Sometimes subtle, sometimes striking, the interplay between our lives and our books is the subject of this unique memoir by well-known publishing c...
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reviews
Jan 26, 2009
Stacie
rated it: 
There were moments in this book where I was convinced she was writing about me...the way her husband doesn't read, yet she tries to get him to read; how some of her friends simply don't understand her adoring love for all things bookish...those are just a few. However, there were moments when I rolled my eyes and got a bit annoyed because she would ruin books for me that I have yet to read. The ruining wasn't just that she said it wasn't "that good" but she actually gave away the endin
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Dec 18, 2010
Sherri
rated it: 
Surprisingly enough, reading about someone else's adventures in reading is interesting, involving, even addictive.
I originally picked the book by the title -- I suspect someone on Goodreads I know had it in his or her list and I grabbed it from there, or perhaps I saw it somewhere else. I can't remember. But I checked it out from the library and, while checking the first page, got hooked. While I don't have the author's job or her reading appetite (at least, not any more -- once More...
I originally picked the book by the title -- I suspect someone on Goodreads I know had it in his or her list and I grabbed it from there, or perhaps I saw it somewhere else. I can't remember. But I checked it out from the library and, while checking the first page, got hooked. While I don't have the author's job or her reading appetite (at least, not any more -- once More...
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Sep 28, 2011
Michael
rated it: 
After about 50 pages into it, I decided to put it down. For someone who is an editor and columnist, the grammar is just awful. I realize my own writing style would probably make Henry Fowler cringe; but for someone who writes for a living? It seemed as if she had no idea of how to construct a meaningful sentence. I enjoy stream of consciousness when it’s done right, but this drivel…
And her constantly reminding me that she was in an interracial marriage, or that her husband worked More...
And her constantly reminding me that she was in an interracial marriage, or that her husband worked More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Erin
rated it: 
recommended to me
I liked the premise--reading a book every week for a year and chronicling the experience--but as the author and I have very different tastes (she hates 'historicals,' rarely reads anything written before the 1950's, and avoids nonfiction history accounts like the plague), I didn't feel any sense of shared experience.
also, while I didn't expect each chapter to be a book report, more often than not her reading list just served as a pretext to talk about he More...
I liked the premise--reading a book every week for a year and chronicling the experience--but as the author and I have very different tastes (she hates 'historicals,' rarely reads anything written before the 1950's, and avoids nonfiction history accounts like the plague), I didn't feel any sense of shared experience.
also, while I didn't expect each chapter to be a book report, more often than not her reading list just served as a pretext to talk about he More...
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Nov 05, 2008
Kathy
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I really liked this book. I just love reading about other people reading "addictions", how they select their books and where their "love of reading" takes them. I might not agree with all of her opinions in this book, but I loved and agreed with her when she said that you can't totally pre-plan your reading. I've found that out this year with all my "challenges" that I have on here. You can never know what books speak to you and call you to them and when. The j
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Sep 24, 2011
Lindsay
rated it: 
Amazon recommended "So Many Books, So Little Time" to me based I am sure on my book-buying history - they must know a bibliophile when they see one. Sara Nelson has a magazine job where she gets paid to read and review books, but for one year, Nelson makes a deal with herself to read one book a week. She finds, as we all do, that the books we pick up have more to do with what is going on in our lives than what we write down on a list. Despite my immediate job envy, I fell for this b
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Jul 12, 2011
Susan
rated it:
This books was fantastic because it's as if you may have written it yourself!! This woman is obviously a true lover of books. She critiques each one with great passion.
I absolutely adored this book because it made me feel like less of a freak for buying, reading and continuing to do so even if my room has become totally overflowing with books. Hey, my bookcases look fine, if a bit crammed, yet the stacks on the floor it getting to be a bit much!!
Alas and alack, I can't More...
I absolutely adored this book because it made me feel like less of a freak for buying, reading and continuing to do so even if my room has become totally overflowing with books. Hey, my bookcases look fine, if a bit crammed, yet the stacks on the floor it getting to be a bit much!!
Alas and alack, I can't More...
