grammar - What is the meaning of 「読むには読んだ」?

I have the following sentence and I can't find any material pointing out the usage of this grammar.

薦められた本を読むには読んだが、よく理解できなかった。

In general, what is the usage of 「VるにはVた」?

Answer

「読むには読んだ」 means 'skimmed' a book. You quickly ran through the book, but not intensively.

"VるにはVた" means "If I were forced to answer if I did it or not, I did it (but not intensively / seriously)."

For example:

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  英語を習うには習った、でも上手く喋れない。
  I learned English, but I cannot speak it well.

  
  


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  聞くには聞いた、でも覚えていない。
  I heard it, but I cannot recall it.

  
  


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  言うには言った、でも約束した覚えはない。
  Yes, I said it, but I didn't promise it.

  
  
  


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  行くには行った、でもすぐ帰ってきた。
  I went there, but I returned right away.