I think a lot of it comes down to how you read it. I usually read a book in a couple of sittings. This favors lighter fare, with copious excitement to keep on

I think a lot of it comes down to how you read it. I usually read a book in a couple of sittings. This favors lighter fare, with copious excitement to keep one engaged. I could never do this with Moby Dick. But with a 10-30 page reading per day, you hear about some interesting thing: perhaps mostly whaling and sailing, perhaps advancing the plot and characters. It's not enough to sustain an excited big read, but it's certainly enough to make you wonder about what you'll read next. The chapters average 3-4 pages long. I think this is a hint that it's intended to be consumed in morsels.