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Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread
Pulitzer Prize–winning literary critic Michiko Kakutani shares 100 personal, thought-provoking essays about books that have mattered to her and that help illuminate the world we live in today—with beautiful illustrations throughout.
In the introduction to her new collection of essays,Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread,Michiko Kakutani writes: "In a world riven by political and social divisions, literature can connect people across time zones and zip codes, across cultures and religions, national boundaries and historical eras. It can give us an understanding of lives very different from our own, and a sense of the shared joys and losses of human experience."
Readers will discover novels and memoirs by some of the most gifted writers working today; favorite classics worth reading or rereading; and nonfiction works, both old and new, that illuminate our social and political landscape and some of today’s most pressing issues, from climate change to medicine to the consequences of digital innovation. There are essential works in American history (The Federalist Papers, The Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.); books that address timely cultural dynamics (Elizabeth Kolbert'sThe Sixth Extinction,Margaret Atwood'sThe Handmaid's Tale); classics of children's literature (the Harry Potter novels,Where the Wild Things Are); and novels by acclaimed contemporary writers like Don DeLillo, William Gibson, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Ian McEwan.
With richly detailed illustrations by lettering artist Dana Tanamachi that evoke vintage bookplates,Ex Librisis an impassioned reminder of why reading matters more than ever.
In the introduction to her new collection of essays,Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread,Michiko Kakutani writes: "In a world riven by political and social divisions, literature can connect people across time zones and zip codes, across cultures and religions, national boundaries and historical eras. It can give us an understanding of lives very different from our own, and a sense of the shared joys and losses of human experience."
Readers will discover novels and memoirs by some of the most gifted writers working today; favorite classics worth reading or rereading; and nonfiction works, both old and new, that illuminate our social and political landscape and some of today’s most pressing issues, from climate change to medicine to the consequences of digital innovation. There are essential works in American history (The Federalist Papers, The Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.); books that address timely cultural dynamics (Elizabeth Kolbert'sThe Sixth Extinction,Margaret Atwood'sThe Handmaid's Tale); classics of children's literature (the Harry Potter novels,Where the Wild Things Are); and novels by acclaimed contemporary writers like Don DeLillo, William Gibson, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Ian McEwan.
With richly detailed illustrations by lettering artist Dana Tanamachi that evoke vintage bookplates,Ex Librisis an impassioned reminder of why reading matters more than ever.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2020
About the author
Michiko Kakutani
9books430followersMichiko Kakutani is a Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic and the former chief book critic ofThe New York Times.
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January 15, 2021This is such an original, interesting book—unlike anything I’ve quite seen before. Michiko Kakutani, until recently the chief book critic for the New York Times, has put together a collection of short essays about 100 (plus a few more) books that have mattered to her. It feels almost like going through a catalog—of novels and nonfiction, classics and modern stories—to see what you want to read next. Or a way to remind yourself why you loved a book you read long ago. Or a way to engage further with a book you just read. It’s the perfect thing for a book lover—reading great pieces about more books.
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April 9, 2021
Such sparkling essays to inspire. Book critic par excellence Michiko Kakutani shares her deep love of book and how book can expand and enrich our lives.
As Michiko notes, "In these pages I'm writing less as a critic than as an enthusiast."
Over the years I've been a huge fan ofNew York Timesbook reviews written by Michiko Kakutani. And when I turned to writing reviews myself eight years ago, as a way to hone my reviewer skills, I went back and did a careful reading of Michiko's reviews, especially her reviews of novels.
Curiously, what I found most compelling in the way Michiko crafted her incisive reviews: the way Michiko would take certain authors to task, most notably authors of the first rank. After readingEx Libris(and listening to the audio book) I went back yet again and reread many of herNew York Timesreviews and I'm here to tell you - fanfare with trumpets - if a publisher created a collection of Michiko's negative reviews, the book would sell like hotcakes. No kidding!
Below is a sampling of what could be included in such a volume. I've even come up with the book's title: Thumbs Down! - 100+ Books Deserving a Slicing and Dicing.
