Have you identified what it is that you are specifically slower at?
But then I might end up not recalling many things later. Can I even claim that I'm "learning" like that? What if I end up being someone using older projects as a reference? Is that even acceptable?
When I started, I was similar. I read K&R C cover to cover, then sat to write a toy program and didn't even know how to start. Lesson learned.
Now when learning a new language, I scan the docs, then sit down to write something. Line by line, word by word if I need help(and I do), I'll find a reference, write it, move to next. And you'll learn that way, from repetition.
In short - less thinking, more doing.
This is interesting, because K&R's strongest point is its exercises. I'd almost call it not worth reading if you aren't going to do them, but if you did the exercises (which get deep quickly) and came out unable to write a program that's a bit baffling.