Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I LOVE THIS BOOK!..., 12 Feb 2005
When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued by its premise, as I never go anywhere without at least one or two books in my bag and am a confirmed book lover and avid reader. If I go on vacation, I pack a bag just for the dozen or so books that I simply must take along with me. I am most comfortable when I am surrounded by books. In fact, I look forward to retirement, so that I will have more time to read. I simply love to read! I cannot imagine a world without books and, quite frankly, I have never understood people who say that they do not care to read. So, this book seemed to be right up my alley. Well, the author does not disappoint, as she takes the reader along with her on her very personal journey. Her goal, not an overly ambitious one, is a book a week for fifty-two weeks. She does not necessarily stick to her list of books, and she meanders along, changing course in mid-stream sometimes, as many of us so often do. Yet, she always keeps up an entertaining discourse on the book that she is reading or has read, remarking upon its place in her world. She interweaves snippets of her personal life with her thoughts on those books that she reads. She talks about authors and the impact that some of their work has had on her, as well as her reading likes and dislikes. The author writes in a light and breezy conversational tone, so that, at times, it almost seems as if one old friend were talking to another about some books she had enjoyed. I was delighted to discover that we liked many of the same books for many of the same reasons. Within the pages of this book, I also happily discovered some new titles that piqued my interest. Moreover, the author, knowing how insatiable some book lovers are, even appends three lists at the end of her book, which lists consist of books she had planned to read during that year of reading, books she actually did read but did not discuss in her book, and books in her must read pile. What book lover is not familiar with that ubiquitous must read pile of books! Anyway, I did enjoy perusing through her lists, looking for books of interest. This book is a light-hearted sojourn into the world of reading and books that is meant to be a sharing of a wonderful passion. It is a funny and charming work of non-fiction. I thank the author for sharing her thoughts and insights, as I very much enjoyed reading them. It is, as always, a pleasure to come across such an enthusiastic fellow book lover.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Member of the Clean Plate club, 9 Feb 2007
One of the recommendations that the author makes in this book is that you should give up on a book if you are not enjoying it rather than plough doggedly to the end - unfortunately that was something I did with this book.
I was looking forward to reading this as it was written by an avid reader (which I would describe myself as) about her reading experiences over a year. Various of the situations she found herself in were familiar - always carrying books in handbags, just in case, as an example - but I didn't find myself attracted to the books she was reading.
The problem may have been that the author is American and the majority of the books she read were American. I have read some US authors but not many and would not describe myself as familiar with US literature.
Disappointing but I liked the format and if I find a UK equivalent, I will certainly read.
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29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Trying To Control My Reading Life, 10 Dec 2003
Sara Nelson starts this book discussing the fact that she took a year to chronicle her reading habits and started with the wrong book- it didn't fit the time and the place. I started reading this book and didn't like it- "oh, it's just fluff, I thought, nothing substantial". How wrong I was. Once I realized that like Sara Nelson, I too have a "bifurcated reading brain" I love to read "junk" and I love to read "literature", we were one, she was my friend.
Sara Nelson began her reading life at a young age as did I, and she was initiated by her mother, as was I. "Marjorie Morningstar" was one of the first books she read that she could identify with. She was Marjorie- young and Jewish. She moved on to Nora Ephron's "Heartburn". Because Sara is an editor,reporter and reviewer (she does review books on Amazon and reads Amazon reviews before she buys a book), "Heartburn" depicted a world Sara and her friends knew and recognized. She realized that books open your life.
Sara Nelson organizes the books she reads during this year according to the events of her life. When she and her husband, Leo have a fierce quarrel,she goes into her study and finds a beloved book, a friend, and immerses her grief into the book. By the time she is finished with the book, she is ready to quietly discuss the quarrel with Leo and put their lives back into place.
Sara has won and lost friends according to their likes and dislikes of books. If they cannot see that a certain book has no useful purpose, well, what could she possibly have in common with them. One ex-boyfriend whom she happend to meet years later was taken aghast when the first thing Sara says upon meeting is "Where is my book?" He sheepishly sent the same dog eared book to her a few days later.
Sara's year has many twists and turns and each turn is planned with at least two books in mind. What Sara discovers is that the books she has in mind are not what she ends up reading or as the old saying goes "Even if you know what you are doing, you don't" One of Sara's favorite authors is Calvin Trillin. It is right after reading a book on the fashion business that Sara realizes that Trillin's book "Floaters" depicted that world of magazines and publishing better than any other novel she has read. She happens to meet Calvin at a book signing and mentions how much she likes his books, especially "Floaters", and he looks at her strangely- it appears that not many others appreciated that book not even his editors. Discussing the authors that you love and stick with and will even read their not so great novels is part of our life. Sara loved "The Crimson and the Petal" by Faber so much she hoarded the pages- reading a little here and saving it for later- a novel you don't want to end. I understand- that is like my reading life.
Sara Nelson's book meant so much more to me at this time of my life, because I am involved with a group of people who read books and review them and then discuss them. We have all shared our great love of books, and the fact that we are spending so much time discussing books and other things that we don't have any time to read books. That is what Sara found, a year of reading was luxurious and wonderful, but she missed some of life, she missed the theatre, museums,her friends, her family. We will never leave our books forever, but we should take some small time way to get back into the life we want to lead.
One important lesson- never leave the house without a book, preferably a smaller book without a cover so that you can stuff it into whatever you are carrying. You have to have a book for those times when there is nothing to do- waiting in the dentist office, riding in a car, we need, we yearn to read- we cannot be without a book, NEVER! prisrob
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