BOOKS: A Memoir
by McMurtry, Larry
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- A fine copy in a fine dust jacket
- ISBN 10
- 1416583343
- ISBN 13
- 9781416583349
- Seller
-
Bainbridge Island, Washington, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008. First edition. Hardcover. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. In this work of extraordinary charm, grace, and good humor, McMurtry recounts his life as both a reader and a writer, how the countless books he has read worked to form his literary tastes, while giving us a lively look at the eccentrics who collect, sell, or simply lust after rare volumes. This 'memoir' is like the best kind of diary, full of the author's wonderful anecdotes, amazing characters, engaging gossip, and shrewd observations about authors, book people, literature and the author himself. 259 pages.
Reviews
On Oct 7 2010, Pbpunk said:
My review of Books by Larry McMurtry(2 stars)This is a book I CAN put down rather easily. It has no "juice". Reminds me of an inferior iteration of a W.S. Burroughs cut-up job, randomly incomplete snippets of a bookman's life. I'm about halfway through Books and I am finding it quite lacking on so many levels. McMurtry just gets started with something of interest, and poof, he moves on to something else, almost fascinating, only to leave his reader once again in the dust. It's maddening. Of course I can't stop reading it right in the middle so I will continue through to the end, although I know I will regret losing another hour to finish it.Learning of his early upbringing with no books in the house, I was hooked. When he begins to tell of his growing passion for books, and his fear that this would be a narrative of interest only to others with a similar passion, I became excited to read more. McMurty does not deliver. Rather than holding my attention and awe, I find "books" to have devolved after the first few chapters into something quite dreadful and boring.An author with the ability to write as McMurtry does has cheated an audience he alone might have held in the palm of his hand. Rather than caress fellow bookmen like some fine leather tome he might hold in high regard, he has relegated us to the remainder pile, covers removed...no love at all. It is a shame, as I am certain the depth of his real life in books is far more interesting than the poorly rendered skin of what he has provided here.I noticed McMurtry split up his memoirs into 3 parts. Reeks of over-commercialism, and I already feel like it won't be worth the time to read the other 2. After reading the reviews for those, I definitely won't purchase either of them.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Ed Smith Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 14649
- Title
- BOOKS: A Memoir
- Author
- McMurtry, Larry
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - A fine copy in a fine dust jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- ISBN 10
- 1416583343
- ISBN 13
- 9781416583349
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 2008
- Keywords
- books and reading, childhood and youth, antiquarian bookselling, United States, novelists, biography, Texas, homes and haunts
Terms of Sale
Ed Smith Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Ed Smith Books
Biblio member since 2009
Bainbridge Island, Washington
About Ed Smith Books
Ed Smith Books specializes in better condition modern literary first editions, signed books, photographic monographs, screen and theater related material and pop culture. We offer appraisals for books and photographs. We are located a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle, WA on Bainbridge Island. Since 1985 (ABAA since 1995). Two authors we specialize in are Charles Bukowski and Hunter S Thompson. Open by appointment.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...