Embrace the Slow Read: The Power of a Slow Read in 2025
This year, make the choice to savour your reading journey. Slow down. Read with intention. And uncover the transformative power of a slow read.
On a personal note issue #05
In a world where we’re always racing to finish the next task, the next milestone or simply the next book, I have discovered a transformative experience that has reshaped my relationship with reading: slow reading. In a post this summer (Slow reading my way through life), I gave you an honest post on how I had slowed down and how satisfied it had left me. It brought with it some much needed calmness and to my big surprise I found myself enjoying the books I read far much more than earlier, because I was slow reading. I was very much savouring every page.
In 2024, I embarked on an ambitious reading project: Hilary Mantel’s Cromwell trilogy. This wasn’t just any book club — it was a slow reading group led by
. Week by week, chapter by chapter, it became so much more than a literary exercise. It was a source of calm during chaos, a reminder of the beauty in deliberate engagement, and a chance to connect deeply with both the text and community of fellow readers. The impact of slow reading on my life went far beyond personal enjoyment — it revealed a way to connect deeply with books and others. Here’s why I believe everyone should experience it.The benefits of slow reading
Slow reading isn’t just about taking your time with a book — it’s about savouring every page, every sentence and every moment of discovery. With Mantel’s deeply layered writing, I found myself immersed in a world so richly crafted that I could not help but slow down to appreciate it fully. Here are four reasons for why I enjoyed this so much:
A calming constant in a chaotic world
When life felt like it was falling apart, this slow read really grounded me. Each week, no matter what was happening, I had the consistency of Cromwell, the pages I needed to read, and a group of like-minded readers to turn to. It became a calming ritual and a reason to look forward to Mondays when the weekly posts from Simon would arrive in my inbox, filled with notes and commentary on the chapters we had read through the previous week.
Breaking through reading slumps
We have all been there: the dreaded reading slump and the growing anxiety and frustration of why you just can’t seem to find the joy of reading. But having just a few pages to read each week - a bare minimum commitment, helped me ease out of slumps without feeling overwhelmed. Slowly but surely, it pulled me right back into the joy of reading.
A workout for the mind
Tackling Mantel’s prose, especially as someone whose first language isn’t English, felt like an intellectual workout. But that’s the beauty of slow reading; it’s not a sprint. You’re committed to the journey, and even just completing a few pages feels like an accomplishment.
Learning something new every week
Whether it was about history, religion or the human condition, each week brought fresh insights. More importantly I learned a lot about myself as a reader and as a person, discovering new perspectives and ways of engaging with the books. I cannot tell you the number of times I found myself down a historical rabbit hole, looking up persons, places and art from this exciting historical period.
The joy of community
One of the most profound aspects of this experience was the sense of community. Even as a quiet lurker who rarely joined in on the conversations, I felt connected. Reading the comments and chats each week, I found others noticing the same details, asking the same questions, or offering perspectives I hadn’t considered. It’s a special kind of magic to share a book and books, with others over such an extended period of time.
In a culture obsessed with speed, the slow read with this community was liberating. Taking a whole year to finish a trilogy felt like an act of rebellion against the rush to consume. It gave me freedom to truly absorb the material, to linger on passages, and to feel the weight of the story unfold at its natural pace. And the community of fellow readers never made me feel like I was falling behind, as there was a natural flow of people a few chapters behind the schedule, a few who read ahead or people who just decided to do massive catch up reading sessions from time to time. This experience cemented my love for slow reading.
Seeing Cromwell as a man
These three books made us see Thomas Cromwell, not just as the historical figure, but as the man he was (or might have been). Mantel’s writing brought to life his dreams, ambitions, fears, successes and failures. I saw his humanity and his resilience, even as his world unraveled. And at the very end, even when knowing how it would end, I found myself, like others, hoping from something better from his king. This depth of character exploration is a testament to the power of slow reading — allowing the layers of a person, even a historical one, to unfold over time.
I had thought of giving a thorough review of each book, and I have so many notecards filled with quotes, scenes and moments that are worthy of being showed off. I have, however, come to the conclusion that I won’t. I just…I just want you to experience them for yourself, as the masterpieces they are. To really be, in Cromwells shoes, to be in the moment, to watch him change his perspective over time, to walk the fine line of Henrys mood swings and ideas, just like I was.
I do however, have a favourite book, which is Bring Up the Bodies. It was the book I could not put down, it was on my mind constantly as I was fully immersed in it. Her dialogue, the sharp tongue, the banter, simply everything about Bring Up the Bodies were amazing. Hilary Mantel was an author I thought I could just not get into, but when I did, boy oh boy, what a joy it was!
Simon’s guidance
A slow read group project is only as good as its guide, and
was noting less but extraordinary. His insights, reflections and ability to foster a supportive and engaging atmosphere elevated the experience. It’s hard to imagine this journey without his steady presence and I do know I would not have made it without him and his weekly posts, encouragement and most of all happy spirit in this project. I know I am not an unbiased reader, as I have followed Simon since my days on bookstagram, but believe me when I say that he is the best at what he does.If you are on the fence about either the Cromwell trilogy or War and Peace, I would really urge you to take a leap of faith and join in on one the slow reads for 2025.
Simon will be hosting the slow read of the Cromwell trilogy in 2025 with some awesome tweeks to his weekly posts, you can read more about it here:
If you are interested in joining me and many many others on his War and Peace slow read, you can find more information here:
Over at Footnotes and Tangents he also has a Substack Book Group Directory, which lists a number of newsletters with current and upcoming reads. The titles include fiction, nonfiction, plays and poetry - in other words, something for everyone or something new to try out!
Slow reading for a better year
It really is about pushing boundaries, Mantel’s writing initially intimidated me. I had tried and failed to read her before, but the slow read gave me the structure and support to embrace her style and I ended up falling in love with it. Slow reading nudged me out of my comfort zone, encouraging me to tackle works I might have avoided, something that has truly opened up new horizons and enriched my reading life!
Massive books can feel overwhelming, but slow reading with a community offers a built-in support system. I’ve already set my sights on War and Peace for 2025 — a challenge I would not have been brave enough to go at on my own, but thanks to this years experience with the slow read, I feel ready to give it a go with fellow bookworms from all over the place.
If you’re looking for something more than the rush of turning pages or chasing reading goals, a slow reading group might be the answer. It’s a chance to immerse yourself in stories at a pace that lets you truly absorb and appreciate them, while building meaningful connections with others who share your passion for literature. In a world that often feels overwhelming, slow reading offers a rare gift: the space to reflect, to connect and to (re)discover the magic of the written word.
This year, join a slow reading group! Slow down. Savour the journey. Rediscover the transformative magic of literature — and do it alongside a community of like-minded readers ready to take this rewarding challenge together.
If you know of other slow reading groups here on Substack, please feel free to comment on this post and I will add them to an updated post.
Until next time,
happy reading! ✨
Well said. Same here. And here’s to more of Simon’s slow reads in 2025.
Couldn’t say it better, totally right. A great part of my 2024.