In my opinion, it is actually a lot better to read out loud. Tone of voice is super important for meaning, and you literally can't hear the tone as the author intended if you're reading things silently. So personally I think it's the other way around, I think reading silently is vastly inferior. People can swear up and down that they can read a million words a minute silently, but then they are just missing the point of reading, which is to hear the writer's voice.

The author is basically speaking to the reader. When you read a book out loud you are hearing the author.

Of course there's a time and a place for everything. Usually if I can't read something out loud, I will at least whisper the words quietly to myself. Furthermore, I think it's the silent readers who should practice reading out loud, which is a basic thing that every good reader should at least know how to do, even if they don't do it all the time. I think you should be comfortable doing both, but like I said, it's a more powerful experience reading out loud.

You could just go to used bookstores and find them that way.

Books that contain writing and marks on the pages lower the book's value though.

I find them a lot at library bookstores where the books are usually sold at low prices

I definitely know what you mean, sometimes the longer a book is, the more intimidating it can seem. I remember reading parts of that book a long time ago, and I also enjoyed his book Diary of a Writer. What other classics did you enjoy?

Hmm.. Well, it seems like it was something that left an impression on you. That's great, I'll have to look into that, thanks.

Right, definitely, I wish there were those mini standalone libraries in my neighborhood, but unfortunately they're all randomly placed in other parts of the city. If I lived near one I would walk to them all the time. You're quite lucky in that regard. But thankfully the local bookstore never lets me down, so I can't complain too much. I totally agree. They're also sometimes called "Take a Book, Leave a Book" in which you can only take a book if you leave one in its place. But I suppose it's okay to take one without leaving anything, I'm sure plenty of people do that.

That is definitely kind of unexpected. Yea, usually those places don't sell books. Was that book useful to you?

Maybe he was nervous? Definitely an unexpected way to find a book though, almost sounds like something from a comedy sketch.

Hmm.. the title certainly seems interesting.

That's great, those mini libraries can be really useful sometimes.

Ha, what a story. Did you think someone was going to come back to claim the book while you were reading it?

Oh, interesting.. Do you remember the author? Sounds like such an intriguing discovery.

Did he ask for the book back?

Ohh... It reminds me of the way I lost a book. I was dating someone a long time ago and I let them borrow a signed first edition of a Rupert Sheldrake book, because we were trading books. For some reason she kept the book and I kept the dust jacket. Years later I found the dust jacket and I really wanted that book back but I had lost contact with her. Finally I was able to talk to her again and I asked for the book but never could get it back. Hmm.. Well that's certainly one way to find a book.

That's impressive. Did you enjoy the anthology? Some books can be quite heavy, but you really lucked out it seems. I rarely ever find money in books.

What book was it?

Ah, yea I see, kind of an odd discovery.

Well I guess that counts. You found the book randomly and liked it. Nice.

Hm, yea that seems mysterious. Did you think the book was better than the movie?

Awesome. Did that book meet your expectations when you read it finally?

I'm not familiar with him but reading through his biography, it's interesting he was able to pivot from being an art historian to a writer. Well, they must be great books if some of them became movies. I know I've heard of the movie Big Short at least.

Hm, I haven't heard of him. Reading his biography now. I especially like a quote by him about writing books, it says: "Until it is written a book is merely smoke on the wind." Do you remember which book of his it was?

What an incredible story! And hilarious too. Simply unbelievable. Was it a heavy book?

Oh, I'm not familiar with him but I'm reading his biography right now and seems interesting. So my understanding is you never went drinking that day? Was there any of his books you liked the most?

Ah, I definitely know what you mean. Something similar like that happened to me. One of my first assignments in school was to write a poem. I didn't want to write a poem so I tried to fake it, but then eventually I ended up really enjoying writing poetry for real. Anyway, that sounds like such a memorable experience.

I understand that feeling. It kind of happened to me with Being and Nothingness, it felt so special how I found it that I suppose I may have put it on a pedestal a bit, and still preparing to read it. But yes, magic, that seems like a possible explanation!