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The Indefeasible Rights of Readers

September 21st, 2004

(translated from Daniel Pennac’s Comme un roman)

1. The right to not read.
2. The right to skip pages.
3. The right to not finish a book.
4. The right to reread.
5. The right to read anything.
6. The right to bovaryism (a textually transmitted disease).
7. The right to read anywhere.
8. The right to glean.
9. The right to read out loud.
10. The right to remain silent.

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  1. gkarlsen
    September 21st, 2004 at 19:38 | #1
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    1. What about stop signs?
    2. Okay
    3. Sure
    4. Until you have to buy your books as electronic bits and bytes and the retinal scanner notices that you’re trying to cheat on your “one-time” reading contract.
    5. I think that there’s some folks at the CIA that would contest this one.
    6. Fine, but I’m pretty sure that we all get infected with this the second we start breathing. Or at least as soon as we start talking.
    7. I’ve always wanted to kick back and read Penthouse Forum while standing in the pulpit at Notre Dame.
    8. Always a possibility.
    9. I usually move my lips when I read, does that count.
    10. A right more people should take advantage of.

  2. gkarlsen
    September 21st, 2004 at 19:38 | #2
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    This post has been removed by the author.

  3. Tin Foiled
    September 22nd, 2004 at 13:51 | #3
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    Ummm. Look, this is painful, but I have to admit something.

    I’ve never read Madame Bovary (or any Flaubert), although I’ve picked up the story by osmosis. Think it would be possible to explain #6 to me?

    I enjoyed Daniel Pennac’s book, but I have the feeling that I missed a major point here.

  4. gkarlsen
    September 22nd, 2004 at 19:01 | #4
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    All the definitions I could find said that bovaryism is choosing to see yourself other than how you really are. Self-delusion about self.

    I would contend that this is the natural condition of everyone as confronting yourself in your entirety, all the time, would be too painful, and much too time consuming.

    I choose to see myself as a masked defender of truth and justice and I’m so remarkably good at bovaryism that I don’t even bother to wear the mask.

  5. Snowy Cat
    September 22nd, 2004 at 20:45 | #5
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    For some reason, I bought a copy of “Madame Bovary” in French when I was in Paris – I think it was only 2 euros. I harboured dreams of learning other languages through literature – which is actually not as stupid as it sounds.

    I see myself as I truly am – it’s everyone else who is confused. Wait – who am I to say that you are confused?

    - Confused in Canada

  6. roggles
    September 24th, 2004 at 19:05 | #6
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    Personally, I prefer “Bunburyism”

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