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Bound to Last: 30 Writers on Their Most Cherished Book
Bound to Last, an array of writers come to the passionate defense of the printed book with spirited, never-before-published essays celebrating the hardcover or paperback that matters most to them-not necessarily because of its content, but because of the significance it holds for them as a one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable object. Whether focusing on the circumstances behind how a particular book was acquired, for example, or how it has become forever "bound up" with a specific person, time, or place, each piece collected here confirms-poignantly, delightfully, irrefutably-that every book tells a story far beyond the one found within its pages.Bound to Last features original essays by Ray Bradbury, Francine Prose, Julia Glass, Douglas Brinkley, David Hajdu, Jim Shepard, Wells Tower, Abigail Thomas, Anthony Swofford, and others.
241 pages, ebook
First published October 19, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 9, 2012
I love books. I love books about books. I especially love books about books that are loved by those who write them, so, by all reasoning, this should have been an easy winner.
It's beautifully designed -- deep burgundy with a worn appearance of bent pages, rubbed edges and curling corners which give the book a well loved feeling, a favorite that's been pulled from the shelf time and time again. On the back cover in large capital lettering it screams out:
LOVERS OF THE PRINTED BOOK…ARISE!
I liked the angle: a collection of essays by thirty authors sharing with us the "hardback or paperback they hold most dear -- not necessarily because of its contents, but because of its significance as a one-of-a- kind, irreplaceable object."
In introducing the book, Sean Manning writes (I'm paraphrasing here), that while he's not totally bashing e-readers, they in no way can compare to the tactile sensation that comes with reading a book--turning the pages and seeing the bookmark inching along night after night. In fact, he says, it's the lack of need for a bookmark that proves to be the e-reader's biggest shortcoming. What then is one to do with all of their mementos like postcards, boarding passes, concert tickets and flower petals, etc.? Though I personally have never used flora to hold my pages (wouldn't it stain?), I can see where he's going.
Through books, we are able to mark occasions, places, and people in our memories -- of where and who we were at particular times in our lives, both literally and figuratively. And if the event is important enough then the actual book becomes a keepsake. I agree and actually know of someone who clings to the rattiest of hardbacks because she read it with her second grade desk-buddy who happened to be her first crush.
It was stories like this that I was expecting -- the telling of how the authors became "bound up" with a specific book. Everyone appreciates a good tale of "How did you two meet?" Unfortunately, the majority of the authors strayed from the topic at hand, and instead of writing about that "one special object of love", they instead dragged on about their favorite stories and the impact made on their careers. There were a few who read the memo and got it right and the best example would be the ending essay by Jonathon Miles, who wrote about his ailing mother and her edition of "Ship of Fools." He tells of childhood memory, both good and bad, the late stages of Alzheimer, and the attempt to hold on to a bit of the past through a book that not only tells a story, but has one. It's too bad that more of the collection didn't do the same.
A great premise, but, unfortunately it did not accomplish what it set out to do and for that I brought it down a half star. I did, however, get a chuckle to see that the book is available on Kindle.
3.5
It's beautifully designed -- deep burgundy with a worn appearance of bent pages, rubbed edges and curling corners which give the book a well loved feeling, a favorite that's been pulled from the shelf time and time again. On the back cover in large capital lettering it screams out:
LOVERS OF THE PRINTED BOOK…ARISE!
I liked the angle: a collection of essays by thirty authors sharing with us the "hardback or paperback they hold most dear -- not necessarily because of its contents, but because of its significance as a one-of-a- kind, irreplaceable object."
In introducing the book, Sean Manning writes (I'm paraphrasing here), that while he's not totally bashing e-readers, they in no way can compare to the tactile sensation that comes with reading a book--turning the pages and seeing the bookmark inching along night after night. In fact, he says, it's the lack of need for a bookmark that proves to be the e-reader's biggest shortcoming. What then is one to do with all of their mementos like postcards, boarding passes, concert tickets and flower petals, etc.? Though I personally have never used flora to hold my pages (wouldn't it stain?), I can see where he's going.
Through books, we are able to mark occasions, places, and people in our memories -- of where and who we were at particular times in our lives, both literally and figuratively. And if the event is important enough then the actual book becomes a keepsake. I agree and actually know of someone who clings to the rattiest of hardbacks because she read it with her second grade desk-buddy who happened to be her first crush.
It was stories like this that I was expecting -- the telling of how the authors became "bound up" with a specific book. Everyone appreciates a good tale of "How did you two meet?" Unfortunately, the majority of the authors strayed from the topic at hand, and instead of writing about that "one special object of love", they instead dragged on about their favorite stories and the impact made on their careers. There were a few who read the memo and got it right and the best example would be the ending essay by Jonathon Miles, who wrote about his ailing mother and her edition of "Ship of Fools." He tells of childhood memory, both good and bad, the late stages of Alzheimer, and the attempt to hold on to a bit of the past through a book that not only tells a story, but has one. It's too bad that more of the collection didn't do the same.
