You reach the end of a paragraph and realize you were already thinking about something else. The words passed through your eyes, but the idea did not quite arrive. Instead of blaming yourself or starting over at the beginning, find the sentence where your attention slipped and read that one again.
Stay With the Sentence
A difficult sentence may be difficult because it is carrying a careful distinction, not because you have missed some hidden trick. Notice where its emphasis falls, which words qualify the claim, and whether the next sentence clarifies or complicates it. Even a brief rereading can change what seemed straightforward.
You do not have to turn every page into an exercise. Slow down when a sentence surprises you, makes you hesitate, or seems to disagree with what came before. Those are useful signals that the writing is asking for attention.
Let the Page Set the Pace
Some passages are meant to move quickly; others reward a pause. A pencil mark beside a question or a note in the margin can help you return without interrupting the whole reading session. Keep the mark simple enough that it points you back to the idea, rather than becoming another task.
Reading slowly is not about finishing fewer books or proving how carefully you read. It is about noticing when an idea deserves another moment. The next time a sentence stays with you, let it.