Chronic Cityby Jonathan Lethem
To begin with, the characters turn out to be an annoying and tiresome lot. Although Perkus made an engaging enough debut in a short story some time ago (the story can be found in a collection called “The Book of Other People,” edited by Zadie Smith), he completely fails to sustain a full-length novel. The narcissism and obsessive-compulsive behavior that made him an intriguing figure in that earlier tale turn him here, in a 400-plus-page novel, into an irritating bore.
The Kindly Onesby Jonathan Littell
“The Kindly Ones” instead reads like a pointless compilation of atrocities and anti-Semitic remarks, pointlessly combined with a gross collection of sexual fantasies. That such a novel should win two of France’s top literary prizes is not only an example of the occasional perversity of French taste, but also a measure of how drastically literary attitudes toward the Holocaust have changed in the last few decades.
Pinocchio in Veniceby Robert Coover
Although we are dazzled by some of the set pieces in this novel, Pinocchio's despair and his later reunion with his mother neither move us emotionally nor goad us into an interesting reassessment of the meaning of his tale. This is partly because the novel is weighted down by Mr. Coover's windy, repetitious narrative, his insistence on making all the characters speak in fulsome, pun-filled phrases, his penchant for covering every incident with ornate verbal embroidery.
Worse is his failure to make Pinocchio come alive as a vivid, engaging character. Since his quest for the Blue Fairy seems like little more than an excuse for lots of Oedipal jokes, his suffering on her behalf seems equally meaningless and random. Pushed to and fro by his creator, propelled willy nilly from one adventure to the next, he simply becomes an extra in Mr. Coover's own cerebral puppet show, a wooden marionette who never does manage to become a real human being.
Dictionary of the Khazarsby Milorad Pavić
Such games, of course, have become a convention among the post-modernists who want to force us to connect the narrative dots and, by doing so, turn the fiction-making process into an active exchange between author and reader. Unfortunately, in the case of the ''Dictionary,'' the literary pyrotechnics too often seem like gratuitously clever gimmicks - gimmicks designed to showcase the author's blueprints for Chinese boxes while absolving him of any responsibility for constructing a box (or rather, a story) that actually works to amaze.
A Delicate Truthby John le Carré
“A Delicate Truth,” John le Carré’s new thriller, is anything but delicate: it’s ponderous, heavy-handed and obvious — everything that his wonderful early Smiley novels, which traded in moral ambiguity and psychological nuance, were not.
No Country For Old Menby Cormac McCarthy
Interwoven with this gripping tale, however, are the sheriff's portentous meditations on life and fate and the decline and fall of Western civilization. Those lugubrious passages, reminiscent of the most pretentious sections of earlier McCarthy novels like "The Crossing," gain ascendancy as the book progresses, and they gradually weigh down the quicksilver suspense of the larger story.
In fact, "No Country for Old Men" would easily translate to the big screen so long as Bell's tedious, long-winded monologues were left on the cutting-room floor - a move that would also have made this a considerably more persuasive novel.
The Spooky Artby Norman Mailer
Mr. Mailer's writing in general: heartfelt mea culpas and genuine insights mixed up with annoying grandstanding and confused metaphor-making. In these pages, for instance, illuminating observations about the difficulties of writing the great American novel segue into absurd assertions that ''right now the smart money would bet against the serious novel,'' that the métier has suffered a decline in recent years -- assertions that suggest Mr. Mailer hasn't been reading much contemporary fiction these days.
Mortalsby Norman Rush
''Mortals'' is a long, tedious and thoroughly haphazard production -- a kitchen sink of a book that possesses none of the pointillist detail of ''Whites,'' the author's haunting debut collection of stories (1986), and all the flaws of his 1991 novel, ''Mating'' -- and more. Though ''Mortals'' gradually gathers speed and focus near its conclusion, only the most persevering of readers are likely to slog through the book's 700-odd pages to get there.
If Ray (the novel's main character) were more of an engaging character -- or had the quirky intelligence and verbal idiosyncrasies of the unnamed narrator of ''Mating'' -- this might make for livelier reading. As it stands, we are stuck for the duration inside Ray's head, or rather, since Mr. Rush has opted for a stilted third-person narration, we are stuck inside a tiny, claustrophobic room with Ray, one of the most narcissistic, self-deluding and defensive heroes to come along in a while.
