I've never been accused of being a Jane Austen fan, but I am a huge fan of Jane Austen's Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector's Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend by Rebecca Romney. This is that rare book that has
What a crazy, topsy-turvy year it has been. It's been a fun one in the world of books, and I've enjoyed refining my processes for finding and sharing all the books about books being published each month. I hope you'll sign up for the
We need a month dedicated to the creation, cultivation, and love of libraries in our homes. Let's find time to create our own safe spaces surrounded by the books we love. Just need to find a month to do this... I am proposing May. Every May. What do
This July 4th holiday weekend had me revisiting some books and writing about... books and writings in early America. I wanted to share something that I ran across in a pamphlet from Williamsburg, VA that talks about how prevalent books were at the time of the American Revolution. This slim
I have created a page where I hope to chronicle (and continually update) all of the dates, events and commemorations for book lovers. One of the best things about the bookish community is when we all band together to speak up, protect or celebrate the printed word. While there is
It's a bit of a dreary gray sky start to the week for me. When I need some inspiration and a lift, I often pick up Martin Salisbury's The Illustrated Dust Jacket. This book is a wonderful large size and is chock full of all the
I love programs that get young people interested in collecting books. Some clever folks are hosting fun events these days, like the Honey & Wax Book Collecting Prize aimed at getting young women collecting. I am highlighting one that is taking applications right now. The Taylor C. Kirkpatrick Prize for
I have been avoiding the digital world for the past few weeks to help preserve my sanity. I have been swimming in the analog paper and glue universe that is my home library. It's very calming and grounding. I love it. But I did have to log on
I am picking Adam Smyth's The Book-Makers: A History of the Book in Eighteen Lives as the 2024 Book of the Year. Smyth does a masterful job not only explaining the cultural impact each evolution of the book and book production had, but he elevates the names and
It's been another very full year of great books. Looking back it seems that many of the new titles in the books about books category have a strong theme of the "importance of books" connecting them. I don't know if this is in response
Folks, this is why you stop in random used bookstores whenever you get the chance – Cyberbooks by Ben Bova… for $2!! What a find! I had no idea this book even existed. I absolutely love the cover of this mass paperback that came out in 1990. A quick internet search
Books are not staid things and the upcoming Why Books Still Matter looks to show us why. Books are important and, if done well, can spur us to action. I’m very much looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of this next Rivertowns Books. First, the book
Book Awards
I am picking The Private Library by Reid Byers as the first-ever Books About Books Book of the Year winner. I feel like I should have set up a drumroll or some sort of fanfare… maybe next year… Note: This post may contain affiliate links and is a follow-up post
Book Awards
I love a good end-of-the-year book awards list or “best of” feature. They’re great, but they often have many of the same titles on them. It’s rare to find a site or list that has a truly unique take on books, which is a shame. There are sooooo
Book Stores
James Patterson has a new book coming out on April 8, 2024, titled The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians. It’s one I’m looking forward to reading. There seems to be some competition for the subtitle. I’ve seen it listed as both “Their stories are better than
Book Design
Today was a good mail day as I finally was able to get my hands on a copy of A Book on Books: New Aesthetics in Book Design, and let me just say this book is more than I was hoping for. I had no idea that it was so
Collecting and Collectors
I ran across a neat post over on Travel Between the Pages and just have to share as it’s about Dr. A.S.W. Rosenbach who is well known among folks who collect books about books. I count myself fortunate to have a couple of Rosenbach’s books on
Book Reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed Louise Erdrich’s Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country. This book is as much a memoir as it is a history of the Ojibwe people, books, writing, and nature appreciation. Throughout the whole book, Erdrich looks to answer “Books. Why?” Those two words, with that punctuation, are
Authors
John Dunning, an award-winning author of bibliofiction, rare bookseller, and book collector, has died at the age of 81. His website says, “In 2006, John had a large benign brain tumor which was surgically removed, but it caused the loss of one eye and progressive neurological problems. Sadly he passed
Memoir
Well-known publisher and industry organizer Richard Charkin’s memoir, My Back Pages: an undeniably personal history of publishing 1972-2022, coming out on April 17, 2023. The cover of My Back Pages credits Tom Capmbell with helping write the 174-page book published by the UK publisher Marble Hill Publishers. Marble Hill
Book Culture
There is a New Yorker video making the rounds this week, and it’s terrific. It features quick chats with a cast of characters, each a bonified book expert or rare book dealer, while they discuss their favorite vocabulary and odd words from within the rare book world. It’s
Book Awards
A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexicah Word Painters is a book I ran across after seeing the news that the author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh was named a 2023 Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Book. Not only do the illustrations in this book look fun to flip through,
Publishing
Oak Knoll is the preeminent publisher of books about books. If you’re reading this site, then I am pretty sure you are already familiar with Oak Knoll Press. I have not heard how they were in the early days (starting in the late 19070s), but for the past ten
Book Stores
I was flipping through the most recent issue of BookPage when I ran across an introductory full-page piece by Oliver Darkshire, the author of Once Upon a Tome. The article’s title is “From Antiquarian Bookseller to Author: Oliver Darkshire’s memoir about working at a 262-year-old bookshop has a