You’ll remember before Christmas I pointed you to librarian Leah Smith’s Books about… Books! reading list over at Flashlight Worthy? You may even remember in the same post I spoke about two titles in Leah’s list that really took my fancy i.e. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman, and Sixpence House: Lost in A Town Of Books by Paul Collins? Well not one to rest on my laurels, especially when it comes to books, I managed to find, buy and procure copies of both of these books (gotta love Amazon Marketplace because Sixpence House wasn’t even available as new and Ex Libris only cost me £1 – a bargain). Both were delivered during the interim between Christmas and New Year, and the postman got a big hug (he didn’t really because we’d already given him a big box of M&S chocolates before Christmas for all of his book hauling efforts in 2008, so he’d had quite enough out of me already 
)).
I’ve read some of Sixpence House and love it so far. I expected Hay-on-Wye to be hugely idiosyncratic, and not surprisingly Collins paints it as such. I’ve not read enough of it yet to give a fully informed opinion on the book, but it’s certainly showing the promise so far that’s necessary to make it onto my sacred ‘golden bookshelf’. Take from that what you will.
I’ve also read a number of Anne’s essays in Ex Libris and I love them too. Anne’s first essay ‘Marrying Libraries’, which explains the conjoining of her pre-marital library with that of her husband’s, is a giggle-fest, and her essay ‘Never Do That To A Book’, on the differences between showing ‘carnal love’ and ‘courtly love’ for books, has seriously put into question my attitude of sacrosanct towards the books in my own library – believe me that’s a HUGE paradigm shift!
The highlight of receiving these books though has to be my wife’s reaction when they were delivered. Shaking her head as she walked away from me and my ‘still warm from the postman’s sack’ Jiffy Bags, my wife mumbled dejectedly ‘Great, now he’s buying books about books’. Hehehe..gotta love sharing your home with a ‘book widow’ )
About Rob
I liked Fadiman’s book when I read it a few years ago. I enjoy books about books too!
says:
Fadiman’s book is bordering on sublime isn’t it Rebecca? Glad you enjoyed it!
Warmest
Rob
I loved Sixpence House, and I really enjoyed Ex Libris.
My favourite essay was the first-”Marrying Libraries.” I still fall mainly into the ‘courtly love’ treatment of books, although I do dogear pages (bottom corners to mark important passages/ideas, top ones to mark my place). I used to write in my books quite often, but now I read so many books from the library that I’ve fallen out of the habit.
says:
Ahhh dogearing pages……noooooooo!!!! Ever heard of index tabs Eva?? Only joking, at least you’ve fallen out of that nasty ‘writing in my books’ habit now.
)
Warmest
Rob
lol-I guess I know which side of the divide you’re on!
**Eva
Hi,
Thank you for mentioning my list on your website. I’m pleased to see that you liked it. I just stumbled upon your blog and I love it. I love your bookshelf of the week entries. Very cool. Take care, leah.
says:
Leah,
Leah – you’re too kind. There’s still a lot of work and organisation to do around here but thank you for your heartwarming words.
…..and why shouldn’t I mention your Flashlight Worthy list? It’s a fantastic one and as you can see it led to me picking up both Fadiman’s and Collin’s books and I loved them both (just don’t tell Peter over at FW though, because I’d didn’t go through his associate links – although I did buy them through Amazon UK Marketplace)
Anyway, take care and thanks again for dropping by.
Warmest
Rob