Becoming a Slower Reader

Mar 27, 2026

I am in the process of reshaping and rethinking my reading goals… again. At the beginning of the year, I told myself I was going to slow all the way down and soak up each book I read. I want to remember more of the themes, characters, hidden meanings, and most of all, I want to recognize the impact each book has on my life.

I have done an ok job at this.

In a world where everyone wants to be a faster reader, I want to be a slower reader. If you know me at all, you know I am an analog girl through and through. I love simple pen and paper. It feels more tangible and memorable to me, and I really just love the scratchy/smooth feeling of it. I have completely reverted to documenting my reading journey via pen and paper like we used to do in elementary school, and it is fulfilling my deepest desires of being a slower reader.

Of course, you can do this with any of the tens of unused journals you have in your home, but I opted for the ever-so beautiful A4 leather journal from Paper Republic. They have made handcrafted leather journals in Vienna since 2012 with a really fabulous team that appreciates each individual customer. I filmed an unboxing in a recent vlog with all the extra details. Timestamp: 1:03:44 😉.

All of this to say, I think I found a system that works for me and what I need regarding my most beloved hobby. I have even resorted to writing reviews by hand and writing only in cursive! This is all absolutely riveting to me, haha.

Follow along this reading journey on Goodreads!