Beyond the writing, which was marvelous, I have to mention the physicality of the book itself. I know many people prefer paperback books because they're lighter, easier to carry around, and are generally less expensive than their hardcover bretheren. But I am a hardback kind of guy. There's something about the heft of a hardback book and the quality of paper that has attracted me ever since I set foot in a library as a child. So to see The Man Who Loved Books Too Much bound so beautifully just made me smile.
The pages are bound such that the edges of the pages are not cut evenly, which provides a tactile and visual cue that few current hardbacks have. I haven't seen that style of binding since some of the Anne Rice novels of the mid-90s, and I absolutely adore it.
If you are interested in books from a collectors point of view or simply want to read a great story, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett provides enough crunch on a number of levels — from the real-world characters to the writing and the binding — this is a book for book lovers. Be sure to check it out at your local library or bookseller!
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