Questions to consider while reading. Click here !
In the story "Good Readers and Good Writers" by Vladimir Nabokov, he discusses what he believes is a good reader, and writer. Nabokov believes that a good reader should have imagination, memory, and artistic sense. This is true because how could someone really understand a story without memory and really know whats going on in a story. If that person does not have a memory of things they have just read to relate to the rest of the story, they wouldn't understand their readings. A reader should have imagination because it would be helpful to visualize what is going on in the story, so it can also help get a better understanding like watching a movie. All these elements in reading would help if a reader did reread. Nabokov also believes a good reader is one who rereads stories. When a reader is consuming in a book their eyes just scroll across the paper not really understanding the book because the reader is just trying to finish. As a reader reading a book for the fist time you really do not process it until you read it a second time. Navbokov thinks when reading a book readers need time to acquaint ourselves with the book. Readers don't have to relate to what they read but readers should take the time to understand what they are reading. Nobokov also states how fiction books appeals first of all to the mind. I believe this to be true because readers probably do like to imagine and think more on things that are not at all realistic.
I do believe the characteristics of a good reader consist of a good imagination. When someone reads a book they cannot just have a blank mind about what is occurring in the story that they read. I believe reading a book is like watching a movie but with only subtitles, even though readers cannot get a full visual about what is going on in a story they can receive good detail from a book and use their imagination to fully understand what is going on. As if right now I do not consider myself a good reader, only because when I read I seem to drift off on other things. When reading, focus on what whats being read and maybe visualize the events. One thing i need to work on is focusing, because when I read all it takes is one word to send my mind off on another subject. Funny thing is, I will keep reading even though my mind is set on something else.
