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| Attribution: Deutsche Fotothek |
To be a good reader,
according to Vladimir Nabokov, one must have a good artistic sense, but not be too
imaginative at the risk of becoming too subjective. He says identifying too completely with a
story, and making it too personal is the worst thing a reader can do. Good readers balance their scientific and
artistic temperaments to avoid being too subjective or objective. He essentially boils it down to good readers
must have a memory, dictionary, imagination, and an artistic sense. I definitely agree with Nabokov on these
points, because without these attributes there really isn’t much to be gained
from reading anyway. I believe a good
reader needs to possess the ability to visualize, and sort of “get into” what
they are reading. Just to the point
where reading stops being a mechanical “chore,” and becomes more like looking
at pictures almost. If a reader can’t
even slightly “get into” what they are reading, then they won’t fully gain what
is to be had. I consider myself to be a
good reader. I am a very slow reader,
and sometimes even “re-reader,” which I believe is one of the things that allows
me to soak things up very well.
I have to agree with you a 100%. Reading shouldn't be mechanical or a "chore". Sometimes it's hard to get into stories or books if the author can not get his readers involved or it's subject does not interest the reader. Reading text books that are dry makes reading a chore, whereas reading from your favorite author seems to be thrilling. I believe the more you reread a story makes you a better reader whether or not you a fast reader or a slow reader. Growing up I watched a childs television show that taught kids that you should be a speed reader. I found out the hard way speed reading isn't the best thing to do because you may accidently miss some important information. I now like to take my time and enjoy what I read.
ReplyDeleteI found what you said about a balance between viewing a story as a balance of scientific and artistic while not getting to emotionally involved interesting. Personally, I see no point in reading a story that I don't feel an emotional connection to. If I don't care about the characters and plot, why read it? It can be well written with artistic flair, and it's still not a book I will cherish. Certainly not one I will reread. I do agree with you that a good reader should "get into" the story, but becoming absorbed into a book doesn't require one to dissect it scientifically or evaluate the craft elements of the art. Becoming engrossed in a story is identifying with some aspect of it personally. I enjoyed reading your thoughts, even if I disagree with some of them.
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