The great American novel has not only already been written, it has already been rejected.

The great American novel has not only already been written, it has already been rejected.

Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.

Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.

To give somebody your time is the biggest gift you can give.

To give somebody your time is the biggest gift you can give.

"Presents," I often say, endear Absents."

"Presents," I often say, endear Absents."

If I have not read a book before, it is, for all intents and purposes, new to me whether it read more

If I have not read a book before, it is, for all intents and purposes, new to me whether it was printed yesterday or three hundred years ago.

A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.

A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.

A gift blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.

A gift blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.

Ideally a book would have no order to it, and the reader would have to discover his own.

Ideally a book would have no order to it, and the reader would have to discover his own.

Not what we give, but what we share,--
For the gift without the giver is bare.

Not what we give, but what we share,--
For the gift without the giver is bare.