I have a half -dozen or so books about books. One of the interesting things about these books is how they organize the contents. By era, by country, by subject matter, etc. Nancy Pearl, an American librarian, best-selling author, literary critic and the former Executive Director of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library, organizes her selections by topic mostly. The book was published in 2003 so all of her selections predate 21st century publications. And some of the topics would probably not turn up now-like Iris Murdoch, Richard Power and Ward Just having their own entries as too good to miss. Also some of the entries are too short to be of much interest or too arcane. But on the whole it is fun to see what books she included and what books aren't on any list. She has followed the initial book with two more at least.
What is your favorite book about books?
16 comments:
Probably the single most influential on me has been Damon Knight's IN SEARCH OF WONDER (though Les Daniels's study of horror fiction and other narrative art LIVING IN FEAR was close--the first I read), and it remains a favorite--the first collection of reviews of (almost exclusively) horror, fantasy, (primarily) sf and some other fiction and nonfiction that was first published in fiction magazines, and the first nonfiction book to win the Hugo Award. Such similar collections of review essays as Algis Burdys's BENCHMARKS and its eventual sequels, Joanna Russ's TO WRITE LIKE A WOMAN and THE COUNTRY YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN among others, Vivian Gornick's THE MEN IN MY LIFE and THE SITUATION AND THE STORY among others (I need her two new ones), James Blish's critical volumes, Guy Davenport's, Ed Gorman's, Barry Malzberg's, Charles Platt's, and the many devoted to 100 Best Books in various fields.
Oh, this sounds great, Patti! There is something about being a book lover, isn't there?
I have all of Nancy Pearl's books and enjoyed reading all of them. Of course, her books led me to lists of books I had to buy!
My favorite book on books right now is Christopher Fowler's THE BOOK OF FORGOTTEN AUTHORS which included plenty of crime and mystery writers I wasn't familiar with. And, of course, I'm busy hunting down more books after reading THE BOOK OF FORGOTTEN AUTHORS!
That's a good question, Patti. I have read this and several of Pearl's other books and generally enjoyed them. Like George, I am enjoying THE BOOK OF FORGOTTEN AUTHORS. But if I had to think of one book that affected me most when I read it and for years afterwards, the one that immediately comes to mind is Jacquees Barzun & Wendell Hertig Taylor's A CATALOGUE OF CRIME. I went through it author by author,, and even though I often disagreed with them, I did use the book as a guide to many obscure and forgotten mystery writers. The first edition was published in 1971. I have the revised and expanded edition from 1989, and I can't believe that I just now discovered it was inscribed by Barzun, who died in 2012 at age 104.
There are other things I've loved and used over the years, but specifically books about books, this would be #1. (I used to love Leonard Maltin's MOVIES ON TV books.) The various editions of Allen J. Hubin's CRIME FICTION Bibliography was also perfect for me.
I remember buying Maitlin's book every year. Gotta look for The Book of Forgotten Authors!
CHeck the library. Ours had it.
Jeff--you conflate (not that it isn't easy to do!) the Maltin (eventually) annual TV MOVIES with its predecessor and for decades competitor, Steven Scheuer's MOVIES ON TV...Scheuer managed to see 17 editions of his books published between 1958 and 1993...Maltin's started in 1969, and the titles eventually became LEONARD MALTIN'S...I started reading both in the '70s...
Churlish of me to leave out Borges's metafictional considerations of literature, real and posited.
Matlin now has a podcast with his daughter called Maltin at the Movies. Not one of the better ones due to allowing his daughter to take the lead.
Me too on reading both.
The Leonard Maltin Game, originally played by comedians on road trips (with long communal commutes from gig city to gig city) with a copy of the Maltin book and hours to kill became the basis of the film-related quiz/comedy podcast DOUG LOVES MOVIES, hosted by Doug Benson, and occasionally with Maltin and Younger Maltin, together and severally, as guests...Leonard notes that he is not one of the better players of the Leonard Maltin Game.
http://douglovesmovies.com/
And to actually hear episodes, try this link: https://art19.com/shows/dlm
I have read BOOK LUST, MORE BOOK LUST and BOOK LUST TO GO, and I have read each of them 2 or 3 times. That is what I like best about all of them is that they are rereadable, and each time I pick up more because my tastes have changed.
I don't know that I could pick a favorite book about books, but if I was forced I would choose either ENCYCLOPEDIA MYSTERIOSA by William L. DeAndrea or 1001 MIDNIGHTS by Pronzini and Muller.
Thanks, Todd.
Book lovers are always interested in new recs and will buy these books endlessly. I still look through Murder Ink and Murderess Ink all the time.
I've been lazily reading 1001 MIDNIGHTS as Steve Lewis reprints from it, but I really should pick up a copy...
You're quite welcome, Patti, and thanks to everyone for the citations and for raising the topic, Patti...
Post a Comment