How much do you visualize when you read? Do you imagine faces for the characters? Can you see the locations in your mind’s eye? Or do you just plunge ahead with the story, letting the imagery fall to the wayside? – BTT
I don’t know how one let’s imagery fall at the wayside. Isn’t it natural to be immersed in the world of the books especially when it is fiction? Imagining these things is my default. I do find it harder to get visuals on the faces of the characters. Unlike some others, none of the characters look like anyone else I know or celebrities. I often do not have ‘picks’ on who I would like to be in the role. Much like my dreams where there are more strangers than people with familiar faces!
When reading a good book, it should play as a movie in your head and a good writing will grab you so you can plunge into the deep end.
How about your reading visuals?
10 Comments
Joyful Reader
I can’t imagine not visualizing a novel as I read it. It seems like just what happens when I pick it up and start reading…
athena
Hi Joyful Reader! I’m the same. That’s what happens when most bibliophiles pick up novels I think! Cheers.
bookmammal
I visualize the characters more than I do the settings. However, I don’t usually “match them up” with anyone I know or with a famous person–I usually imagine a unique character from the author’s description. To me, that’s truly the sign of a gifted author–someone who can prompt me to imagine a completely unique character’s appearance in my head.
(I like your comment about having “strangers” in your dreams!)
athena
Hi Bookmammal! I agree characters are more important than settings. Depends on the settings too. I’m an avid and sometimes lucid dreamer so my dreams are rather wild! I read that everyone in your dreams is from somewhere as our brains can’t actually make up faces really; they composite from people you see on TV, the street, etc. Thanks for the comment!
Tonia
Yes, I’m a visualizer… I don’t think it’s possible for me to read a book without visualizing! It helps if the author can really draw me into her world.
athena
Hi Tonia! I know what you mean. Thanks for commenting!
RealBooks4ever
Wow – when I was composing my answer to Deb’s questions on my book blog, I was thinking that its funny I don’t actually see the characters faces in my mind. But I thought that maybe that was too weird to put in. Yet here you are, another reader with faceless characters!! I feel better now… 🙂
athena
Hi RealBooks4ever! Haha. They may not be literally faceless and it depends on the author, but yeah, it’s harder to shape them in some ways for me. We’re not the only ones and I rather the characters be strange and new for me. Cheers!
jessicabookworm
I am very good at visualising the locations I read about but I’m not so good at faces. They tend to be a bit vaguer.
athena
Hi Jessica! It depends on the author for me, but I try more with the characters. Then again, they are also strangers and unique. Have a good weekend! 🙂