Play Book Tag discussion

Does anyone else really like books about books (I'm referring to novels or bios more than academic books.) Or libraries? I remember how much I liked the beginning of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when Francie goes to the library and vows to read one book a day. I thought about it when I revised my review for A.J. Fikry's Storied Life. I highlighted the notes he left to his daughter with recommended book. (If anyone is interested I'll open up my kindle highlights.)

I think I tagged it with book-about-books, but it seems to me there might be many more tags. It would be cool to find a tag that is popular enough to make our list.

Suggestions?

I too enjoy stories that have books as themes. I recently finished reading A.J. Fikry's Storied Life and thought it was charming. Another book that captivated me was "My Reading Life" by Pat Conroy. He wrote about the books that influenced him and changed his life. As readers, this topic (books about books), could be a tag that we all can relate to.

Funny you should mention this. I am just finishing up The Friend. The POV comes from a writer and she references a dozen or more books and writers through out the story, and I thought, wow, I really like this-it really made me think hard on some of the quotes and thoughts-More on that when I review in a day or two

Joanne wrote: "Funny you should mention this. I am just finishing up The Friend. The POV comes from a writer and she references a dozen or more books and writers through out the story, and I thou..."

The Friend definitely fits that description.

I love books about books. I have several that I can list....I will return later to do so.

I adore books about or featuring books, reading, libraries, bookstores, collecting...

I have a shelf called 'books librairies bookstores' where I shelve these.

The tag I use is "books-about-books" - plural bookS for both words.

I love these kinds of novels (and nonfiction). Always have me adding to my tbr.

I liked 84, Charing Cross Road and I've got The Diary of a Bookseller on my wishlist but I'm struggling with The Eyre Affair at the moment so I'm not sure!

I love books about books- nothing relates more to a reader than reading.

Some ones that come to mind quickly
-84, Charing Cross Road, as Shaz mentioned a PBT favorite
-The Book Thief
-The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
-Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

Here's a GR List of books about books

One of my favorite books about books is The Investigation. It is a mystery but so much more. It has much to say about literacy and literature.

Last month I read North of Dawn by Nuruddin Farah about a Somali couple who live in Norway. The man is a retired diplomat who is translating Giants in the Earth and he is constantly thinking about how the Norwegians in Dakota are similar to Somalis in Norway. I was impressed by this book and it did make me want to read Giants in the Earth again. I read it in high school and I think much of it flew over my head.

Joi wrote: "I love books about books- nothing relates more to a reader than reading.

Joi-The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend looks good-then I saw "translated"....I am supposing the translation was ok though, since you put here..??..😉

The Shadow of the Wind is an all-time favourite of mine - I just have to read the rest of the series now

I loved An Unnecessary Woman. The main character is a book translator, and it mentions so many books.

Joanne wrote: "Funny you should mention this. I am just finishing up The Friend. The POV comes from a writer and she references a dozen or more books and writers through out the story, and I thou..."

It sounds good. Plus it has a dog, so that's a bonus.

Tracy wrote: "I loved An Unnecessary Woman. The main character is a book translator, and it mentions so many books."

It sounds intense. I think I need to read it. Thanks!

KateNZ wrote: "The Shadow of the Wind is an all-time favourite of mine - I just have to read the rest of the series now"

It's funny that I never heard of this book at all until maybe 6 months ago, and now I see it everywhere. It's on my list.

ShazM wrote: "I liked 84, Charing Cross Road and I've got The Diary of a Bookseller on my wishlist but I'm struggling with The Eyre Affair at the moment so I'm not sure!"

84 Charing Cross road - I loved the movie. It was wonderful. I think I read it first but I can't be sure. I'm picturing Anne Bancroft I look forward to your review of the Eyre Affair.

Joi wrote: "I love books about books- nothing relates more to a reader than reading.

Some ones that come to mind quickly
-84, Charing Cross Road, as Shaz mentioned a PBT favorite
-[book:The Book..."

Thanks everyone! I added them all to my TBR. It's a good think GR doesn't put a limit on the size of your TBR, or I'd have to avoid PBT (as if). OK I'm using Books-about-books as a tag. Let's all use it and maybe it will get popular enough to make our monthly tag!

I feel very guilty sometimes that I starting buying from Amazon way back when, contributing to the demise of many brick and mortar book stores.

Holly R W wrote: "I too enjoy stories that have books as themes. I recently finished reading A.J. Fikry's Storied Life and thought it was charming. Another book that captivated me was "My Reading Life" by Pat Conroy..."

I had this on my list as a reference. It's good to know it's fun to read too.

Kate, I loved Shadow of the Wind so much, It’s in my top three recommends for life! I’m now starting the series at the beginning. Having just read the rose a fire and moving onto my second read of the Angels game. That’s my series and author challenge for the year. To read the whole series in order, and anything else this guy has written that I haven’t yet encountered.

NancyJ wrote: "Joanne wrote: "Funny you should mention this. I am just finishing up The Friend. The POV comes from a writer and she references a dozen or more books and writers through out the st..."



