“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” (Charles William Eliot)
Sunday I wrote about how some fear we are forgetting how to read because of all our electronic distractions. I do think I may have lost a few reading moments to my phone and computer, but then that computer has opened up a lot of reading possibilities too. I still definitely agree with the above quote that books can be friends and teachers and entertainers too.
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” (Groucho Marx)
Of course, Groucho Marx’s quote made me smile and actually I’m right there with him. I’d much rather read rather than watch television. I’m not a binge television viewer, but I have heard many people talk about watching whole seasons of this or that favorite show over a weekend. Me, I’ll just read that book.
“′Classic’ – a book which people praise and don’t read.” (Mark Twain)
You think Mark Twain hit the nail on the head here? I read a lot of the classics back when I was in high school. Maybe I thought it made me look smarter, but I do think reading those classics put words in my head and helped me learn how to string them together to come up with my own stories.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” (C.S. Lewis)
Love sitting down with a book and a cup of tea. Unfortunately, Frankie usually wants to head out for a walk whenever I do that. 🙂
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” (Stephen King)
I totally agree with Stephen King here, and I also think I don’t read enough.
“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” (Robert Frost)
I rarely cry while I’m writing my stories, so not sure what that says about me or my stories. Sometimes I get a little weepy. I got very weepy while editing Orchard of Hope. I thought I was going to have to invest in a tissue factory. Every time I read that revival scene, I cried. I’ve also had tears surprise me for some of the scenes in my other books. One time was the homecoming scene in Love Comes Home where Jay gets home from the war and he and Kate embrace in the newspaper office. But whether I cry enough over my stories or not, I know that readers sometimes have to wipe away a tear and some reviewers have suggested readers might need to keep a box of tissues handy for some of my stories.
[D]on’t ever apologise to an author for buying something in paperback, or taking it out from a library (that’s what they’re there for. Use your library). Don’t apologise to this author for buying books second hand, or getting them from bookcrossing or borrowing a friend’s copy. What’s important to me is that people read the books and enjoy them, and that, at some point in there, the book was bought by someone. And that people who like things, tell other people. The most important thing is that people read…” (Neil Gaiman)
I definitely agree with Neil Gaiman here. While I might prefer everyone buy their very own copy of my book so I might hit a bestseller list, I am happy to hear that someone has read my books and thought it good enough to share. And I love libraries. I’ve used libraries all my life so I can hardly complain when a reader tells me they’ve borrowed my book from their library. I’m happy my books are in their libraries. Indeed, the most important thing is that somebody is reading my story. I love sharing my stories with readers.
“Reader’s Bill of Rights” (Daniel Pennac)
1. The right to not read
2. The right to skip pages
3. The right to not finish
4. The right to reread
5. The right to read anything
6. The right to escapism
7. The right to read anywhere
8. The right to browse
9. The right to read out loud
10. The right to not defend your tastes
So what do you think about the Reader’s Bill of Rights? I know there are already ten of them, but would you add anything or disagree with one of the ten?
Oh, and in case you missed it, I have to share Phyllis’s comment on my last post about how she had definitely not forgotten how to read. “for me nothing will ever take the place of the feeling of a good book in your hands and the adventure of turning the next page.” The same as Phyllis, I do love the adventure of the next page.
As always, thanks for reading. Which quote about reading did you like best?
Comments 11
The older I get, the more I treasure the right to read out loud, especially to an appreciative audience… of any age. When my daughter was in grade school, it was a weekly reading session with her classmates. What fun, for them and me! These days the opportunities to imbue written words with life and vitality are rare. But I confess, I sometimes catch myself whisper-reading a captivating article or story.
Author
Love that, Jolene. I think we are missing out because we do rarely read aloud once the kids start reading for themselves. Before television and radio, people entertained one another by reading to one another. Some elementary teachers still introduce their students to the magic of the written word read aloud by reading a longer book one chapter or section at a time. Nothing at all wrong with whisper reading to hear the sound of the story in your ears.
Maybe #11 – Reader’s Bill of Rights:
The right to read and NOT be interrupted!
Author
Oh, I like that one, Loretta. I’d take a letting me write and not interrupt one too. Right now my dog is driving me crazy wanting to walk all the time. 🙂
C.S. Lewis quote
Author
You must be a tea drinker and reader like Karen and me, Lisa.
SURPRISE
The biggest
Suprise
On the library shelf
Is when you suddenly
Find yourself
Inside a book—-
(The hidden you)
You wonder how
The author knew.
Beverly McLoughland
In Good Books, Good Times
Reading. . . breathing in, breathing out.
Pennac’s Reader’s Bill of Rights? Spot on. His book, Better than Life, is part of my home library.
Obviously, there are times when we are given reading and writing assignments to complete, especially when we have textbooks and assigned reading. Oh, for classrooms that include choice. As a former teacher I know the value of whole class assigned reading. I also know the value of selecting a theme or genre and allowing for choice within parameters.
Who comes to a love of reading? Those of us who have the freedom to select our books or articles, those of us who have the freedom to follow Pennac’s rights. There are times and situations when all participants read the same text. . . Not always.
I often read ahead. I often read the end first. I sometimes refuse to finish a book. I often read a section of a book aloud to hear how the words sound. While I have the right to not read, I can’t imagine exercising that right.
Author
That’s interesting that you have Pennac’s book in your home library. I’ll have to look it up. It’s interesting too to have a teacher’s perspective about assigned reading. When I went to high school long ago, I don’t remember any assigned reading, but I do remember getting to read some really great books. We did have book report assignments, but as well as I can remember we could choose whatever book we wanted or it could have been we had a suggested list. And we had to do term papers. Of course, I liked the writing assignments.
I sometimes read my own books aloud to help when I’m editing. You hear awkward wording that sometimes your eyes don’t catch while reading silently. I am like you. I want the right to read.
Thank you also for the poem, “Surprise.” Very nice.
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” (C.S. Lewis), that’s me! Love to really get in to a book, usually disappointed that it’s not longer!
Author
Fun, Karen. It’s according to the book for me. It’s only good long if it’s good long if you know what I mean.