How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
As a lecturer Dr. Talc was renowned for the facile and sarcastic wit and easily digested generalizations that made him popular among the girl students and helped to conceal his lack of knowledge about almost everything in general and British history in particular. (5.203)
Dr. Talc is really only in the novel so that we can read cutting remarks about him. Those remarks (like this one) are pretty funny, though.
Quote #5
If George wanted her to have a book, he could get it for her himself. Lana wasn't about to buy a book, even a used one. (7.165)
It's not clear whether Lana won't buy a book because she's so tight-fisted, or whether she has something in particular against books. Either way, it's surely meant to be a joke that she puts no value at all on books, and yet her major money-making scheme is based on using a book in an innovative, not to mention X-rated, way.
Quote #6
Lana started to plan the ensemble with the globe, the chalk, and the book. If the thing had commercial possibilities, it should be done with a certain finesse and quality. She envisioned several arrangements that would combine grace and obscenity. There was no need to be too raw. After all, she was appealing to kids. (7.169)
Books, the novel suggests, are good mostly as props; they help you put together an appealing appearance, even if they're largely useless in themselves.