A great premise, but, unfortunately it did not accomplish what it set out to do and for that I brought it down a half star. I did, however, get a chuckle to see that the book is available on Kindle.
3.5
February 12, 2025
This fantastic collection of literary essays is absolute soul food for bibliophiles. Each brief journey into the lives of the featured artists and writers was remarkably real, unfiltered and relatable. What books have changed your life? What were you going through when you found them? I could read anecdotes like this for years; the joy of reading (actual books) is quite universal and it’s so affirming to hear other people’s stories about falling in love with a book. Ridiculously recommended!
December 18, 2016
Shortly after my mother passed away, I awoke at 3 AM and could not get back to sleep. My mind was alive with memories of an idyllic childhood filled with laughter and love. I got out of bed, went to the BARD website, and downloaded Waddy Piper's classic, "The Little Engine That Could." My earliest childhood memory finds me listening attentively as my mother read that incredible story, probably for the zillionth time. Somehow, I never tired of it. Even now, as a 57 year old adult, there are times when I hear in my head the voice of that engine (which sounds an awful lot like my mother), chanting, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." Reading that classic once again seemed like a very important way to remember a woman who gave so much to her family and friends.
Such is the power of the human connection as it comes through the written word. And it is that connection which is at the very core of this incredible collection, a collection I almost didn't read.
Based on the subtitle, I anticipated that it would contain glowing reviews of literary classics by thirty of today's well known writers. My plan was to read only the essays by authors whose work I especially loved or who wrote about books which meant something to me. But a quick glance at the works the authors chose to discuss gave me pause. There were a few predictable titles: "Les Miserables," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "The Portable Dorothy Parker," ... But there were many surprises: "Roar and More," (a long forgotten children's book which Julia Glass recalled hearing read by none other than Captain Kangaroo, whose TV show I loved when I was little), "Das Kapital," "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy," and "Dungeon Master's Guide," (an instruction book for the game Dungeons and Dragons.) This odd smorgasbord so intrigued me that I decided that it might actually be worth starting from the beginning and seeing where the book took me. What a wise choice that was!
If you aren't familiar with the books these authors discuss, you won't know much more about them after reading these essays. But that really doesn't matter since that's not what the book is about. It's much more important than that.
In the pages of this anthology, you'll read thirty extremely diverse essays which illustrate with tremendous power and grace the impact books can have on our lives. You'll learn why Anthony Swafford, shortly after beginning his combat deployment in Saudi Arabia in 1993, wrote to his mother and asked her to send him copies of "The Stranger," "The Iliad," and "The Merchant of Venice." You'll be surprised to learn that Joyce Maynard collects all sorts of paraphernalia, but that she usually has no desire to hold on to copies of books. (She points out that it's the words on the page rather than the page itself that really make a difference.) But she then goes on to tell us why there's one particular copy of the Bible that she longs to own with all her heart. (Her essay is unforgettable.) You'll learn how a chance encounter with "Les Miserables" profoundly changed the course of Louis Ferrante's life. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
[It's worth pointing out that what I got from this anthology doesn't actually match the editorial intent. The authors were asked to write about books they treasure not because of their content, but because of their actual physical experience with the book itself. I didn't even make that connection until I looked at reviews after posting this one, possibly because I read the audio edition. I will say, however, that I can certainly agree with that premise, at least to some extent. That's one reason I sometimes prefer Braille over audio books; there's something about the feel of the words under my fingertips, the rustle of the pages as I turn them, that enhances the reading experience in ways I can't fully define.]
If the only reason you read is because it provides a pleasant way to pass the time, you may come away from this book scratching your head and wondering what all the fuss is about. But if, like me, books have shaped who you are, if they are at the very core of your existence, if you can't imagine even a day without reading, you will be thrilled by the kindred spirits you'll meet in the pages of this remarkable collection.
Such is the power of the human connection as it comes through the written word. And it is that connection which is at the very core of this incredible collection, a collection I almost didn't read.
Based on the subtitle, I anticipated that it would contain glowing reviews of literary classics by thirty of today's well known writers. My plan was to read only the essays by authors whose work I especially loved or who wrote about books which meant something to me. But a quick glance at the works the authors chose to discuss gave me pause. There were a few predictable titles: "Les Miserables," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "The Portable Dorothy Parker," ... But there were many surprises: "Roar and More," (a long forgotten children's book which Julia Glass recalled hearing read by none other than Captain Kangaroo, whose TV show I loved when I was little), "Das Kapital," "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy," and "Dungeon Master's Guide," (an instruction book for the game Dungeons and Dragons.) This odd smorgasbord so intrigued me that I decided that it might actually be worth starting from the beginning and seeing where the book took me. What a wise choice that was!
If you aren't familiar with the books these authors discuss, you won't know much more about them after reading these essays. But that really doesn't matter since that's not what the book is about. It's much more important than that.
