Nabakov is saying that to be a good reader you must have an open mind and not judge a book before you actually read it. We tend to form opinions about things and use that pre-judgement and not actually open our minds to what the author actually intended. I do believe this is true. I have many a time looked at a novel and just based on the title formed an opinion about it. After reading his opinion I am more aware of this and am going to strive to keep an open mind about literature. He also states that we need to visualize the places and people that the author is describing to us which I highly agree with. What is the point of the author describing things if we are not going to use our imagination?
I do believe that I am a good reader as I do try to visualize what I am reading. I love descriptive novels that bring me into the story. I also think that to be a good reader you have to want to be in that world with the main character. You have to feel what they do and take personally what happens during the story. I am a very emotional reader and catch myself all the time getting happy, sad, or angry over something in the story.