May 06, 2009
Colleen
rated it:
This is one of my favorite quotes, so how could I pass this book up? The author chose 52 books to read in a year and then wrote about how well she stuck with her list. I really enjoyed this book. The author has the same obsessive thoughts about books and reading that I do so I could relate to much of what she was saying. Try as I might, like the author, I can't keep from "double-booking." I'm always thinking I'm going to concentrate on just one book but then I get so excited I can
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Jul 01, 2009
Jacki
rated it:
A fun, cute little book about one reader's goal to read a book a week. The writing was light and fun even when dealing with more serious subjects. I just sailed through this, and, like the book nerd I am, saw myself in this book more times than I care to count.
Towards the beginning of the book, there is a part where the author is having a really hard time figuring out what book to take on vacation and I had to laugh out loud and read this to my husband. My decision on what book to More...
Towards the beginning of the book, there is a part where the author is having a really hard time figuring out what book to take on vacation and I had to laugh out loud and read this to my husband. My decision on what book to More...
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Oct 14, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
It's always interesting, whenever I read a Book-Book, to compare myself to the author. Obviously we have a love of reading in common, but it can be so interesting to see what else we have in common and different:
IN Common:
We both love books
We both view reading a book almost like falling in love and can become, um, a little disassociated with the rest of the world when in "book love"
We both have a hard time getting our husbands to read the same books we read
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IN Common:
We both love books
We both view reading a book almost like falling in love and can become, um, a little disassociated with the rest of the world when in "book love"
We both have a hard time getting our husbands to read the same books we read
More...
Sep 09, 2009
Pamela
rated it:
Recently I was watching CSPAN's Book TV (yes, apparently I'm a nerd). I was watching a program with women authors and one of the author's statements (Sara Nelson) really hit home with me about the way I feel about reading and my books. Naturally, I had to procure this particular one as I felt a definite and immediate kinship with Sara.
The main reason I liked this book is that now I don't feel so wierd because apparently there are other people out there similar to myself. I have this More...
The main reason I liked this book is that now I don't feel so wierd because apparently there are other people out there similar to myself. I have this More...
Mar 23, 2009
Jonathan
rated it:
Fun book about Nelson's reading habits for a year. Her and I couldn't have more divergent tastes for books but it was still good to read about another read-aholic. Despite sounding slightly neurotic, she did a lovely job of explaining how books and life can get all intermingled. She writes a very honest, touching and heartfelt book.
She touched upon a few things that I want to talk about. The first was about sports. She has an 8 year old son who is just getting into sports like baseba More...
She touched upon a few things that I want to talk about. The first was about sports. She has an 8 year old son who is just getting into sports like baseba More...
Jan 17, 2012
Kris
rated it:
I wanted this book from the moment I heard about it, and it was on my wishlist until it came out in paperback. Good thing, because I would really be upset if I'd paid hardcover prices for it. The title describes my feelings, I'm like a kid in a candystore when I'm in a bookstore or on Amazon. I figured I'd get lots of ideas from the author on great books to add to my ever-growing list of must-reads. Instead I found this book to be dull and self-involved. I'm really not interested in the author's
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Apr 04, 2011
Sue
rated it:
Picked this up at the library after reading the inside jacket cover:
A quick and interesting read. My favorite chapter is called "Afterlife with Father". Her reading of Den of Thieves by James B. Stewart brought back poignant memories of the discussions she and her deceased father had about the stock market. Her feelings while reading:
"But what it made me feel was nostalgic and wistful and sentimental. It reminded me yet again that what's in a book is on More...
A quick and interesting read. My favorite chapter is called "Afterlife with Father". Her reading of Den of Thieves by James B. Stewart brought back poignant memories of the discussions she and her deceased father had about the stock market. Her feelings while reading:
"But what it made me feel was nostalgic and wistful and sentimental. It reminded me yet again that what's in a book is on More...
Mar 31, 2010
Carin
rated it:
I actually started this book years ago but didn't finish it. Looking for something not very demanding to read on public transport, I picked this up again. Then I remembered why I put it down.
1. The author and I don't really have similar tastes in books.
2. If I'm reading about books, I don't need to read and reread bits about family, friends, family, friends blah blah blah
3. If you need to justify something, don't write a book about it.
The premise- read one boo More...
