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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
Another book from a fellow-traveler to enjoy. I love to read books by people who love books, and especially by women who had the same experiences in childhood that I had. I think we all thought we were alone at the time, but how I delight in reading this: "Like so many of the other books I read, it never seemed to me like a book, but like a place I had lived in, had visited and would visit again, just as all the people in them, every blessed one . . . were more real than the real people I knew." It's always comforting to know that I'm not the only person who considered Laura and Anne and Betsy my best friends. :-) I liked this observation, too, and wonder how widespread it is among adult booknuts: "Perhaps only a truly discontented child can become as seduced by books as I was. Perhaps restlessness is a necessary corollary of devoted literacy." And this quote, that I read somewhere long ago, not having read the book before: "It turns out that when my younger self thought of taking wing, she wanted only to let her spirit soar. Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home."
Found it funny that Quindlen couldn't imagine anyone wanting to read on an electronic device. I liked that she refuted the usual "Oh, it's the death of books!" refrain. I hope she has a Kindle now and is very happy with it. LOL
Found it funny that Quindlen couldn't imagine anyone wanting to read on an electronic device. I liked that she refuted the usual "Oh, it's the death of books!" refrain. I hope she has a Kindle now and is very happy with it. LOL
I enjoyed the insights Quindlen garnered from her lifetime of reading experiences, but I believe that for the most part, lifetime readers already intuitively "get" what she is talking about. In a sense she is simply writing down what many of us know. She does, however, present her material in an engaging and dynamic way, which makes it interesting to read.
The real book for book lovers. She really understands us and our pleasure in reading, finding new books, new authors, give suggestions, recommend some book or other. It was a pleasure reading this pages that resonate so much in me.
Il vero libro per gli amanti dei libri. L'autrice capisce veramente noi topi di biblioteca e il nostro piacere nel leggere, trovare nuovi libri, nuove storie, nuovi autori, consigliare o sconsigliare a qualcuno lo stesso libro o altri. È stato un vero piacere leggere queste pagine che hanno risuonato forte dentro di me.
Il vero libro per gli amanti dei libri. L'autrice capisce veramente noi topi di biblioteca e il nostro piacere nel leggere, trovare nuovi libri, nuove storie, nuovi autori, consigliare o sconsigliare a qualcuno lo stesso libro o altri. È stato un vero piacere leggere queste pagine che hanno risuonato forte dentro di me.
Anna Quindlen's description of her reading life as a child reflects my reading life as a child. I wanted to read more than I wanted to play outside. Reading is very special to those of us that adore reading. Anna's putting that into words was a pleasure to read. This is a small book, under 100 pages, yet packs a great amount of insight.
My feelings about reading are so similar to the message here that I feel like I could have written this book...although Anna Quindlen does it much better than I ever could!
I especially love her short works like this one because I can read them over and over without feeling like I am stealing vast amounts of time from my ever-growing stack of books to read!
No earth-shattering revelations - the author was preaching to the choir - but enjoyable none the less.
Anna Quindlen is one of my favorite authors. More a long essay than a short biography, Quindlen lays the foundation that reading for pleasure is as necessary as breathing. And that should be enough said. However, she also makes a good argument for the healing properties of reading as it addresses feelings of isolation. And to the point of how reading shapes our minds: "The great novels of war have helped create both patriots and pacifists, among those who have never, will never, see war." Books are powerful. They provide us information and pleasure. Oh, how I love reading!
I can’t make myself finish this book. I’m getting too lost in lengthy sentences.