The other day, I ate a (legal where I live) THC gummy and decided to start reading The Lord of the Rings while I waited for it to kick in. I guess I hadn’t had much to eat that day because the effects started rather quickly, and I was pretty much stoned before getting to the end of Tolkien’s forward.
My original intent wasn’t to read while high, but I guess it kind of snuck up on me. And what a strange difference it made- I was so engrossed in the story that I felt like I was there at the birthday party. I think I read a lot more closely, and slowly, than I would normally. There were a couple of times I had to re-read a passage after getting distracted, but in the main I paid more attention than I have in the past. Things like word choice and phrasing really stood out to me.
The book seemed even more epic than it normally does too. I don’t know if that’s just because I’ve read the LOTR so many times that I miss most of the detail nowadays or if being stoned just “embiggened” the story.
Either way, I’ve kind of decided to do this entire read-through under the influence, just to see how different the experience is. I just hope I don’t get the munchies when they start talking about Lembas bread.
I’d be interested in hearing others’ experience, if you’re inclined to share.
by hendergle
8 Comments
Before the films made them popular this was almost mandatory
I love reading high, especially history. It has a way of making you feel like you’re actually in the cabinet meetings with Lincoln or FDR. The downside is that shitty writing is a lot worse/more noticeable, and I’ve gotten to the point now where I have trouble reading for pleasure if I’m not high.
It works better with audiobooks. For me at least.
I need to try this! I find it too easy to get distracted after smoking a joint and reading…. but an edible? great idea
A favorite pastime of mine. It makes it so immersive!
I sometimes have trouble focusing when I’m high. I do enjoy it on the onset of the high or at the end but at the peak I’m unable to focus and get very easily distracted.
I typically only read during lunch breaks at work, so this never occurred to me to try. I think I’ll be forced to try it out tonight. 😀
I do most of my reading (and most leisure activities) while high, and while it definitely makes the experience more “enhanced”, the downside to it is retention. You’re not going to remember details as well as you would when you are sober, but who cares? Unless you’re needing to write a book report or something, why not make the actual experience of reading as enjoyable as you can?