Vladimir Nabokov, “Good Readers and Good Writers”
According to Nabokov a
good reader should, 1) concentrate on the social-economic angle, 2) have an imagination,
3) have a dictionary, and 4) have some artistic sense. The first three I chose
and would agree with, the fourth is so relative and I believe even the most
logical thinker has some artistic sense so it’s kind of a given.
I feel that, and would
agree with, Nabokov’s overall view of a good reader is one that enters into any
literary encounter with an open mind, void of any preconceived ideas based on
personal feelings of an author, reviews, or knowledge of a particular subject
matter. Something I feel he contradicts when he claimed that Jane Austin’s book
on land owning England was somehow naïve because, “All she knew was a clergyman’s
parlor.” (Pg. 613) My question would be, “How does Nabokov know what Jane experienced?”
One thing that Nabokov
pointed out that resonated with me was that every good reader is a rereader, something
that I very seldom do.
Overall I feel a good
reader should keep an open mind, enjoy, and remember, “That every great writer
is a great deceiver.” (Pg.616)
Works cited:
Nabokov,
Vladimir. “Good Readers and Good Writers.” Norton
Reader shorter 11th Edition ( Date
unknown): 613-17. Print.
I agree with almost everything that you said. I would have to disagree with you saying even the most logical thinker has some artistic sense. Not to say that this is false, However in my case it is. I am a very logical thinker, For many reason.HA. I am also not a very good reader and based on Nabokov's criteria i lack in the artistic sense. I do believe if I had more of an artistic sense that reading a fiction story would allow me to progress in becoming a good reader. In lacking that sense I feel I can not become a "Good Reader" in my or Nabokov's eyes. That is why I tend to disagree.
ReplyDeleteGreat points made, Dean.
ReplyDeleteEspecially about preconceived notions, it is all too easy to fall into that train of thought. I feel this applies even more now in terms of reading because of all the movies coming out that are based on literature (novels, comic books, and such). It is easy to watch the movie and form an opinion about a book or an author based on that even though it can be completely different.
Phill Bradford