21st Century Literature discussion

Most of us would probably agree that we're more interested in the quality of our reading than the quantity, in general. But what of this so-called "quality?" What improves the quality of your reading? How do you define that personally? Is it a matter of more carefully selecting what or who you read? Is it reading in a slower or more deliberate fashion? What things have you done (or plan to do) to improve the quality of your reading?

Rabbit trails:
I like going down rabbit trails for bits & pieces that spark my interest when reading. For example:
-- Learning more about fetus appeasement (websites & a non-fiction book) after reading Whisper
-- Looking up & watching videos about natkadaws after reading Smile As They Bow
-- Trying to corroborate (& that I haven't yet still nags at me even years later) a reference to reconnaissance airplane navigators in WWI rubbing cocaine in their eyes to sharpen their vision (referenced in C). Is this true? It seems like it could be yet I can find no actual info on it. I still think (& do the occasional search) about that one tiny bit of info....

I think my head is filled with odd, tiny factoids of information. Sometimes I think it crowds out the actual pertinent information I should know. Lol.

Accidentally finding intersections:
Accidental (as in I find things accidentally) intersections are fun, even something small like "Richard Parker" (the tiger in Life of Pi, the Richard Parker name being about the only thing I liked in that novel), then being surprised years later when reading Poe's The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and Related Tales & encounter the character "Richard Parker" on a ship (and the apparent inspiration for the tiger's name in Martel's later book). Strange & unexpected gems like this often get my brain thinking back on both (or more) works, overlaps, meanings I hadn't previously noticed, etc.

Grouped/related reading:
I really enjoy "grouped" reading where I read something like an original work (say, Poe's Pym) as well as other, later works spawned from it (which, for Pym, include works by Jules Verne, H.P. Lovecraft, and Mat Johnson). Or multiple books that may be variations based on the same fairy/folk tale. Or a thematic topic I'm in the mood for. I like exploring the overlaps, the differences, what things each author chooses to highlight or ignore or turn on its head. The same goes for watching movies from books. I love seeing the differences that each storyteller chooses, what each medium demands, etc. I feel like the groupings give me more facets to ponder and that they expand my mind to looking at things a different way.

Hoping to do a grouping around The Great Gatsby in the upcoming year.

International &/or translated works:
Reading things from different places & from different languages to continually expand my worldview.

Something I admire (but rarely do):
Marc, I always enjoy seeing your list of words you looked up/learned at the end of your reviews. (I have another friend who does something similar.) And I always think I should do that but I always just skim over words & assume/determine meaning from context. I feel like I should do it (but don't) so I really do enjoy seeing the lists from others who practice this.... :-)

I'm not sure if that really addressed the question or not. I guess I like things that make me reexamine/rethink things. I like challenging my thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge.

Stacia wrote: "Trying to corroborate (& that I haven't yet still nags at me even years later) a reference to reconnaissance airplane navigators in WWI rubbing cocaine in their eyes to sharpen their vision (referenced in C). Is this true? It seems like it could be yet I can find no actual info on it. I still think (& do the occasional search) about that one tiny bit of info....
..."
I remember hearing something like this, but I'm not sure wether they actually did, or whether this is an urban legend....(also looking for a good source on this)
Cocaine was fairly often used by soldiers in the trenches, often gotten in presents from the homefront, as it was widely available at pharmacies.
During the second WW, several kinds of amphethamine (and meth) were distributed to pilots to keep them sharp.

Stacia, have you tried contacting either the author or the publisher directly about your WWI cocaine question? Perhaps not as fun as researching on your own, but it wouldn't take much time to send an e-mail or connect via social media (assuming that's an available route) and see how and if this detail was sourced. Delightful answers your provided! (BTW, I will circle the words I don't know in pencil while reading to come back to after I'm done reading. Sometimes I write them down and am too lazy to actually look them up!)

Hmm.. Things that improve the quality of my reading:

READING MULTIPLE BOOKS AT THE SAME TIME
There is a very tricky process to getting the right mix of books for this. Usually, no more than two novels at a time with maybe another two books that are either non-fiction, poetry, or graphic novel. Too many books and it's overwhelming. I will read a chapter or two in one and then switch to the other. It forces me to pay closer attention to what I'm reading, to notice the differences/similarities in writing styles more, to come up with a little summary/recap as I pick back up a book, etc. Probably 2 or 3 books is ideal. Right now I claim to be reading 8 books... Not ideal.

NOTES/UNDERLINING/MARGINALIA
If I own the book, I will write in it in pencil (sometimes in pen). I underline passages that strike me for some reason (they're quotable, they foreshadow something, they feel integral to the story, etc.). Sometimes I'll ask questions or make comments in the margins about a reaction to something. I circle words I don't know, which usually involves a quick conversation in my head ("I know that word---I don't need to circle it. Oh, yeah--define it in your own words? Uh... It means... to... uh... Fine, I'll circle it.")

REVIEWING
Frequently, I pretend I'm going to write a review that's very long and what actually comes out is something that's a paragraph or two, but I like the process of writing a review---it provides a sense of closure, makes me consider the book on a deeper level, and forces me to try to put my thoughts and feelings into some sort of semi-coherent structure. Knowing that I'm going to write a review and/or discuss a book in a group also tends to make me reade with a closer eye to detail, a conscious effort to remember salient passages, etc.

LESS DISTRACTIONS
I'm not good about doing these things, but I believe the quality of my reading improves when there is less ambient noise (no TV or radio in the background), I'm not pressed for time (which usually means early in the morning or an hour or two before bedtime), and I'm able to focus (sometimes, my brain is just too distracted and it's not a good time to read; of course, I usually try to force myself anyway, but it would probably be wiser to not force it).

As to defining "quality" for my reading... I guess I'd say that means remembering what I read and really thinking about it (sort of stretching one's mental capacity in some way---enlarging the imagination, challenging preconceived notions, etc.). If it's also entertaining or makes me feel something emotionally, those are bonuses, but not always essential.