Literary Quote of the Month

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Giveaway: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett

How Much Do You Love a Good Book?

CONGRATS to Jennifer (a.k.a. Knittingmomof3)! Thanks everyone for joining in on the fun and entering the giveaway! Plus thanks to everyone who shared what book they would steal! The list of books is up! Here's the LINK to the post of all the books worth "stealing"! Leave a comment and add to the list too!

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett is an adventure for all of us who love books! For those of us who love not just what's inside them, but the heft of them in our hands, the sensation of the texture of the pages as we turn them, the beauty of the book itself...

This story takes us into the lives of John Gilkey, an obsessed & bold book thief, Ken Sanders the man who made it his mission to catch Gilkey, and the journalist and author, Allison Hoover Bartlett, who explores the world of rare & beautiful books with the people who sell & collect them, including Sanders AND Gilkey.

In the opening of the book, a 400 yr. old book called a Kreuterbuch sits on Allison Hoover Bartlett's desk. I love old books, and just the way Allison described the Kreuterbuch in the prologue, "the pages, when turned, make a muffled crack... a dry woody smell..." I knew this would be a different kind of 'book thief' story. A book written by a person who truly appreciates & enjoys books - and not just for what's inside!

This particular Kreuterbuch (plant book) was found in the belongings of the deceased brother of a friend with a note attached to it explaining that it was 'accidentally' never returned to the college library it was borrowed from and asking for someone please return it. The book intrigued Allison and she decided to find its rightful owner. But that's only where the story starts- not one library would claim it... and as she searched the internet about stolen rare books, she found nothing about the Kreuterbuch, but found "story after riveting story of theft... thieves who were scholars, thieves who were clergymen, thieves who stole for profit.. and smitten thieves who stole purely for the love of books." One name that came popping up in her research was Ken Sanders, a rare book dealer, and John Gilkey, who was "one of the most successful thieves in recent years". Allison managed to befriend both men and gain amazing insight into what motivated each of them - Gilkey to steal & Sanders to hunt him down. But she doesn't stop at the relationship between Gilkey & Sanders, and the individual men themselves, she also does a wonderful job researching book collecting & theft thru the ages and writes about it in an entertaining and intriguing way. If books interest you, you will be glued to the pages reading about Don Vincente a nineteenth century monk who stole from his cloister and how his obsession lead to the murder of 9 men, or about the hidden beautiful paintings on the edge of a book called a fore-edge painting... many great stories and notes in the back of the book for reference to her research.

"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."

Allison is a wonderful writer, and The Man Who Loved Books Too Much was such an enjoyable and interesting read. If you love books, you should pick this book up! But I have a special surprise! Courtesy of Lydia of G.P. Putnam's Sons/ Riverhead I am having a giveaway to coincide with the release date of The Man Who Loved Books Too Much! I have one copy to give away BUT The Giveaway will only run 1 WEEK! Release date for the book is Sept. 17th and this Giveaway will end midnight on Sept.16th! So tell all your bookish friends and enter...

To Enter this Giveaway...

*To enter leave me a comment with your email address!
*For another entry Blog or Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.
*For another entry, tell me what book you would steal if you were a thief! (we all love books, so don't be shy!)

This Giveaway is open to U.S. residents ONLY, (No P.O. Boxes, please) Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on Sept. 16th. I'll randomly pick the winner the next day and email that person. Please check your email... winner must reply to me within 3 days...

Hey, would you like to read an excerpt? Here's the link on Allison's website! And you can read more about Allison there too!

Good luck everyone!

63 comments:

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

Ooh, ooh, please enter me in this one!

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Oh my gosh - I'd love to win :) Please enter me and thank you so very much!!!

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I would steal a rare first edition of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. He's my favorite. Or, better yet, a written/typed manuscript!

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I also Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/fitz12383/status/3862314505

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

I would 'steal' the very first edition of ANYTHING by Edgar Allen Poe :)

M.A.D. said...

Mary D
zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

I just signed up to Follow on Google :)

Karen H said...

This book sounds so good. Enter me please!

+1 I am a google follower

kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net

rng888 said...

pls enter me

rng888(at)gmail(dot)com

i'd steal the first edition of the collected works of Shakespeare published in 1623 ;)

Unknown said...

rodriguez.cv at gmail dot com

i'd steal a signed first ed of david copperfield...

Bridget said...

Sounds like fun! No need to enter me, though. Just posted on Win A Book.

Diana said...

Ooh! Sounds interesting!

Unknown said...

I just tweeted about this giveaway:

http://twitter.com/pine1211/status/3868134880

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Unknown said...

I really want to read this book and learn how one person can steal books.Count me in on the contest.

If I were to steal a book, it would be the Gutenberg Bible.

bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

Madeleine said...

Please enter me

I tweeted your giveaway


madeleine444[at]gmail[dot[com]

Madeleine said...

