Hello James.
How are you? How is your family?. I just read your letter and I have to tell you that I am in the same situation. I have a lots of friends that just read the summaries insted of the real books. I really don't like it. Right know Im reading the second book of Harry Potter and the feeling of reading the real book is one hundred percent better compared to the summary of the book or even the movie. You know when I'm reading is like go to other place where nobody exist and the book give you more details of the characters and the situations thats why I prefer to read the real books. For me it doesn't matter the time I spend or how many pages the book have, because reading is one of the most beautiful activities and is good for your memory. If you read a book you are not getting just good grades in Literature, you are practicing your concentration, you are exercising your brain. I can't understand people that just read the summaries of the books or prefer to watch the movie. I'm totally agree with you, there is nothing like a good book!
My friend I hope everything is fine where you are. See you soon.
Your friend...