"The books I loved in childhood - the first loves - I've read so often that I've internalized them in some really essential way: they are more inside me now than out"

This quote by Donna Tartt speaks to the power of literature and how it can form us. She is describing the books she checked out as a kid, which she has actually read so typically that they have actually become a part of her. She has actually internalized them in a manner that is essential to her identity. These books have become a part of her, more so than they are a part of the physical world. This speaks to the power of literature and how it can shape us. It can become a part of us, and can affect our thoughts and sensations. It can end up being a part of our identity, and can shape our lives in methods we might not even realize. Donna Tartt's quote is a reminder of the power of literature and how it can form us.