The Last King of Scotlandby Giles Foden
Worse, the comic tone of much of this novel overshadows the reality of the horrors actually committed in the Uganda of Idi Amin. Although Mr. Foden does a vivid job of describing the decapitated bodies, the mutilated corpses, the unspeakable crimes committed by Amin's henchmen, such scenes essentially become a suspenseful backdrop for Garrigan's bumbling adventures.
Midway through ''The Last King of Scotland,'' one of Mr. Foden's characters says of Idi Amin's antics: ''It would be quite funny if it weren't for the thousands of people who are dying. All these silly larks of his, it's like pornography. If you laugh at it, you're stepping over the corpses.'' The same might well be said of this clever, fluently written -- but ultimately perverse -- novel.
May 6, 2022
Some people are at their best when they’re in a bad mood, their teeth clamped in some nearby flesh, violent words set off like firework rockets, injuries happening to bystanders, more suffering to follow. Their whole brain is engaged, their vocabulary erupts and you don’t want to catch their eye. I think Michiko Kakutani must be one of those people. I have read some brilliant eye wateringly bad reviews of books by her and I wish this book of her stuff contained those instead of these dweeby anodyne capsule summaries of books she actually likes.
The problem is she thinks these 100 plus books are great and she turns in a couple of pages on each one that read like slightly extended blurbs written by the anonymous hacks who write those panegyrics, using the same polite gushy ameliorating phrases. The whole thing is not worth anyone’s time. There are hundreds of wayyyyy better reviews of each of these books here on goodreads, of that you may be assured.
Also, the books chosen here are a rather dull parade of the Great and the Good: The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Retreat of Western Liberalism, Handmaid’s Tale, Augie March, Robert Caro, The Federalist Papers, Invisible Man, Marilynne Robinson, Barack Obama, and on and on. You can’t object to any of them really (except Blood Meridian, groan) but the plod of 1984, The Moviegoer, Mason & Dixon, Midnight’s Children gets very wearying. Most surprising inclusion: Life by Keith Richard.
If she ever publishesHex on your Libris: 100 Books Never to ReadI will buy it immediately. That would be fun.
The problem is she thinks these 100 plus books are great and she turns in a couple of pages on each one that read like slightly extended blurbs written by the anonymous hacks who write those panegyrics, using the same polite gushy ameliorating phrases. The whole thing is not worth anyone’s time. There are hundreds of wayyyyy better reviews of each of these books here on goodreads, of that you may be assured.
Also, the books chosen here are a rather dull parade of the Great and the Good: The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Retreat of Western Liberalism, Handmaid’s Tale, Augie March, Robert Caro, The Federalist Papers, Invisible Man, Marilynne Robinson, Barack Obama, and on and on. You can’t object to any of them really (except Blood Meridian, groan) but the plod of 1984, The Moviegoer, Mason & Dixon, Midnight’s Children gets very wearying. Most surprising inclusion: Life by Keith Richard.
If she ever publishesHex on your Libris: 100 Books Never to ReadI will buy it immediately. That would be fun.
October 31, 2020
Books about books make great gifts to readers and writers.
I received this ( GORGEOUS HARD COPY - pint-size silky-smooth -book from a friend)....
I LOVE BOOKS like these.... they comfort...sit on our nightstand...keeping us company when we just want a little to read at a time.
“Ex-Libris” is really a treasure. The author, Michiko Kakutani is a Pulitzer Prize winner, former chief book critic at the New York Times.
She’s been a voracious reader since childhood.
The introduction is ‘beautiful sharing’...
There were many valuable things she wrote...something for every person who appreciates books.
“At its best, literature can surprise and move us, challenge our certainties, and goad us into reexamining our default settings”.
Kakutani says...
“Like all lists and anthologies, the selections here are subjective and decidedly arbitrary. It was difficult to whittle my choices down to a hundred (which is why some entries actually contain more than one book), and I could easily have added another hundred bucks that are equally powerful, moving, or timely”.
