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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
My Goodreads list has been by far the most successful attempt I've ever made at tracking my reading. I still occasionally find brave beginnings of earlier attempts, though. This book is one of five listed on the first page of a beautiful handmade journal in the fall of 2006. Page two is blank.
A Great collection of essays. I particularly enjoyed the first essay on the marriage of her books with her husbands books. I laughed out loud when I recognized myself and William. We still consider our books personal property. After moving in October our books are far more mingled and disorganized that they were in the old house--it bothers me.
I loved Anne Fadiman's reflections on reading and the way that books have shaped her life and her relationships. At once poignant, witty and relatable, this is a collection for anyone who has fallen in love with reading.
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
A paean to books and also to a marriage; Fadiman’s love for both shines through on every page. I loved this (and yes, the first time I picked it up it *was* living on the top of the cistern in my girlfriend’s bathroom!)
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
I got this book because I thought it would be about books and reading. It has taken me three years to even crack open the book. I don't usually read non-fiction for pleasure and unfortunately, this book is just another reason why.
I am glad that I am never getting married. I couldn't bear to throw out or give away any of my books so if I were getting married and there were duplicate copies, we'll just have to keep both or divorce.
The Joy of Sesquipedalians
Back in the 90's, I guess fantasy hadn't reached mainstream yet, so this author didn't know grimoire.
Scorn Not the Sonnet
I scorn it very much. I skimmed through this essay. I dislike reading poetry.
Never Do That to a Book
I very much agree with that Danish maid. If you read your book to pieces, how do you read it again after that? And writing in books? I hope you never intend to lend out your books because how annoying would it be to be reading something and have somebody else's thoughts intruding into your reading? You can't even form your own opinions without being influenced by somebody else's.
True Womanhood
I like the thought of having books pass down through the generations. Unfortunately, that will never happen to me.
The His'er Problem
And 20 years after this story was published, discussions are still raging about gender-neutral pronouns in the English language.
The Literary Glutton
This essay was a bit disturbing to read. I just don't think of paper as an edible substance.
The P.M. Empire of Books
The quote from the Gladstone book, I ended up having to read it three times before I could understand the description. However, it sounds like a nice book so I will put it on my list of books to find and buy.
The essays in this book were a bit hard to go through. I mainly read fiction, though so many of the concepts discussed in these essays were outside of my experience and therefore a bit incomprehensible to be. Also, this book was published 20 years ago and focussed on old books which were mostly unknown to me and have no desire to read.
Spoiler
Marrying LibrariesI am glad that I am never getting married. I couldn't bear to throw out or give away any of my books so if I were getting married and there were duplicate copies, we'll just have to keep both or divorce.
The Joy of Sesquipedalians
Back in the 90's, I guess fantasy hadn't reached mainstream yet, so this author didn't know grimoire.
Scorn Not the Sonnet
I scorn it very much. I skimmed through this essay. I dislike reading poetry.
Never Do That to a Book
I very much agree with that Danish maid. If you read your book to pieces, how do you read it again after that? And writing in books? I hope you never intend to lend out your books because how annoying would it be to be reading something and have somebody else's thoughts intruding into your reading? You can't even form your own opinions without being influenced by somebody else's.
True Womanhood
I like the thought of having books pass down through the generations. Unfortunately, that will never happen to me.
The His'er Problem
And 20 years after this story was published, discussions are still raging about gender-neutral pronouns in the English language.
The Literary Glutton
This essay was a bit disturbing to read. I just don't think of paper as an edible substance.
The P.M. Empire of Books
The quote from the Gladstone book, I ended up having to read it three times before I could understand the description. However, it sounds like a nice book so I will put it on my list of books to find and buy.
The essays in this book were a bit hard to go through. I mainly read fiction, though so many of the concepts discussed in these essays were outside of my experience and therefore a bit incomprehensible to be. Also, this book was published 20 years ago and focussed on old books which were mostly unknown to me and have no desire to read.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
I received this book at my university’s English and Modern Language department’s Christmas party’s Dirty Santa game. A friend told me it would be right up my alley and he was 100% correct. It sparked a level of imaginative emotion I haven’t rekindled since I was ten or eleven curled around Homing by Grace Livingston Hill on my mom’s kindle. I started reading it the second I got back to my dorm and I look forward to reading it again with a pencil and highlighter on hand.
I loved this book so, so much. I will read it again. What a delight.