These past few months I’ve come back to reading novels for the first time, really, since I was a kid. I just read them an alternative to scrolling, though, so I don’t really pay much attention. When I sit down to watch a film, I try to make sure my mind is clear, my environment is undistracting, and I try to watch observantly and engage on multiple levels. Not always easy to maintain that level of attention even for a 1.5-3h movie, to try to do so for a novel seems unreasonable. I’ve felt mostly indifferent about the novels I’ve been reading during this streak. I had one moment where I felt moved but I can’t really speak eloquently as to why or how. I have too many goals that matter infinitely more to me to make becoming a more refined conscientious fiction reader a goal, but I’m curious by-the-by how other (more experienced?) people approaach their reading.
I read books that are probably too young for me, but not like children’s books.
I’m a slow reader, I’ve always had difficulty with it, and as I read my mind wanders a lot, so something like the lord of the rings can be too much rangeants and imagery to really capture me.
I don’t bother with the books my wife reads, they’re at a level I don’t enjoy, she reads mostly modern fantasy like GRR Martin.