A few books listed that are favorites for me too:
“The Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius”, by Dave Eggers
“Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant”, by Roz Chast
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”, by Junot Diaz
“The Great Gatsby”, by F.Scott Fitzgerald
“Lab Girl”, by Hope Jahren
“On Writing”, by Stephen king
“Housekeeping”, by Marilynne Robinson
”Midnight’s Children”, by Salman Rushdie
“The Goldfinch”, by Donna Tartt
“American Pastoral”, by Philip Roth
“Atonement”, by Ian McEwan
“The Neapolitan Quartet”, by Elena Ferrante
There are many listed books not included...that I would add to my list.
There are also many books listed that I gave me a great sample taste.
These are few I’m looking forward to reading sooner than later:
“The World of Yesterday”, by Stefan Zweig ( I actually started this a few days ago)...
”Underworld”, by Don DeLillo
“An Examined Life”, by Stephen Grosz
“A House for Mr. Biswas”, by V.S. Naipaul
There are many more.....
I loved the authors enthusiasm for the books she loves....a joy she sprinkled onto me too.
If asked to write out my list of a hundred books I’ve read - that I’ve loved, loved, loved....
It would be an interesting process....but I’m pretty darn sure I could do it!
Many of ‘my’ favorites are not listed in “Ex Libris”....but isn’t that part of the fun—to get us thinking, feeling, and chatting about books?/!
Beautiful gift...great enjoyment! Thank you Mimi
I received this ( GORGEOUS HARD COPY - pint-size silky-smooth -book from a friend)....
I LOVE BOOKS like these.... they comfort...sit on our nightstand...keeping us company when we just want a little to read at a time.
“Ex-Libris” is really a treasure. The author, Michiko Kakutani is a Pulitzer Prize winner, former chief book critic at the New York Times.
She’s been a voracious reader since childhood.
The introduction is ‘beautiful sharing’...
There were many valuable things she wrote...something for every person who appreciates books.
“At its best, literature can surprise and move us, challenge our certainties, and goad us into reexamining our default settings”.
Kakutani says...
“Like all lists and anthologies, the selections here are subjective and decidedly arbitrary. It was difficult to whittle my choices down to a hundred (which is why some entries actually contain more than one book), and I could easily have added another hundred bucks that are equally powerful, moving, or timely”.
A few books listed that are favorites for me too:
“The Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius”, by Dave Eggers
“Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant”, by Roz Chast
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”, by Junot Diaz
“The Great Gatsby”, by F.Scott Fitzgerald
“Lab Girl”, by Hope Jahren
“On Writing”, by Stephen king
“Housekeeping”, by Marilynne Robinson
”Midnight’s Children”, by Salman Rushdie
“The Goldfinch”, by Donna Tartt
“American Pastoral”, by Philip Roth
“Atonement”, by Ian McEwan
“The Neapolitan Quartet”, by Elena Ferrante
There are many listed books not included...that I would add to my list.
There are also many books listed that I gave me a great sample taste.
These are few I’m looking forward to reading sooner than later:
“The World of Yesterday”, by Stefan Zweig ( I actually started this a few days ago)...
”Underworld”, by Don DeLillo
“An Examined Life”, by Stephen Grosz
“A House for Mr. Biswas”, by V.S. Naipaul
There are many more.....
I loved the authors enthusiasm for the books she loves....a joy she sprinkled onto me too.
If asked to write out my list of a hundred books I’ve read - that I’ve loved, loved, loved....
It would be an interesting process....but I’m pretty darn sure I could do it!
Many of ‘my’ favorites are not listed in “Ex Libris”....but isn’t that part of the fun—to get us thinking, feeling, and chatting about books?/!
Beautiful gift...great enjoyment! Thank you Mimi
January 4, 2021
[3.7] Kakutani’s essays about books are smart and succinct. I particularly appreciated having my memory refreshed on those books that I read long ago. At times it felt a bit bland - I would have preferred the inclusion of some of Kakutani's sharp-edged critical reviews. This is a lovely book to hold, with a pretty cover and I enjoyed the experience of reading.
