Book Review: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
Written by: Allison Hoover Bartlett

From the book: John Charles Gilkey is an obsessed, unrepentant book thief who has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of rare books from book fairs, stores, and libraries around the country. Ken Sanders is the self-appointed "bibliodick" (book dealer with a penchant for detective work) driven to catch him. Journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett befriended both eccentric characters and found herself caught in the middle of efforts to recover hidden treasure. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, she not only reveals exactly how Gilkey pulled off his dirtiest crimes and how Sanders ultimately caught him, but also explores the romance of books, the lure to collect them, and the temptation to steal them. Immersing the reader in a rich, wide world of literary obsession, Bartlett looks at the history of book passion, collection, and theft through the ages, to examine the craving that makes some people willing to stop at nothing to possess the books they love.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is the biggest surprise of the year. I certainly wasn't prepared to fall so deeply under its spell, but by the time I finished, I was ready to fall all over again.

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The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession. So says the text on the front of Allison Hoover Bartlett's brilliant new book. From page one I found myself captivated by her narrative. It reads like a novel but you never forget that this tale is a true one.

It's full of intrigue, laughs, and characters that you find yourself sympathizing for. I'm talking about Gilkey, the man behind the thefts of hundreds of thousands of dollars in rare books, as well as his victims.

For someone thinking that a book about stealing books can't possibly interested, I'll tell you now, that's wrong. I was captivated by this book from page one. Bartlett weaves a spectacular tale the allows us to connect not only with those involved, but with her and her experiences in dealing with Gilkey and those he's stolen from.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is by far one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading this year. It's gorgeously paced and intricately plotted with charming and off beat characters. We are taking through the same emotions that Bartlett experienced in trying to understand the reason behind Gilkey's deeds.

Even as I read this book, I found myself getting the bug of book collecting. I've always kept books but I never really thought to seek out rare books until reading this book. It opened my eyes to a world I never really realized I was interested in until reading about it in this book.

That might be the danger is reading this book. You'll fall into it and when you finish, you might find yourself planning a visit to the thrift store and scanning your shelves for a First Edition Stephen King (which I'll be doing this evening!).

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much is in stores now and I highly suggest grabbing a copy. Not only will you discover a great book you'll also discover a great new writer as well. I can't wait to see what she gives us next.