I think you would like it Nancy! I finished, and reviewed in "Other Books" 4stars

NancyJ wrote: "I feel very guilty sometimes that I starting buying from Amazon way back when, contributing to the demise of many brick and mortar book stores. ..."

Not too late to love your local indie bookseller. Other than finally getting audible books .... I buy ONLY from my indie bookseller. I go to see authors there, get my first editions signed, buy gifts for fellow book lovers (not to mention puzzles, children's toys, and decorative do-dads).

I love books about books. I am paying attention to ones everyone is recommending here.

Amy, I read ‘Marina’ last year and it was delightful

You know what? Me too! I also loved it, and I believe it was a JoLene suggestion!

My tags are mostly what the book is about, so if anyone is perusing my shelves/tags, you'll see one that's simply "books". Those ones are about books. :-)

Book Concierge wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I feel very guilty sometimes that I starting buying from Amazon way back when, contributing to the demise of many brick and mortar book stores. ..."

Not to late to love your local i..."

I haven't had a local indie bookstore in a long time, since I moved farther away from the city. I've gained a stronger appreciation for our local library system though, and I contributed more to library fundraisers last year.

LibraryCin wrote: "My tags are mostly what the book is about, so if anyone is perusing my shelves/tags, you'll see one that's simply "books". Those ones are about books. :-)"

Ah, good to know.

I use that tag and have accumulated 37 reads.

Come to think of it, I believe I have some kind of a similar shelf. Where it’s books/library/ bookstore/librarian.

This is an interesting list from Off The Shelf.

https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/doubl...

The only one that I've read was The History of Love.

So many books.......

Jgrace wrote: "This is an interesting list from Off The Shelf.

https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/doubl...

The only one that I've read was The Hist..."</i>

I read [book:Be Frank With Me and loved it. I think you would like it as well. It may have made my best of list last year or at least honorable mention.

I just found a book which is soon to be released which fits under this description. It is Dear Jane by Marina DelVecchio. It earned a Kirkus star.

So for those interested in 2019 books as well this would work.

Amy wrote: "Come to think of it, I believe I have some kind of a similar shelf. Where it’s books/library/ bookstore/librarian."

I'll check it!

Jgrace wrote: "This is an interesting list from Off The Shelf.

https://offtheshelf.com/2018/10/doubl...

The only one that I've read was [book:The Hist..."

The only one I read was Be Frank with Me. It was about a quirky (disturbed) boy and his reclusive author mother. The Publisher sent her an assistant to help meet her deadline, but the assistant ends up spending time with the kid.

Booknblues wrote: "I just found a book which is soon to be released which fits under this description. It is Dear Jane by Marina DelVecchio. It earned a Kirkus star.

So for those interested in 2019 b..."

That sounds really good to me. I suppose it's too late to find a giveaway for it.

Ooh. Amazon has it listed as a kindleUnlimited but the book is still in the preorder stage.

NancyJ wrote: "Booknblues wrote: "I just found a book which is soon to be released which fits under this description. It is Dear Jane by Marina DelVecchio. It earned a Kirkus star.

So for those i..."

I saw that. So I put it on my wishlist and now I need to quickly read one from my kindle unlimited so I can add this next week.

Book Concierge wrote: "The tag I use is "books-about-books" - plural bookS for both words.

I love these kinds of novels (and nonfiction). Always have me adding to my tbr."

I too use the plural and I love books about books! Many have been among my favorites!

I love books that allude to others books or the main character is a reader and books are discussed. There are several but two most vivid is Silver Linings Playbook and Paper Towns (Paper Towns discusses poetry not pros)

Michael wrote: "I use that tag and have accumulated 37 reads."

No one is asking but I couldn't resist seeing which ones earned 5 stars.
Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason--Nancy Pearl
The Bookman's Wake--John Dunning (fun detective series with book collector as hero)
The Bookman's Promise
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
The Kite Runner
The Book Thief
The Children's Book--Byatt
The Name of the Rose
At Swim-Two-Birds--Flan O'Brien
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler--Calvino
Pale Fire--Nabokov
Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish--Flanagan
Do Not Say We Have Nothing

Book Thief is onethat is on my "36"-hoping it will pop up this year

Michael wrote: "Michael wrote: "I use that tag and have accumulated 37 reads."

No one is asking but I couldn't resist seeing which ones earned 5 stars.
[book:Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment..."

I really like those John Dunning books!
Reading Lolita in Tehran was great.
I've had At Swim-Two-Birds on my list for quite some time. I really should move it up to the top of my TBR tower.

I have two tagged "books" (out of 27) that I rated 4.5 or 5 stars (Michael motivated me to check):

The Help / Kathryn Stockett
The Camel Bookmobile / Masha Hamilton

Michael wrote: "Michael wrote: "I use that tag and have accumulated 37 reads."

No one is asking but I couldn't resist seeing which ones earned 5 stars.
[book:Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment..."

I love the title "Book Lust"

I added many new ones today. Thanks