Pamela said that books had been her best friends for many years.
Pamela said that she had been an only child in the family.
Pamela said that some of the books that she was reading had been written a hundred years before.
Pamela said that the books had been a kind of old information means.
Pamela said that her parents had always been busy with their work.
Временные рамки нечёткие. Поэтому возможны варианты перевода.