Mary Ann Shaffer Quotes

Quotes about:

Books Dignity Dogs Obsession Reading Writing

I have gone to [this bookshop] for years, always finding the one book I wanted - and then three more I hadn’t known I wanted.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Book, Finding The One, Years

47 Copy quote
I don't want to be married just to be married. I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of my life with someone I can't talk to, or worse, someone I can't be silent with.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Life, Marriage, Thinking

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.8, Dial Press

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That's what I love about reading: one tiny thing will interest you in a book, and that tiny thing will lead you to another book, and another bit there will lead you onto a third book. It's geometrically progressive - all with no end in sight, and for no other reason than sheer enjoyment.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Reading, Book, Sight

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.14, A&C Black

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Humour is the best way to make the unbearable bearable.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Way, Unbearable, Humour

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.31, A&C Black

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I think you learn more if you're laughing at the same time.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Teacher, Learning, Thinking

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.76, A&C Black

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I hope, too, that my book will illuminate my belief that love of art - be it poetry, storytelling, painting, sculpture, or music - enables people to transcend any barrier man has yet devised.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Art, Book, Men

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.221, A&C Black

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We read books, talked books, argued over books and became dearer and dearer to one another.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Book

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.45, A&C Black

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I never met a man half so true as a dog. Treat a dog right, and he'll treat you right. He'll keep you company, be your friend, and never ask you no questions. Cats is different, but I never held that against 'em.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Dog, Cat, Men

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.117, A&C Black

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All my life I thought that the story was over when the hero and heroine were safely engaged -- after all, what's good enough for Jane Austen ought to be good enough for anyone. But it's a lie. The story is about to begin, and every day will be a new piece of the plot.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Love, Lying, Hero

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.274, Dial Press

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Life goes on." What nonsense, I thought, of course it doesn't. It's death that goes on.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Goes On, Nonsense, Life Goes On

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.88, A&C Black

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Have you ever noticed that when your mind is awakened or drawn to someone new, that person's name suddenly pops up everywhere you go? My friend Sophie calls it coincidence, and Mr. Simpless, my parson friend, calls it Grace. He thinks that if one cares deeply about someone or something new one throws a kind of energy out into the world, and "fruitfulness" is drawn in.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Thinking, Names, Grace

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.116, Dial Press

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Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Book, Reading, Ruins

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.53, Dial Press

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Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Book, Perfect, Secret

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.13, A&C Black

9 Copy quote
Think of it! We could have gone on longing for one another and pretending not to notice forever. This obsession with dignity can ruin your life if you let it.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Thinking, Forever, Gone

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.219, A&C Black

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one year as his wife, and id have become one of those abject, quaking women who look at their husbands when someone asks them a question. I've always despised that type, but I see how it happens now

Mary Ann Shaffer

Husband, Years, Wife

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.214, Dial Press

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Reading keeps you from going ga-ga.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Reading

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.32, Dial Press

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Those times, I tried to think of something happy, something I'd liked - but not something I loved, for that made it worse.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Thinking, Made, Made It

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.149, Dial Press

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Naturally curly hair is a curse, and don't ever let anyone tell you different.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Curly Hair, Hair, Different

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.118, Dial Press

57 Copy quote
Men are more interesting in books than they are in real life.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Real, Book, Men

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.47, A&C Black

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The first rule of snooping is to come at it sideways.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Firsts, Sideways, Snooping

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.73, A&C Black

10 Copy quote
Because there is nothing I would rather do than rummage through bookshops, I went at once to Hastings & Sons Bookshop upon receiving your letter. I have gone to them for years, always finding the one book I wanted - and then three more I hadn't known I wanted.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Book, Son, Finding The One

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.13, A&C Black

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Will Thisbee gave me The Beginner's Cook-Book for Girl Guides. It was just the thing; the writer assumes you know nothing about cookery and writes useful hints - "When adding eggs, break the shells first.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Girl, Book, Writing

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.159, A&C Black

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I love seeing the bookshops and meeting the booksellers-- booksellers really are a special breed. No one in their right mind would take up clerking in a bookstore for the salary, and no one in his right mind would want to own one-- the margin of profit is too small. So, it has to be a love of readers and reading that makes them do it-- along with first dibs on the new books.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Reading, Book, Mind

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer (2011). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle Deluxe Reading Group Edition): A Novel”, p.12, Dial Press

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His writings have made me his friend.

Mary Ann Shaffer

Writing, Made

Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (2009). “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”, p.12, A&C Black

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My worries travel around in my head on their well worn path

Mary Ann Shaffer

Worry, Path, Worn

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Born: January 1, 1934
Died: February 1, 2008
Occupation: Writer
Cite this Page: Citation

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