In the pages of this anthology, you'll read thirty extremely diverse essays which illustrate with tremendous power and grace the impact books can have on our lives. You'll learn why Anthony Swafford, shortly after beginning his combat deployment in Saudi Arabia in 1993, wrote to his mother and asked her to send him copies of "The Stranger," "The Iliad," and "The Merchant of Venice." You'll be surprised to learn that Joyce Maynard collects all sorts of paraphernalia, but that she usually has no desire to hold on to copies of books. (She points out that it's the words on the page rather than the page itself that really make a difference.) But she then goes on to tell us why there's one particular copy of the Bible that she longs to own with all her heart. (Her essay is unforgettable.) You'll learn how a chance encounter with "Les Miserables" profoundly changed the course of Louis Ferrante's life. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
[It's worth pointing out that what I got from this anthology doesn't actually match the editorial intent. The authors were asked to write about books they treasure not because of their content, but because of their actual physical experience with the book itself. I didn't even make that connection until I looked at reviews after posting this one, possibly because I read the audio edition. I will say, however, that I can certainly agree with that premise, at least to some extent. That's one reason I sometimes prefer Braille over audio books; there's something about the feel of the words under my fingertips, the rustle of the pages as I turn them, that enhances the reading experience in ways I can't fully define.]
If the only reason you read is because it provides a pleasant way to pass the time, you may come away from this book scratching your head and wondering what all the fuss is about. But if, like me, books have shaped who you are, if they are at the very core of your existence, if you can't imagine even a day without reading, you will be thrilled by the kindred spirits you'll meet in the pages of this remarkable collection.
March 6, 2019
A round of applause.
January 11, 2020
Sigrid Nunez's mother saddened me: a woman who adored books but only could afford few. A bibliophage always desires ownership of books that strike our fancy. Being a woman connected to Nigeria, Chris Abani's essay on unrestricted freedom to read in childhood led him to Another Country by James Baldwin, left me desiring more avenues for myself.
This anthology proves stellar.
This anthology proves stellar.
Read
July 15, 2024It felt a bit perverse to read this on my phone, but it was worth it nonetheless. For having 30 different writers, there was a weird uniformity to the voice of the collection, but no essay was worse than "pretty good." Here are the ones that stick out the most to me:
The Stranger by Anthony Swofford
The Shadow of the Sun by Nick Flynn
The Bible by Joyce Maynard
Les Miserables by Louis Ferrante
The Viking Portable Dorothy Parker by J. Courtney Sullivan
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy by Terrence Holt
The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel by Karen Green
Sula by Susan Straight
Believe It or Not! by Sarah Manguso
Ship of Fools by Jonathan Miles
This is more of a 4.5/5 than a 4/5, in my book.
The Stranger by Anthony Swofford
The Shadow of the Sun by Nick Flynn
The Bible by Joyce Maynard
Les Miserables by Louis Ferrante
The Viking Portable Dorothy Parker by J. Courtney Sullivan
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy by Terrence Holt
The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel by Karen Green
Sula by Susan Straight
Believe It or Not! by Sarah Manguso
Ship of Fools by Jonathan Miles
This is more of a 4.5/5 than a 4/5, in my book.
October 23, 2011
Interesting tales of the book most prominient in the lives of various authors. Those of us who love books will relate to the tales, some which border on obssesion with a particular book. Many of the chapters are an argument against e books because physical books have texture. Paper books have an aesthetic not duplicated in the plastic, odor free, generic face of an e reader. Every book I read on my kindle looks like the last. Ironically, I read this book on my kindle, but halfway through it I realized I wanted a hard copy of it so I could bookmark places to read to my students.
June 26, 2011
A serviceable read if the premise of 30 writers espousing on their most 'cherished' book appeals to you. Writing is good overall, but the collected authors run the gamut from established to obscure which may or may not be a good thing depending on your preferences. This is a good looking book though - nice stiff cover with blatant design homage to 'Catcher in the Rye.'
January 30, 2017
I received this book as a gift and misunderstood what it’s about. It’s not, as I thought, the best book that the contributors have read but the most cherished. This gives the book a latitude that is often charming and often very sad. One example is the guy trying to read Pynchon’s latest novel before he goes blind.
Currently reading
April 20, 2011Came upon this book by chance in looking for books by Sigrid Nunez, which I never found. Turns out she wrote a chapter in this book. So I bought it on a whim. Her most cherished book: Edith Hamilton's Mythology, also one of my most cherished.
December 21, 2016
I loved this, but rarely for the reasons it was advertised/introduced: as an ode to the physical book. While some writers reflected on this more than others, this was really just a series of interesting, personal essays about 30 cherished--and quite varied--books.
December 23, 2016
Amazing book!!! I love reading books about books and this one is truly great. The essays by the authors are written well. This book inspired me to read new books, and I will read this one again!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews