When I read a book, I put in all the imagination I can, so that it is almost like writing the book as well as reading it - or rather, it is like living it. It makes reading so much more exciting, but I don't suppose many people try to do it.

Quand je lis un livre, j'y mets toute mon imagination, de sorte qu'en ce sens la lecture ressemble un peu à l'écriture; ou plutôt c'est comme si je vivais ce que je lisais

Reading stimulates the imagination and a good imagination can change the world in the most splendid of ways.

I believe it is customary to get get one's washing over first in baths and bask afterwards; personally, I bask first. I have discovered that the first few minutes are the best and not to be wasted--- my brain always seethes with ideas and life suddenly looks much better than it did...So I bask first, wash second and then read as long as the hot water holds out. The last stage of a bath, when the water is cooling and there is nothing to look forward to, can be pretty disillusioning.

The world was hers for the reading.

All good books are about everything, abbreviated.