Underlining passages in a favourite book has traditionally been a private act
and no more.

With paperbacks it would have been impossible to know whether one reader’s
treasured moment was unique or part of a mass appreciation, but the veil has
been lifted by a function available on ebooks.

The results may delight or offend, depending on whether readers mind that
passages they thought defined their individuality are shared by up to 20,000
other people.

Fans of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, which routinely comes
top of polls of people’s favourite books, may be unsurprised to learn that
the most