November 30, 2020
This is so American. It mentions Donald Trump every four pages or so. As a non-American, I felt like I was reading this book as a result of some mistake.
It didn't offer me any emotions, and I felt like I was being force-fed recommendations.
It didn't offer me any emotions, and I felt like I was being force-fed recommendations.
January 1, 2021
Review to come
November 1, 2020
Opening this beautifully illustrated book, I was looking forward to reading an "expert's" thoughts on books that should be read. Ha. What I got was the author's opinion on the current political situation highlighting her intense dislike of President Trump. Deeply disappointing. The star is for the illustrations.
November 26, 2020
I do love books about books and usually end up adding several to my tbr whenever I read one. This was a little different though, because Kakutani is such an intelligent reviewer that I learned something from each essay, even though I have no intention or inclination to read the book or books she writes about.
The artwork deserves a mention too, because it is just as wonderful and colorful as the writing.
The artwork deserves a mention too, because it is just as wonderful and colorful as the writing.
May 1, 2021
In my more morbid moments, when I imagine how I would approach the remainder of my life if I knew that I was going to die young of a terminal illness, I think about self-publishing a selection of my best blog posts and book reviews. A personal greatest hits, if you would, and anyone could forgive the self-indulgence because, hey, she’s probably going to die soon. But then I open a book like this and realize that a collection of book reviews can actually be pretty tedious, even when written by one of the greats, like a retiredNew York Timescritic.
“Like all lists and anthologies, the selections here are subjective and decidedly arbitrary,” Kakutani warns in her introduction. What this means in practice is that: a) if I’d read a particular book, I didn’t need to read a 1000-word review of it; b) if I hadn’t read the book but wanted to, I avoided the essay in fear of spoilers (e.g. she does reveal some specific incidents from Mary Karr’sThe Liars’ Club,which I have on the shelf and was looking forward to); and c) if I hadn’t read the book and didn’t want to (there is LOTS of history and politics here, with plenty of Trump jabs shoehorned in; you do know her only previous book was a diatribe against Trump, right?), I wasn’t interested. So there were a few pieces that I appreciated, such as one on the enduring appeal ofThe Great Gatsby,which I recently read a third time for book club, but not too many caught my eye.
In any case, it’s not a book for reading all the way through but one for having on the coffee table to read the occasional essay. It is gorgeously put together what with Dana Tanamachi’s illustrations in the style of vintage bookplates, so would be a lovely reference book to have around. Think of it as a collection of amuse-bouches to whet your appetite to read books you’ve always meant to pick up but haven’t managed yet (for me,As I Lay DyingandMason & Dixon).
“Like all lists and anthologies, the selections here are subjective and decidedly arbitrary,” Kakutani warns in her introduction. What this means in practice is that: a) if I’d read a particular book, I didn’t need to read a 1000-word review of it; b) if I hadn’t read the book but wanted to, I avoided the essay in fear of spoilers (e.g. she does reveal some specific incidents from Mary Karr’sThe Liars’ Club,which I have on the shelf and was looking forward to); and c) if I hadn’t read the book and didn’t want to (there is LOTS of history and politics here, with plenty of Trump jabs shoehorned in; you do know her only previous book was a diatribe against Trump, right?), I wasn’t interested. So there were a few pieces that I appreciated, such as one on the enduring appeal ofThe Great Gatsby,which I recently read a third time for book club, but not too many caught my eye.
In any case, it’s not a book for reading all the way through but one for having on the coffee table to read the occasional essay. It is gorgeously put together what with Dana Tanamachi’s illustrations in the style of vintage bookplates, so would be a lovely reference book to have around. Think of it as a collection of amuse-bouches to whet your appetite to read books you’ve always meant to pick up but haven’t managed yet (for me,As I Lay DyingandMason & Dixon).
March 27, 2021
Wonderfully written essays on 100+ books to read and reread. I kept the goodreads app open on my iPad so I could add books to my “want to read” list and read random reviews on those books.
