I have joined a reading group at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ClassicalMamma/Become+a+Reading+Partner/

where we are first reading Mortimer Adler's How to Read a Book.  From there, I believe, we will be reading The Well Educated Mind and then going on to books recommended by these authors.   This is something I have wanted to do for a long time and have actually already read much of the second book.  One thing I have already learned from Adler's book is what my problem has always been in trying to read the Bible.  In doing inspectional reading Adler says that "If you insist on understanding everything on every page before you go onto the next, you will not get very far..............You will miss the forest for the trees." 

In stopping everytime I do not understand something to consult dictionaries and commentaries I get tired and discouraged very quickly and end up giving up.  I remember over a year ago I decided to read the Bible straight through with no commentary.  At some point I forgot what I was doing and began consulting commentaries again.  Of course, shortly after that I stopped.  Not that commentaries are not useful, but only after one has an idea of the big picture.  At least that is what Adler says.   And, from my limited experience I would have to agree.