Writing Quote of the Day - Santha Rama Rua

"Really, in the end, the only thing that can make you a writer is the person that you are, the intensity of your feeling, the honesty of your vision, the unsentimental acknowledgment of the endless interest of the life around and within you. Virtually nobody can help you deliberately-many people will help you unintentionally"

- Santha Rama Rua

Writing Quote of the Day - Voltaire

"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world"

- Voltaire

Writing Quote of the Day - Samuel Johnson

"A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it"

- Samuel Johnson

Writing Quote of the Day - Ray Bradbury

"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them"

- Ray Bradbury

Friday Fiver: Book Rules

What's the most books you've ever read over a holiday?

While I was travelling through Europe in 2010, I read about 25 books. I read while flying, traveling by bus and train. I ended up leaving half these books onthe buses, trains or planes.

What's the best book you've ever read on holiday? What made it great?

I read Eat, Pray, Love while I was in Italy and it kind of heightened the experience of it because I was in the city Elizabeth Gilbert was, while she was in Italy.

Do you consider reading at the dinner table to be rude and exclusive, or a nice way to dip in and out of the conversation?

I think it's kind of rude to do it if you are out with people but if you are by yourself, then I don't think it's a big deal. I've never read while eating out with other people but by myself I have.

4) Do you prefer music on when you read, or other background noise, or a profound silence?

I prefer silence when I am reading but if there are people about and I want to block them out, I'll put music on and read. I tend to listen to music and read on the way to work because I am able to block everything out around me. I like it that way. It makes the trip go much quicker.


5) Do you have a book-related pet peeve?

Yes. I hate people who dog-mark pages or underline them. To me, it is destroying a book.

Writing Quote of the Day - Alexander Pope

"True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, as those move easiest who have learned to dance. 'Tis not enough no harshness gives offence. The sound must seem an echo to the sense."

- Alexander Pope

Writing Quote of the Day - Mark Twain

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read"

- Mark Twain