Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread

The author’s use of every aspect of the English language, her exceptional vocabulary, and her ability to so graphically describe or explain her point, make this an instructive and enjoyable read. The topic – of summarizing the best of books also makes it worth reading. The summaries are a bit shorter than needed to move the read into the really good category, but another flaw in the writing which also keeps it in the 3 star range is the author’s continuing exhibition of Trump Dersngement Syndrome. She sees Trump’s shortcomings in so many books, some written decades ago, and describes them with generalities that advertise her Syndrome. Should have left these political views out.

This may be the first time this has ever happened to me, but Ive finally read a book about books that really disappoints me.

The primary reasons I read books like this is to discover books I dont know, for encouragement to read books I havent read, and to have a conversation about books I have. Over the course of her brief discussions of 100 books (about 1 2 pages for each book), Ms. Kakutani has not left me with any desire to read the books she recommends. Additionally, I find what she has to say about books I know cursory and uninteresting.

She has also succumbed to a problem to often apparent in books written in the past 4 years: the need to talk about Donald Trump. It is problematic enough how often she interprets book themes in terms of what it tells us about Trump, but I started to wonder how many of her selections were made in an effort to satisfy her need to talk about him. Yes, great books do have the ability to comment on our lives today; however, they are so much more. Ms. Kakutani has allowed herself to be corralled into writing a book for this time as opposed to a book for all time.

I dont think Im constitutionally capable of passing up a book about books. It is rare, however, for me to finish one without having found inspiration and recommendations for new books to try. Unfortunately, this is one of those rare instances. Its too bad.

This is not the same as Anne Fadimans book with the same title, written about 20 years ago. Fadiman is a long memoir of the books she read and how and why they gave her pleasure. Kakutanis book is a collection of book reviews. But this is not to say it is inferior or less pleasurable to read than Fadimans. On the contrary, it is different and yet as pleasurable. No doubt, there are many books with the title or subtitle, 100 Books You Must read, but few can match Kakutani for the vibrancy and warmth with which he describes each book and its author.

Furthermore, rather than focussing on classics only, Kakutani includes modern books by writers such as Don DeLillo and Junot Diaz, lesser known writers like Edwidge Danticat. He also includes non-fiction books such as Edward Luces The Retreat of Western Liberalism.

He also has chapters in which the main subject is the subject for example, he has four books on Muhammad Ali. Sometimes he has a collection of books by a single author. For example, he has four books by Joseph J Ellis.

But above all, Kakutani has a style that keeps the reader reading to the end. Writing about books by Bruce Chatwin, Kakutani begins with this paragraph: Writers of books, Bruce Chatwin observed in a posthumously published essay, fall into two categories: the ones who dig in and the ones who move. Among members of the first category, he counted Flaubert and Tolstoy labouring in their libraries; Zola with a suit of armour alongside his desk; Poe in his cottage; Proust in a cork-lined room. Among the movers he named Melville, who was undone by his gentlemanly establishment in Massachusetts, or Hemingway, Gogol or Dostoevsky whose lives, whether from choice or necessity, were a headlong round of hotels and rented rooms and, in the case of the last, a Siberian prison.

This hardcover edition is printed on exquisite paper and is a joy to hold, and even more to read. Part of that joy is to find what Kakutani has to say about the books in this collection that we have ourselves read, and part of the joy is in chasing the others that he entices us to find.

So disappointed in the book’s printing. The pages are thick and, of course, the book smells awful. This is a book for book lovers and bibliophiles. We love the way a book is constructed. How it feels when it’s held. The enjoyment is more than the read. It’s in the experience with the book. This one should have been printed in North America. A real shame.

Ms Kakutani’s reviews are similar to the reviews/reminders I do on Goodreads, only mine are for personal consumption. Needless to say, the similarities end there–it’s impossible to match her easy eloquence and literary mileage.

Think of this as a mixed bag of candies. With a few chewy caramels, which appealed to me but left me wanting more, some minty ones which I merely tolerated, and some surprise flavors, which I intend to pursue further. Having said that, this is one of the most attractive, eye-catching books on my shelfliteral eye candy.

I also couldn’t help noticing how intentionally well-represented and politically correct her reading list was though. I think the best part was her introduction, with the all-too familiar impulses and manias of the passionate reader.

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