How I Read
How I Read at Four Eye Books
When I read, these four ideas naturally come to mind—and when I started this blog, they became the foundation
for how I approach every book. Reading, for me, is a layered experience. It’s not just about what a book is about—
it’s about when I read it, why it mattered at that moment, and what questions or feelings it sparked. It’s also not
about academic analysis—this isn’t literary criticism or theory. It’s personal, grounded, and meant to reflect how
stories actually land in everyday life. Over time, I developed a way of thinking about books that I call the
Four Eye Lenses. They help me slow down, go deeper, and stay connected to the stories I carry forward.
The Four Eye Lenses
A reading framework from Four Eye Books
Turn the page, take the trip—what new perspective awaits?
Looking for a new way to reflect on what you read?
The Four Eye Lenses are a gentle, flexible guide for slowing down, going deeper, and discovering what stays with you.
What Are the Four Eye Lenses?
The Four Eye Lenses are a simple way to look at any book from four angles: how it’s told, where it’s grounded, what it explores, and how it affects you.
The Four Eye Lenses are the heart of how we read at Four Eye Books. They help us move beyond summaries and star ratings to be more present as we read. You can use them after you finish a book—or while you’re reading, noticing what’s shifting in you. Where does this story live? What does it challenge? Why did it matter—right now?
This isn’t about rules. It’s about perspective—and it’s why the site is called Four Eye Books. We all bring different ways of seeing to the stories we read, and the more lenses we use, the clearer the picture becomes. You’re invited to explore the Four Eye Lenses for yourself.
The Four Lenses of Four Eye Books
Lens on Story
How the book is told.
We begin with the book itself. What is it about? How is it told? This lens looks at storytelling craft—narrative structure, character development, pacing, tone, and genre. Whether it’s a cozy mystery or a literary memoir, we ask: What story is being told, and how is it being shaped?
Try this: Think about a recent book you read. What did the author choose to show—or not show? Was the structure linear, fragmented, or surprising?
✏️ Sometimes a book’s ideas are strong even when the craft falters. This lens helps you name that dissonance with clarity and care.
Lens on Time and Place
Context, setting, and cultural relevance.
Stories live in context. This lens explores where and when a book is set—and also when and where you read it. It includes cultural, historical, and geographic context, and often connects to real-world events, current culture, or our own lived environments. It’s also where many of our Bookish Adventures begin.
Try this: How does the time period or setting shape your understanding of the story? Does the book remind you of anything happening in today’s cultural climate? How does the story’s location—or your own—shape what you notice or feel?
✏️ This lens is especially powerful when a book’s message matters more than its mechanics.
Lens on Big Ideas
Themes, meaning, and deeper questions.
What larger themes and questions does the book explore? This lens focuses on ideas, meaning, and the conversations a book invites. From justice to belonging, legacy to imagination, we ask: What does this book make us think about?
Try this: What stayed with you? A quote? A question? A shift in perspective? What conversations might this book spark?
✏️ Even when emotional engagement is uneven, the core idea or question can linger—and that matters too.
Lens on Reflection
Personal response and resonance.
This is the personal lens. What did the book stir in me? What memories, emotions, or questions surfaced while reading? It’s about the personal imprint a book leaves behind—and how that stays with me long after the final page. This is where reading becomes memory, insight, and sometimes even action.
Try this: What did this book open up in you? Did it remind you of a moment, a person, or a part of yourself you’d almost forgotten? Did it inspire you to travel somewhere, to learn more, or to explore a new idea or perspective?
✏️ A flawed book can still offer a clear mirror.
The Framework Is Evolving
The Four Eye Lenses reflect how I read books now—but that hasn’t always been the case. Earlier reviews may use simpler phrasing or different structures. That’s part of the project, too.
I don’t go back to update old posts. I let them live as they are: reflections of the moment, the mood, and the meaning I found in the book at that time.
In newer reviews, you might see a note like:
- “Guided by the Four Eye Lenses: Story, Time and Place, Big Ideas, Reflection.”
- “This review uses the updated Four Eye Lenses structure. Learn more here.”
Try the Four Eye Lenses Yourself
Four Eye Lenses in Practice
Try using one lens at your next book club meeting—or pick two and journal what they brought up. The goal isn’t to analyze—it’s to connect.
Not every book has to be a favorite to be worth finishing—or reflecting on. Some books have fascinating ideas or powerful intentions, but the pieces don’t quite come together. I rarely stop reading a book, even when I’m unsure partway through. I like to finish it so I can see the story in its totality and think about what the author may have been trying to do.
These “mixed-feeling” books can spark just as much discussion as your all-time favorites—or the ones you truly didn’t like. They invite us to be curious, not just comfortable.
And just to be clear—this isn’t how I read every book. Sometimes I just want to enjoy a story for the world-building, the escape, the fun of getting lost in something. But these four areas? They’re what I kept coming back to. The kinds of things I ended up talking about when a book lingered in my mind.
And challenge yourself with stories and characters that are not like you. By “diverse stories,” I don’t just mean race, gender, orientation, or ability—though those matter deeply. I also mean books that center different values, opposing viewpoints, nontraditional heroes, or unfamiliar cultures. Reading outside your comfort zone can reshape how you see the world—and yourself.
In my reviews, I often begin with a short summary or impression—then use the Four Eye Lenses to explore the story in more depth. You can do the same, or start directly with whichever lens feels most alive for you.
You don’t need perfect answers—or even all four lenses. Just try asking:
- What stood out about how this story was told? (Story)
- What cultural or historical context shaped the reading? (Time and Place)
- What themes or questions stayed with you? (Big Ideas)
- What did it make you feel, remember, or want to do? (Reflection)
The Four Eye Lenses aren’t rigid categories—they’re tools for deeper reading, meaningful writing, and richer conversations. Even when your feelings about a book are mixed, the lenses give you a way to stay curious and connected.
Explore them. Adapt them. Make them your own. Try them with your next book—or reflect on the last one you read. You could even jot a few notes in a journal, or record a voice memo of what stood out to you. If you feel inspired to share, tag @FourEyeBooks or leave a comment. I’d love to see what you saw.
And if one of the lenses opens something up for you, let me know—I’d love to hear what you saw or where it took you.