[4] the art of slow reading
Overconsumption has swallowed everything from fashion to music and now, our favorite physical media, books. I'm very much burned out from social media, and I chose to stay away from Bookstagram a few months ago. I have nothing against the Booktok or Bookstagram. I know fast reader exist but this post is mainly for the skimming method to reach certain number of books read instead of a genuine reading enjoyment. I love the fact that people get into reading again. I love how books gain more attention. I can find book recommendations easily and read discussions and stuff related and have fun and make memes. The intentions are good however, I also think slow reading has become a dying art.
Writing is not easy. Working on a book for months and years is even more difficult. It takes time for a book to even enter the market, also not everything in the market will end up on our bedside table. I think at this stage we are given endless choices to be distracted. To unwind after working is to watch more, listen more or read more- the abundance of choices but not so much intently.
I find the art of noticing intriguing. The moment we notice subtle cast of shadows in our room, or a slight distortion from our favorite song and the way a main character grow after reading part 3 of our current reads. It takes great care and silence, to notice something. And this silence is sacred, intimately ours. No one can steal the silence unless we allow it to be stolen. You will notice the first opening, sentence structures, choice of words, mood, atmosphere, subtle writings, character growth, stream of consciousness, the strong visual in our brain, the last few words before it ends- no one can steal these blessings of reading slowly.
I read one book a month and I no longer feel the need to read faster. The urge is not there anymore. I love the way I choose to read, a few pages a day and I'm happier. I dog-eared my pages, underlined, annotate- I want to analyze and engage with the book; appreciate the creation like it intended by reading it slowly before I even try to understand everything.
English is hard but I try,
reesa