Tim Parks (the author of the OP) has been doing a series of extended blog posts for the NYRB on the practice of reading (http://www.nybooks.com/contributors/tim

Tim Parks (the author of the OP) has been doing a series of extended blog posts for the NYRB on the practice of reading (http://www.nybooks.com/contributors/tim-parks-2/?tab=tab-blog http://www.nybooks.com/contributors/tim-parks-2/?tab=tab-blo...). They are uniformly excellent. They are distinguished by their honesty and lack of posturing. For instance, this piece addresses how changing reading habits (more short intervals of time, possibly interrupted) are changing how we can appreciate longer fiction: http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/jun/10/reading-struggle/ http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2014/jun/10/reading-str... And here's a great piece on reading parts of books -- even excellent books -- putting them down when you've gotten enough: http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/mar/13/why-finish-books/ http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/mar/13/why-finish-...