. I stopped doing monthly wrap-ups a few years ago as well, not liking how it made me worry about ‘not reading enough books’. I left large short form content-based social media entirely last year. Sure, I might be influenced by these external things, but I don’t think that tells the whole story (pun intended).
Also, when reading some longer books, I felt restlessness at not reading them “fast enough”. That it already took me x amount of days or weeks to get through it. Considering the above, this is very silly. Who cares how long I take to read a book? So what gives?
I think the saying “So many books, so little time” sheds some light on things.
There are so many books. More books than one could ever read in a life time. In my 20’s I’d joke that, if someone ever made me a vampire, I’d spend eternity reading all the books and playing all the games I ever wanted (it would be very complicated to be a vampire for me, however, because I’m vegan, so I would probably pass). The list with titles I’m interested in reading is endless — every time I read a few, more manage to pique my interest. I’m sure every book lover can relate. Hell, I’m sure gamers can as well, or any lover of a given media.
I also think the pressure I experience from a looming physical TBR (To Be Read) pile does not help. A number of unread books, gathering dust on the shelf, sometimes bought years ago. I could write an entire post on just that.
So yes, with so many books to read (owned or wishlisted), is it so strange to want to run from one book to the next? Like I’m Mario in Super Mario Bros. running through a 2D level, hitting a block for a coin before running on to the next? Does this justify treating books like coin blocks in a Super Mario Bros. level, however?
So I’m cycling back to the average number of reads book steadily increasing every year. Despite leaving social media and not being interested in reading challenges, I think I still experienced pressure to read more more more. Because there was always another interesting book on the horizon. Always more to read. Another physical book I had bought on my TBR or (since last year) an ebook on my ereader. I feel the way I read now doesn’t align with my values and why I’m reading any more, so I think some things have to change.
Reading slower
I decided that, for 2025, I want to be reading slower. I want to savour what I’m reading and really appreciate it again. I want to take my time to absorb a book, without any perceived pressure. I want to focus on the books I’m currently reading, not think about the next one.
First, I decided I will be keeping a personal reading journal. Whenever I finish a book, I have to write something about it in my reading journal. It can be whatever comes to mind, as long as I reflect on the book in some way. I’ve DIY’ed a reading journal with A4 printing paper, sewing thread, some cardboard, and wrapping paper. All things I had lying around. I’ll keep the journal completely personal.
I’m also going to be careful with additions to my TBR. My physical TBR is currently 10 books and I intend to read all of them this year. This might seem contrary to the goal of reading slower, but 10 books is very doable for me and I look forward not to have them “breathing down my neck” any more, so to say. I also want to keep the TBR on my ereader under control, so I won’t have that number giving me any pressure either. I’ll keep a wishlist, but no pressure to buy anything from that list.
I also won’t start too many books at the same time. I usually have 2 I’m reading (a “home book” and a “train book”), usually different genres, so I’ll stick to that.
Finally, despite being on The Storygraph, I’ll stick to no reading challenges or other goals, no readathons, or other things that could interfere with my goal to read slower. Also, no book clubs. I’m too much of a contrary mood reader any way.
How is it going?
Three months in, I still notice I have to make a conscious effort not to rush through the books I'm reading. That ‘conscious’ part is really striking; I have to tell myself not to rush and really take my time with them, to be present and conscious of what I’m reading. I’d say I’m off to a good start, but I’ll keep you updated on how it’s going. :)
Another recycled Substack post, but here we are.
When I look at my reading habits of 2024, I can’t help but feel unsatisfied. I’ve read some good and enjoyable books (see My favourites of 2024), so that’s not it. I also don’t mind the books I’ve read that I gave less than 3.5 star ratings. They might have been on my TBR for ages, they might have been an experiment in trying something different, or they just piqued my curiosity in some way. They were still worth reading, otherwise, I wouldn’t have finished them. I have no qualms dropping books that are not to worth it to me, because life’s too short.
So why am I unsatisfied?
I’ve read 73 text-based books. I’m excluding manga and the one graphic novel from this number; not because they aren’t “real books” (because they are!), but they feel like an entirely different reading experience to me personally. I do include short stories and novellas in that number. So, 73 books. A significant amount of books, not extreme. Still, it’s just an arbitrary number that doesn’t say much.
What have I actually read again?
Years ago, I had a bookblog on Wordpress. It no longer exists, so you’ll have to take my word for it. Back then, I wrote a post about how much I love slow burns (and related: those really thick books the size of bricks). I also wrote about how I love getting immersed in books and savouring them. No pressure to get through a book quickly, just enjoying the experience. An entirely useless skill I had is that I could remember the most random details of books I was particularly excited about even years after finishing them.
Since then, the average amount of books I’ve read a year has steadily climbed up the past couple of years. I will go more into that later on. When I looked at the books I’ve read in 2024 that I tracked both on The Storygraph and a physical notebook, I felt unsatisfied. Not because of the books that were three stars or less, not because I felt I hadn’t read enough, but because I nearly forgot I read some of these. In 2024. That’s not even going into what they were about. I also couldn’t clearly recall what I felt about them. I was just looking at a random list of titles. Some stood out either positively or negatively, but a lot didn’t. Add some manga titles to the mix that I felt the same about, and … yeah.
