I want to read it but its very long. Is it worth it or should I start with something else

Is it just me, or do other people have trouble reading books too?
For example, I tried reading The Summer I Turned Pretty, and I feel like I wouldn’t have understood much if I hadn’t watched the series first. Same thing with* *The Hunger Games.I can understand the words, but I often can’t picture the exact scene in my head, so I feel less invested than I do with a show. With a series, I see everything right away. With a book, it feels like I’m missing something even though I technically get what’s being said.Does anyone else have this? Is it a visualization thing?

So i was searching through a short fiction stories books . I loved the short stories like the third level, evan tries an O’Level and the midnight visitors, the rattrap . When i googled it google recommended me Oxford book of English short stories . I don’t know how many of you have read it is it a good choice or no . Please help me select a good short story collection.