Comments on: Books about Books: Mini-Reviews

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sun, 10 May 2015 20:20:05 +0000

In reply to Emma @ Words And Peace. No I haven't it! It's one of those on my TBR list but, well, you know how that goes- when will I have time to go back to all those potentially great books?!

By: Emma @ Words And Peace

Emma @ Words And Peace — Sun, 10 May 2015 04:31:03 +0000

I also like books about books, and Loved The Storied Life… I was going to read The Last Bookaneer, but having read now 3 so-so reviews in 15 mn, I may skip it. I loved Mr Penumbra 24 hour Bookstore, I’m sure you read it too

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 09 May 2015 17:54:41 +0000

In reply to Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf. Monika, you should get it in the original Finnish so you can learn the language prior to relocating there! ;)

By: guiltless reading

guiltless reading — Sat, 09 May 2015 15:21:57 +0000

I’ve read a few and thought about reading more like them but always seem to be off to some new shiny thing 😉 Both covers look inviting! Rabbit Back Literature Society sounds a bit challenging —I’m glad you’re approaching that with a grain of salt bec of potential translation issues!

By: Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf

Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf — Fri, 08 May 2015 19:12:34 +0000

Ohhhh Rabbit Back is a Finnish book?! I want to give it a try even more now!

By: Andi

Andi — Fri, 08 May 2015 13:49:44 +0000

Gosh, these sounded so good! I’m sorry they didn’t work so well for you, and I suspect they wouldn’t be home runs for me either. I was especially interested in Rabbit Back, but I’ve read some Finnish translations and I always have that clunky feeling. I think it must take a very talented translator to have those come off well in English.

By: Ann @ Books on the Table

Ann @ Books on the Table — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:29:52 +0000

Catherine, I’m just like you — I’m always drawn to books about books. In fact, I’ve had a post about that very subject in the works for a while. I tried reading Rabbit Back but it didn’t grab me — and after reading your review, I’m glad I decided to put it down. I’ve never really liked anything by Matthew Pearl so that’s why I didn’t pick that one up. But I do always tend to think if a book is about books it has to be good!

By: tanya (52 books or bust)

tanya (52 books or bust) — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:07:09 +0000

I couldn’t even finish The Last Bookaneer. It just dragged way too much for me. And The Rabbit Back Lit Society has consistently been on my radar and has also consistently received lackluster reviews from people I respect. Part of me thinks that publishers know that a novel to do with books will sell and as a result the quality of them has gone downhill.