• Home
  • About Me
  • 5* Elements
  • 2019 Reading Challenges
    • Other Reading Challenges
    • 2013 Reading Challenges
    • 2014 Reading Challenges
    • 2015 Reading Challenges
    • 2016 Reading Challenges
    • 2017 Reading Challenges
    • 2018 Reading Challenges
  • My Bookish Lists
    • My Classics Club List
    • Reading the Newberys
    • Reading My Own Books
Smiling Shelves

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much [Review]

11/14/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
I love books. And I love owning books. And I most certainly love old books – the smell, the look of them lined up on my mahogany bookshelves. But as much as I admire the look and the smell, I also have every intention of reading them someday. Unlike most of the people in The Man Who Loved Books Too Much.

The person referenced by the title is a book thief with a penchant for rare books. He steals credit card numbers and then orders rare books with them. It’s a scam that worked amazingly – and scarily – well. He “acquired” hundreds of books, but not for the pleasure of reading them. Simply for the pleasure of owning them, accompanied by the impressed opinion that others would have of him upon seeing his taste in books. As beautiful as old books are, that’s the one thing I don’t understand about those who collect rare books. Why would you own hundreds or thousands of books with no intention of reading them?

Allison Hoover Bartlett does a great job of introducing us to the world of rare books. She traces the parallel journeys of John Gilkey, the book thief, and those bookstore owners who are desperately trying to catch him. She explores the reasons behind collecting rare books – both legal and illegal. And she finds herself being drawn into the realm of rare book collecting.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is a fascinating look at rare books and the people that love them to the point of obsession.

Picture
Learning

4 Comments
Maphead link
11/17/2013 09:52:32 am

Ahh, I enjoyed this book too. I loved the author's inside look into the other world of rare book collection - and theft!
In case you're interested, here's a link to my review:
http://maphead.wordpress.com/2013/05/26/the-man-who-loved-books-too-much-by-allison-hoover-bartlett/
If you liked this one, you might also enjoy Sixpence House. Here's a link to my review:
http://maphead.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/books-about-books-sixpence-house-by-paul-collins/
Nice blog you have! I must visit more often!

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
11/17/2013 10:48:42 am

It's funny that you would suggest Sixpence House, because I just read that one as well! I enjoyed it immensely. I'll be sure to check out your reviews. Thanks for visiting!

Reply
Joyful Reader link
11/18/2013 05:04:25 am

MMMM, like you I want to read them. What's the use in having them, I don't care to impress, if you don'r read 'em?

Reply
fiddlrts link
11/20/2013 01:08:00 pm

I am reminded of a character in Anthony Trollope's The Vicar of Wakefield, who Trollope describes as very fond of the outside of his books.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

    Picture
    What are 5* Elements all about?

    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Follow on Bloglovin

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Currently Reading

    Clara and Mr. Tiffany
    A Little Folly

    2019 Reading Challenge

    2019 Reading Challenge
    Julie has read 9 books toward their goal of 75 books.
    hide
    9 of 75 (12%)
    view books

    Archives

    November 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    5* Atmosphere
    5* Characters
    5* Learning
    5* Learning
    5* Meaning
    5* Plot
    5* Plot
    5* Voice
    5* Voice
    5* Writing
    Book Club
    Book Club
    Challenges
    Children's
    Classics Club
    Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    It's Monday
    It's Monday
    Library Loot
    Life
    Newbery Reading Challenge
    Nonfiction
    Read A Thons
    Reading
    Review
    Saturday Snapshot
    Smiling Shelves Soapbox
    Stacking The Shelves
    Top Ten Tuesday
    Travel
    Young Adult


    Picture