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A Library of Misremembered Books: When We're Searching for a Book but Have Forgotten the Title
How do you find a book when you can't recall the title.or the author? This homage to a common reader's dilemma is a gift the booklover in your life won't soon forget.
Readers know all too well the comedy and tragedy of forgetting the name of a must-find book. Inspired by this torturous predicament, artist Marina Luz creates paintings of books based on the descriptions we use when we can't remember their titles—mining Internet book-search forums for the quirky, vague, and often hilarious language we come up with in these moments. This volume collects dozens of these imaginary books into a library all their own: Titles like "Cat, Possibly Named Henry," "It Was All a Dream," or "Something-Something, Beverly Hills" inspire dreaming up their contents, often as entertaining as trying to guess the real book behind them. A celebration of book love unlike any other, this petite book is a clever gift for bibliophiles that will spark knowing smiles.
PERFECT GIFT FOR BOOKLOVERS: The collection will spark recognition for everyone who has encountered this phenomenon (so, virtually every reader) and especially those who have worked in a bookstore, who know intimately well how often this dilemma arises. This impulse-priced delight is an excellent way to make book-loving friends feel seen.
A UNIQUE APPRECIATION OF BOOK LOVE: This is a loving tribute to the wonderful and bizarre ways that books leave impressions on our souls, if not always perfectly in our memories. It's a fun and fresh appreciation of bibliophilia that still delivers long after the first read.
Perfect for:
• Bibliophiles
• Booksellers
• People seeking gifts for the booklovers in their life
Readers know all too well the comedy and tragedy of forgetting the name of a must-find book. Inspired by this torturous predicament, artist Marina Luz creates paintings of books based on the descriptions we use when we can't remember their titles—mining Internet book-search forums for the quirky, vague, and often hilarious language we come up with in these moments. This volume collects dozens of these imaginary books into a library all their own: Titles like "Cat, Possibly Named Henry," "It Was All a Dream," or "Something-Something, Beverly Hills" inspire dreaming up their contents, often as entertaining as trying to guess the real book behind them. A celebration of book love unlike any other, this petite book is a clever gift for bibliophiles that will spark knowing smiles.
PERFECT GIFT FOR BOOKLOVERS: The collection will spark recognition for everyone who has encountered this phenomenon (so, virtually every reader) and especially those who have worked in a bookstore, who know intimately well how often this dilemma arises. This impulse-priced delight is an excellent way to make book-loving friends feel seen.
A UNIQUE APPRECIATION OF BOOK LOVE: This is a loving tribute to the wonderful and bizarre ways that books leave impressions on our souls, if not always perfectly in our memories. It's a fun and fresh appreciation of bibliophilia that still delivers long after the first read.
Perfect for:
• Bibliophiles
• Booksellers
• People seeking gifts for the booklovers in their life
95 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 11, 2021
I was blindly introduced to this book via some librarian thing and I have to say that it's pretty spot-on. I see it's got a lower rating than I'd expect from a book of this type, and without having read any other reviews, I can only speculate as to why. But as a library professional I'd like to assure you that no matter what you think of your own recall prowess, people can't remember shit! This book beautifully illustrates that.
November 27, 2021
Love the idea and enjoyed the illustrations, but somehow I expected something... more. Like maybe some anecdotes to go with the illustrations or something?
April 5, 2022
The author created book jacket designs to go with people's vague descriptions of the books they were looking for, as though things like "I Heard about it on NPR This Morning" and "It was Red" were actual titles. The results are frequently amusing. One flips through it awfully quickly, though. It took me about two minutes to read.
May 14, 2022
3,5 stars
Fun little book that you finish in 10 minutes. If I owned a bookstore, I would like to use some of these as sections (like red covers, or why not ice bergs)
Fun little book that you finish in 10 minutes. If I owned a bookstore, I would like to use some of these as sections (like red covers, or why not ice bergs)
March 31, 2025
Kind of disappointed that not once were librarians mentioned as the ultimate source for finding misremembered books!! 😥 We're really good at it and love the challenge!!
April 7, 2023
I did read it while standing in front of the shelf at the library because it is that short, but it was an amusing few minutes for sure.
January 8, 2022
Cute art book about the requests for help that come from readers who can't remember anything about a book they want.
I had experiences like this when I worked at Chapters. Someone looking for a "blue bestseller ". Someone looking for "a book for a gift for my aunt" and when pressed "maybe about gardening " and when shown the gardening feature books "oh she wouldn't like that, can you find me someone who knows what they're doing?"
Yep.
This book was more fun than that.
I had experiences like this when I worked at Chapters. Someone looking for a "blue bestseller ". Someone looking for "a book for a gift for my aunt" and when pressed "maybe about gardening " and when shown the gardening feature books "oh she wouldn't like that, can you find me someone who knows what they're doing?"
