How do you read on opening book? Do you read from the 1st page to the end, playing through every single variation and sub variation? I try this and end up forgetting most of what i read, its just too much information to take in. So i'm going to try just reading the lines played in the games until i understand them fully before looking at the variation analysis.
Is there a known technique for tackling these variation filled tomes?
i'm trying to figure that out myself too. i've figured if i move slowly and only the bold moves first. finish the game and see how it turned out and how they battled. then i flip the board over and play the same game over again. after this i take a few min break only 1 or 2. then i go back and see how many moves i remember from that last game. if i don't remember very much i repeat the process. only until you understand why certain moves were made should you move on. if you are not getting it then redo the game and read over the subtitles and analyze each part now. this it daunting but if you do it slowly and take lots of breaks its easier to retain the information you take in. studying only 1 game a day usually helps. not too much info to try to take in.
An opening book, like Modern Chess Openings is a reference book. You're wasting your time memorizing columns and columns of moves. Get a book explaining the ideas behind the openings (there are plenty). Read that at least part way. Play the opening. Keep a record of your moves or let the computer do it. Later, go through the opening and see where you made a non-book move. See why the book is better and play that next time. You might start on move three and end up at move 16 where you diverge. Just make sure you know why the book move is better (if it is). Spend the time you save on tactics and strategy. And good luck!