I know that for every reader who has lost the habit or can't find the time, there are people who've never enjoyed reading and question the value of literature, either as entertainment or education, or believe that a love of books, and of fiction in particular, is sentimental or frivolous.

He has found himself more and more reliant on her at exactly the point that she has become less available to him.

but they had also settled into the maddening familiarity of friendship; maddening for her at least.

This is me.’" He handed her the precious scrap of paper. ‘Call me or I’ll call you, but one of us will call, yes? What I mean is it’s not a competition. You don’t lose if you phone first

She shouldn't speak her thoughts; nothing good ever came of speaking your thoughts.

Well, I don't think Hollywood's a dirty word at all, I love a lot of Hollywood films.

I think probably I'm quite sentimental; I like big emotional stories, I like being moved by things, but I think I'm very embarrassed by sentiment. I'm very embarrassed by corniness.