Good Readers and Good Writers

After reading the Nabokov Good Readers attachment I think it’s safe to say the lack of appreciation I have for what really lies in a good piece of literature is quite evident.  He mentions having an open mind to ideas and concepts found in a book, and how starting closed minded will only drive you away from the intended ideas.  The idea of painting your own image of what your reading versus collecting the image the author is trying to paint for you came to mind when I began reading.  I feel very guilty of this, the detail lacking image I often come up with is sure to make any masterpiece  a black and white doodle.  When I look back to every book I have disliked, I always started the book without actually physically touching it.  I closed my mind to any new ideas or approaches that might only be visible to someone with an open artistic approach.  Not wanting to read a book will always result in a dissatisfying and surely partial understanding, missing a vivid detail of a painting so to speak.  I certainly believe the bit about having to reread to really open up to what an author has in store.  I have started many books without finishing them, after reading this I see it fit to accredit it to my inability to collect everything I need to put a painting together in my mind. 

Image Source: http://www.world-literature.tk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/book-small.jpg

I think it’s ironic that I was able to pull the idea out of his article and see how it relates to me, yet most readings I start never to understand nor relate.  I never put any thought into what might make a good reader until now.  What I believe makes a good reader is no longer valid.  Before this article I would say being a strong reader is most important; even though I didn’t and probably still don’t understand fully what a strong reader is.  It’s quite a complex title to say someone is or isn’t a strong reader, many details from Nabokov’s writing indicate to me being a strong reader is a process that may or may or may not be achieved by reading the text once.  Rereading is a necessary processes for even the most artistic and open minded readers, another processes I have yet to submit to. 

I also find this link interesting.  I think it shares some ideas with Nabokov, while also differing in what really makes a "strong reader".