You're dead right in that last paragraph mate. Until you have somthing concrete to base it on it can all sound a bit 'wooly'.
I read most of the Thom books before even climbing into the aircraft and I didn't think a lot of it had gone in, BUT... you'd be surprised how much difference it makes knowing a lot of whats going on around you when it happens for the first time - it does all fall into place (well, a lot does anyway).
I'm not much further on in the process that you, many hours to go yet, but I managed to solo reasonably quickly (8hrs) and I think this was mainly due to being 'clued up' on the theory and being able to concentrate on flying the airplane in those first few lessons rather than being over awed about what was going on around me.
Don't study in isolation - get yourself down to an airfield as regularly as you can - watch what is going on, talk to people, listen in on a scanner etc.
Stick at it - and start the lessons ASAP.