Oh, there are so many books, it's a difficult choice. one book which stayed with me is "A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR" so much wisdom


madeleine444[at]gmail[dot]com

Unknown said...

This book looks like such an interesting exciting read. Please enter me in your giveaway!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would steal a first edition of Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I blogged about this giveaway at
http://homeofaimala.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaways.html

Thank you for a great giveaway!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I tweeted this giveaway at
http://twitter.com/Amestir/status/3870208370

Aimala127@gmail.com

Eva @ One Swede Read said...

I'd love to be entered to win!

the_viking_chick AT yahoo DOT com

Steal a book? Why, if I could get my hands on a first edition of Pride and Prejudice, why not? :)

Jennifer said...

This sounds like a fantastic read! Thank you for the chance!
knittingmomof3(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Jennifer said...

Tweeted! http://twitter.com/knittingmomof3/status/3872810313
knittingmomof3(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Jennifer said...

Oh my! Definitely a handwritten draft by Jane Austen.
knittingmomof3(AT)gmail(DOT)com

mrsshukra said...

I would like to be entered, this book sounds really good!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

It has to be worth stealing so it would have to be the first edition of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

J.T. Oldfield said...

please enter me in this one!

j.t.oldfield[at]gmail.com

I once saw (and even got to touch) a second edition of Paradise Lost. If I could get my hands on a first edition, I might be very tempted to steal it.

I'm tweeting about this!

Michele said...

This sounds like a great read, please enter me.

mmmtnbike09@yahoo.com

Michele said...

I would steal an original copy of any Shakespeare play.

mmmtnbike09@yahoo.com

KR said...

I'd love this.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

KR said...

I teach kindergarten. I'd steal a first edition Dick and Jane reader!

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

stpand said...

Please enter me.

Shooting Stars Mag said...

oh oh enter me. this sounds great.

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

i tweeted:

http://twitter.com/ShootingStarMag/status/3880428874

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

if i could steal any book? hmm...maybe Oscar Wilde and Me by Lord Alfred Douglas. Always wanted to read it...the title might be a bit wrong, but it's something like that.

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

Wish I was eligible, this sounds like a great book.
After thinking about it, I think much as I love beautiful books any edition of favourite books makes me happy. Although at the moment I would be keen to get a copy of Who Killed Amanda Palmer, only a small print run and impossible to get in Australia.

Chris said...

Please count me in!

danunepthys(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

joe.shemtov@gmail.com

Chris said...

Tweeted - http://twitter.com/chrisec/status/3889057562

danunepthys(at)hotmail(dot)com

Chris said...

I would want an original play (is that cheating?) by Henrik Ibsen. Or a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales - my parents had one when I was growing up, and it was really getting tattered, but I loved it.

danunepthys(at)hotmail(dot)com

Becca said...

Please enter me!!

If I was going to steal books it would probably be Emmuska Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel books because I love them but they are just so expensive.

I blogged about this here:

http://completepoppycock.blogspot.com/2009/09/can-you-love-books-too-much.html

thanks
rebecca.bradeen(at)verizon(dot)net

Marie said...

This sounds like a great read, fascinating!

marielay@gmail.com

Marie said...

I'd be tempted by an original of anything by Shakespeare :-)

marielay@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

please count me in...

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cherie J said...

Please enter me in the drawing. This sounds good.

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cherie J said...

If I were to steal a book it would have to be a first edition copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I love that book!

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

I love this cover and if I were a thief it would be for books.

Please enter me LooseEnds AT Snet DOT Net.

Thanks for the chance.

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

I could only steal one?

My first choice would be Edward Gorey and I would love to have one of his accordian books - The Tunnel Calamity...

One of Lynd Ward's wordless novels would also be great!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to read this :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

Anonymous said...

If I were a thief I'd steal The Tao Te Ching, the ancient Chinese "Book of the Tao" written by philosopher Lao Tzu around 2500 BC :)
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

LoveMyCoffee said...

Please enter me.

New follower

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

Debs Desk said...

Please inlcude me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Debs Desk said...

Right Now I would steel - wow there are so many - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Ammieloris said...

Wow! This book sounds wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway.
ammieloris at hotmail dot com

Ammieloris said...

If I were a thief I would steal a first edition Nero Wolfe novel, say, The Doorbell Rang.

Anonymous said...

This book sounds great. Please enter me in the giveaway.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

It's hard to imagine myself a thief. I don't really know what I would steal. Right now I'd love to read Cleopatra's Daughter. Maybe I'd steal that.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carol M said...

This sounds like a book I would love! Thank you for the chance to win it!
Carol M
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I would steal a first edition, signed copy of Gone With the Wind.
Carol M
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Ladytink_534 said...

Really would like to read this one!

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ladytink_534 said...

I'd steal a first edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nancye said...

I would like to win this book.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/4043841896

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

Nancye said...

Let's see, if I were left lone in Barnes & Noble Bookstore with a HUGE bag, believe me, I could fill them up with books I could steal......Hmmmm...

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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