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katdfleming's review against another edition
4.0
Really fun little essays on the reading life. Beautiful language to be devoured slowly!
jrabbit12's review against another edition
1.0
There is nothing more annoying than a person who insists on telling you repeatedly how interesting and clever they are. If I had to sit next to this woman at a dinner party I think I would stab myself in the ear with a butter knife. Maybe it's impossible to write personal essays and not sound like an arrogant ass, but even Anne's(faux)self-depreciation shouted 'but really, I'm AMAZING'.
Some treasures: 'Uncommon Shelf' (I can't talk about Arctic Exploration at dinner parties because no one understands it/me)
'My husband and I read aloud because were so in love with each other and with books - look at this funny joke he made up about Telemachus to keep me on my toes when I was falling asleep'
"We're too busy NOT to read Homer
"Had I been a better mother, I would have said, 'AFTER breakfast.' But instead I sat down and joined the audience."
Thinking that maybe I'm a cynical ass, I didn't mention this during discussion of the book. But when a friend came over and picked up the copy on the coffee table she shared the same impression and began reading her favorite eye-rolling-shut-up-already parts out loud.
Hey Anne, I get it.
P.S. 'Winter's Tale' was hollow and not that great (read:bad) - so that's great that you're friends with Mark Helprin, but I'm nonplussed by that so you don't have to mention it more than once.
Some treasures: 'Uncommon Shelf' (I can't talk about Arctic Exploration at dinner parties because no one understands it/me)
'My husband and I read aloud because were so in love with each other and with books - look at this funny joke he made up about Telemachus to keep me on my toes when I was falling asleep'
"We're too busy NOT to read Homer
"Had I been a better mother, I would have said, 'AFTER breakfast.' But instead I sat down and joined the audience."
Thinking that maybe I'm a cynical ass, I didn't mention this during discussion of the book. But when a friend came over and picked up the copy on the coffee table she shared the same impression and began reading her favorite eye-rolling-shut-up-already parts out loud.
Hey Anne, I get it.
P.S. 'Winter's Tale' was hollow and not that great (read:bad) - so that's great that you're friends with Mark Helprin, but I'm nonplussed by that so you don't have to mention it more than once.
forgereads17's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
hktul's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
Love books about books. Sometimes literary lovers can sound a bit pretentious when they wax on about the lose of long words but Fadiman is so goddamn sincere that it comes off as a charming trait. This was the pick me up book that I needed, it's self-aware and endearing while making me want to reexamine my relationship with books.
norasteinkopf's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
abbeyhar103's review against another edition
4.0
This was so delightful and resulted in a lot of reading out loud