“Books became her friends and there was one for every mood.” ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows n Brooklyn

“The Brahmins say that in their books there are many predictions of times in which it will rain. But press those books as strongly as you can, you can not get out of them a drop of water. So you can not get out of all the books that contain the best precepts the smallest good deed.” ~Leo Tolstoy

“I have read many books, but to little purpose, for want of good method. I have confusedly tumbled over divers authors in our libraries with small profit for want of art, order, memory, judgment.” ~Robert Burton

“I scribble, underline, note, add, cross out, put in exclamation marks, turn down corners– even sometimes jot down phone numbers and PINs and reminders to buy cat food.” ~Susan Hill

“Reading was my escape and my comfort, my consolation, my stimulant of choice: reading for the pure pleasure of it, for the beautiful stillness that surrounds you when you hear an author’s words reverberating in your head.” ~Paul Auster