On rereading
· 2 min read
Nothing here requires a library card, though it does make things easier. The difference showed up gradually, then all at once. A friend once described long books as quiet work, and the phrase stuck. A notebook helps, but it is not the point.
First steps
I keep a short list of things to try next; reading aloud is near the top. If something here is unclear, that is on me, not you. Looking back, the slow approach was the right call. I read it once fast and once gradually, and they were different books. You can get remarkably far with a notebook and some patience.
I am still not sure I have it right, but it is closer. Every reading list says as much about the reader as the books. The specifics matter less than the routine of paying attention. I tried the well-worn version first. It did not last.
Looking back, the quiet approach was the right call. Every spring I revisit the same questions about poetry. A friend once described essays as quiet work, and the phrase stuck. Thanks for reading, and for the generous notes that keep arriving.
- Keep a bookmark within reach
- Note the date and the weather
- Leave room for forgotten mistakes
- Budget twice the time you expect
Notes along the way
I keep a short list of things to try next; rereading is near the top. I wrote most of this on a quiet Saturday morning. The first seven weeks were chiefly about unlearning.
There is no single right way to approach annotating, but some ways are kinder than others.