- Hardcover: 208 pages
- Publisher: Yale University Press (Nov 29 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0300170920
- ISBN-13: 978-0300170924
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 14.2 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 558 g
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#158,580 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #22 in Books > Home & Garden > Antiques & Collectibles > Books
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
“In its beautiful design, Unpacking My Library is itself an argument for the continuing vitality of physical books and the libraries that contain them.”—The Boston Globe
(The Boston Globe )"Filled with juicy details about how writers read, collect, and live with their books.”—Jean Temarin, The Chronicle of Higher Education
(Jean Temarin The Chronicle of Higher Education )Winner of the 2012 New York Book Show Award in General Trade Jacket, as given by the New York Book Show.
(New York Book Show )"[M]any of the observations may help disorganized book nuts bring some shape to the mishmash of books we call our own libraries."—Alan Bisbort, The Sunday Republican
(Alan Bisbort The Sunday Republican )“Unpacking My Library is a wild, wide world of authors and their books. Maul it savagely or gently caress it.”—Fine Books & Collections
(Fine Books & Collections )"There are many expensive coffee table books about books and libraries, but for a relatively modest cost, Price's volume offers a gorgeous set of pictures . . . [a] lovely book."—Harvey Freedenberg, Harrisburg Magazine
(Harvey Freedenberg Harrisburg Magazine )
Book Description
As words and stories are increasingly disseminated through digital means, the significance of the book as object—whether pristine collectible or battered relic—is growing as well. Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books spotlights the personal libraries of thirteen favorite novelists who share their collections with readers. Stunning photographs provide full views of the libraries and close-ups of individual volumes: first editions, worn textbooks, pristine hardcovers, and childhood companions.
In her introduction, Leah Price muses on the history and future of the bookshelf, asking what books can tell us about their owners and what readers can tell us about their collections. Supplementing the photographs are Price's interviews with each author, which probe the relation of writing to reading, collecting, and arranging books. Each writer provides a list of top ten favorite titles, offering unique personal histories along with suggestions for every bibliophile.
Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books features the personal libraries of Alison Bechdel, Stephen Carter, Junot Díaz, Rebecca Goldstein and Steven Pinker, Lev Grossman and Sophie Gee, Jonathan Lethem, Claire Messud and James Wood, Philip Pullman, Gary Shteyngart, and Edmund White.
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Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A BOOK ON PERSONAL LIBRARIES THAT IS A TREAT TO LOOK AT AND READ, Jan 19 2012
By ireadabookaday - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books (Hardcover)
I am a big fan of books about books, living with books, really anything book related, and found this to be a beautifully designed and interesting look at personal book collections.I was not aware of the dimensions of the book before reading it. I assumed it would be a bigger coffee table type book, but is is surprisingly compact.
Each author's personal library is photographed- though not necessarily in its entirety- folowed by closeups of selected shelves so you get an idea of the space
(you may develop bookcase envy), quantity, and organizational scheme . The author selects 10 books to feature, which are photographed separately. The photographs are accompanied by fairly brief but compelling interviews.
It is a small disappointment that the complete collections weren't photographed . ( What was omitted is addressed in a few of the interviews). I'd like have seen an estimate of the number of volumes in each collection.
This is an interesting and timely book given that physical book collections are probably beginning a decline, even among book lovers. Add this one to your physical collection today.
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful look into personal libraries, Nov 26 2011
By Kari Sullivan - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books (Hardcover)
A great little book for anyone who still loves to treasure hunt in used bookstores. If you have an emotional relationship with your paper books that your friends don't understand, then you'll find kindred spirits in the interviewees.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
aesthetically pleasing, Feb 18 2012
By Jani McCord - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Unpacking My Library: Writers and Their Books (Hardcover)
If you find yourself checking out all the titles of the books on the shelves of your friends and family, this book is for you. The interviews provide a window into some contemporary writers' thoughts. It reminds me of an issue of Dwell magazine.
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