Favorite Bits from Books (5)

This is absolutely  the best description of a book-lover loaning a book:

After a short silence Strange said, "You advise me to read this book?"

"Yes, indeed, I think you should read it," said Mr Norrell.

Strange waited, but Norrell continued to gaze at the book in his hand as though he were entirely at a loss as to how to proceed. "Then you must give it to me, sir," said Strange gently.

"Yes, indeed," said Mr Norrell.  He approached Strange cautiously and held the book out for several moments, before suddenly tipping it up and off into Strange's hand with an odd gesture, as though it was not a book at all, but a small bird which clung to him and would on no account go to any one else, so that he was obliged to trick it into leaving his hand.

From Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke