Nabokov- Emotional/Logical

Question #8

My reaction to Vladimir Nabokov’s essay is a logical one. The essay itself does not often appeal to the reader’s emotions, but rather presents facts and ideas in an orderly manner, using them to reaffirm the thesis. Vladimir says himself that “We must keep a little aloof, a little detached when reading.” At times, Nabokov draws up elaborate but beautiful descriptions that help the reader visualize the concepts being addressed, but these descriptions do not call forth any strong emotions. They simply assist in the logical presentation of fact.

Although it is true that Nabokov’s essay evoked a logical reaction in me, there was one emotion that presented itself quite clearly as I read the piece. This emotion was astonishment. I was astonished at the truth that the essay revealed. As Nabokov connected each paragraph to his unstated thesis and each unrelated topic was revealed to be a part of a beautiful, logical, whole, I found that I was surprised that each word resonated with truth. The more I thought about it and the more times I read it (for of course, “a good reader… is a rereader.”) I realized that Nabokov’s logical arguments made perfect sense.  Having the correct mindset when reading a book is absolutely essential, and Nabokov’s arguments helped me to learn that.

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Good Readers and Good Writers." Lecture