Then he felt remorseful, which was so unlike him and endearing that I almost changed my mind and said yes. But then… — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
I am a grown woman-- mostly-- and I can guzzle champagne with whomever I choose. — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
Then he felt remorseful, which was so unlike him and endearing that I almost changed my mind and said yes. But then I imagined… — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
If I could have anything I wanted, I would choose story without end, and it seems I have lots of company in that. — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
“The wonderful thing about books--and the thing that made them such a refuge for the islanders during the Occupation--is that they take us out… — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
It suddenly struck me that Dawsey is a lonesome person. I think it may be that he has always been lonely, but he didn't… — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
“There had been a problem in Bean's house. The problem was staples. Bean loved staples. She loved them so much that she had stapled… — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
We clung to books and to our friends; they reminded us that we had another part to us. — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
“Mary Ann could no more endure a day without reading than she could grow feathers.” — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
“We could have gone on longing for one another and pretending not to notice forever. This obsession with dignity can ruin your life if… — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
“[I] threw open the door to find Rob sitting on the low stool in front of my bookcase, surrounded by cardboard boxes. He was… — Annie Barrows Copy Share Image
![“[I] threw open the door to find Rob sitting on the low stool in front of my bookcase, surrounded by cardboard boxes. He was sealing the last one up with tape and string. There were eight boxes - eight boxes of my books bound up and ready for the basement! "He looked up and said, 'Hello, darling. Don't mind the mess, the caretaker said he'd help me carry these down to the basement.' He nodded towards my bookshelves and said, 'Don't they look wonderful?' "Well, there were no words! I was too appalled to speak. Sidney, every single shelf - where my books had stood - was filled with athletic trophies: silver cups, gold cups, blue rosettes, red ribbons. There were awards for every game that could possibly be played with a wooden object: cricket bats, squash racquets, tennis racquets, oars, golf clubs, ping-pong bats, bows and arrows, snooker cues, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks and polo mallets. There were statues for everything a man could jump over, either by himself or on a horse. Next came the framed certificates - for shooting the most birds on such and such a date, for First Place in running races, for Last Man Standing in some filthy tug of war against Scotland. "All I could do was scream, 'How dare you! What have you DONE?! Put my books back!' "Well, that's how it started. Eventually, I said something to the effect that I could never marry a man whose idea of bliss was to strike out at little balls and little birds. Rob countered with remarks about damned bluestockings and shrews. And it all degenerated from there - the only thought we probably had in common was, What the hell have we talked about for the last four months? What, indeed? He huffed and puffed and snorted and left. And I unpacked my books.” quote by Annie Barrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6cc/annie-barrows-27608_books_i-threw-open-the-door-to-find-rob-sit-ti_1948623.jpg)