Italicized use of "read" is effective here. Many times over the course of the last year I have needed to differentiate between reading and "reading." Sometimes, when I'm speaking, I make air quotes with my fingers to refer to "reading" that is actually non-reading (skimming or scanning).

I agree with the author that reading Toni Morrison is a very heightened form of reading. That's why it creates a heightened state of consciousness.