Customer Reviews

Literature Lover's Book Of Lists : Serious Trivia for the Bibliophile

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book would've been a "find" if I were in my early teens, but for any adult who considers themselves a bibliophile, this book is just too lightweight. Yes, it is about books and literature, but the coverage is extremely shallow. I would consider this to be something like the Reader's Digest Condensed Books form of Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia. Buy that work instead of you're looking for a good reference work on literature.

I was sadly disappointed in this book, especially since it got such glowing reviews from other Amazon readers. I found the book to be full of stuff I already knew, and worse, to be self-congratulatory to an almost offensive degree.

My biggest complaint was that lists were sometimes incomplete, but purported to be complete. I like my reference books to be reliable, and I did not find this to be completely dependable. (My theory is that if the things I know for sure are not accurately reported, then it is unlikely that the things I do not know are completely correct. However, I can't tell which "new facts" are wrong, so I can't believe any of them.)

All told, I did not find this book to be worth keeping. (And I *love* boks of lists.)

For those unfamiliar with literature and literary devices, authors through the ages, or nobel laureates, this book provides a good basic research resource. However, billing it as the perfect tome for "Literature Lovers" is misleading at best. Those already familiar with the study of literature will waste time and money on this book. It is far too basic to be helpful to the literary student. I found no information in it helpful or new. The book is merely a compendium of information available elsewhere, in far more worthwhile venues, such as an Freshman lit. class.

Furthermore, it is stereotypically slanted toward the male Euro-centric canon. This book of leave women and minorities out of its lists.

Like Steven Gilbar's The Book Book (see my review), this is a great item to just pick up and open; you're sure to find something interesting in it no matter what page you choose. Though not marketed as such, it will prove most interesting to parents of children from grade-school through high-school age, and may indeed be used as a compendium of reading lists by homeschoolers. (For example, if you turn to page 245, "Animals: Books & Stories" in "Themes: Under One Umbrella," you'll see listed, under Crane/Stork/Goose/Duck/Swan/Penguin, titles ranging from Mr. Popper's Penguins and Make Way for Ducklings to The Snow Goose and Cranes in My Corral, Hyde.) Besides allusions, quotations, and definitions, the bulk of the book, as with Gilbar, is given over to lists of books--everything from "Best-Selling Books" to "1990s Literature From Around the World;" there's no reason an intelligent teen can't take a taste of everything Strouf lists. Serious-minded ones may also want to check out List #9 ("Influential Writers from Around the World"), #14 ("Literary Criticism"), and #16 ("U.S./British/Irish Critics") for ideas on where to go next. But above all, buy it for Sections 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 (Books...for All Ages, Genres...for Every Taste, Drama, Themes, and Literary Periods) and the titles and authors in Section 4 (Poetry). It's true that the index includes only authors' names, no titles, which to my mind is a fault (and somehow neglected to includ the comic-strip creators from pp. 86-8, even though many of them have had their works collected in bound form). It's also true that there are a few rather glaring typos (mostly having to do with book titles) that would have been caught by an editor who knew his books, but by searching in your library or online under both author and title you should still be able to find all the items listed. Then get yourself a used copy of Gilbar (get his Good Books too), Nancy Pearl's Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason and More Book Lust: 1,000 New Reading Recommendations for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason, and The Prentice Hall Good Reading Guide, and you'll have a treasure trove worthy of the fabled Indies to search and sample.

This is a must-have resource item for anyone who reads, and would be incredibly useful for teachers, students, booksellers, and ANYONE who comes in contact with books. Strouf offers info on poetry, plays, journalism, classics, contemporary fiction and nonfiction, fables, Shakespeare, literature references, and so much more. It's all arranged in a perfectly easy format and style for reading straight through, or for browsing, or for looking up specific information on just about anything that's ever been put into a book. This is definitely the most useful resource tool I've come across for understanding and enjoying the written word. There are a few typos that are mildly distracting, but the phenomenal wealth of information contained in this book really make it a something that you will go back to again and again. Buy four copies - one for yourself, one for your reader/friend, and especially one for any student about to enter middle school, high school, or college. (That's three, but I guarantee that you'll find someone else in your life who absolutely has to have this book once they see yours!)

This is an interesting book - there are a few intriguing lists in here. However, some of them seem a bit arbitrary. It's not overwhelmingly easy to use, either. If you're looking for a very academic book about books, don't get this one. If, on the other hand, you want a general refrence on reading and books, or are looking for reading lists and don't know where to find them, try this out. Don't expect too much.

"Literature Lover's Book of Lists" is really excellent for Literature Lovers. It provides great variety of detailed information about different topics of Literature. It quotes the best phrases in classics, and it introduces types of poetry such as sonnet and pantoum. It points out general misunderstanding about Literature. Do you know that Frankenstein is NOT a monster? He is actually the DOCTOR who creates the monster. Can you distinguish between Becky Thatcher and Becky Sharp? and do you know that Voltaire had never said "I disapprove of what you said, but I defend to death your right to say it"? Besides, it has a complete list of Aesop's Fables and the underlying meaning they were trying to bring out; and lots and lots of others. It is really gorgeous. I only put 4 stars on it because it sometimes leave out the complete work of authors. For example, Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote 4 children's classics: The Secret Garden, Little Lord Fauntleroy, A Litte Princess and The Lost Prince. However, the book missed out the last book. One last thing, it is only designed for Literature lovers. It would be extremely informative and interesting for Literature Lovers, but quite boring for non-literature lovers: I don't think it can arouse interest for non-literature lovers. Anyway, it's simply wonderful!

This is absolutely one of my favorite reference books on books. It includes almost any famous author you would look for. I keep mine beside my bed and refer to it whenever I need a suggestion for something great to read. Sometimes I just thumb through it for pleasure. Highly recommend.

Literature Lovers Books Of Lists: Serious Trivia For The Bibliophile is a splendid compendium of information ranging from the practical to the whimsical and meant for anyone who loves books, reading, and the rich literary legacy available for free to anyone with a library card. Organized into nine sections, Literature Lover's Book Of Lists offers almost two hundred lists relating to literary genres, authors, characters and settings, awards, literary terms, books of prose and poetry available on audio cassette, and more. If there is a bibliophile on your gift list, you can't make a better choice than sending him or her their very own copy of Judie Strouf's Literature Lover's Book Of Lists!

Literature Lovers Books Of Lists: Serious Trivia For The Bibliophile is a splendid compendium of information ranging from the practical to the whimsical and meant for anyone who loves books, reading, and the rich literary legacy available for free to anyone with a library card. Organized into nine sections, Literature Lover's Book Of Lists offers almost two hundred lists relating to literary genres, authors, characters and settings, awards, literary terms, books of prose and poetry available on audio cassette, and more. If there is a bibliophile on your gift list, you can't make a better choice than sending him or her their very own copy of Judie Strouf's Literature Lover's Book Of Lists!