I do know how life changing the right book at the right time can be. At 17, I read Colette's "Claudine at School." Then the other 3 Claudine books. She became a guiding light for me, getting me through a depression and rethinking my mother's deeply flawed teachings on life, sex and autonomy. I recognized myself in the character and she has been a little kernal inside me for 40+ years.

I love that term! Will use it but credit you.

Yep. The boy is on the journey and the women are there as props.

I took a famous speed reading course. Speed reading is junk. You are better off with a synopsis than skimming a page at 900 wpm.

I was an english teacher for years, and I read aloud to my students a lot (high students loved being read to.) I still read in my head as if I were reading aloud. I know it's slow, but it's so pleasurable. But I can ONLY read well-written books. The slow pace is painful for a crap book, but intense and wonderful with a good one. I will read fast if it's junk I have to get through for some reason.