Group Read (December- January)- 'A History of Reading' by Alberto Manguel

[Rowena]

I'm about half-way through. I'm enjoying some parts more than others, that's for sure!

[Laurel]

I had a bit of a break in the middle but then I got really into it again. Overall, I really enjoyed it, I think I just needed to be in the right kind of mood for it but that's always the way with non-fiction for me.

[Jenny]

I agree, same here.

Has anyone of you guys ever been to the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin? It is one of my favourite museums and certainly one of my favourite places in Dublin, and I develope a real longing to visit there again while reading this book. It is all about the development of books, print and book art within the different culturs and religious backgrounds.
Should you ever visit, bring a good book and a thermos of tea and finish your visit in the beautiful Zen-garden just outside it (and best give me a call before you do, because I really want to join ;))

[LauraT]

I've finished it and liked it globally, even if there were parts more "slow" to go along ...

[Jenny]

This illustration of Agostino Ramelli's bookwheel really made me laugh. I think he anticipated the species of the 'goodreadian book juggler' ;)

[LauraT]

Loved it!!!

[Alannah]

This might be my next read.

[Gill]

Jenny wrote: "I agree, same here.

Has anyone of you guys ever been to the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin? It is one of my favourite museums and certainly one of my favourite places in Dublin, and I develope a..."
Just reading this thread. I went there 18 months ago with my two daughters. (They took me on an overnight in Dublin as a surprise, when Rosa my younger daughter came for a visit from Australia.) We thought it was lovely, especially the exhibitions of old books. Oh , and the garden also.

[Jenny]

Oh and I have finally 'met' Aldo Manuzio Laura!

Really enjoyed the the ridiculous images of these gigantic books being lifted around in libraries.

Thank god for the invention of Reclam Taschenbücher and Penguin Pocketbooks, imagine how reading several books at a time might have steeled your muscles otherwise.

[Laurel]

The Chester Beatty library sounds awesome! I hope I get the chance to visit one day

[Jenny]

@Laurel: it is!!

@Gill: was the café open? Last time I visited there, they were reconstructing, hence the started tradition of bringing a flask ;)

[Gill]

Jenny wrote: "@Laurel: it is!!

@Gill: was the café open? Last time I visited there, they were reconstructing, hence the started tradition of bringing a flask ;)"
Yes, the cafe was very nice! This was October 2012. Coincidentally, earlier this year I was on a holiday trip to California, and one of the other people on the trip worked at CB helping to preserve the manuscripts

[LauraT]

Jenny wrote: "Oh and I have finally 'met' Aldo Manuzio Laura!

Really enjoyed the the ridiculous images of these gigantic books being lifted around in libraries.

Thank god for the invention of Reclam Taschenbü..."

Up with Taschenbücher!!!

[EleonoraF]

In previous posts, someone commented the read aloud ... I do not know the ancient greek, but I remember that in the Latin texts, even those in prose, the ability to instill a certain "rhythm" at the sentence was considered an item of value, especially appreciated by reading aloud.

[Jenny]

I think that might have been me Eleonora. I still find it true for many texts, especially poetry in verse, where reading aloud helps to really feel the rhythm. I also sometimes use it in order to enter a text that I realize my brain won't really be willing to take in otherwise.

[Jenny]

Sometimes history is such a capable poet!
Loved the part where he Manguel talks about the Mesopotamians believing birds to be holy animals connected to God, because their footmarks resembled cuneiform script, so they thought that if they could decipher their traces, they'd be reading Gods words.

[LauraT]

Jenny wrote: "Sometimes history is such a capable poet!
Loved the part where he Manguel talks about the Mesopotamians believing birds to be holy animals connected to God, because their footmarks resembled cunei..."

Found it such a nice idea...

[Jenny]

Reading the section about readers in need for eye-glasses.
Just out of curiousity, how many of us here are short-sighted? ;)

[Leslie]

Jenny wrote: "Reading the section about readers in need for eye-glasses.
Just out of curiousity, how many of us here are short-sighted? ;)"

I am - well, now that I am older I have bifocals, but I have worn glasses (and at times contact lenses) since I was 11 years old...

[Jenny]

Same here, I think I needed mine since I was 8, but due to my job I am working mostly contact-lenses.

[Shirley]

Jenny wrote: "Same here, I think I needed mine since I was 8, but due to my job I am working mostly contact-lenses."

I have one long-sighted and one short-sighted eye!

[Leslie]

Shirley wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Same here, I think I needed mine since I was 8, but due to my job I am working mostly contact-lenses."

I have one long-sighted and one short-sighted eye!"

My mom has that! I am just myopic - no stigmatism or astigmatism or anything...

[Shirley]

Leslie wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Same here, I think I needed mine since I was 8, but due to my job I am working mostly contact-lenses."

I have one long-sighted and one short-sighted eye!"

My mom has..."

Really? Does she find that they compensate for one another to some extent? I have reading glasses now, but don't generally need distance glasses.

[Leslie]

Shirley wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Same here, I think I needed mine since I was 8, but due to my job I am working mostly contact-lenses."

I have one long-sighted and one short-sighted ey..."

I don't know - she needs glasses for driving etc.

[LauraT]

Leslie wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Reading the section about readers in need for eye-glasses.
Just out of curiousity, how many of us here are short-sighted? ;)"

I am - well, now that I am older I have bifocals, but I..."

Same here, even if I still read without glasses if I don't have contact lenses on!