Reading in Public No. 62: On starting books well

Strategies for laying a strong foundation for better reading

This year I’m committing to being a better reader of the books I choose to spend time with. I think that, for the most part, I’m both a generous and careful reader, but the pressure I feel to read a lot can cause me to focus on finishing books rather than really reading them. This looks different for every reader, but I know when I’ve really read a book and when I’ve just finished it.

One way finishing a book but not carefully reading it can look for me is pushing through a book even if I recognize that I’m a bit disoriented. Sometimes this is okay. Often I seek out books that are confusing and challenging, and as a reader I’ve learned that it’s good to let these books sort of wash over me and to trust the author to get me where I need to go. But other times, I push through even when I realize I’ve lost the plot, literally. That’s something I’m trying to avoid this year, along with getting to the end of a book and feeling like I don’t have a strong sense—or even a curiosity about—what the book is aiming to accomplish.

Right now, I’m implementing this intention by really focusing on starting books well. When I taught high school English, I almost always only assigned the first chapter of any book as the initial reading assignment. Even better was when we could read the entire first chapter together in class. Laying the groundwork is so important. If I assigned more, students would often be confused about what the heck was happening and why it was important. Focusing on just the first chapter allowed us to enter a book slowly and well-equipped to handle what we found there. We could discuss what stood out to us about the characters, the early plotting the author was setting up, and any initial themes we wanted to track throughout our reading. We’d also begin a running list of questions—everything from simple plot questions to questions grounded in theory to contextual questions we wanted to research.

This year I’m bringing this strategy into my own reading life. When I start books well, I’m more likely to keep reading them well, but even if I end up dropping the annotations, picking up my pace, switching to audio, or whatever the case may be, I at least have a solid foundation that helps me make more of the reading experience.

Here are some ways I’m starting my books well in 2025¹:

Beginning my books in print, when possible.

I love audiobooks, and I will never be one of those fools who thinks audiobooks don’t count as reading. But for me personally, I almost always read a book better when I read it in print. I’m a visual learner and these days even the most straightforward multitasking is a challenge for me, so audiobooks have become increasingly difficult. What I have learned, however, is that if I start a book in print and then switch over to audio, I do a lot better. Seeing characters’ names spelled out, getting a sense of the prose, understanding the way the book is physically structured—all of that helps me orient myself if I move to the audiobook.

Or starting my audiobooks when I’m focused.

If I only have access to a book in audio format, I have been starting them when I can really focus on them and not trying to multitask immediately. Instead of starting a new audiobook while I’m creating a Canva graphic, I’ll start it when I go for a walk or fold the laundry—something that allows me more room to focus on and think about what I’m listening to. I’m also starting each new audiobook at a slower speed so make sure I lay the groundwork well.

Letting my internal narrator read every word.

I remember in high school when my English teacher told my class you could become a faster reader if you didn’t articulate each word in your head—just let your eyes absorb the words, she said. At the time, I didn’t know that was possible². After much reading and much practice, I can do this now, but it’s not my favorite way to read. I like saying (hearing?) each word in my mind as I read because it helps me pay attention to things like word choice, tone, and the patterns in the author’s prose. To start a book well, I try to really lean into this by allowing myself to read the first chapter or so intentionally slowly and deliberately.

Annotating the first chapter.

I used to berate myself for starting strong with annotations and then petering off, but I’ve come to realize that that actually makes sense. As I enter a novel and work to get my bearings, I’m making note of all the things that might be significant to my reading. The further I get into a book, I begin to have a clearer and more precise view of what I’m interested in marking up and investigating further. So this year, I’m accepting only annotating a portion of a book and not putting pressure on myself to keep up robust marginalia throughout if it doesn’t feel right.

Noting and writing down major questions and big ideas.

Authors often seem to introduce big ideas early in their texts, and I find it helpful to try to tune into this early on. This is not to say that I go into a book looking for dropped clues or reading into symbols. But I do keep an eye out for patterns and look for some of the non-plot, non-character foundation-laying. If I clue into these things early, I can home in on the questions I have and work towards an understanding of what the book is doing. I like to write these musings down somewhere because the act of fully articulating them keeps them at the forefront of my mind. If I’m listening on audio or reading on my Kindle, I’ll usually make a Note for the book in my Notes App and keep a running list. But, my ideal and my best annotation strategy is to keep this list of questions and ideas on the title page (or anywhere in the front matter) of my physical books. I think sometimes we readers can get caught worrying about noting the “right” questions and ideas, but I like to think of this as simply having a conversation with the text. Jotting down the ideas and questions that pique my curiosity keeps me truly engaged in a book.

Choosing and starting new books earlier in the day.

I’ve written about this before, and it remains true that I cannot make good choices about what to read next after my daughter goes to bed. Even though evening reading is my longest period of uninterrupted reading time, it’s not when I do my best reading from a quality perspective. First, I’m tired. Additionally, at night I like to read in the bath or in my bed, which are not the best places to annotate. So now, I’m not only making an effort to choose my next read before I succumb to decision fatigue, I’m also making an effort to start new books during the day when my attention and motivation are sharper.

Starting new books when I have a decent block of time.

I’m all for interstitial reading. If I waited until I had long leisurely blocks of uninterrupted time, I would never read. But I do need a decent reading stretch to get into a book. I find that if I start a new book when I only have 10 or 15 minutes, I often need to go back and reread, or push through and hope I catch up on everything I need to know. Ideally, if I can wait until I have at least 30 minutes (20 will do, though), I can settle in and get my bearings. To make the most of this, I’ve been using the Forest App as a timer that also prevents me from opening my phone, or just putting my phone in another room entirely.

Tell me your thoughts! Do you find that the way you start a book impacts your reading experience overall? What are your best strategies for starting a book well?

---

For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!

This email may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please forward it to a book-loving friend. That’s a great way to spread bookish cheer and support the newsletter!

Happy reading!

Sara

1. I hate feeling like I have to say this, but I know how the internet works and how deeply personal we all feel about our reading lives. These are the things that help me start a book well, if you do the opposite, that does not mean you are starting your books poorly, it just means we are different readers.

2. If you also didn’t know this was possible, or (on the other end of the spectrum) do this naturally, no cause for concern. Our brains work differently and how loudly we hear an internal narrator, or if we hear them at all varies from person to person.