My mum was never too keen on TV, so we kids all went to the library and got books out. Right from the start, I loved the works of Mark Twain. Every time I read about Tom Sawyer, I'd go out and do something low-level naughty, just like him.
When I first read Anne Frank's 'Diary of a Young Girl,' I saw for the first time that a girl could be a writer and that it had something to do with survival and with ethics and fighting against evil. I admired her, though her diary remained terrifyin...
Anybody who likes writing a book is an idiot. Because it's impossible; it's like having a homework assignment every stinking day until it's done. And by the time you get it in, it's done and you're sitting there reading it, and you realize the 12,000...
I'm still getting used to the idea that people out in the world are reading my books. Every time I get a 'fan letter,' I am thrilled. But when people tell me that they're from the south or western Kentucky, and they say, 'I know exactly what you mean...
There are people who must spend huge amounts of time composing these online diatribes against me, all about how disgusting and terrible I am and how no one should ever read my books, and it's not enough for them to hate me, they can't stand the fact ...
I think I had a particular moment when I was 15 years old. I read 'Crime and Punishment,' and that book just, I think, more than any other book made me want to be a writer, 'cause it was the first time that I hadn't just entered a book, but a book ha...
Jake Gittes: Mulvihill! What are you doing here? Mulvihill: They shut my water off. What's it to you? Jake Gittes: How'd you find out about it? You don't drink it; you don't take a bath in it... They wrote you a letter. But then you have to be able t...
[Mr. Parker reads a side of the box with the prize that he won] Mr. Parker: Aaah! "Fra-GEE-leh!" It must be Italian! Mrs. Parker: Uh, I think that says FRAGILE, honey. Mr. Parker: Huh? Oh, yeah. [nods in agreement]
Donnie: [reading lifeline card] "Ling Ling finds a wallet on the ground filled with money. She takes the wallet to the address on the driver's license but keeps the money inside the wallet." [Scoffs] Donnie: I'm... I'm sorry, Mrs. Farmer. I don't get...
[examining one of the gauntlets for his new and improved Batsuit, Bruce presses a button, and the spikes are launched across the room, narrowly missing Fox before they bury themselves in the wall] Lucius Fox: Perhaps you should read the instructions ...
Partridge: You always knew. [begins to read from Yeats] Partridge: "But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." I assume you dream, Preston.
Luigi: [reading from Evelyn's locket] My dearest daughter, never marry for money, fame, power or security. Always follow your heart. Your ever loving father... Blue Bandit: It says all that on that little locket? Luigi: Si.
Captain Ramius: Steer right until this reads three one five. Capt. Bart Mancuso: [to Ryan] No, that's wrong! Don't turn that goddamn wheel! Captain Ramius: [Ryan looks back over at him] Three one five.
George Bailey: [George walks up to Ernie, who is on the phone, with a newspaper] Hey, Ernie, look at that. [Newspaper headline reads "PRESIDENT DECORATES HARRY BAILEY"] Ernie Bishop: It's going to snow again. [Ernie goes back to phone conversation]
Viper: Are you ready? Po: I was born read... [Viper attacks, Po is flung and lands on his head] Viper: I'm sorry, Brother! I thought you said you were ready. Po: That was awesome! Let's go again!
Katsumoto: You fought against your Red Indians? Algren: Yes. Katsumoto: Tell me of your part in this war. Algren: Why? Katsumoto: I wish to learn. Algren: Read a book. Katsumoto: I would rather have a good conversation.
[talking on the phone about Sammy Jankis' attempts to learn through repitition] Leonard Shelby: Sammy had no drive, no reason to make it work. [listens and looks at his tattoo reading "John G. raped and murdered my wife"] Leonard Shelby: Me? Yeah, I ...
Rufus Riley: [to Agatha] Are you reading my mind right now? John Anderton: Get up. Rufus Riley: [to Agatha] I'm sorry for whatever I'm going to do and I swear I didn't do any of that stuff I did.
Stanley Goodspeed: You enjoying this? John Mason: Well, it's certainly more enjoyable than my average day... reading philosophy, avoiding gang rape in the washrooms... though, it's less of a problem these days. Maybe I'm losing my sex appeal.
Eli: [reading part of his newest novel at a press conference] The crickets and the rust-beetles scuttled among the nettles of the sage thicket. "Vámonos, amigos," he whispered, and threw the busted leather flintcraw over the loose weave of the saddl...
Harold Crick: Big flag-burning to get to? Ana Pascal: Actually, it's my weekly evil-conspiracy and needlepoint group. You wanna come? Harold Crick: I left my thimbles and socialist reading material at home. [Ana laughs]
