Comments on: Review: Allison Hoover Bartlett's THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH

By: Angela T.

Angela T. — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:00:37 +0000

I really liked the book. I thought there should be more punishment but apparently the justice system doesn’t agree. I couldn’t understand the book dealers not reporting the crimes. I couldn’t understand Gilkey’s motives either. I still thought Bartlett’s writing about the book thefts was interesting and informative. I liked learning a bit about rare book collecting.

By: SCRIPTPIMP

SCRIPTPIMP — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:31:02 +0000

Too bad good stories are so rare. Don’t hate on collectors, just disapprove of people who steal in general.

Thanks for the review and the heads up on this one, PCN.

YOU are a rare find yourself!

By: Shelley P

Shelley P — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:40:41 +0000

{Just to clarify ~ of course, I meant ‘snaffle it’ as in buy a bargain, not ‘snaffle it’ as in five finger discount!!!}

By: EIREGO

EIREGO — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:32:48 +0000

Okay, Reader#9, but why do you think those Richard Stark books are not in the library? THEY WERE STOLEN BY PEOPLE LIKE JOHN GILKEY!

I do agree with you that collectors are just crazy sometimes (like those people who collect those quarters from different states or gold one dollar coins rather than put them back into circulation! Yeah, you know who you are!) But, I will draw the line at stealing.

By: Reader#9

Reader#9 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:20:43 +0000

I have a real problem with collectors of all types. I think an object’s worth is so random (i.e., Britney Spears’ gum, one of the baseballs used in a World Series). Art, I can understand, but if you are just going to hide it away in a small room of your house, what’s the real value? But, I digress.

While I wouldn’t agree with the antagonist in The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, I can certainly relate to one of the statements attributed to him (“…booksellers…put such high price tags on rare editions that someone of moderate income would have to steal them”). Readers should be able to view these rare editions. Seems wrong that the average reader is unable to. I mean, yes, we should be required to wear gloves to prevent wear and tear, but a book should not be allowed to just sit on a bookshelf or under lock and key just to give someone with way too much money some bragging rights. Case in point: Richard Stark’s Parker series of novels are virtually impossible to obtain these days. Most of them were stolen from the library and when I ask at used book stores I visit for a copy, they laugh at me. I heard they will be reprinted someday, but that is just wrong. Stories are to be read, hopefully allow the reader some insight on a subject matter, then passed on to the next person. It’s the author’s originally intended purpose. Otherwise it is like buying a pair of sneakers and not wearing them. Ridiculous!

By: le0pard13

le0pard13 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:09:58 +0000

I really do appreciate non-fiction true crime stories, especially if the author gets into direct contact with the subject and you hear their own words and tale. So, I really appreciate this review, PCN. Thanks.

By: Shelley P

Shelley P — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:30:03 +0000

Not sure I’ll add this to my reading list but if I ever see a Cat in the Hat matt-covered edition in a junk shop, I’ll snaffle it.