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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
This is a collection of essays about reading and books by Anne Fadiman. Subtitled “Confessions of a common reader”, it is far from that. Fadiman is not a common reader - I didn’t not read Homer to my husband as an exhausted new parent, even though maybe that was the perfect book to listen to.
If you love books about books, as I do (and as Fadiman confesses she does), this would be a very enjoyable and pleasant read. Or listening experience, as in my case. I am still trying to get used to listening to books, I can’t say I’m completely sold. I missed the opportunity of highlighting passages and leaving comments. But it definitely increased my reading itch.
If you love books about books, as I do (and as Fadiman confesses she does), this would be a very enjoyable and pleasant read. Or listening experience, as in my case. I am still trying to get used to listening to books, I can’t say I’m completely sold. I missed the opportunity of highlighting passages and leaving comments. But it definitely increased my reading itch.
lighthearted
Thoroughly enjoyable little book by a reader on being a reader. Yes, Ms. Fadiman is from a privileged background, and moves in rather rarefied circles, but rather than hating her for it, as some reviewers do, I reveled in how much our love of books and reading gives us to share.
In addition, I added a number of books to my to-read list. And have ordered a used copy of this to keep for my own.
In addition, I added a number of books to my to-read list. And have ordered a used copy of this to keep for my own.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
Very, very charming and heartfelt collection. I’m not sure there is anyone of my acquaintance quite so head-over-heels with books as Anne Fadiman, but I recognized several friends in specific traits she describes, including myself! (I try to read books set in the locations I’m visiting.) Each chapter is brief, funny, informative, and heartwarming. A perfect little gift chocolate box of a book.
Enjoyable little book about one person’s experience with books.
I recognized the emotion in the tale of the marriage of two libraries, when the husband and wife finally agreed to merge their precious libraries into one. Combining our books into one library, as my sister, mother and I merged households, was not an easy task. I don’t think we minded so much that they shared space side by side; eliminating the duplicate was more problematic. What is even more difficult is splitting up the combination when people move into separate lives. A subject yet to be addressed by Fadiman; this couple is still together.
I was also amused by the confession of the author to being a "Carnal Lover". Well it is not really a confession, more like a statement of pride. She and her family ravage books until... dog-eared, spine cracked, margin scribbled, bird-pooped... there is very little left of the pristine tome.
I on the other hand (I state with superiority), am a "Courtly Lover" who makes sure to use only a bookmark, not bend the spine, take notes on an external tablet, am appalled at the detritus left behind by the previous reader...keeping intact the volume's chastity.
There is much presented to ponder as Anne Fadiman journals her thoughts on books. And she gives you plenty of chances to note books on books by other authors. Whether you note in the margin or on a separate piece of paper is up to you!
I recognized the emotion in the tale of the marriage of two libraries, when the husband and wife finally agreed to merge their precious libraries into one. Combining our books into one library, as my sister, mother and I merged households, was not an easy task. I don’t think we minded so much that they shared space side by side; eliminating the duplicate was more problematic. What is even more difficult is splitting up the combination when people move into separate lives. A subject yet to be addressed by Fadiman; this couple is still together.
I was also amused by the confession of the author to being a "Carnal Lover". Well it is not really a confession, more like a statement of pride. She and her family ravage books until... dog-eared, spine cracked, margin scribbled, bird-pooped... there is very little left of the pristine tome.
I on the other hand (I state with superiority), am a "Courtly Lover" who makes sure to use only a bookmark, not bend the spine, take notes on an external tablet, am appalled at the detritus left behind by the previous reader...keeping intact the volume's chastity.
There is much presented to ponder as Anne Fadiman journals her thoughts on books. And she gives you plenty of chances to note books on books by other authors. Whether you note in the margin or on a separate piece of paper is up to you!
Essays about reading and books. Great read for bookworms.
Fadiman shares personal meditations on her library, reading habits and the general ways we all interact with books. It is a funny, insightful and honest look at how readers interact with their books and language. I especially enjoyed "Marrying Libraries" the author's semi-traumatic experience of merging libraries with her husband (I am dreading, dreading this day so I thank her for this glance into how other book lovers make this work) and "Never do that to a Book" which highlights an argument that my family has on a regular basis. This series of essays reminds me that as long as there are still true bibliophiles there will always be books because we simply wouldn't be the same without them. Short, sweet and very readable (although you may want a dictionary as I had to look up several words in the process).