“Long after the greed and disrespect have fallen from mortal lips, the bush and the ocean will still be here. And the birds will still be laughing. Sacred and strong.”

“To me reading is an almost sacred activity and the great novel is its high mass.The novel is so deeply powerful as an art form because of the investment of time and faith it demands. A good novel can sweep you up, quarry you out, illuminate you and truly inhabit your life. And, of course, although the writer composes the sentences of the novel the reader is a full participant in the imaginative process and far from a mere voyeur.”

“I will see to this; you see to your sister. Be quick about it. It won’t be long before I come for you, and you’d best be ready, Jess, with my ring still gracing your hand. You won’t stay me then. I’ll drag you to Scotland in irons if I have to.” He left her in a rush. As always, taking her heart with him.”

“I can still feel you, Eva. Still taste you. I’ve beenhard since you left, through two meetings and oneteleconference. You’ve got the advantage, stateyour demands.”

“The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall, nations perish, civilizations grow old and die out, and after an era new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on, still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the heart of men centuries dead.”

“It's heaven to know that it's still possible to run, though she doesn't know what she's running from.”

“I'm still not sure I didn't hallucinate the conversation while overdosing on his pheromones.”