November 17, 2020
Although I did not always agree with her take on books, Michiko Kakutani was always by far my favorite book reviewer when she was at the NY Times--first of all, she was a true book lover and it showed. She was also fearless, tough, opinionated, and did not suffer fools. Here is a portion of her review of Bill Clinton's endless memoir that still cracks me up: “The book, which weighs in at more than 950 pages, is sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull – the sound of one man prattling away, not for the reader, but for himself and some distant recording angel of history."
So, I expected to find a bit of heat in this newest collection of 100 books that Kakutani recommends. But, reader, be prepared. This is a kinder, gentler Kakutani, and as she says herself in her introduction: “In these pages, I’m writing less as a critic than as an enthusiast. I’m not trying to explicate hidden meanings in these books or situate them in a literary continuum; I’m trying to encourage you to read or reread these books, because they deserve as wide an audience as possible.”
So, what we actually have here is an extremely mellow, even mildly sentimental book filled with one woman's very personal selection of favorites. The list is fun to read --one always learns so much about a person by the books that they remember. I loved seeing some of my own favorites here, likeWinesburg, Ohio,Americanah,andFicciones.Others seemed like odd choices (The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the UnknownorSeabiscuit: An American Legend). And there is a definite interest in political books as well, which makes sense given the strange times we live in (I particularly appreciated her pointed inclusion ofThe Origins of Totalitarianism). In general, though, Kakutani's writing here is mostly descriptive although she does provide a bit of commentary on these books' wider position in literary history. So, if you are prepared, this is a delightful appreciation, but don't go in expecting the fire of past Kakutani reviews.
So, I expected to find a bit of heat in this newest collection of 100 books that Kakutani recommends. But, reader, be prepared. This is a kinder, gentler Kakutani, and as she says herself in her introduction: “In these pages, I’m writing less as a critic than as an enthusiast. I’m not trying to explicate hidden meanings in these books or situate them in a literary continuum; I’m trying to encourage you to read or reread these books, because they deserve as wide an audience as possible.”
So, what we actually have here is an extremely mellow, even mildly sentimental book filled with one woman's very personal selection of favorites. The list is fun to read --one always learns so much about a person by the books that they remember. I loved seeing some of my own favorites here, likeWinesburg, Ohio,Americanah,andFicciones.Others seemed like odd choices (The Moth Presents All These Wonders: True Stories about Facing the UnknownorSeabiscuit: An American Legend). And there is a definite interest in political books as well, which makes sense given the strange times we live in (I particularly appreciated her pointed inclusion ofThe Origins of Totalitarianism). In general, though, Kakutani's writing here is mostly descriptive although she does provide a bit of commentary on these books' wider position in literary history. So, if you are prepared, this is a delightful appreciation, but don't go in expecting the fire of past Kakutani reviews.
January 25, 2021
I get no greater pleasure in life than receiving a book with a high quality presentation. This has indeed proved to be the case with the US New York publisher Clarkson Potter and printed in China. The book design is exquisite as are the colourful illustrations by Dana Tanamachi.
When I began reading this book by Michiko Kakutani, former chief book critic of The New York Times, my first thought was what a brilliant idea to give reviews on her best 100 + books to be read and reread.
Included are some of the authors whom I had never heard of, such as: “Arctic Dreams” by Barry Lopez which discusses the modern day Arctic due to accelerating climate change and “There There” by Tommy Orange. This novel is about the identity and meaning of home in Oakland, California; about the native Indian people who lost their lands and everything to the white settlers. Within these pages the stories of these people demonstrate how they wish to maintain their culture. Both books are definitely going to be purchased.
But I was delighted to see some of my favourite authors listed, such as: “In Patagonia” by Bruce Chatwin, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion, ‘The Odyssey” by Homer, “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine l’Engle, “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama, “The Harry Potter Novels (7)” by J. K. Rowling. Although I must say that I preferred the first four books as the remaining three volumes became progressively darker.
The ultimate pleasure of this book is that even after it is read, it can be revisited to enable one to become enthralled once again with the authors. To be read and reread…
A truly serendipitous find thanks to Goodreads!
