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ladytiara's review against another edition
5.0
Very funny and thoughtful, and my to read list just got a lot longer.
laila4343's review against another edition
5.0
This is a massive collection of Nick Hornby's columns about books and reading in a magazine called The Believer. It's fantastic, hilarious, smart, humane. Hornby and I share a taste for literary fiction, and an unwavering belief in the genius of Anne Tyler and Jess Walter, but he reads much more non-fiction and biography than I do. Even so, reading about his experiences with books, what he buys and what he reads, hits that sweet spot I have for books about books. Book Nerds Unite!
(Note: you can also read these columns in smaller chunks, as he's published them in four separate books. The first is this one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4260.The_Polysyllabic_Spree.
(Note: you can also read these columns in smaller chunks, as he's published them in four separate books. The first is this one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4260.The_Polysyllabic_Spree.
tracyramone's review against another edition
5.0
I love these columns so much. I tried really hard to keep up with them and it was really great to be able to re-read some of my favorites and read the ones I missed so I'm really glad they put them into a collection.
k80bowman's review against another edition
5.0
I took my time with this one, but everytime Isat down to read an essay or maybe two, it was amazing how I ended up being sucked in for at least five. His writing is just so casual and engaging and fun, the essays were all a pleasure to read. You wouldn't think that a book of columns about one man's reading habits could be so enjoyable and deserving of five stars, but this was.
lizwisniewski's review against another edition
5.0
I loved reading about Hornby's reading life, it resonated with me. My favorite book of the year. Reading it after a hard day at work is almost as good as a martini.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
“I see now that dismissing YA books because you're not a young adult is a little bit like refusing to watch thrillers on the ground that you're not a policeman or a dangerous criminal...The world suddenly seems a larger place.”
This book has been on my TBR since 2014. It was published in 2013. I would say that the wait was worth it, but not really. This was an interesting book and I wish I had encountered Hornby’s system of books bought and books read earlier. However, there are always so many books to read and waiting five years isn’t all that long in reality.
I almost always find books about books fascinating. Why do certain books appeal to certain people? What part of a story appeals to what kind of reader? When someone is given the opportunity to write reviews do, they write about fiction? Non-fiction? Once again, I am glad that I choose to read about why people read.
Hornby chooses to read a lot of books about writing and creativity. His takes on why and how people are inspired were intriguing. Hornby is a good writer – I was interested to see his desire to improve his abilities. He doesn’t rest on his laurels.
My favorite part of this book was Hornby’s take on the editors of The Believer Magazine. I never read that periodical, but he made me regret that fact. I hope that most of the magazine’s readers found Hornby’s comments about it as funny as I did.
I recommend this to readers, especially others who read across many genres. If I had all the time in the world I would have found many books in this book to add to my TBR.
This book has been on my TBR since 2014. It was published in 2013. I would say that the wait was worth it, but not really. This was an interesting book and I wish I had encountered Hornby’s system of books bought and books read earlier. However, there are always so many books to read and waiting five years isn’t all that long in reality.
I almost always find books about books fascinating. Why do certain books appeal to certain people? What part of a story appeals to what kind of reader? When someone is given the opportunity to write reviews do, they write about fiction? Non-fiction? Once again, I am glad that I choose to read about why people read.
Hornby chooses to read a lot of books about writing and creativity. His takes on why and how people are inspired were intriguing. Hornby is a good writer – I was interested to see his desire to improve his abilities. He doesn’t rest on his laurels.
My favorite part of this book was Hornby’s take on the editors of The Believer Magazine. I never read that periodical, but he made me regret that fact. I hope that most of the magazine’s readers found Hornby’s comments about it as funny as I did.
I recommend this to readers, especially others who read across many genres. If I had all the time in the world I would have found many books in this book to add to my TBR.
matthewwester's review against another edition
5.0
Like many fellow reviewers, I had read most of these columns in other collections before. Didn't matter. I gladly read every column over again, re-experiencing the brilliance of Hornby as he shares the ups and downs of his reading efforts. These columns are hilarious, touching, and yes, they at some point also review the books of that month.
In every column Hornby lists the books he bought, the books he read, and then gives his thoughts on that month's line-up. It's like reading a conversation he might have with a good friend; the columns are conversational, self-deprecating, and even though The Believer only wants positive reviews, Hornby manages to sneak in what he actually thinks.
If you're a fan of Nick Hornby's work then this book is a must-read.
In every column Hornby lists the books he bought, the books he read, and then gives his thoughts on that month's line-up. It's like reading a conversation he might have with a good friend; the columns are conversational, self-deprecating, and even though The Believer only wants positive reviews, Hornby manages to sneak in what he actually thinks.
If you're a fan of Nick Hornby's work then this book is a must-read.
jenmcmaynes's review against another edition
4.0
Ten years of Hornby's column "Stuff I've Been Reading" in the Believer. While I don't have similar taste in literature to him, I love his enthusiasm and passion for the novel and art in general. I also just enjoy his conversational writing style, and often smiled at a turn of a phrase. So while I only added a few of the books he read to my own reading list, I still thoroughly enjoyed the columns. Recommended for bibliophiles everywhere. :)
mayelly's review against another edition
4.0
I am certain that many a reader was able to finish this book relatively quickly, sadly I cannot say I was one of them. Despite my multi-year slog through it, Hornby's collection of monthly takes on the books he had bought and read were often interesting and sometimes funny, which made for a great read. And while the idea of the importance of books and reading was (is) very much at the forefront of this monthly exploration, the notion that every book that makes its way to one's bookshelves translates to a book read (despite original intentions), was thankfully dispelled. It was this quiet, singular transparent point that (1) resonated most with me and (2) ironically made me see this compendium to the end.