Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Nonfiction November, Week 3: Books About Books



Nonfiction November moves into to Week 3 with Be The Expert/Ask the Expert/Become the Expert and our host is Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness.

Three ways to join in this week! You can either share 3 or more books on a single topic that you have read and can recommend (be the expert), you can put the call out for good nonfiction on a specific topic that you have been dying to read (ask the expert), or you can create your own list of books on a topic that you’d like to read (become the expert).


My topic is ... Books about Books. Here are some of my favorites, but I'd also really appreciate your recommendations. As far as I'm concerned, you can never  read too many books about books.



84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
"This charming classic love story, first published in 1970, brings together twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, at the time, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road."




In this book, "a former bookseller and sales representative, celebrates the unique experience of the bookstore--the smell and touch of books, getting lost in the deep canyons of shelves, and the silent community of readers.




The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe 
"A profoundly moving testament to the power of love between a child and parent, and the power of reading in our lives."




"A Gen-X librarian's snarky, laugh-out-loud funny, deeply moving collection of love letters and break-up notes to the books in her life."




"This witty collection of essays recounts a lifelong love affair with books and language."



Have you enjoyed any of these? What are your favorite books about books?
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51 comments:

  1. I love all these suggestions!
    The book that explained the inner workings of the writer and much of his writing
    ...was Begley, A. – "Updike"
    Updike used so much of his personal life in his stories...you just have to know where to look!

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    1. Nancy - I'd love to read a biography about John Updike...such a talented writer!

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  2. Such a great list and I haven't read any of them. Fahrenheit 451 is already on my TBR list, and I need to check a couple more of these out. The classic, 84, Charing Cross Road in particular has me very interested.

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    1. Susie - I just read Dear Fahrenheit 451 last week, and enjoyed it so much that I had to include it on the list. It's time for another reread 84, Charing Cross Road... an all-time favorite.

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  3. They all sound good, adding some of them to my list to read. I love the cover of The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop.

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    1. Vicki - The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop was my first book about bookstores. I've been drawn to them ever since!

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  4. Charing Cross Road is a favorite, did you see the movie also? A great performance by Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft. I see you have a few others I would be interested in here. (off to Amazon)

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    1. Tina - Thanks for the reminder... I've never seen the movie. Off to check Netflix!

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  5. I haven't read any of these, but they look so interesting! Will have to check them out!

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    1. Angela - I hope you find one or two that appeal to you :)

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  6. Don’t recall reading a lot books on books, but I have read 84, Charing Cross Road, and Ex Libris is a favorite of mine. Anne Fadiman is a true chip off the old block (Clifton Fadiman). I’m somewhat interested in the Fahrenheit book.

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    1. JudyMac - Dear Fahrenheit 451 has a more snaky, irreverent tone to it... fun for a change.

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  7. Well, I love books about books and have read End of Your Life and Dear Fahrenheit...still need to read 84 Charing Cross Road!

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    1. Sarah - You definitely need a copy of 84, Charing Cross Road!!

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  8. Anna Quindlen's How Reading Changed My Life is one of my favorites - I think in part because we read so many of the same books, growing up.

    The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop sounds wonderful. I'll have to look for that one.

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    1. Lisa - I borrowed Quindlen's book from the library this week and am certain I've read it (and loved it before). Can't imagine why it isn;t on any of my lists.
      I think you'd really enjoy The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop.

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  9. 84, Charing Cross Road is one of my favorite books ever! I would like to read Anne Fadiman too.

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    1. Lory - Helene Hanff's other books are wonderful, too. Think it's time for me to reread them all!

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  10. I have got to read Dear Fahrenheit 451; I've heard so many great things about it!

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    1. Tara - The audio is especially good, too. They chose the perfect narrator!

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  11. I love 84, Charing Cross... What a delightful book. Was not as impressed by the Anne Fadiman book but still glad I read it. Must get Dear Fahrenheit 451!

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    1. Iliana - Dear Fahrenheit 451 was a fun, quick read. Of course my tbr list grew, too.

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  12. I've read all but Dear Fahrenheit 451. As a matter of fact, I just read 84, Charing Crossroad for probably the 4th or 5th time. It was on my re-read nonfiction list (from my Read in 1996 list), so I picked it up the other night and read straight thru until I was finished. Of course, I got choked up toward the end as I always do...

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    1. Les - I'm way past due for a reread of 84, Charing Cross Road. Think I might treat myself to a once hardcover edition for Christmas... such a wonderful book!

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  13. I love so much 84!! And the movie. Perfect.

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    1. Nan - I've never watched the movie... must fix that immediately!!

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  14. I can't believe I have yet to read 84, Charing Cross Road. Really must get to that in the coming months.

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    1. Lisa - You real need to read it... the sooner the better!

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  15. Every time I see a list like this I think I really must read 84 Charing Cross Road next up...

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    1. Brona - Hope you love it, too... such a delightful book.

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  16. I've read & liked the Schwalbe book. And we just watched the movie of 84 Charing Cross Road. Anne Bancroft is quite excellent. I'm trying to come up with another book: perhaps Reading Lolita in Tehran is another good one. Have you read it?

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    1. Susan - My book club discussed Reading Lolita in Tehran quite a few years ago. I remember liking the book and enjoying the discussion, but would be hard pressed to come up with details. One of the chapters was about The Great Gatsby? Guess I should consider a reread;-)

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  17. I hit publish too soon - lol. Not used to blogging and commenting in years! But, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore is a wonderful children's book that is so sweet and amazing. There is also a 15 minute short film on YouTube which is what was first and then they developed the children's book from it. It's so beautiful and I love it. Books about books are my favorite topic, so I am totally bookmarking this post!

    I've watched the movie for 84 Charing Cross Road when I was a kid and I loved it. I always meant to read the book and never got a chance to, or forgot about it, but it's always been on my list to get to!

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    1. Natalie - It's so nice to see you here again! I'm not familiar with The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, but it sounds wonderful... will look for it. Also, can't believe I've never watched the 84, Charing Cross Road movie!! Off to the library this afternoon...

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    2. I'm so glad to return; I will try to be faithful in my consistency! But definitely do check the movie out, it's so beautiful! I still recall it vividly and always meant to get back to it and watch it again!

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  18. I love 84 Charing Cross Road. You have already listed all of the other nonfiction books about books I can think of. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend was a fun one, but that's fiction. Oh, what about Howard's End Is On the Landing? That's supposed to be good, but I haven't read it yet.

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    1. Mybookstrings - I like fictional books about books, too! Readers of the Broken Wheel is on my wish list. I read Howards End is on the Landing several years ago, but didn't like it as much as some others... think she has a new one coming out soon.

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  19. Ahh, Ex Libris. I love that book so much. Great suggestions, thanks for joining us this week!

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    1. Thanks, Kim. I'd like to reread Ex Libris... again.

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  20. I LOVE books about books -- can't get enough of them. Will Schwalbe's most recent book is a must-read, and I also recommend Pamela Paul's My Life With Bob. I've been working on a blog post about this same subject -- need to get going before Nonfiction November is over. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Books on the Table - Great suggestion! I forgot about Will Schwalbe's new book. I did read My Life with Bob over the summer and loved it.

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  21. I was typing my comment but it got lost. Anyway, I was saying, I read the book called "Literacy and Longing in LA" by Jennifer Kaufman a few years ago. A book about books and reading. It's been called "an intellectual chick lick". An interesting read but nothing close to the caliber of your titles here. Just for fun.

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  22. LOL! “Intellectual chick lit” more like it. :)

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    1. Arti - LOL... that is so funny! I didn't even notice the typo until you corrected it!!! Will add the book to my wish list anyway :)

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  23. One of my favorite genres, I think. Thank you for sharing these. Books about books are the gift that keeps on giving.

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  24. I agree! You can't have enough books about books :)

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    1. Doing Dewey - No such thing as too many books about books, right? ;-)

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