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A review by jojo_27
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
5.0
One of my favorite books of all time. I'm not terribly picky about genre in my reading; what I care about is craft, and this book is a work of art. Each word is carefully and lovingly chosen, for if Anne Fadiman is anything, it is a true lover of words. She uses them to prick, to enfold, to surprise, to enlighten.
I discovered this gem on a discount bookshelf in college, and after the first read, I went back and bought all the remaining copies (five or six) to give as gifts to carefully selected friends. I myself have re-read it at least once a year since, at first thrilling at new ideas, then drawing comfort from the familiarity of an old friend when in strange places. With each reading, I learn something new about Ms Fadiman and about myself.
I've had discussions with multiple friends over the merits of courtly vs carnal love; compared quiz results from "The Joy of Sesquipedalians"; agonized over what should rightly be the focus of my own "odd shelf"; debated with men I'm not even dating the best way to marry libraries, and the merits of doing such at all; tried to divine which of my own friends will someday grace my friends and family collection; and relived the beauty of Wordsworth's "Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent's Narrow Room", all the while resolving to give poetry another try.
If you love books, if you love words, hasten with all your might to this one.
I discovered this gem on a discount bookshelf in college, and after the first read, I went back and bought all the remaining copies (five or six) to give as gifts to carefully selected friends. I myself have re-read it at least once a year since, at first thrilling at new ideas, then drawing comfort from the familiarity of an old friend when in strange places. With each reading, I learn something new about Ms Fadiman and about myself.
I've had discussions with multiple friends over the merits of courtly vs carnal love; compared quiz results from "The Joy of Sesquipedalians"; agonized over what should rightly be the focus of my own "odd shelf"; debated with men I'm not even dating the best way to marry libraries, and the merits of doing such at all; tried to divine which of my own friends will someday grace my friends and family collection; and relived the beauty of Wordsworth's "Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent's Narrow Room", all the while resolving to give poetry another try.
If you love books, if you love words, hasten with all your might to this one.