Remember to do your activation in layers. A book that size being 600+ pages you will need to allow yourself 7 to 10 activation session and perhaps a rapid read. Even if I intended to rapid read a novel .. for a book report or school assignment I would still do a couple of inital activation session.
For questions you need to know what you require from the book what do you need to know about the book. For example you might say (probably would expect) to know who the key characters are, where the story takes place and stuff like that.
For burning eyes I suggest you modify you chant a bit and say 1 2 blink 4. It seems to me you are forcing the photofocus and not allowing yourself to blink freely. If the blip page disappears fine... let it go and use the imaginary x technique with a soft focus. In fact you might try that instead... and let your eyes relax.
Alex