Yep.
This book was more fun than that.
December 3, 2021
Not really a book to read but a book to browse through and let your imagination soar. Marina Luz has used her artistic talents to draw jacket covers for books of which people could not remember the titles. Culled from talking to booksellers, librarians and from web sites there are such gems as:
Cat Possibly Named Henry
Obscure Elegant Insults
Ice was in the title
Some of those depicted made me want to actually find the book:
Has the all-time best sunset description
A Ghost, A Mountain, A Dynamite truck
Bear With Jeweled Claws
I can totally relate because I've been there myself, once describing a children's fantasy plot to the librarian (Tina was a marvel - she knew exactly what title I was talking about though I can't remember it now) and another time singing lyrics to the store clerk at National Record Mart because I knew the title had no words that corresponded to the lyrics (The Voice by the Moody Blues).
Cat Possibly Named Henry
Obscure Elegant Insults
Ice was in the title
Some of those depicted made me want to actually find the book:
Has the all-time best sunset description
A Ghost, A Mountain, A Dynamite truck
Bear With Jeweled Claws
I can totally relate because I've been there myself, once describing a children's fantasy plot to the librarian (Tina was a marvel - she knew exactly what title I was talking about though I can't remember it now) and another time singing lyrics to the store clerk at National Record Mart because I knew the title had no words that corresponded to the lyrics (The Voice by the Moody Blues).
October 22, 2021
....
I kind of thought that this was going to be about actual books or based on ways that patrons/customers had described books when looking for them at libraries or bookstores. She does hit the nail on the head though with the book cover trends. I can name a book with a similar title that would match almost every one of these. Overall, as a book lover/library worker... I was a little disappointed
I kind of thought that this was going to be about actual books or based on ways that patrons/customers had described books when looking for them at libraries or bookstores. She does hit the nail on the head though with the book cover trends. I can name a book with a similar title that would match almost every one of these. Overall, as a book lover/library worker... I was a little disappointed
January 27, 2022
This should be a blog, not a book. Lovely illustrations, and I enjoyed the author's introduction explaining the concept. But unfortunately it turns out that someone else's misremembered book titles and covers just... aren't that interesting.
August 13, 2022
Cute concept and as a former bookseller I can truly relate. I was just expecting a little something more to go with the great illustrations.
December 21, 2024
It was fun but feels like cheating for calling it a book.
December 31, 2021
As a librarian, I probably can appreciate this book more than many. It's a very quick read, but highly amusing and drew a laugh a time or two (and had to share a fair number of them with my coworkers).
January 28, 2022
Freaking awesome and all too true for librarians and bookstore employees! Thanks for the recommendation, Tim!
December 18, 2021
Charming and beautifully illustrated.
And I enjoyed the mystery of wondering if I could guess some of the titles.
I think that
'singing to crystals' could be The Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey?
'
And I enjoyed the mystery of wondering if I could guess some of the titles.
I think that
'singing to crystals' could be The Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey?
'
November 29, 2021
A cute little book full of really artistic and creative designs for these "misremembered" novels. A very quick read, though I had one question: The author mentioned, many times, booksellers trying to find "a book that was blue" or "a book with an iceberg," but... what about librarians? As relatable as it was, I felt a little forgotten... Oh well. Still definitely a cute book.
Read
November 20, 2021This is a fun, literally 20-minutes-or-less-to-finish, picture book of descriptions library and bookstore patrons have given when trying to find a specific book.
Some are kinda funny, most are just ok.
I was expecting something different but enjoyed this Saturday afternoon diversion.
Heard about this book from Anne Bogel of What Should I Read Next fame.
Some are kinda funny, most are just ok.
I was expecting something different but enjoyed this Saturday afternoon diversion.
Heard about this book from Anne Bogel of What Should I Read Next fame.
June 16, 2024
Years and years ago, I took a vacation with my family to the beach. And like many a sandy seaside resort, the room came with a shelf packed with books left behind by previous guests. Roaming the shelves, I picked out what could be fairly described as a classic penny dreadful romance. Cheesy old-fashioned painted cover and all.
The title and author are long lost to my memory, though I can't claim to ever have been good at recalling such things. Though if not the plot, certain scenes and themes stand out.
A young woman, presumably after a night of partying, clibes out her window, only to be drawn in next door by a mysterious older man who requests that she become his bride. Upon agreeing, he whisks her away by carriage to his countryside estate, where a dreary building looks and they are greeted by his staff, and daughter, who immediately disagrees with the woman's new place in her life.
