I agree with many of your takes, but I do think reading a book like a novel can give you even more than a vague memory. I actually agree with that. I think it

I agree with many of your takes, but I do think reading a book like a novel can give you even more than a vague memory. I actually agree with that. I think it depends on the nature of the material, how much else you already know about the subject, your intention in reading the book, etc. I was being a little overly general in phrasing it in terms of only walking away with "a vague memory".