" 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