Ex Libris

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

On the library stacks: Adult Non-fiction
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This book is a collection of 18 essays written by Anne Fadiman for Civilization magazine. While she claims she is a "common reader," I definitely take issue with that assessment. I read more than the average bear, but Fadiman takes reading to a whole new level.

The book started out strong and I loved her essay on how she and her husband merged their libraries after years of marriage (ours still isn't--we each have our own shelves). The middle dragged a little but it finished strong. Standouts for me were the essays on plagiarism and proofreading.

This is a great little book to read in snatches here and there. I did find Fadiman's tone a little pretentious at times, but her prose is fantastic and her knowledge is inspiring.

Also reviewed by: The Book Nest ~ It's All About Books
Source: Library