The Rights of the Reader

There's a wonderful book called The Rights of the Reader by celebrated French writer Daniel Pennac. The book sold over a million copies in France, and grew out of Pennac's experiences of teaching in "challenging" schools. Central to the book is his belief that readers have rights: to read what, how, where and when they want, and – if they choose – the right NOT to read. It has been introduced by Quentin Blake who has also done its gorgeous and witty illustrations. There is also a poster available which illustrates The Reader's Bill of Rights, listed here:

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.

Read the book, and then please do go back to Give a Book.

The £5 note

Speaking of reading in groups, and the importance of reading in general, check out the next £5 note in your possession where there's a picture of the great prison reformer Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) reading to prisoners in Newgate.  (And by the way, every £5 donation to Give a Book gives a book to someone who really needs one.)

WONDERFUL ARTICLE

A good book offers the ultimate escape

It's not easy to explain why reading is so important, writes Charles Moore

"It is not easy to explain to people who don't do it exactly why reading matters not only functionally, but deeply. I think it relates to George Herbert's definition of prayer – "something understood". In our culture, that something is now less understood than at any time since before the invention of the printing press."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/8629159/A-good-book-offers-the-ultimate-escape.html