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...a book is a delicate friend, a white bird, an exquisite…

“...a book is a delicate friend, a white bird, an exquisite being, afraid of water. Darling things! Afraid of water, of fire, They shiver in the wind. Clumsy, crude human fingers leave bruises on them that'll never fade! Never! Some people touch books without washing their hands! Some underline…” quote by Tatyana Tolstaya
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““...a book is a delicate friend, a white bird, an exquisite being, afraid of water. Darling things! Afraid of water, of fire, They shiver in the wind. Clumsy, crude human fingers leave bruises on them that'll never fade! Never! Some people touch books without washing their hands! Some underline things in ink! Some even tear pages out! ””

Tatyana Tolstaya

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Books are portrayed as fragile, living beings vulnerable to careless handling.

In simple terms: Books are fragile and need gentle care.

Key Takeaway

Treat books with respect.

Themes

fragility respect literature

Mood

reflective protective

Type

metaphorical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • library use
  • personal reading
  • book preservation

Key Concepts

metaphor care human impact

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we protect our books?
  • What does treating books gently teach us?
A Different Perspective

Some may view books as resilient, not fragile.

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