1. The author and I don't really have similar tastes in books.
2. If I'm reading about books, I don't need to read and reread bits about family, friends, family, friends blah blah blah
3. If you need to justify something, don't write a book about it.
The premise- read one boo More...
Aug 24, 2011
Nikki
rated it:
I thought I would like this book more than I did. It appears that I bought it shortly after its paperback release, but only recently found it on one of my shelves (one thing I have in common with the author). The idea was that Nelson would try to read a book a week, fitting that in around the demands of living in New York with a husband, son, and job as a magazine editor. She rarely has to go out and buy a book for this purpose as she has shelves full at home, previously purchased or acquired as
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Jun 08, 2011
Preeti
rated it:
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. Funny enough, I came across it randomly at the library while I was looking for another book and decided to pick it up. (I only checked out 3 books from the library that time, which I believe is a record for me - of least checked out books ever!)
The author takes the challenge (though it was not much of a challenge for her because she loves to read) of reading a book a week for a year. She talks about some of the books she read during that time More...
The author takes the challenge (though it was not much of a challenge for her because she loves to read) of reading a book a week for a year. She talks about some of the books she read during that time More...
Aug 20, 2011
jennbunny
rated it:
A good non fiction read about how the author chooses (or rather how books to chose the author) her books. At first I thought it was a bit off or slow, but then I got to page 33 where the author says, "Explaining the moment of connection between a reader and a book to someone who's never experienced it is like trying to describe sex to a virgin." This was a turning point for me. I related so well to the book calling out to you....where you lose sleep and possibly friends because you
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May 20, 2009
Kim
rated it:
I picked up this book randomly browsing at the library--a book about reading books? Why not! It's an easy, quick read, good for relaxing before going to sleep. I read some of the other Goodreads reviews as I started it and braced myself for some of the things they mentioned -- the most annoying part was that she spoiled the ending of three or so books, one in great detail, another with a brief sentence that was unnecessary and made it sound like she was writing an academic paper when revealin
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Feb 05, 2011
Shawna
rated it:
I expected this book to read like a book report but it was much more fun than that! It meandered into her memories and emotions that the novels evoked.
I wrote down book titles as she recommended them and I expect I will come to enjoy some of the same titles that she did. I also enjoyed chuckling when I ran across a title she read already. I agreed with her assessment of "Slammerkin" and "Tuesdays with Morrie" to name just two.
The only thing that sur More...
I wrote down book titles as she recommended them and I expect I will come to enjoy some of the same titles that she did. I also enjoyed chuckling when I ran across a title she read already. I agreed with her assessment of "Slammerkin" and "Tuesdays with Morrie" to name just two.
The only thing that sur More...
Jul 21, 2009
Candace
rated it:
A book about books. While interesting and informative, I had a hard time really getting into the material. Perhaps it just that I don't really like too many non-fiction books. Apparently my taste in reading differs quite a bit from Ms. Nelson's. Which is fine - to each their own I say. I'd say read it if you want to try branching out from the genres that you normally read.
However, I was intrigued by the idea of reading 52 books in a year (or 1 a week), so it might be something t More...
However, I was intrigued by the idea of reading 52 books in a year (or 1 a week), so it might be something t More...
Mar 17, 2011
Monica
rated it:
I feel like the title of the book; So Many books, So Little Time. I have so many books I would like to read and sometimes wonder if I will ever finish a quarter of them.
Sara Nelson decides to read a book a week for a whole year. Reading 52 books doesn't seem so hard but she runs into a problem of trying to find books each week.
Sara's friends would ask her " How do you choose your books?" She learned in the very beginning that she didn't always choose the books; More...
Sara Nelson decides to read a book a week for a whole year. Reading 52 books doesn't seem so hard but she runs into a problem of trying to find books each week.
Sara's friends would ask her " How do you choose your books?" She learned in the very beginning that she didn't always choose the books; More...
