Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Judging A Book By Its Lover

I love reading books about books, books about reading, and anything book that falls in between. If you love to read, if you hoard books, or spends hours in the library only to carry out your loans with a equipment dolly, then this is the latest literary criticism book for you.

At Subterranean Books this past Saturday, I stumbled upon "Judging a Book By Its Lover: A Field Guide to the Hearts and Minds of Readers Everywhere" by Lauren Leto.

Since picking it up, I've barely been able to put it down. If it wasn't for things like family obligations, work, school, etc., I would have finished this that very afternoon in the local restaurant I hid in.

Leto is a well read reader who is impressive with her witty stories about life, reading, and growing up as a bookcat (not a bookworm as she argues). Oh course she could be faking it, as she provides clear steps about how to fake reading some of those books people claim to have read.

Her take on J.D. Salinger readers and fans is quite funny. Book club rules presented a'la Fight Club format is cute. There are sections on being a Harry Potter fan as a adult, how to write like any writer, bookstore pick-up lines, all delivered with such a deft skill, "page-turner" is really the only adequate description.

If anyone read "Texts From Last Night: All the Texts No One Remembers Sending" then you may already be familiar with her smart humor.

"Judging A Book By Its Lover" is one of those rare books that I not only recommend, but one of those few I may actually buy extra copies to give out to friends.

Until Next Time....
Readingly Yours,
Michael