Ostracized by both his remaining family and staff, the young woman takes to wandering the corridors at night, where she is drawn in by the sounds of piano music. Deep within the house, she finds the man, and after some light discussion, the make love atop the piano.
Like the books pictured within this one, that book of my childhood may very well be doomed to live only within the recess of my memory. A vague description that fades ever more with time, leaving behind only a fond imprint that may have left within me, a more poignant feeling than the book itself.
The title and author are long lost to my memory, though I can't claim to ever have been good at recalling such things. Though if not the plot, certain scenes and themes stand out.
A young woman, presumably after a night of partying, clibes out her window, only to be drawn in next door by a mysterious older man who requests that she become his bride. Upon agreeing, he whisks her away by carriage to his countryside estate, where a dreary building looks and they are greeted by his staff, and daughter, who immediately disagrees with the woman's new place in her life.
Ostracized by both his remaining family and staff, the young woman takes to wandering the corridors at night, where she is drawn in by the sounds of piano music. Deep within the house, she finds the man, and after some light discussion, the make love atop the piano.
Like the books pictured within this one, that book of my childhood may very well be doomed to live only within the recess of my memory. A vague description that fades ever more with time, leaving behind only a fond imprint that may have left within me, a more poignant feeling than the book itself.
March 27, 2023
Tämä kirja oli hauskaa selattavaa! Ei nyt ehkä mikään mielettömän hyvä kirja, mutta hyvää viihdettä hetkeksi.
Kirjan ajatus on lähtenyt niistä välillä varsin huvittavistakin kuvauksista, kun meillä on mielessä joku kirja, jonka muistamme etäisesti ja jonka haluaisimme lukea, mutta josta emme muista yksityiskohtia (tai muistamme ne väärin) ja yritämme sitten löytää kirjaa näiden hyvin hatarien yksityiskohtien kautta – tyyliä "kirjassa oli ehkä punainen kansi", "nainen leikkaa siinä kolmioleipiä", "se taisi kertoa vuorikiipeilijästä, joka rakastuu ja kuolee", "en muista kirjailijan nimeä, mutta se alkoi ehkä A-kirjaimella, koska kurkotin sitä ylähyllyltä – ellei sitä sitten oltu hyllytetty väärin".
Kirja tekijä on poiminut näitä kuvauksia ja tehnyt niiden perusteella näille kirjoille kannet. Kirja on siis kuvakirja fiktionaalisista kirjojen kansista, joiden keksityt nimet perustuvat näihin epämääräisiin muistikuviin kirjoista.
Kuulostaa ehkä hämmentävältä näin selitettynä, mutta kirja oli joka tapauksessa viihdyttävää (ja nopeaa) selattavaa.
Tämä kirja voisi olla hauska lahja sellaiselle, joka työskentelee kirjakaupassa tai kirjastossa ja saa oletettavasti usein olla jäljittämässä asiakkaille kirjoja hyvin hatarien tuntomerkkien perusteella.
Kirjan ajatus on lähtenyt niistä välillä varsin huvittavistakin kuvauksista, kun meillä on mielessä joku kirja, jonka muistamme etäisesti ja jonka haluaisimme lukea, mutta josta emme muista yksityiskohtia (tai muistamme ne väärin) ja yritämme sitten löytää kirjaa näiden hyvin hatarien yksityiskohtien kautta – tyyliä "kirjassa oli ehkä punainen kansi", "nainen leikkaa siinä kolmioleipiä", "se taisi kertoa vuorikiipeilijästä, joka rakastuu ja kuolee", "en muista kirjailijan nimeä, mutta se alkoi ehkä A-kirjaimella, koska kurkotin sitä ylähyllyltä – ellei sitä sitten oltu hyllytetty väärin".
Kirja tekijä on poiminut näitä kuvauksia ja tehnyt niiden perusteella näille kirjoille kannet. Kirja on siis kuvakirja fiktionaalisista kirjojen kansista, joiden keksityt nimet perustuvat näihin epämääräisiin muistikuviin kirjoista.
Kuulostaa ehkä hämmentävältä näin selitettynä, mutta kirja oli joka tapauksessa viihdyttävää (ja nopeaa) selattavaa.
Tämä kirja voisi olla hauska lahja sellaiselle, joka työskentelee kirjakaupassa tai kirjastossa ja saa oletettavasti usein olla jäljittämässä asiakkaille kirjoja hyvin hatarien tuntomerkkien perusteella.
October 3, 2022
What a little treasure this was to stumble upon. The humor in the truth of it might be lost on someone who’s never asked or been asked to help track down a book when only a minor detail is remembered. For sure, those inquiries that include “all I can remember is...” will either lead you down a rabbit hole or grant you with the sweet search results of success when you actually find that book!
