Review: Ex-Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had not heard of Anne Fadiman and did not even pick this book because it was written by her. It came as a recommendation after I had read some other book. But after reading her work, there is no denying that I'll continue to pick out her books because they have been written by her.
This book is a collection of 18 essays, in which she describes the love for books and literature that runs in her family and close friends. I wish I could discuss each and every one of them with someone who has read this book too, but alas! Maybe soon.
Beginning with her first essay in which she describes how she and her husband "married" their libraries, Anne Fadiman, goes on to describe the competitive literary games played by 'Team Fadiman' consisting of her parents, brother and herself and her penchant for proof-reading EVERYTHING! My most favorite part was when she described how her family believed in carnal love for books and not the usual reverential sort that most book-lovers believe in. That her father would tear off finished chapters of the book he was reading to 'lighten' his luggage on a trip, or that her husband would read books in a sauna, made me cringe with pain. I think her friends,the one who would not use a thick bookmark in case it left marks upon the pages, or the one who would follow around his mother-in-law until she replaced his book, are someone whom I'd be more comfortable lending my books to.
Her essay (My Ancestral Castles) where she touches upon the idea that children's taste for reading stemming from their parents reading habits, was also one that I enjoyed. My parents never hesitated to buy us encyclopedias, children's books and fairy tales. But if I and my sister had not seen my parents read (even if they were just reading the newspaper, a Marathi book or religious texts), we would probably not have had the same love or respect for reading.
Fadiman's command on the written word is unquestionable, but what is even more surprising, is that her essays keep you interested no matter what they are about. She can write about pens, or mail order catalogues and still be funny and enthralling. It is a high feat indeed if instead of finding her slightly narcissistic tone annoying, you find yourself relishing it.
I'll be definitely going back to her essays, because despite their quirks, I really liked the Fadiman family and I am sure I'll find these essays as interesting as the first time around. I also intend to find the meaning of all the words she mentions in her essay (The Joy of Sesquipedalians) and quiz some poor, unsuspecting soul one day! Maybe her love for proof-reading rubbed off on me, but page 78 and 88 of my e-book had some very noticeable typos (which I blame solely on the e-book publisher). I'll leave you to find them for yourself!

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