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A Reader's Book Of Days: True Tales From The Lives And Works Of Writers For Every Day Of The Year (2013)

by Tom Nissley(Favorite Author)

3.67 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0393239624 (ISBN13: 9780393239621)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

W. W. Norton & Company

review 1: Tom Nissley's "A Reader's Book of Days" is an odd, yet intriguing book. It really defies easy description. On its surface it is a book of author trivia arranged by the days of the year. But the nature of that trivia is what sets it apart. Nissley, who would rival fellow Washingtonian Nancy Pearl for his vast knowledge of books, finds a variety of ties to a particular day--the day a book came out, a book review, an incident in a book that happened on a day--with a particular eye for the ironic quote or incident. For example, where else would you find Julia Child's notation on finishing "Peyton Place" to a friend ("Quite enjoyed it, though feeling an underlying abyss of trash")? Or learn that JFK, Aldous Huxley and C.S. Lewis all died on the same November day in 1963? ... more Or that Raymond Chandler had a low opinion of James M. Cain ("a Proust in greasy overalls"), yet he would co-write the screenplay based on "Double Indemnity." Or that Jacqueline Susann may have missed being killed by Charles Manson because her friend Rex Reed was too tired to go to Sharon Tate's party? You see, the list goes on and on. Even better for a bibliophile are the recommendations of classics and modern day classics that Nissley includes in his blurbs. The only negative is that every now and then the trivia seems, well, trivial--more to show the breadth of the research: On April 14, 1939: "For the first time, George Orwell's goat Muriel gave a full quart of milk." But such instances are few and far between. This is not a book to read in one long stretch but to enjoy on an intermittent basis, much like a good reference book. Recommended.
review 2: I received this book free from the Good reads first reads program. I am so looking forward to reading this. I just got it today and I am really excited to start each day reading this book. I may change my review when I get done but for now I am just excited to read it. I have now been reading this book for a couple of months now and I love it. It has become apart of my daily routine reading interesting tidbits about books that I didn't know. You can tell there was a lot of thought and care put into this and it shows. This is a must read for anyone that loves to read and is willing to learn something new daily. less

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