The verb ‘to read’ does not tolerate the imperative, an aversion it shares with a few others: ‘to love’ … ‘to dream’ …
Like a Novel (originally Comme un roman), Daniel Pennac (my translation)
*****
I’ve read this book in French. On the back cover is a list of ten rights of a reader, which I found online in the printable form of an English language poster, and which I duly printed and stuck to the back of a particular door for everyone to read.
Such a wonderful opener!
Yes it is. In the next line Pennac tells us to try it, say these verbs in the imperative. A good attention-getter.
Yes, it really caught my attention… a subtle, thoughtful and intelligent opening!