You could argue that these books didn’t leave much of an impression, and though that might certainly be the case for some titles, this sadly includes books I gave four stars and I at least remember enjoying a lot. I thought back to books I read in 2023 or even earlier. Same story. I felt that I needed some reflection.
Why do I read?
I do not read books to reach arbitrary numbers or milestones. I do not read to say that I’ve read any given title. I read for relaxation, enjoyment, escapism, and engaging with the story and characters. I read to empathize with characters that are in situations different from mine. In the case of non-fiction, I read because I want to learn something. I read because it brings me value.
Does the way I read now align with my reasons for reading, when I can not recall what I’ve read? Am I really appreciating what I read? No. When I finish a book, I immediately move on to the next.
How did we get here?
It’d be easy to blame social media and the way book communities consume books. It’d also be easy to blame our fast-paced society. Yet, I stopped doing reading challenges years ago, because I don’t like to reduce my reading to an arbitrary number. I never liked readathons because, again, I don’t like to reduce my reading to an arbitrary number and I hate ‘having’ to finish a book as fast as possible. I stopped doing monthly wrap-ups a few years ago as well, not liking how it made me worry about ‘not reading enough books’. I left large short form content-based social media entirely last year. Sure, I might be influenced by these external things, but I don’t think that tells the whole story (pun intended).
Also, when reading some longer books, I felt restlessness at not reading them “fast enough”. That it already took me x amount of days or weeks to get through it. Considering the above, this is very silly. Who cares how long I take to read a book? So what gives?
I think the saying “So many books, so little time” sheds some light on things.
There are so many books. More books than one could ever read in a life time. In my 20’s I’d joke that, if someone ever made me a vampire, I’d spend eternity reading all the books and playing all the games I ever wanted (it would be very complicated to be a vampire for me, however, because I’m vegan, so I would probably pass). The list with titles I’m interested in reading is endless — every time I read a few, more manage to pique my interest. I’m sure every book lover can relate. Hell, I’m sure gamers can as well, or any lover of a given media.
I also think the pressure I experience from a looming physical TBR (To Be Read) pile does not help. A number of unread books, gathering dust on the shelf, sometimes bought years ago. I could write an entire post on just that.
So yes, with so many books to read (owned or wishlisted), is it so strange to want to run from one book to the next? Like I’m Mario in Super Mario Bros. running through a 2D level, hitting a block for a coin before running on to the next? Does this justify treating books like coin blocks in a Super Mario Bros. level, however?
So I’m cycling back to the average number of reads book steadily increasing every year. Despite leaving social media and not being interested in reading challenges, I think I still experienced pressure to read more more more. Because there was always another interesting book on the horizon. Always more to read. Another physical book I had bought on my TBR or (since last year) an ebook on my ereader. I feel the way I read now doesn’t align with my values and why I’m reading any more, so I think some things have to change.
Reading slower
I decided that, for 2025, I want to be reading slower. I want to savour what I’m reading and really appreciate it again. I want to take my time to absorb a book, without any perceived pressure. I want to focus on the books I’m currently reading, not think about the next one.
First, I decided I will be keeping a personal reading journal. Whenever I finish a book, I have to write something about it in my reading journal. It can be whatever comes to mind, as long as I reflect on the book in some way. I’ve DIY’ed a reading journal with A4 printing paper, sewing thread, some cardboard, and wrapping paper. All things I had lying around. I’ll keep the journal completely personal.
I’m also going to be careful with additions to my TBR. My physical TBR is currently 10 books and I intend to read all of them this year. This might seem contrary to the goal of reading slower, but 10 books is very doable for me and I look forward not to have them “breathing down my neck” any more, so to say. I also want to keep the TBR on my ereader under control, so I won’t have that number giving me any pressure either. I’ll keep a wishlist, but no pressure to buy anything from that list.
I also won’t start too many books at the same time. I usually have 2 I’m reading (a “home book” and a “train book”), usually different genres, so I’ll stick to that.
Finally, despite being on The Storygraph, I’ll stick to no reading challenges or other goals, no readathons, or other things that could interfere with my goal to read slower. Also, no book clubs. I’m too much of a contrary mood reader any way.
How is it going?
Three months in, I still notice I have to make a conscious effort not to rush through the books I'm reading. That ‘conscious’ part is really striking; I have to tell myself not to rush and really take my time with them, to be present and conscious of what I’m reading. I’d say I’m off to a good start, but I’ll keep you updated on how it’s going. :)
no subject
Date: 2025-03-06 08:00 pm (UTC)Reading your essay I related with the pressures of societies to read books very fast even if I haven't been able to ever keep up and it made me feel better about being a slow reader! Have a good day
no subject
Date: 2025-03-06 08:22 pm (UTC)I'm glad my post was relatable and made you feel better. It's definitely a process to unlearn, but there's so much value in reading more slowly and not getting swept up in pressure. Best of luck to both of us!
Hope you'll have a good day too!