Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader - Book Review
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
“Ex Libris” is Anne Fadiman’s love song to books. A collection of essays on books and bibliophilia, Fadiman covers a variety of topics that will be familiar to anyone who loves books and words. She covers everything from sesquipedalians (big words) to ‘you-are-there reading’ to the essential differences between new and second hand books.
The essay that most spoke to me was “Never Do That To A Book.” I have been known (don’t hate me!) to leave my books open face down to hold my place, or even to dog ear pages. I would refrain from mentioning this on LibraryThing, because that would be sacrilege. I take solace in knowing that Fadiman doesn’t treat her books any better than I do. Fadiman would say that those LTers who might tar and feather me for breaking book spines are ‘courtly lovers’ where the physical book is sacred while she and I are ‘carnal lovers’ to whom the paper is merely a delivery system for the words and ideas the truly compose a book.
If you are a casual reader, you will probably be intimidated by some of what Fadiman says. She is very passionate about books and learning. If you are a voracious reader, you will likely identify with much or all of what she writes about and you should definitely pick this book up.
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June 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I never understood the whole “keep your books looking brand new” concept. A well read book should look somewhat beat up, especially if its a book you’ve read more than once. Its a book, not a museum piece is my theory.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
What, you’re not going to tell everyone about how you used to (do you still?) take you books into your never-ending baths and they would therefore be all rumply and bumpy from water and steam? I liked seeing those books around, it was like they were an extension of you, that you even had to have them while bathing. Is this too private for your blog??…oops.
June 18th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I don’t dog ear the pages, it drives me nuts but I do break my spines. I also remove the dust jackets from hard covers when I read them but not to save them just because they are a pain when reading. Someone just gave me a bag of books that literally looked brand new and when I asked if she had read them already she looked at me in horror as if I won’t take good care of her babies!
I have friends who I borrow books to and get them returned with pages falling out!
June 18th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I leave my books face down all the time - especially if I will back in “just a minute”.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:21 am
I had no idea that it was so bad to leave your books face down…
I float somewhere between carnal and courtly. I tend to be more carnal with paperbacks than with hardcovers.
I’m going to have to get this book. It sounds absolutely wonderful. Thanks for the great review!
June 20th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
After reading all these comments, I am now a bit scared to admit that I am quite “courtly” with how I read my books. I just like pretty things… though I probably beat up paperbacks more than most “courtly” readers (they are quite difficult to keep in pristine condition!). But… I would NEVER dog-ear pages or *gasp* WRITE in books. Sacrilege!
July 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am
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