A Reason to Read

In the midst of the many reason to pick up a book, the top one may be well described by Victor Hugo in his introduction to Les Miserables,
"So long as there shall exist, by reason of law and custom, a social condemnation, which, in the face of civilization, artificially creates hells on earth, and complicates a destiny that is divine, with human fatality; so long as the three problems of the age—the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night—are not solved; so long as, in certain regions, social asphyxia shall be possible; in other words, and from a yet more extended point of view, so long as ignorance and misery remain on earth, books like this cannot be useless."
In the past few years I have struggled with the question: "what makes a book great? or popular?"
The answer to my question has been in my struggling search for it to begin with. It is the raw human struggle to which we all face that helps us to process stories and gain something from them. It gives us a connection.
A connection that we are not the only one struggling. Such a deep concept that this quote sums up very well.
Half way done with the book! Has so many great quotes as well. Will continue to read, in the meantime, go grab a cup of tea, sit back. and read.