Imprinted Life discussion

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman is so far extremely witty and informative. More then a memoir, it informs the reader of her opinions, which one may agree or disagree. In it, she talks about her family of readers and writers, her favorite authors and subjects, her friends. All she recounts boils down to the love of reading and rereading and her life with books and writing. In these essays are anecdotes about lessons learned, books inscribed, books handed down, books read on location, grammar for the feminist, authors ancient and modern...

Upon my having now read Ex Libris, I think the best essays, in terms of capturing my intense interest and bringing out real laughs, are at the end--'Sharing the Mayhem', 'The P.M.'s Empire of Books', and 'Secondhand Prose'. Overall, the content and tone reward a reader with a friendly, even intimate, visit with the Fadimans: how they arrange their books, the cute stories about children's first experiences with books, the family's passion for proofreading everything in their lives, the comparative virtues of quills and processors, food and literature, authors' cribbing material from other writers, reading-aloud, and second-hand books.

Asmah, I have a copy of this book and absolutely loved reading it. Fadiman's insights are great, and as you said, the stories about her parents and her childhood growing up amongst books, books and more books are really engaging. This book is a keeper; I'm not going to sell it because I want to be able to re-read it whenever I wish to do son. I'm glad to read that you're enjoying it so much!!

Ellen wrote: "Asmah, I have a copy of this book and absolutely loved reading it. Fadiman's insights are great, and as you said, the stories about her parents and her childhood growing up amongst books, books and..."

Ellen, I'm glad that you enjoyed Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader. Fadiman's subsequent essays At Large and At Small: Familiar Essays is considered by many to be excellent, too.

Asmah wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Asmah, I have a copy of this book and absolutely loved reading it. Fadiman's insights are great, and as you said, the stories about her parents and her childhood growing up amongst bo..."

Thanks, Asmah! That one's on my to-read list along with another book by Fadiman. I can't remember the name of the other one, though. She's really got a great style, doesn't she?

Ellen wrote: "That one's on my to-read list along with another book by Fadiman. I can't remember the name of the other one, though. She's really got a great style, doesn't she?
..."

I think so, too, Ellen.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is probably the one. She also edited an anthology The Best American Essays 2003.

Asmah wrote: "Ellen wrote: "That one's on my to-read list along with another book by Fadiman. I can't remember the name of the other one, though. She's really got a great style, doesn't she?
..."

I think so, t..."

Yes, that's the book, Asmah. I'm planning on finding that one at the library when I finish plowing through all the group reads I'm trying to finish. ;o) Thanks so much!