27
" The walls were lined with books from floor to ceiling. Stacks of books stood neatly arranged on every horizontal surface—tables, windowsills, even the top of an unplugged television. Since Sophie had been forbidden to explore the library at home, her only real experience with books had come at school and from the few children's books that lay on the bottom shelf of a cabinet in the nursery. She sensed immediately that this was something altogether different. It was a library, yes, but she knew these books had been read. They weren't arranged in long lines of matching bindings like the ones in Bayfield House, and almost every volume had slips of paper protruding from the top. she wondered if Uncle Bertram had marked all the best bits.
"Shall we have a story?" said her uncle, when he had hung up their coats.
"Yes, please," said Sophie.
"What would you like?" he asked.
"You pick."
And so he did. They settled onto the couch, Bertram with a cup of tea and Sophie with a mug of cocoa. He began to read and Sophie's world was transformed—this was not like the insubstantial children's stories her mother read to her at bedtime. This was ever so much more.
"The Wind in the Willows," read Uncle Bertram. "Chapter One, The River Bank. The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning his little home." Sophie closed her eyes and fell into the story. "
― Charlie Lovett , First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen
29
" Dobrá kniha je jako dobrý kamarád. Zůstane s tebou do konce života. Zkraje, když se s ní teprve seznamuješ, ti poskytne vzrušení a dobrodružství a v pozdějších letech zase útěchu a pocit, že se vracíš k čemusi známému. Ale nejlepší ze všeho je, že se o ni můžeš podělit se svými dětmi, vnoučaty či s každým, koho budeš mít ráda, že ho vpustíš do jejího tajemství. "
― Charlie Lovett , First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen
32
" What this committee needs, what this media center needs, is a good dose of Jeeves."
"I'm sorry," said Mr. Peabody, a mathematics lecturer who sat hunched at the far end of the table taking the minutes. "How do you spell that?"
"Is it possible," said Arthur, raising both his shoulders and his voice, "that we are working in a university where lecturers are not aware of the identity of one Reginald Jeeves, the gentleman's personal gentleman and the personal gentleman's gentleman? What has happened to cultural literacy, my fellow members of the Advisory Committee for the Media Center? This sort of ignorance is exactly what needs addressing. What I mean, Mr. Peabody, when I say that we need a dose of Jeeves, is that we need quiet and reasoned wisdom that leads to prompt and directed action. "
― Charlie Lovett , The Lost Book of the Grail
37
" Your father and I made a deal. I agreed to let him sell some paintings and things to raise the money he needed to fix up the house, and he agreed to let me have one book from the family library to take home each year."
"The Christmas book!" said Sophie.
"Exactly, the Christmas book. So every year at Christmas I pick one book to keep for my own." He took her by the hand and led her into a small bedroom at the end of the corridor. "Do you see this shelf right here next to my bed? Those are all the books I've picked over the years. It is my very special shelf."
"It must be exciting to go into a big library and get to pick any book you want."
"I'm glad you think so, Sophie. Because I want you to do the same thing. I want you to pick any book in my flat to take home with you and keep."
"Really?" she said, her face lighting up.
"Really," said Bertram. "after all, it's almost Christmas."
"Any book?"
"Any book. But choose carefully," said Uncle Bertram. "A good book is like a good friend. It will stay with you for the rest of your life. When you first get to know it, it will give you excitement and adventure, and years later it will provide you with comfort and familiarity. And best of all, you can share it with your children or your grandchildren or anyone you love enough to let into its secrets. "
― Charlie Lovett , First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love, and Jane Austen