I am also an avid reader and have no problem imagining what is happening in a novel. The emotional side of the story is quite easy for me to understand. However, I have a hard time trying to describe locations and architecture when talking about what I have read. It seems, if there is no real emotional connection then it is harder for me to recall. As for narrating your life, I am much the same. My nephew is closer to hyperphantasia and we have had many discussions about what we "see." I told him that my experience with aphantasia is like writing a book instead of watching a movie.