Summary and Analysis

"Good Readers and Good Writers"

In “Good Readers and Good Writers” Vladimir Nabokov writes that a good reader possesses imagination, memory, an insightful diction, and artistic ability. He proceeds to say that a good reader is also a re-reader. This simply means that while people mundanely scan through a book, they are not able to fully appreciate an author’s artistic flare. Nabokov explains this concept further by comparing it to viewing a painting; while standing in a gallery focused on one painting at a time the viewer is able to concentrate meticulously and scan without the metronome effect of the back and forth reading of lines in a book. Ultimately Nabokov is challenging us to become good readers.


I do agree with Nabokov on a few of his good reader qualities. I agree with him when he states that a characteristic a good reader should have is imagination which ties into artistic ability. I do not, however, agree with his re-reader concept. Many times I have been so engrossed in a great novel that I go through the pages like they are on fire. I see no need for re-reading something I know I have already enjoyed. I think that re-reading is necessary, for me, when I’m reading a stale science text book or an article called “Good Readers and Good Writers”.


I would consider myself a good reader. If I do not understand something that I have read I will re-read it until I can comprehend the meaning. My imagination is very vivid; while reading a book I always play the scenes out in my head. It’s almost like I’m viewing a movie in a private theatre.

My link and picture is from a facebook page type blog about what others think make good writers:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150173982098719&comments

Introduction Video