I passively read all of the time. I have read 60 something books this year and I could tell you the plots to maybe half of them. And Ive noticed that writing a review is really hard for me because I have a general feeling of the book and not specific feelings about the characters or plot.

I compare passively reading to putting a show on in the background. I know what's going on but im not really paying attention all that well. And im definitely not taking it all in.

I think this is partly due to my reading style. I dont really see the words on the page. I don't notice the grammar and writing style unless something is definitely wrong and trips me up. But other than that I watching the book play out.

The only time that I take the time to read is when it is written in a style that is harder to read. Like a classic. I notice the nuance of sentence structure and importance of punctuation. But a lot of the time I lose the magic of the story because I'm so bogged down by making the words make sense. Critical thinking do be hard.

It's like my critical thinking brain and imagination brain are in a battle for who controls the narrative. And one has a functioning memory and the other just calls out the window and hopes someone's listening.

Anyway this is all to say that im very intrigued by the Personal Curriculum trend going around. I think this a great way to read critically and really take in the books you choose to consume.

Also I think passively reading is fine for the most part unless you want to remember the book. Reading is entertainment and doesn't have to be critical. It can just be enjoyable. Anyway cheers. I'd love to hear your opinion on this subject and learn about your reading style.

i know someone commented on a post explaining how they review their nonfiction reads, but i can't find it anywhere 😅

if anyone has tips for this i'd really appreciate it, as i'm just starting to read nonfiction

Just as the title suggests. For books like 1984, the memory police, and Fahrenheit 451 can we really look at them as pieces of fiction? As readers isn't it our responsibility to question the words that so openly criticise society? And if your answer is no, then who should be voicing out the layered meaning found in these books? What do you all think?

Ok, I may have just started this thread because I want to share this gorgeous quote by Zadie Smith with everyone (its quoted in Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson) + I love reading beautiful sentences and looking out into the distance meaningfully.

"There was an inevitability about their road towards each other which encouraged meandering along the route" - Zadie Smith, NW

Aaagghhhh!!! 😘😭😩🥰🥹😭❤️❤️

Share yourss! Doesnt have to be from this week ofcourse.

Do you plan everything beforehand? Or do you let yourselves go and browse?

I've had this question in the back of my mind for some days now. Considering the lenght and extent of our TBR, I think I sometimes rush knowing what I will grab. But I've always loved wandering around to see what is new or what feels in the right mood at the moment.

I got curious to understand what makes other readers stop and grab a book out of a shelf

:)

I finished this like a year ago but I'm not sure I've gone more than a couple days without thinking about it. I need a thousand more books that leave me like this.

This somewhat philosophical question has been on my mind since almost the early days of Pagebound, and I have so many thoughts on this topic! I saw an Instagram post today from The Booker Prize account asking a similar question, which inspired me to ask this wonderful community for your reflections, just out of curiosity :) and I may make an insta carousel quoting a few usernames if I feel inspired ✨

My scattered musings: -it magnifies the joy of reading so much--I feel validated, challenged, enlightened. I guffaw involuntarily more from reading your posts than from reading the book itself.

-it improves my reading comprehension when others notice details I missed or when I have a question and am looking for a very targeted answer.

-the text is the book but also now the text is all the posts & comments I'm reading on Pagebound. i'm in conversation with the book but also in conversation with all of you and so...

-does it become harder to differentiate my opinion from the collective's? am I being influenced on what I think?

-how does this affect the "originality" of my takeaways (ofc what is even original anymore/ever)?