OR LAST NIGHT A BOOK SAVED MY BLOG
SOURCE – PERSONNEL COPY
what can I say about Alberto Mauguel ,he is such an iconic figure to my self ,he is a Canadian /Argentina writer ,he publishes mainly non fiction books on reading the art of reading why ,how and what reading means .He was one of the figures that read to the late Jorge Luis Borges .When he lived in Buenos Aires in the german book shop .
The book revolves about what a library is ? it means so many things through time ,howe they came about how they inspired saved and enthralled readers and writers alike .He does all this as he build his huge library in his current home in France a barn contain thirty thousand volumes .I grew up with book my father is a huge reader and has shelves full of escapist fiction which is my fathers taste thrillers ,westerns but a prized collection of turn of the century Dickens in black leather always was loved by me as a youngster .mt gran was same with Trollope Saki etc on her shelves and my grandfathers antique guides and books on all matter of bizarre subjects .As I read through library at night I was gripped with passion like a young boy opening his first Dinky toy .I wish I had posted my quit post and just have read this and all would be well with Winstonsdad I needed inspiration and this was a lifeboat in a sea of doubt in myself .
The library in which I have at long last collected my books began life as a barn sometime in the fifteenth century ,perched on a small hill south of Loire ,here in the last years before the Christian era ,the romans erected a temple to Dionysus to honour the god of this wine-producing area ;twelve centuries later ,a christian church replaced the god of drunken ecstasy with the god who turned his blood to wine .
the opening of The library at night ,howe can you not carry on after that salvo !
So if you wonder who Dewey was of the Dewey decimal system ,or what came before him .Then again what books meant in Auschwitz during the war well dear readers the answers lie with the cover of this wonderful book .I Have read a number of his earlier books and now will get another to put behind emergency glass for when I wobble as this book and Manguel as a writer is a shining beacon on a foggy mind . I know want my own barn or large space for the ever-expanding Winstonsdad collection of books as a book lover I just can’t stop rooting round book sales for my next fix of cover art or feel of leather from an aged volume .
Have you read this book or any of his books ?
Dec 30, 2010 @ 19:40:21
Haven’t read this book but will *have* to now. Sounds like an incredibly well written, inspirational book.
Dec 30, 2010 @ 19:51:26
It is Mar ,all the best stu
Dec 30, 2010 @ 20:09:42
Loved this book. Have you read his History of Reading? If not, do. It is even better than Library at Night.
Dec 31, 2010 @ 06:18:34
No that’s one of his I have to read ,I loved his novel Stevenson under palms that was great ,all the best stu
Dec 31, 2010 @ 01:10:01
Yes, I love this book! It’s one of my favorites. I can’t wait to read more from him.
Dec 31, 2010 @ 06:21:34
I remember your lovely review of this ,all the best stu
Dec 31, 2010 @ 02:07:44
Great review! I’m so happy to have a copy of this myself thanks to my fantastic secret santa 🙂 I can’t wait to read it!
Dec 31, 2010 @ 04:19:08
Stu-I have this book, as well as History of Reading. Why on earth haven’t I read it yet? I have the same obsession you do with covers and editions (even if I already own another copy of a book). I tend to collect multiple copies of books I love (like Madame Bovary). Hope you have a happy, bookish New Year!
Dec 31, 2010 @ 06:23:22
Thanks Lisa hope you enjoy it as much as I did all the best for the coming year ,all the best stu
Dec 31, 2010 @ 08:45:12
I’m hoping to read some of his books soon. Thanks for the review.
Dec 31, 2010 @ 11:16:23
Hope you enjoy them as much as me kinna ,all the best stu
Dec 31, 2010 @ 16:34:50
Oh Stu, what coincidence! I am immensely enjoying this now. I agree with you, it is rather wonderful. Speaks so much of what’s in our hearts eh, us book addicts? I’ve also read Stevenson Under the Palm Trees, and want to read A Reading Diary. Happy new year, Stu!
Dec 31, 2010 @ 16:51:07
I’ve been meaning this one for a while and your review makes me wonder what’s taking me so long 🙂 Definitely a book for 2011.
Happy New Year! 🙂
Jan 01, 2011 @ 19:07:42
hope you get to enjoy it as much as me .all the best stu
Dec 31, 2010 @ 17:05:47
Am waiting for the Library to deliver to me “A Reader on Reading” as after I read about it, it sounded like my kind of thing, if it is I may need to locate this as well.
Best Wishes for the New Year.
Jan 01, 2011 @ 19:07:08
thanks gary ,All best for you too