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cassandrat's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.25
Very interesting ladies and careers. 5 stars for the content covered, but 3 stars for delivery.
The first 45% is about them growin up, meeting, and doing masters and PhD work. It is quite dry, but interesting as a historical window into what these two new yorkers were doing during the depression and world war 2.
At 45%, we learn about Maddy's work on Louisa May Alcott and the book collecting business gets started. From there, they discuss book buying and how they found books and built collections, it is dry but interesting. I think one would have to excited by the subject to enjoy it.
They discuss a range of topics: early publishers, renaissance, louisa may alcott, and become more overtly interested in feminist lenses and messages towards the end of the autobiography.
Overall, it wasn't as engaging as I had hoped, but it was really interested amd wpuld flup oen the book again to read sections about books or for historical interest.
The first 45% is about them growin up, meeting, and doing masters and PhD work. It is quite dry, but interesting as a historical window into what these two new yorkers were doing during the depression and world war 2.
At 45%, we learn about Maddy's work on Louisa May Alcott and the book collecting business gets started. From there, they discuss book buying and how they found books and built collections, it is dry but interesting. I think one would have to excited by the subject to enjoy it.
They discuss a range of topics: early publishers, renaissance, louisa may alcott, and become more overtly interested in feminist lenses and messages towards the end of the autobiography.
Overall, it wasn't as engaging as I had hoped, but it was really interested amd wpuld flup oen the book again to read sections about books or for historical interest.
angiehead's review
1.0
I couldn't stick it out all the way through. I read 11 out of 14 chapters and the epilogue. The epilogue gave me what I needed to be at peace with not completing the whole book. The first half of the book had very little to do with books at all, it was primarily autobiographies of the two authors. I kept waiting for the wonders of book finding missions but I had to wade through the deep waters of feminism and humanism to get a taste. The clearly stated worlview of the authors was something I intended to bear with so long as the book hunts made it worthwhile. In the end, the feminism and humanism were more than I could stomach and I skipped to the epilogue which confirmed my decision. Happy to move on to something more worthwhile and edifying!
markfeltskog's review
A warm and edifying memoir by two extraordinary women. To bibliophiles, persons who love to read, and those who enjoy seeing women triumph in a male-dominated milieu, I cannot recommend highly enough this book. (And the books they handled, my god the books!)
cherylanntownsend's review
5.0
Each giving their own voice via sections in each chapter, they tell of their origins, education, first meeting, and their embarking into the literary life of rare book collection.
College took them abroad and helped both cement their friendship (in missing each other) and stoking the love of older books.
While both casually dated, neither felt they could find anyone who shared their literary love, nor intellectual standing. Much to their parents chagrin, they remained steadfast to each other, earning income teaching, translating, and tutoring.
Much detail is given to their European travels, either scenic or diary entries, as with nearly every aspect of their lives...possibly even too much.
That said, once we get into Madeleine’s biographical books, we can not have enough. After a successful novelization of a Margaret Fuller biography, she sets her sights on Louisa May Alcott, but more so on her alias publications. Fascinating how she sleuthed not only the aka, but her publisher and various papers that carried her stories. Using clues from “Little Women” and her journals, along with letters to and from, the “aha” moment arrives with much glee. Both ladies made light of their discovery, illuminating the bibliophile world with dazzling revelation. A. M. Barnard was henceforth removed from the standard library shelves and stowed in with the rare. Bravo, ladies. Bravo!
Such lead to Madeleine’s award of a Guggenheim. Using such, she quits teaching and works on her book. Leona yearns to delve into the rare booksellers business. During the end of the war and Hitler’s genocide, the two besties team up and dive into the biz. Selling half of their first catalog is impetus enough for the two to forge onward. Family and friends support with surprised enthusiasm and connections made along their way further advance their success.
Shopping the remains in London’s regal bookshops was bittersweet. Meeting sellers they knew only via their catalogs and then seeing the results of the war upon them. Still, the ladies did well to improve their own stock, as well as their standing in the lofty realm of valuable reads.
Quite interesting is not only the lavish stories behind the books they search for, but the sellers and buyers involved in such. I am forever pausing and taking notes as I read. What a gem this is becoming, beyond just an interesting read.
Through their moxy, the first stateside antiquarian book fair was held, the first center created, and numerous books on a feminist slant were published. Alongside such, were the bountiful collections of Alcott (Barnard) stories, again, sleuthed out via diary entries. If nothing else, we should all be in debt to this two for that, alone. These were not idle ladies by any means.
College took them abroad and helped both cement their friendship (in missing each other) and stoking the love of older books.
While both casually dated, neither felt they could find anyone who shared their literary love, nor intellectual standing. Much to their parents chagrin, they remained steadfast to each other, earning income teaching, translating, and tutoring.
Much detail is given to their European travels, either scenic or diary entries, as with nearly every aspect of their lives...possibly even too much.
That said, once we get into Madeleine’s biographical books, we can not have enough. After a successful novelization of a Margaret Fuller biography, she sets her sights on Louisa May Alcott, but more so on her alias publications. Fascinating how she sleuthed not only the aka, but her publisher and various papers that carried her stories. Using clues from “Little Women” and her journals, along with letters to and from, the “aha” moment arrives with much glee. Both ladies made light of their discovery, illuminating the bibliophile world with dazzling revelation. A. M. Barnard was henceforth removed from the standard library shelves and stowed in with the rare. Bravo, ladies. Bravo!
Such lead to Madeleine’s award of a Guggenheim. Using such, she quits teaching and works on her book. Leona yearns to delve into the rare booksellers business. During the end of the war and Hitler’s genocide, the two besties team up and dive into the biz. Selling half of their first catalog is impetus enough for the two to forge onward. Family and friends support with surprised enthusiasm and connections made along their way further advance their success.
Shopping the remains in London’s regal bookshops was bittersweet. Meeting sellers they knew only via their catalogs and then seeing the results of the war upon them. Still, the ladies did well to improve their own stock, as well as their standing in the lofty realm of valuable reads.
Quite interesting is not only the lavish stories behind the books they search for, but the sellers and buyers involved in such. I am forever pausing and taking notes as I read. What a gem this is becoming, beyond just an interesting read.
Through their moxy, the first stateside antiquarian book fair was held, the first center created, and numerous books on a feminist slant were published. Alongside such, were the bountiful collections of Alcott (Barnard) stories, again, sleuthed out via diary entries. If nothing else, we should all be in debt to this two for that, alone. These were not idle ladies by any means.
canadianbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. Some of the biblio stuff a little dry.
Gave my copy away
Gave my copy away
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