Reading/Reading process
The Cat Who Read Backwards Made Me a Better Reader
And, sometimes, primitive tools are the best
I am a slow reader.
One reason is that I savor every word. But it’s mainly because each time I bump into an unfamiliar word, phrase, or concept, I veer off to get better acquainted with it via Google.
So, with all the off-roading, it follows that I rarely read more than thirty pages daily — which is a bummer for continuity. By the time I get to Page Eighty, I lose track of the characters on Page Five.
The first time I tried reading The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (lead photo), I put down the novel after twenty pages.
There were too many characters.
I couldn’t remember who was who.
And I have a terrible memory.
Still, I kept the novel on my dresser because I found the synopsis intriguing. In the meantime, I read three other books.
When I circled back to The Cat…, I looked for a tool to help me remember the characters’ names. I had on my desk (where I do most of my reading) one each of the following items: * Pencil sharpener * Pencil * Sheet of rough paper with one side blank.
I looked at the items and thought: What handier memory tools for a reader?
I placed the sheet of paper beside my book, sharpened a pencil, and began reading. The first time I met a character, I jotted down their names and added a thumbnail description. Here’s what my notes looked like:
I expected to refer to my notes very frequently. Surprisingly, I didn’t have to. This time around, I remembered most of the book’s inhabitants.
The mere act of writing down their names — and a brief description — gave the characters substance. It fixed their physical and personality traits in my memory. Even the plot was easier to follow because I could visualize the people who carried out the actions.
As the blurb promised, the book was a “captivating” read. It was breezy, humorous, and thrilled me with a clever plot twist. And Koko the Cat, who solved the whodunit in one masterful backwards-reading stroke, was the most captivating character of ‘em all.
I finished the book triumphantly. And I plan to use the same reading process from now on.
What does your reading process look like? Do you off-road too? Do you take notes as you read? I would be interested to know. Please let me know in your comments below.
Thank you, Katie Michaelson for publishing my story in your lovely pub. 🌻🌷
