Laurie Beauprey

Vladimir Nabokov

          Vladamir Nabokov describes a good reader as one who is a combination of artistic passion and scientific patience.  He invites the reader to step back and take in the whole of the piece, much like his description of admiring a painting.  Mr. Nabokov notes that coming to a book or story with preconceived ideas creates a block to full enjoyment and experiencing the world the author has presented.  Imagination, memory, a dictionary and an artistic sense are traits he feels are important to being a good reader.  I like his point about rereading a work to get the full value of the writer’s intent.

I do agree with his viewpoint on being a good reader yet I would add persistence.   I consider myself a good reader and I have found at times that I have to continue reading well in to a book before it really takes hold of me.  Sometimes it never does.  On those occasions I can at least say that I’ve read the book and feel I can have a valid opinion on the work. 
A short bio on Vladimir Nabokov