great books are the ones we need
Books worth reading are worth re-reading.
Time is a river, and books are boats.
A classic is a book that remains in print
If a book is really good, it deserves to be read again, and if it's great, it should be read at least three times.
I'm never ashamed to read a book twice or as many times as I want. We never expect to drink a glass of water just once in our lives. A book can be that essential, too.
If you're looking for a book that's not been influenced by 21st century popular culture and that's guaranteed to be a good read because it's stood the test of time, you can't go wrong with the classics.
The three practical rules, then, which I have to offer, are, --/ Never read a book that is not a year old./ Never read any but the famed books./ Never read any but what you like.
People are starting to refer to 'The Giver' as a classic, but I don't know how that is defined. But if it means that 10, 20, 50 years from now kids will still be reading it, that is kind of awe-inspiring.
What's gratifying is that it's my books that are being read and reread until they're battered over the years. I love that.
There are only two kinds of books -- good books and the others. The good are winnowed from the bad through the democracy of time.
