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So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading
So Many Books So Little Time A Year of Passionate Reading
Author: Sara Nelson
Sometimes subtle, sometimes striking, the interplay between our lives and our books is the subject of this unique memoir by well-known publishing correspondent and self-described "readaholic" Sara Nelson. From Solzhenitsyn to Laura Zigman, Catherine M. to Captain Underpants, the result is a personal chronicle of insight, wit, and enough infectio...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780425198193
ISBN-10: 0425198197
Publication Date: 10/5/2004
Pages: 256
Rating:
  • Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
 52

3.3 stars, based on 52 ratings
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

obsidianfire avatar reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on + 133 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11
Amazing, funny book that everyone who reads should read. How can any reader not love a book about reading and books! I was going to keep it and try to tackle all the books she reads in her year of writing this, but to be honest, while I love her writing, her reading tastes bore me. There was only one she read that I have already read and loved which was "Kitchen Confidential". The only other book she mentioned that I have read, she didn't read. Which is "Confederacy of Dunces". So while I'm not keen on her tastes in reading material, her writing about them and her experiences along the way is out of this world good!
reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
This is such a great book! People either love it or hate it. Here's the thing: if you're looking for just a list of good books to read and nothing more, put this book down and pick up Nancy Pearl's Book Lust. If you don't mind something more, then you've found the right book. Sara Nelson decided that she was going to spend one year reading a book a week from a list that she made. Instead she learned that you can't pick your books, books pick you. So instead of reading the books that she was "suppose" to, she feel in and out of love with books that fit her mood. She shows how for alot of readers (including myself,) that you read what fits your mood. Sara Nelson shows a very honest portrayal of her reading habits, such as: loving a writer's first novel and hating the next, not reading classics, refusing to read anything on any bestseller's list or reading anything that is overhyped, being careful what you recommend to someone to read, and also learning how to put a book down if it doesn't speak to you instead of trudging through it. "So many books, so little time" is a great book and highly recommended. You'll walk around everywhere with it until you're finished.
reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on + 377 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
I had a hard time getting through this. I could only read one or two chapters at a time and then needed to take a break. I think the book was way overhyped...the author's goal was to journal her reading experiences for a year, but it ended up being a pretentious name-dropping fest "oh i know this author" or "oh i know the actor who was in the movie made from this book" yada yada yada. I did find a few good books to read among her choices, though.
julie avatar reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on + 28 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
I think this is one of those books that you either like it or you don't. I happened to love it. She was insightful as to how readers often act and feel toward their books. I love how she called her books " my books are my secret lovers, the friends I run to to get away from the daily drudgeries of life, to try out something new and yes, to get away, for a few hours, from him (her husband). He doesn't need to know that my books are the affairs I do not have." I don't know about other readers, but I found this to be sooooo true in my life. LOL
DesertShaman avatar reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on + 203 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
The author comes across as hypocritical and whiny in my opinion. She is constantly contradicting her choice of weekly read and the way she chooses it. She also really gives me too much information into her bi-ethnic jewish-japanese household and its problems. I really am not interested in her life, I just wanted to know what she was reading.... and I'm not really interested in that anymore either.
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reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on
Most bibliophiles will relate to Sara Nelson's humor. That alone makes this an enjoyable read. The only reason for a three star rating is that all readers' tastes are different and thus her suggestions are hit and miss. Like others, I had intended to hold onto this book, but simply have too many books and too little time.
janete avatar reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on + 22 more book reviews
Do not read if you are looking for a read-alike to David Denbys Great Books or Harold Blooms How to Read and Why. Do read if you are a kindred spirit of Sara Nelson, self-described bookaholic, whose memoir details her plan to read a book a week and to write about that experience. These year-long challenges that turn into books seem to be a genre in themselves: think Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle a Year of Food Life. But thats OK, its fun to meet One of Us, even though my reading universe rarely intersects with Saras. But her often funny ruminations as to why she reads for fun, for intellectual stimulation, for emotional intensity, as consolation for lifes disappointments are all spot on. Read this book and then give it to a fellow book freak.
reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on + 5 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book and found a lot to relate to, since I too am a book crazy wife with a non-reading hubby. I've read a lot of the books she talked about here in her reading year so that also added interest. Basically though this is a collection of essays or journal responses to the books she reads throughout the year. A fun and easy read that expanded my ever-lengthening booklist, I took notes while reading it to remember things she mentioned that I too want to check out. I actually got something recommended to me by this book from the library today!
Bookfanatic avatar reviewed So Many Books, So Little Time : A Year of Passionate Reading on
I had high hopes for this book for I'm a passionate reader. I love books. I know I'm preaching to the choir because why would you be at Paperbackswap if you didn't love books too. I expected more. The best thing I can say is the author has a breezy, easy to read style of writing. The negatives - This book didn't have anything new or interesting. It was a series of essays. I tried to get through it, but I couldn't bring myself to finish this book. It just didn't catch my interest. And as the title says "so many books so little time", I decided to give this away so that I can concentrate on other books.


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