The Pleasure of Reading: 43 Writers on the Discovery of Reading and the Books That Inspired Them

"What emerges most clearly from these accounts is that for these writers, reading was an escape from the various straitjackets of their quotidian existence. As much magic carpet as passport, it showed them the possibilities of life and art and we, their readers, are immeasurably enriched by what it unlocked, inspired and unleashed in them." "Washington Times"

"Do I need to say that the resulting anthology, now expanded from the original British edition of 1992, makes for nearly irresistible reading?" Michael Dirda, "Washington Post"

"This delightful essay collection introduces the reader to novelists, playwrights, and all kinds of authors who tell us how and why they love reading, and which books are their long-time favorites . . . [D]efinitely a keeper!" "Hudson Valley News"

"A wonderful book for those of us that are addicted to print. A compendium of mostly British authors which lead you through their lives of reading. Sue Townsend mentions that she didn't learn to read before the age of eight and that her teacher was a nasty drunk with a face like a dyspeptic badger!" Jack Coleman, on Good Reads

"Really enjoyed this book: ) And it brought back so many memories of my early years of reading . . . reading a book in bed under the covers at night by torch light . . . ALWAYS having a book to hand and being told to 'Put that book down!' . . . getting annoyed if ever a Birthday or Christmas Day passed WITHOUT A NEW BOOK arriving!!!" Alayne, on Good Reads"

"What emerges most clearly from these accounts is that for these writers, reading was an escape from the various straitjackets of their quotidian existence. As much magic carpet as passport, it showed them the possibilities of life and art and we, their readers, are immeasurably enriched by what it unlocked, inspired and unleashed in them." Washington Times

"Do I need to say that the resulting anthology, now expanded from the original British edition of 1992, makes for nearly irresistible reading?" Michael Dirda, Washington Post

"This delightful essay collection introduces the reader to novelists, playwrights, and all kinds of authors who tell us how and why they love reading, and which books are their long-time favorites . . . [D]efinitely a keeper!" Hudson Valley News

"A wonderful book for those of us that are addicted to print. A compendium of mostly British authors which lead you through their lives of reading. Sue Townsend mentions that she didn't learn to read before the age of eight and that her teacher was a nasty drunk with a face like a dyspeptic badger!" Jack Coleman, on Good Reads

"Really enjoyed this book: ) And it brought back so many memories of my early years of reading . . . reading a book in bed under the covers at night by torch light . . . ALWAYS having a book to hand and being told to 'Put that book down!' . . . getting annoyed if ever a Birthday or Christmas Day passed WITHOUT A NEW BOOK arriving!!!" Alayne, on Good Reads

"What emerges most clearly from these accounts is that for these writers, reading was an escape from the various straitjackets of their quotidian existence. As much magic carpet as passport, it showed them the possibilities of life and art and we, their readers, are immeasurably enriched by what it unlocked, inspired and unleashed in them." --Washington Times

"Do I need to say that the resulting anthology, now expanded from the original British edition of 1992, makes for nearly irresistible reading?" --Michael Dirda, Washington Post

"This delightful essay collection introduces the reader to novelists, playwrights, and all kinds of authors who tell us how and why they love reading, and which books are their long-time favorites . . . [D]efinitely a keeper!" --Hudson Valley News

"A wonderful book for those of us that are addicted to print. A compendium of mostly British authors which lead you through their lives of reading. Sue Townsend mentions that she didn't learn to read before the age of eight and that her teacher was a nasty drunk with a face like a dyspeptic badger!" --Jack Coleman, on Good Reads

"Really enjoyed this book: ) And it brought back so many memories of my early years of reading . . . reading a book in bed under the covers at night by torch light . . . ALWAYS having a book to hand and being told to 'Put that book down!' . . . getting annoyed if ever a Birthday or Christmas Day passed WITHOUT A NEW BOOK arriving!!!" --Alayne, on Good Reads