Alan Bradley
Alan Bradley
book eight heaven
As I stood outside in Cow Lane, it occurred to me that Heaven must be a place where the library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. No ... eight days a week.
holiday thinking special
Although it is pleasant to think about poison at any season, there is something special about Christmas, and I found myself grinning.
father military men
Not very good with death? Father was a military man, and military men lived with death; lived for death; lived on death. To a professional soldier, oddly enough, death was life.
vineyards toil chemistry
Chicken fizz! O Lord, protect all of us who toil in the vineyards of experimental chemistry!
husband grandmother air
My grandmother flew only once in her life, and that was the day she and her new husband ascended into the skies of Victorian London in the wicker basket of a hot-air balloon. They were soon to emigrate to Canada, and the aerial ride was meant to be a last view of their beloved England.
inspiration self volcanoes
If you remember nothing else, remember this: Inspiration from outside one's self is like the heat in an oven. It makes passable Bath buns. But inspiration from within is like a volcano: It changes the face of the world.
stupidity mind demand
One of the marks of a truly great mind, I had discovered, is the ability to feign stupidity on demand.
careers long people
During a long career in TV broadcasting, I spent a lot of time contributing to other people's creations.
growing-up tired talking
Growing up in a Canadian household that was more British than Big Ben, I dreamed of flying to England myself and visiting the places my family never tired of talking about. I always woke up before the plane landed.
teaching thinking together
TV and film taught me to think cinematically. Teaching others to edit, for example, provides a great deal of insight into the millions of ways in which given elements can be put together to tell a story.
people littles enjoy
Whenever I'm with other people, part of me shrinks a little. Only when I am alone can I fully enjoy my own company.
politics fervent
Liberals have always been the most fervent Imperialists.
interesting enemy brain
I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways of bringing my enemies to sudden, gagging, writhing, agonizing death.
flattery
To be most effective, flattery is always best applied with a trowel.