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apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism and Racism
ehk317's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a love letter to books and to reading. Broken up into 5 parts, Heather Cass White does a deep dive into what it is about books and the stories they contain that keep us all hooked. The language in this book is flowery and over the top, but that is how any love letter should be. The last chapter really captivated me as I (and I’m sure many, many others) can put myself into the mind of that 12 year-old girl. Definitely enjoyed reading this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
scoobygirl93's review against another edition
DNF'd at page 54
I really wanted to read this but it was very hard to focus on and it was putting me to sleep, which is not a usual thing especially since I just woke up.
I really wanted to read this but it was very hard to focus on and it was putting me to sleep, which is not a usual thing especially since I just woke up.
stephbookshine's review against another edition
3.0
*I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Far more dense and scholarly than I was expecting, this book is made up of a series of short passages constructing an argument for how and why we read, referencing sources from Don Quixote and Middlemarch to poetry and Plato.
I love books about books and reading, so thought this would be right up my street, but was somewhat taken aback by the initial prepositions which seemed to carry the assumption that everyone experiences reading in the same way and/or uses it for the same purpose. In the author’s argument for reading, therefore, only literary fiction, poetry and fiction as ‘high art’ seem to really count, ignoring the many reasons why people (promiscuously and voraciously) read genre fiction.
There are some interesting, engaging ideas about the pursuit of reading here, but they are mostly buried in the dry, cerebral prose – too impenetrable to be enjoyable for even most avid book-lovers.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2022/05/03/catch-up-quickies-19/
Far more dense and scholarly than I was expecting, this book is made up of a series of short passages constructing an argument for how and why we read, referencing sources from Don Quixote and Middlemarch to poetry and Plato.
I love books about books and reading, so thought this would be right up my street, but was somewhat taken aback by the initial prepositions which seemed to carry the assumption that everyone experiences reading in the same way and/or uses it for the same purpose. In the author’s argument for reading, therefore, only literary fiction, poetry and fiction as ‘high art’ seem to really count, ignoring the many reasons why people (promiscuously and voraciously) read genre fiction.
There are some interesting, engaging ideas about the pursuit of reading here, but they are mostly buried in the dry, cerebral prose – too impenetrable to be enjoyable for even most avid book-lovers.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2022/05/03/catch-up-quickies-19/
sawyerbell's review against another edition
4.0
There were many interesting ideas to ponder in this phenomenological exploration of the reading life. While I found the structure and prose-style somewhat fragmented, I enjoyed reflecting on many of the ideas the author presented.
hannah_monson's review against another edition
2.0
As a librarian, I love books about books— love letters to books, so I was thrilled to hear about Books Promiscuously Read. However, I could not help but feel that the first section- Propositions- was written like Royal decrees. And while I’ve never been one to buck authority, I felt myself rebelling, thinking “who are you to say how I should read or how I should feel when reading?”
This book was deeply cerebral and perhaps had some nuggets of insight into reading and books. However, I found that the author expounded more on life, philosophy, and topics tangential to books far more than reading itself. For someone who enjoys that type of musings, it would be deeply interesting, but it is not the type of book I was seeking or expecting.
This book was deeply cerebral and perhaps had some nuggets of insight into reading and books. However, I found that the author expounded more on life, philosophy, and topics tangential to books far more than reading itself. For someone who enjoys that type of musings, it would be deeply interesting, but it is not the type of book I was seeking or expecting.
fornia's review against another edition
1.0
did not enjoy this
unfortunately i've been out of books for days now and i'll take what i can get
unfortunately i've been out of books for days now and i'll take what i can get