Chemistry is hard but it can be easier and interesting if you liked it. However, I don't really think one can be interested in every types of chemistry as there are organic, inorganic, physical, analytical and etc. For me I like and enjoy doing organic chemistry but I really have a hard time on physical chemistry!
I do textbook readings a lot, and i take down the details from the textbook on the notes/slides given by professors. Textbooks help me a lot but as i know, there are some students don't use textbooks at all.