A Reader's Delight (Paperback)

~ (Author) "William Dean Howells was once a towering figure in American literature..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this collection of elegant, affectionate and informative essays, originally published in the Washington Post Book World, Perrin, professor of English at Dartmouth and a noted author, unearths 40 diverse, largely unknown works of fiction and fact, prose and poetry, by all varieties of writers. These short, brisk pieces were produced both by and for the kind of person who boasts an unabashed love of the written word, for whom the artfully constructed phrase evokes "shudders of pleasure." Perrin places each work in its historical and literary context, provides a tantalizing synopsis and offers stylistic analyses, reminiscences and personal reflections. He also takes pains to demonstrate how these books might be relevant to our time and place, even if only as a diversion from mundane contemporary cares. Unfamiliar works are given a familiar footing, e.g., "a French equivalent of Huckleberry Finn," "the Catch-22 of the American Revolution" and "the book you go on to when you have run out of Jane Austen's novels." Obscure or forgotten writers, such as the author's mother, Blanche C. Perrin, take their deserving place alongside such luminaries as Stendhal, Howells and C. S. Lewis. Here is a literary menu that truly whets the curious reader's appetite.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

As benefits a book about delight, this collection is a joy to read. -- New York Times Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Dartmouth; 1st edition (March 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874514320
• ISBN-13: 978-0874514322
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #375,652 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the Den of Literary Obscurity!, May 28, 2004

By	CodeMaster Talon (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Reader's Delight (Hardcover)

Even though I worked in a library for years and read dozens of books a month, I am ashamed to admit that I hadn't read any of Noel Perrin's recommendations outlined in "A Reader's Delight". I have now, though.

In essay after wonderful essay, Perrin uncovers gem after glorious gem. From Russian Sci-Fi ("Far Rainbow") to World War II memoirs ("When the Snow Comes, They Will Take You") , from lyrical fiction ("The Bottom of the Harbor") to the next-best-thing to Jane Austen ("The Semi-Attached Couple"), many of these books are out-of-print, some truly obscure, and all of them terrific.

Startling eclectic, Perrin discuses books from virtually every genre and he does so with grace and wit. There's tales of ancient China, old journals, satires, children's books and even a poem. This is guy who not only knows good books, but adores them, and he doesn't care where he finds them. In the introduction, Perrin tells about a professor he knew who cited the "Little House on the Prairie" books among his all time favorites, and Perrin makes it clear that true book-lovers know no snobbishness.

Some of these books will be a bit hard to track down, but most can be had by simply utilizing your local interlibrary loan program. In any case, "A Reader's Delight" is a must have for those who love a good read, not only for the recommendations but for Perrin's own stylish writing.

GRADE: B+

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a book, practically a good friend, August 1, 2005

By	K. Ahn "Puddles McGraw" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I discovered this book when I was 14, and have reread it almost annually. Many of the books Perrin recommended have become favorites of mine also, and even when they haven't, this book is still worth it for Perrin's great writing and his deep affection and understanding of what the printed word can do. It's honest, refreshingly unpretentious, and compulsively readable. This book makes you happy to be alive and glad to be an inveterate reader. I highly, highly recommend it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Rediscoveries" For Avid Readers, July 28, 2008

By	A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In the early 1980s, Dartmouth English Professor Perrin was asked by the Washington Post to write a book review column called "Rediscoveries," in which he could review and tout his favorite obscure books. His rules were that the book had to be at least 15 years old (so that nothing from after the mid-1960s qualifies) and that no more than three of his colleagues could have read it. These were to be books he loved and wanted to reintroduce to the world. This collects those reviews of forty works (38 books and 2 poems), and from what I can tell, the essays are largely unrevised from their original publication.

I love the concept behind this book, because it's easy to find lists of acclaimed authors and titles, but by sheer probability, one has to acknowledge that there are lots and lots of volumes of buried treasure out there awaiting rediscovery. Indeed, part of the appeal of the book is that some of his selections require a bit of effort to track down (although thanks to the internet, not nearly as much as when the book first appeared). I found myself dipping in and out of this book as I found books that appealed to me and skimmed those that didn't. Perrin does an excellent job of explaining what makes each of his selections special, although he does tend to offer a good deal too much plot summary for my taste.

Still, this is a book well worth checking out by any open-minded avid reader, as it is likely to send you looking for 3-4 books to add to your "to read" list. Of course, personal taste plays a large role in whether or not you find this book useful. And while I skimmed the entries concerning memoirs and collections of letters, there were plenty of other things for me to dig into, such as comedy, and even science fiction. On the whole, good fun for bibliophiles.