Anne Fadiman presents a series of personal essays centered on the physical and psychological habits of the long-term bibliophile. She examines the logistical challenges of merging two large personal libraries after marriage, the rigid etiquette of book inscriptions, and the compulsion to correct typographical errors in public. Fadiman catalogues her family's idiosyncratic relationship with language, describing their competitive nature regarding grammar and their tendency to consume books as physical objects—staining pages with food or breaking spines to mark progress.
This collection targets individuals who view reading as a primary identity rather than a hobby. It appeals to people who organize their living spaces around shelving and who find comfort in the specialized vocabulary of the book trade. Readers walk away with a validation of their own eccentricities, such as the habit of reading a dictionary for pleasure or the refusal to discard books regardless of their condition. The text provides a shared vocabulary for the sensory experience of owning and interacting with printed matter.
Inward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1998
- Language
- EN
