Shireen’s Reviews > The Screwtape Letters > Status Update

OK, finished the chapter and now I see what happened to the patient. Didn’t see that coming! Predicted correctly only one part of what happens to Wormwood. The last lines say a lot and throw all that came before into an enlightening light. Much to chew over. Being able to recall imagery means can do that, that this third attempt to read the book is successful. Finally!

Had some read to me and some I read out loud. As usual, creating imagery easier when being read to, but these first two pages of chapter 31 left me at sea. What was clear was Screwtape and Wormwood. What wasn’t is what was happening to the patient. Trying to create imagery when lost is not easy!

I don’t often get a chance to have someone read to me out loud. I read along silently in my own copy, using my finger to guide my eyes. Imagery both came automatically and became tough as I tried to keep up and resist stopping. Went straight to main idea. Had a good discussion. Saw unexpected inference about God being OK with failure. Predicted! Surprised I did OK after such a long break.

Since it’s been so long since I read a chapter, I decided I should review it. I approached it from thematic point of view. I began by thinking out loud about the context of the times. That lead to theme and main concepts of demons like to nurture in humans lying, dividing into groups, othering, superficiality in relationships with each other and God, and believing world is only material.

Chapter 28 read to me. I read chapter 29. In 1 day! I can still create concept imagery quicker, easier when read to me. Of course, others read aloud quicker and don’t repeat sentences than when I read silently. Also, when read with another can go deeper into main idea and higher-order thinking questions aka discussion. War and peace, the distractions of youth, raise their heads again.

I went for it. I read a second chapter in one day, albeit after a 2-hour break and food for the brain. Hot chocolate powered me for the first chapter of the day so drank a tiny bit more. I didn’t read/create imagery as quickly this time but still 2 minutes quicker than up until today. Got a whopping concentration headache. Worth it.

Wow. I shaved 3 minutes (30%) off my reading/creating concept imagery time. I felt like I was reading quicker, worried my imagery mayn’t be solid, did reread a difficult sentence three times till I understood it. My silent thinking blank at first, got active, but I had no stamina. Finished visualizing and verbalizing in 20 minutes. Screwtape understands nature of prayer better than humans yet doesn’t know love. Huh.

Nearing the end of the book, I’m still a little intimidated at idea of reading a chapter from start to finish in one go, yet starting to get blasé about it, and, finally finally, the big picture of the book is solidifying in my head. I’m seeing how Screwtape teaches Wormwood about *many* pleasures The Enemy bestows then how to twist em.

I made an error in my chapter numbers. First whole chapter I read was 22; second 23; today 24. Wow! This is for real. Had to describe one image out loud to settle it in my mind. Remembered NOT to do word summary. Main idea did brief summary but forgot 3 key points. Predicted in HOTs 1st time in ages cuz obvious where Wormwood going wrong. Does that mean this chapter easier or my cognition improved again??

I keep my Lindamood-Bell Resource Centre updated with my progress; they said to now skip word summary as I can “summarise stories into a MI and think critically about a story” showing I’ve processed and understood it. Whoa! It felt strange + reading chapter 24 took 33% longer than 23 cuz language abstract not emotional, but I’m one more step closer to reading normally.👍