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Summary: The Perils and Joys of Reading
Review: Fadiman does it again, she was marvelous as the essayist for "Civilization" and not a few missed her work. Now she makes up for the departure in "Ex Libris." A few of those essays appear here and are more than worth the re-reading. Fadiman shows us (those that are bibliophiles) that we are not alone in our passion for the written word and that some of our practices are not so esoteric after all. Tender, humorous and succinct, it's a book I've added to the "odd shelf!"
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Summary: Encouraging words from another reader.
Review: I borrowed this book from my daughter and liked it so much I immediately ordered a copy for my only sibling. How refreshing it was to read about the Fadiman family and realize that I had experienced many of the same feelings about books all my life. I am now seeking out others who love books after reading Anne's lovely book. Every "common reader" should own this book.
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Summary: Critical acclaim for EX LIBRIS
Review: "A book for bookworms. . . 18 stylish, dryly humorous essays. . . [a] charmingly uncommon miscellany on literary love." --Entertainment Weekly"Intimate, humorous, informative, and perceptive. . . delightful reading." --Jack Matthews, The Washington Times "For Fadiman, books are the building blocks with which a life is made. . . With breezy, self-effacing humor and dollops of literary trivia, the essays in EX LIBRIS try to cajole us into restoring books to the heart of family life." --Lucia Perillo, Chicago Tribune "In the literary Eden that forms Anne Fadiman's life, the air remains pure allusion, the marginalia flows, and the only snake in the grass is a typo. . . Lissome essays on bibliophilism and language." --Renee Tursi, The New York Times Book Review "Anne Fadiman is no ordinary reader. . . [EX LIBRIS] is an unapologetic confession of raging bibliophilia. . . a modest, charming, lighthearted gambol among the stacks. It serves up neither ideas nor theories, but anecdotes about the joys of collecting and reading books. Like Calvin Trillin, Fadiman believes that family members, however lovable, are best considered as joke material." --Dan Cryer, Salon "Pure joy from beginning to end." --Bob Hale, Duxbury Clipper
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Summary: Required Reading for Bibliophiles
Review: This is probably the best book I have read all year. It is a bright and shining example of the essay at its best. I laughed out loud at Fadiman's examples of familial obsession with grammar. And even though I had to look up 44 words I had not previously encountered and many books I have not read, Fadiman never comes across as an elitist, merely word-drunk. This book is intoxicating!
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Summary: a kindred spirit in books
Review: This was absolutely delightful, mix of book lover's obsession and personal family history. not only do i feel i know anne fadiman but i love hanging out with her. we could talk about books for hours and hours! clearly enumerates the ways in which books become a part of who you are.
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Summary: I am not alone!
Review: Being a true lover of books and of reading to the point of obsession, I often wonder if others exist in this world who share the same sensual and unusual experience with books that I do. Anne Fadman is one of those people. That now makes three if I include my mate. This collection of essays touches on nearly all of the issues I encounter with the books in my life. I am often stressed by the inevitable need to "marry" my library with my mate's. Whose copy of a particular book will remain? Will our shelves be occupied by duplicate copies of "A Portrait of a Lday" because neither one of us can part with outs? At what point will I need to move my couch out of the house to make room for more bookshelves? Fadiman's essay "Marrying Libraries" deals with this very issue in a relatable and humorous way. It was refreshing to read "My Odd Shelf". These shelves are filled with books that she "cannot trot out at cocktail parties." It's a lonely interest. I know there are books in my collection that would raise eyebrows among my family and friends if they knew they occupied space on my shelves. Who would understand my obsession with Alexander Trocchi or Jungian literature? Finally, Fadiman's essay "Never Do That To A Book" made me realize that I may be a woman of contradictions when it comes to the care of my books. I'm both a courtly lover and a carnal lover of books. She distinguishes the two modes quite eloquently. A courtly lover sees books as only things to be read--no writing in the margins, no water wrinkles from reading in the bathtub or working out on the stairstepper. A carnal lover loves books to pieces. I believe I am both. It seems I have a carnal relationship with any paperback classic I read and a courtly relationship with everything else. Hmm, I wonder why that is. Although the enjoyment is there for both the classics and the contemporaries, the former are like a favorite pillow. They are something I can really cuddle up with and love to pieces. Reading Ex Libris was like having a morning cup of coffee with my best friend.
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Summary: Anyone who confesses to loving books will love this.
Review: Writing about reading has been done by a few, and it's always revealing. I liked reading Fadiman's essays. I remember Anne's father from essays years ago; the description of her family and their word games and quotation reciting was good to read. At first I thought Anne was far above me in literary content but then I read about finding typos and cleaning the dryer lint and I really identified. If you love to read you'll love Ex Libris.
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Summary: A very enjoyable booklover's book
Review: Fadiman is a smart, friendly, articulate booklover, and it's a pleasure to read her thoughts and musings, mostly about books, but also about food, her husband George, the kids, life, love, and so on. As they relate to books. I already have many of these essays in the issues of Civilization in which they appear, but it's nice to have them all together. My only complaint is that she sometimes waxes just a bit smug about who she knows, where she's been, and the neat things she's done, but if I were her I'm sure I would, too...
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Summary: A delight!
Review: I received this book as a Christmas gift, and I was enchanted as soon as I glanced at the table of contents. I actually hugged the book to my chest, anticipating the glee I would indeed feel in reading it. Perhaps being the single parent of a three-and-a half-year-old and, consequently, having barely enough time to read parenting books and magazines has something to do with my reaction, but I believe I would enjoy Ex Libris as much no matter what my circumstances were.
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Summary: A great book for all book-lovers
Review: Wow.. I read this wonderful book in 3 hours on a flight. I bet my fellow-passengers were wondering why I was laughing so hard at times. Her essays sum up what it means to be a book-lover. She has a great writing style, makes her point, and is witty. I'll certainly agree with the person who said that he's jealous of George. I sure am.
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