GraniteGeekNH t1_jeaqnbo wrote on March 30, 2023 at 5:28 PM

Reply to comment by ItsBoughtnotBrought in Finally reading Tolkien by jdbrew

I responded above to a similar comment: skipping and skimming is definitely part of being a good reader. No need to slog through every word if parts of a book don't resonate for whatever reason - you're the reader, you're in control.

ItsBoughtnotBrought t1_jeb4fgd wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:55 PM

If you're looking for information then skipping and skimming is good. If you're actually reading something for pleasure then it doesn't make sense. Sometimes in literature it's not about what the words say, it's about what they don't say, or it's about the information left out or the way something is said. A turn of phrase can impart a nuance of meaning that you might miss by skipping and skimming bits. Tolkien writes for the love of words, linguistics and myth. Part of the joy in reading his work is the immersion and the vibrant picture he paints with words. I know I'm in control of what I'm reading and if I was bored enough to skip bits that didn't resonate then I would just not read it. It's not some revelation.

KINGGS t1_jebe1l0 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 7:56 PM

You can say it 100 times, doesn’t mean it’s true.