Quotes About Books

I don't think of myself as a critic at all. I'm a reviewer and essayist. I mainly hope to share with others my pleasure in the books and authors I write about, though sometimes I do need to cavil and point out shortcomings.

The biggest critics of my books are people who never read them.

I wanted to be one of these multidisciplinary critics who is doing music one day, TV the next, and books the next.

Some books are well-received with critics; other books sell.

Books are in a constant battle for attention in a very crowded media scape.

I cry in movies a lot, and over books.

I think 'The Lord Of The Rings' is the mother of all cult books, because you can be in that cult and not even know you're in it.

From search and books to online TV and operating systems, antitrust affects our daily digital lives in more ways than we think.

I would say the flip side to my fascination with systems is a fascination with components. So many of my books are dialogues between little and big.

One of the pleasures of staying with friends is that you get to browse their shelves. I always arrive with a book, but I almost never read it. It would be like sitting at their dinner table and opening a packet of sandwiches.

In my library/study/barn, there is a Ping-Pong table on which I can pile working books and spread maps.

As an object itself, to me, books today are such a rare entity - I want mine to be something where, if left on the kitchen table, a child could pick it up. It can visually tell a story.

I'm not lonely, and I think that has a lot to do with what's on my bedside table rather than what's in my bed.

I always have several books on the go at any one moment, so it's no good you asking 'What's on the bedside table at the moment, Emma?' because often I can't even see the table!

Most researchers sit at a table and read books. My research, since three years old, has been to use my own body.

My parents didn't know much science; in fact, they didn't know science at all. But they could recognize a science book when they saw it, and they spent a lot of time at bookstores, combing the remainder tables for science books to buy for me. I had one of the biggest libraries of any kid in school, built on books that cost 50 cents or a dollar.

There's a tacit belief that actors shouldn't write books, they're sort of allowed to direct movies but there will be a lot of skepticism, and they shouldn't do artwork or music. There are these invisible roadblocks to gain entree to these areas for actors, and you kind of have to crash through those invisible barriers.

I still enjoy the tactile sensation of holding a book. But when I need to read fast for work, I use the Kindle App on my iPad.

There's been a fragmentation of how the market functions, but I believe printed books are here to stay. People like the tactile experience, the smell of them; there's a great romance to them.

I do end up revealing a lot online, but in books, what I reveal is more tailored. Authors can couch revelations in fiction. With social media, no one wants to watch or read if it doesn't feel authentic, so you end up giving away a lot of yourself.

Look for inspiration in books, magazines, and even other people's homes - then be brave and take a chance with a room in your home.

Publishers like their authors to take advantage of publicity opportunities.

I think Russell Brand's books should be criticised for being rubbish - but it is true that there's a professional class of opinion-former who has a financial interest in their job not being taken away.

My mom laid the foundation that in order for you to be successful, you have to take care of the books first. That's one thing she preached about, because at any point, other stuff can be taken away.