How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
The only advice Bill gave me was to think about [Hamlet] in terms of the other main characters in the books I've read thus far. (3.11.18)
We'll do you one better, Bill. Shmoopers: think about Hamlet in terms of Charlie. And "they're both tragic characters" just isn't going to cut it.
Quote #8
When he gave me the book, Bill said, "Be skeptical about this one. It's a great book. But try to be a filter, not a sponge." (4.6.10)
Bill's advice should be applied to everything you read, even here on Shmoop. Even this very sentence. Whoa… mind blown.
Quote #9
I read on the back cover that [Ayn Rand] was born in Russia and came to America when she was young. She barely spoke English, but she wanted to be a great writer. I thought that was very admirable, so I sat down and tried to write a story. (4.7.2)
Charlie doesn't try to write a story because he really wants to, he does it because he thinks Ayn Rand's life story was pretty spiffy.