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Oh, but there is hope yet, even as we readers "tolerate" non-readers.
Last year, I set up a reading group in our local newcomers' club. The idea of the group was supposed to be for those who like to read in English to gather every couple of weeks and just tell us what they're reading. No big intellectual "discussion" but rather a chance to exchange what's interesting to read (and for the non-native speakers, how difficult or easy to read in English).
One lady who was a faithful member of the group admitted that she doesn't read much other than the odd magazine, but she appreciated the chance to practice her English (which she speaks very well!). OK, it helps that she has an opinion on everything and no hesitation to join in any discussion.
Ultimately, all the French people read in French, but most of it was books translated from English, so we got into finding the titles of the translations and exchanging suggestions about authors from all sorts of languages.
Yesterday was the first meeting for the newcomers' group (not the book group) and my "non-reader" member was there. First thing she said to me when she saw me was "I read TWO books over the summer!" Am dying to hear at the first book group meeting what books they were and her opinion of them.
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