
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 W. Eliot (1834-1926) academic

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.
W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) novelist, playwright, short story writer

You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.
Ray Bradbury (b. 1920) novelist, short story writer, essayist
for me one of life's greatest pleasures is
reading.
today's post is inspired by
an exhibition I
recently attended of andre kertész. I didn't want to
return home without a
remembrance from this
remarkable exhibition; thus, I purchased a
reprint of his 1971 book
on reading as a gift for f.
kertész started taking photographs of people
reading early on in his career. the earliest photo included in the book was taken when andre was twenty-one. the book includes sixty-six photographs taken between 1915 and 1970. the estate of kertész has made available all of the books
images on the web! one site to learn more about kertész
is here.
the book inspired me to begin my own on
reading review; or
rather, it has inspired me to start organizing my
reading snaps and continue on; seems I too am smitten by the sight of people
reading (evidenced many times on
the mouse). the three photos above are just a few of my own
rapidly growing collection of images of people
reading. they are not as artful and
remarkable as andre's, but like
reading they give me pleasure - I hope they bring you some pleasure too.
and lastly, today is the birthday of hans christian anderson (
2 april 1805 -1875). in
remembrance of hans, master of the fairy tale, I offer one last snap that fits within today's
reading review.

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) physicist, philosopher, peace activist
photos: woman on stoop in the village, nyc february 2011; man in market, fairfax, va february 2011; rugman at brooklyn flea, february 2011; hans christian anderson statue in central park, nyc, june 2010