As a library professional who also worked in a bookstore, I promise these descriptions are spot on.
And the illustrations that accompany the one recalled detail are hilariously wonderful! Get me that Solutions Manual!
As a library professional who also worked in a bookstore, I promise these descriptions are spot on.
And the illustrations that accompany the one recalled detail are hilariously wonderful! Get me that Solutions Manual!
October 7, 2025
the book cover caught my eye. when i first saw this at the bookstore, i immediately knew it was coming home with me (what a low-key dramatic way of saying it, haha).
i had fun browsing through the book illustrations.
also, i wanna know if the author found the book she can't remember the title of, 'cuz now, i'm curious, too.
'mountain climber falls in love but dies' had a simple but clever typographical design—i love it.
'colonial presidents' recipes' gave me a chuckle—it was random and witty.
kinda mad that the 'book about revenge in the US' didn't make it in the published book (i saw it in an article).
i had fun browsing through the book illustrations.
also, i wanna know if the author found the book she can't remember the title of, 'cuz now, i'm curious, too.
'mountain climber falls in love but dies' had a simple but clever typographical design—i love it.
'colonial presidents' recipes' gave me a chuckle—it was random and witty.
kinda mad that the 'book about revenge in the US' didn't make it in the published book (i saw it in an article).
April 18, 2023
This is such a fun and funny little book; I read it in 15 minutes, and I REALLY appreciate the thought that has gone into each cover design.
As someone who has been a bookseller, I have been met with this exact conundrum multiples times, my favourite still being, "There's this book, I'm not sure what it's about, but I saw it in the paper, and the women on the front have red hair" - I found out the book.
It was a lovely way to rediscover that memory and find the enchanting power and humour of misremembered books; very satisfying and very fun.
As someone who has been a bookseller, I have been met with this exact conundrum multiples times, my favourite still being, "There's this book, I'm not sure what it's about, but I saw it in the paper, and the women on the front have red hair" - I found out the book.
It was a lovely way to rediscover that memory and find the enchanting power and humour of misremembered books; very satisfying and very fun.
April 22, 2026
A silly little book that was such a joy to read! We all have that one white whale of a book that we read once, but can't recall the title or any real details. Instead of providing the missing details, this book just pokes fun at the concept by taking those vague descriptions and making them into titles. It was a lot of fun to read and the illustrations were top-notch!
As a librarian whose idea of fun is tracking down old kid's books based on weird descriptions, this was right up my alley!
As a librarian whose idea of fun is tracking down old kid's books based on weird descriptions, this was right up my alley!
January 26, 2022
The title says it all, a small picture book of the best a patron can come up with when asking for a book they are looking for. I've had many equally vague descriptions said to me and sometimes I even work out what they are looking for. As for the ones in this book I think page 81 is The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber. The character of Sugar has dry peeling lips and I think that must be it!
November 29, 2023
I love the idea of this book. Very cute illustrations. But I kinda wanted more context. The description says that the author mined "Internet book-search forums for the quirky, vague, and often hilarious language we come up with in these moments.". Would have loved to have seen the posts in their entirety. And also the title of the book they were actually looking for, in the cases that were solved. But this is a cute, little book for sure.
August 27, 2023
As other readers have said, I "read" this book in a matter of minutes. It did bring to mind a free excerpt of a book I had read on my Kindle. All I can remember is that it was something about a farmer. I should have written down the title before I deleted it, but I thought for sure I would remember it if I decided to go back and download the entire book.
November 20, 2022
Fast read. Like an adult picture book. Loved the concept, happy the book was shrunk to paperback sized to not be paper wasteful.
It would have been hilarious to match the misremembered book to the rightful title. How far off was it? Or “that’s what you remembered out of that book!”
It would have been hilarious to match the misremembered book to the rightful title. How far off was it? Or “that’s what you remembered out of that book!”
January 8, 2023
“Coralie Bickford-Smith’s beautifully detailed patterns for the Penguin Classics; or any book-cover design, really, by […] Edward Gorey.”
Very much agree.
Lovely art. I want to read some of these. Some based on the title others the art, or both.
Made me laugh.
Very much agree.
Lovely art. I want to read some of these. Some based on the title others the art, or both.
Made me laugh.
November 9, 2023
I was fortunate enough to view this collection as gallery art, and found it fresh, entertaining, and relatable. I also really enjoy the art style. Now I'm thrilled that it's in a book so that I can possess and share the entire collection.
December 31, 2023
Amusing but would have been amazing and more satisfying if we could have known what the titles of the actual books were supposed to be. I know that obviously wasn’t a possibility since the whole reason for the book was because humans as a whole can’t remember shit but one can dream. 3 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews