The 10 Inalienable Rights of the Reader

Gretchen Rubin
booksopeninviting
booksopeninviting

A thoughtful reader pointed out a wonderful list written by French author Daniel Pennac, in The Rights of the Reader.

As someone who loves to read-practically to the exclusion of everything else-I love this list.

The 10 Inalienable Rights of the Reader
1. The right not to read
2. The right to skip
3. The right not to finish a book
4. The right to re-read
5. The right to read anything
6. The right to "Bovary-ism," a textually transmitted disease (the right to mistake a book for real life)
7. The right to read anywhere
8. The right to dip in
9. The right to read out loud
10. The right to be silent

If you'd like to see the list as illustrated by Quentin Blake, look here.

I recently posted about my new determination "not to finish a book," and I fully support #3. I love to re-read, so I was happy to see #4. My younger daughter is a big supporter of #9. My husband practices #8.

What do you think of the list? Anything you'd add-or with which you disagree?

Also ...

  • Need a gift for Mothers' Day, for a mother in your life? May I self-promotingly suggest...the New York Times bestseller, Happier at Home!

    -- If you'd like free, personalized, signed bookplates to make your gifts more special, request them here (U.S. & Canada only) . But please request them soon if you want them by Mother's Day. I can be pretty slow.

    -- read a sample chapter on the subject of "time"

    -- request the one-page book club discussion guide