Location : Cleveland, OH
At first glance, the title of this book,
The
Man Who Loved Books Too Much,
may have you thinking that this is a work concerning a man that is fanatical
about books. A man that, if you were fortunate, would show you his extensive
personal library. Perhaps on one level, that is true. However, the main
character in this non-fiction book is a collector of rare books. And a
thief. The chances that anyone would be able to view his library are remote,
mainly because the police confiscated it and returned the books to the
rightful owners.
Contents:
Prologue; Like a Moth to a Flame; Half-truths; Richie Rich; A Gold Mine; Spider-Man; Happy New Year; Trilogy of Kens; Treasure Island; Brick Row; Not Giving Up; This Call May Be Recorded or Monitored; What More Could I Ask?; And Look: More Books!; The Devil's Walk Afterword; Acknowledgements; Notes; A Note on Sources
Allison Hoover Bartlett introduces the reader to obsession; to have some of the world's rarest books. Some people pay for them, collect them, others steal them. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much focuses on two individuals, Ken Sanders, the Security Chair of Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and John Gilkey, the bibliokleptomaniac who was the focus of Sanders' investigation. Gilkey, using his position in a retail store, would use stolen credit card information to place orders with rare book dealers for specific items. The dealers would find later that the purchase was fraudulent, however Gilkey had the book. Sanders picks up his trail, and using tenacity, cooperation, and excellent investigative skills, is able to have Gilkey arrested.
Bartlett does an excellent job, early in the book, of following both men, Sanders and Gilkey. It is a top notch "true crime" narrative. Bartlett follows Gilkey as he steals rare books and then flashes to Sanders as he attempts to bring him to justice. The early chapters are enjoyable, especially as the reader gains an insight into the world of rare books, the people who collect them. and those that deal in them. Bartlett also provides insight into the role that books play in our lives, which cannot be found in e-book readers. However, while Bartlett had incredible access to Gilkey, the book takes a strange turn in the second half as she becomes too close to her subject. It is at that point which made this reader uncomfortable. I was expecting more detachment, which never materializes. Further, Bartlett loses focus on Sanders in the latter chapters, which is unfortunate, as there was probably more to discover about him and the world of rare books. It may have been that she did not enjoy the same level of access with him as she had with Gilkey, but it would have made for a more complete book. Finally, and it is a rather minor criticism, the inclusion of some pictures of the principles would have been appreciated. Overall, however, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is a good book on obsession and how those desires can control a person.
Disclosure:
Obtained from:: Library
Payment: Borrowed
Technorati tag: book review Allison Hoover Bartlett
Contents:
Prologue; Like a Moth to a Flame; Half-truths; Richie Rich; A Gold Mine; Spider-Man; Happy New Year; Trilogy of Kens; Treasure Island; Brick Row; Not Giving Up; This Call May Be Recorded or Monitored; What More Could I Ask?; And Look: More Books!; The Devil's Walk Afterword; Acknowledgements; Notes; A Note on Sources
Allison Hoover Bartlett introduces the reader to obsession; to have some of the world's rarest books. Some people pay for them, collect them, others steal them. The Man Who Loved Books Too Much focuses on two individuals, Ken Sanders, the Security Chair of Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and John Gilkey, the bibliokleptomaniac who was the focus of Sanders' investigation. Gilkey, using his position in a retail store, would use stolen credit card information to place orders with rare book dealers for specific items. The dealers would find later that the purchase was fraudulent, however Gilkey had the book. Sanders picks up his trail, and using tenacity, cooperation, and excellent investigative skills, is able to have Gilkey arrested.
Bartlett does an excellent job, early in the book, of following both men, Sanders and Gilkey. It is a top notch "true crime" narrative. Bartlett follows Gilkey as he steals rare books and then flashes to Sanders as he attempts to bring him to justice. The early chapters are enjoyable, especially as the reader gains an insight into the world of rare books, the people who collect them. and those that deal in them. Bartlett also provides insight into the role that books play in our lives, which cannot be found in e-book readers. However, while Bartlett had incredible access to Gilkey, the book takes a strange turn in the second half as she becomes too close to her subject. It is at that point which made this reader uncomfortable. I was expecting more detachment, which never materializes. Further, Bartlett loses focus on Sanders in the latter chapters, which is unfortunate, as there was probably more to discover about him and the world of rare books. It may have been that she did not enjoy the same level of access with him as she had with Gilkey, but it would have made for a more complete book. Finally, and it is a rather minor criticism, the inclusion of some pictures of the principles would have been appreciated. Overall, however, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is a good book on obsession and how those desires can control a person.
Disclosure:
Obtained from:: Library
Payment: Borrowed
Technorati tag: book review Allison Hoover Bartlett
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