---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was something about the possession…"
description: "\"“There was something about the possession of a book that was important to me. Owning it gave me proprietary rights on the story. It meant that I could ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/georgia-bell-88676_book_there-was-something-about-the-possession_3098178.jpg"
---

#  There was something about the possession of a book that…

![“There was something about the possession of a book that was important to me. Owning it gave me proprietary rights on the story. It meant that I could read as quickly or as slowly as I liked. No expectations, no deadlines, no proscriptions on bent spines or crumpled pages. I was not gentle on my…” quote by Georgia Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/georgia-bell-88676_book_there-was-something-about-the-possession_3098178.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/georgia-bell-88676_book_there-was-something-about-the-possession_3098178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/georgia-bell-88676_book_there-was-something-about-the-possession_3098178.jpg)

> ““There was something about the possession of a book that was important to me. Owning it gave me proprietary rights on the story. It meant that I could read as quickly or as slowly as I liked. No expectations, no deadlines, no proscriptions on bent spines or crumpled pages. I was not gentle on my books. I read while I ate, I read in the bathtub. At night, I rolled over on top of my books that had fallen between the covers as I dozed. For me, the worn pages and tattered covers were a sign of devotion. Like the Velveteen Rabbit, the books I read were only real when they were loved. And I understood that love was not always gentle.””

Georgia Bell

## About This Quote

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

Books become personal companions, granting freedom to control reading pace and intimacy, reflecting devotion through wear and love.

**In simple terms:** Books give personal freedom and show love through wear.

Key Takeaway

Cherish books, read on your terms.

Themes

reading ownership devotion personal freedom

Mood

reflective nostalgic

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

- reading in daily life
- collecting books
- nighttime reading
- reading while eating

Key Concepts

materialism attachment identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does ownership change your relationship with a story?
- What does a worn book say about you?

A Different Perspective

Books can become distractions from other responsibilities.

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