Jun 23, 2009
Giedra
rated it:
I think the reason I liked this book so much is simply that I identified with so much of what Nelson had to say. She articulated many of my own musings about reading and "readers"--views on book-lending and book-borrowing (and book-recommending) etiquette, and how a bad recommendation can even stop a new friendship in its tracks.... In her year of reading, she experienced much of the "synchronicity" that I often experience, where I find related threads in seemingly unrelat
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May 08, 2009
Lucy
rated it:
Don't know if it's because it's written by an American (and therefore focussed more on books published in the US), or because I hadn't read many of the same books as the author, but I didn't get much out of this at all. Had expected to be overwhelmed with lots of exciting new ideas for reading but I don't think I picked up a single convincing recommendation from all the books she had read and talked about. If a good book is like a relationship, as the author says, this book is one of those 'rela
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Nov 22, 2011
Amy
rated it:
There are some great reviews of this book . . . and some that pan it. I was waffling between a middle-of-the-road three stars and two stars. Two stars seems fitting because of two things:
1. She devotes a whole chapter to James Frey's Million Little Pieces, which is somewhat amusing but also more than a little off-putting.
2. She ends the yearlong reading journey with a chapter flouting how she and her secular Jewish family celebrate Christmas. It's so much fun, she doesn't need a book More...
1. She devotes a whole chapter to James Frey's Million Little Pieces, which is somewhat amusing but also more than a little off-putting.
2. She ends the yearlong reading journey with a chapter flouting how she and her secular Jewish family celebrate Christmas. It's so much fun, she doesn't need a book More...
Jul 27, 2009
BJ Rose
rated it:
Such a disappointment!!! "A Year of Passionate Reading" was about almost everything but reading - we learned about problems in her marriage (where's the respect for her husband?), we learned about her travels and the important people she knows and meets, and we get lots of titles of books she read in the past or chose not to read or started but stopped. What we don't get is a review or synopsis of the 52 books she set out to read. We do get a 3+ page appendix of the 21 books she actual
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Jul 25, 2009
Debbie (Readerbuzz)
rated it:
I was apprehensive about finally reading this book, to tell you the truth....I'd saved
it for several months and kept picking it up and admiring its cutesy title, its cartoonish cover, and its clever book concept
(try to read a book a week for a year and then write about the experience)....Could the book possibly live up to the
expectations I'd generated for it?
Surprisingly, yes. This book feels like it was custom cut for us, the book-obsessed in the world, with cha More...
it for several months and kept picking it up and admiring its cutesy title, its cartoonish cover, and its clever book concept
(try to read a book a week for a year and then write about the experience)....Could the book possibly live up to the
expectations I'd generated for it?
Surprisingly, yes. This book feels like it was custom cut for us, the book-obsessed in the world, with cha More...
May 27, 2009
Heidi
rated it:
I'm such a bookaholic that I will read just about any book ABOUT books, too. (Basbane's tales of book-love are some of my favorites.)
This diary of a year's worth of reading by Sara Nelson came to me at just the right moment. I was between books with nothing to read, lost and lonely wandering through the aisles of bookstores when I happened upon it, started reading, started relating, and bought it. It was the perfect "between novels" book for me. I don't have the same ta More...
This diary of a year's worth of reading by Sara Nelson came to me at just the right moment. I was between books with nothing to read, lost and lonely wandering through the aisles of bookstores when I happened upon it, started reading, started relating, and bought it. It was the perfect "between novels" book for me. I don't have the same ta More...
Jun 25, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
Good book. The writer speaks personally in a conversational way. All you do is listen (read) and enjoy. (and maybe even sometimes totally relate, but even when I didn't relate, it was interesting, insightful, funny, and enjoyable to read.) Nothing is asked of you when reading this book. Sometimes that's exactly what one needs. I really liked the book and her writing. I picked it simply b/c I related to the title. She herself works in publishing and her perspective of the books she reads
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Dec 03, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book-lover's memoir about a year immersed in reading and how her specific reading quirks affect her life. Basing friendships off of bookshelf material? Leaving books all over the house, partway read because you are in the middle of so many? Feeling rejected when people do not read the books you recommend them? Anyone who is book obsessed can relate. I liked that she didn't list the books she was reading, but instead wove them into themed chapters. My only complaint is that
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