Anne Fadiman
November 2000
176 pages
First of all, there is nothing common about Anne Fadiman’s reading habits or bookish knowledge. Good grief. Her vocabulary is light years beyond mine, and the description of her home library led to a bad case of book envy.
However, if I move past the title, this is an enjoyable collection of essays. Fadiman is the author of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which I just realized is the same book I hear about frequently at Child Welfare Services trainings, because it deals with cultural issues and different perceptions about the provision of adequate medical care. However, that has nothing to do with the book I read, other than the fact that they share an author.
Fadiman grew up in an incredibly literary household. Her father was a well-known literary critic, her mother a World War II correspondent and author. Many of the essays talk about how her parents fostered a love of reading and learning. Fadiman reflects on the family playing along to the College Bowl game show, building castles with her father’s books, and growing up surrounded by books.
Other essays discuss obscure words, reading out loud, reading obsessions (hers is Arctic exploration), You-Are-There Reading and fountain pens. Fadiman writes about merging libraries, and the year her husband gave her a trip to a used bookstore as a birthday gift. They came home with 19 pounds of books. As with most essay collections, some selections are better than others. Fadiman occasionally gets a little too literary and obnoxiously over-educated. But overall, this is an enjoyable and entertaining collection.
I did, but I first saw that line in The Sandman
It was only last year that I read The Tempest for the first time.
I love books about books, and this sounds like one I’d really enjoy.
I just got this from the library and hope to read it this week. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Sounds like a delightful book.
This sounds like something I’d love, albeit with a dictionary on my lap.
Ooooh, sounds fun! Yes, I knew the origin of Chris’s blog name, but I think it’s because he mentioned it, at some point. Is Persepolis depressing? Everyone keeps telling me I should give it a try but it scares me.
Well I’m glad to hear that you now know the origin of my blog name
It’s my favorite line of Shakespeare’s. I have to get this book. I’ve been wanting it for so long…off to add it to Amazon cart…it will be your fault!
Not only did I not know the origin of "stuff.." but at first I also (wrongly) thought this post was about Bethany at B&B ex libris.
Just call me a dork.
Sounds like a good read. I like reading books about reading books. Is that a sign of ultimate nerdiness or what?
Huh. Well learn something new everyday is my motto lol!
I just received this book from amazon last week and look forward to reading it. I am a bit nervous about her high brow literary background which I have read about in several reviews but I think I will just have to plow through those parts!
*smiles*
Kim
I just finished reading “The Book Addict’s Treasury” which has a lot of great bookish quotes taken from this book. Sigh. Something else I really, really need to read.
This book sounds fantastic! Another one for my wishlist (lol)
I had known where Chris’s title came from, but only because I know someone who loves the phrase and has a tattoo of it.
I enjoyed this years ago. I like recalling others history of books and reading.