Why She Reads Seriously.

Lesser, Wendy.  Why I Read: The Serious Pleasure of Books.  New York: Farrar, Straus and
          Giroux, 2014.  ISBN: 9780374289201

Wendy Lesser attempts to explain in her latest book why she considers reading books a pleasure in seven short chapters.  She hits the usual categories such as character, plot, and novelty of setting.  She also considers issues of grandeur, authority, intimacy and genre fictions (mystery, science fiction and fantasy).  She talks quite at length about the interaction of the author and the reader.  She also provides a list of books to be read for pleasure.

The major issue I have with the book is that the author spends more time discussing literary studies issues (plot, author/reader interaction, etc.) rather than why she likes to read.  Reading the book, you can see that she loves spending time in books, but it is not until the Afterword that she directly addresses the pleasure she has in holding, smelling, and immersing herself in books.   Thankfully, the list of books Wendy Lesser provides is not prescriptive, but rather a launching point for the reader to explore the authors/titles she enjoys.  

If you are looking for a book that discusses how reading can be a pleasure, read on.  Just do not expect a complete answer.