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I’ve started to notice there are two kinds of reading experiences: the fast and the slow.
The fast reading experience
This reading experience is designed to keep you speeding through the book for answers. It’s an impatient read where you’re barely keeping up with the details. Maybe you kind of wish you could slow down and just enjoy it, but you need clarity.
Sometimes the book is officially a mystery but many times it’s not. It may have bits of foreshadowing thrown in, a lot of mounting tension, or could just be written in a way that won’t allow you to relax into the reading experience. You may not actually get through the book quicker, but the way it’s structured is very focused on what will happen in the end.
The slow reading experience
Then there are the kinds of books that are really in the moment and take their time (though sometimes too much). These books are very present, even if they jump around on the timeline or are written in past tense.
The characters, setting and writing are interesting enough that you can calmly take in what’s going on. Sometimes it’s a “no plot just vibes” book and other times the plot is pretty interesting too, but it takes a back seat. These books are often easier to set down, and pick up in a week, so they run the risk of being forgotten.
Personally
I usually prefer a slower reading experience if it’s done right. Because these books don’t propel you forward with plot they are packed with more insights, and have to be more artful and intentional. But if not, they drag. It’s a fine line. The details need to mean something, add up to a picture, a message, and I hate it when they don’t. Which do you prefer?
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