When I began reading this book by Michiko Kakutani, former chief book critic of The New York Times, my first thought was what a brilliant idea to give reviews on her best 100 + books to be read and reread.
Included are some of the authors whom I had never heard of, such as: “Arctic Dreams” by Barry Lopez which discusses the modern day Arctic due to accelerating climate change and “There There” by Tommy Orange. This novel is about the identity and meaning of home in Oakland, California; about the native Indian people who lost their lands and everything to the white settlers. Within these pages the stories of these people demonstrate how they wish to maintain their culture. Both books are definitely going to be purchased.
But I was delighted to see some of my favourite authors listed, such as: “In Patagonia” by Bruce Chatwin, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion, ‘The Odyssey” by Homer, “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine l’Engle, “Dreams from My Father” by Barack Obama, “The Harry Potter Novels (7)” by J. K. Rowling. Although I must say that I preferred the first four books as the remaining three volumes became progressively darker.
The ultimate pleasure of this book is that even after it is read, it can be revisited to enable one to become enthralled once again with the authors. To be read and reread…
A truly serendipitous find thanks to Goodreads!
March 5, 2022
A lovely book, small in format but not content, with colorful woodcut illustrations throughout. I had anticipated reading it gradually, perhaps one or two recommendations at night before going to sleep. But once I started I found myself pulled forward, eager to learn the reasons she recommended these books.
Some of my own favorites showed up here -All the King's Men,The Woman Warrior,The Movie-goeramong others. And there were others that I had passed on, and will continue to leave unread despite Kakutani’s enthusiasm for them.
Her need to recommend books that examine the distressed condition of the world at this moment in time, the effects of political, technological, and ecological forces on individuals and nations, is evident throughout. But so is her eclectic side; Keith Richard’s autobiography,Life,gets high marks from her.
I’ve added a few of her recommendations to my TBR, and I will be keeping the book close at hand for future suggestions.
Some of my own favorites showed up here -All the King's Men,The Woman Warrior,The Movie-goeramong others. And there were others that I had passed on, and will continue to leave unread despite Kakutani’s enthusiasm for them.
Her need to recommend books that examine the distressed condition of the world at this moment in time, the effects of political, technological, and ecological forces on individuals and nations, is evident throughout. But so is her eclectic side; Keith Richard’s autobiography,Life,gets high marks from her.
I’ve added a few of her recommendations to my TBR, and I will be keeping the book close at hand for future suggestions.
Read
December 14, 2023I don't know how to rate this. It was mildly entertaining, but the entire time I read it was just wondering what the heck the point of it was.
This is a series of short essays about a bunch of books without any particular focus. So it's not just lesser-known great books. (The Great Gatsby is in here, ffs; Kakutani opens her review by acknowledging that most of her audience will have written a paper about it in middle or high school. I know I did, and she didn't have anything to say that Mrs. Dosher didn't already teach me.) It's not just older books. (For example, On Earth We're Briefly Famous is in here, which was released in 2019, probably just before Kakutani started writing this book.) It's not on any special theme, though it feels like about half of the books are related to Trump, fascism, totalitarianism, and the decline of actual truth. (Is this stressful reading? Why yes. Yes, it is.) It's just some essays about some books she loves.
And that's part of the problem. She clearly loves these books, and she is unsurprisingly great at describing the central premise and pulling a few excellent quotes to give you a sense of the book. But one hundred raves in a row gets old. I would have loved to see some essays in here on books she hates, just so it was a little less one-note.
Another part of the problem is that, okay, sure, I didn't know about all these books. That 1981 book about Hollywood's classic romantic comedies? I'm thrilled to learn it exists! I would LOVE to read it! And I can't fucking find it, because it was published forty years ago. Meanwhile, the books I can easily get -- Educated comes to mind -- I already knew about. My mind was made up about whether to read them or not long before I read this book, and reading it didn't change anything.
Also, Kakutani is, as I said, unsurprisingly and wildly well-read, but she doesn't cover every genre with equal deftness. (No human could.) I really wish she had focused on just the areas she knows well and reads in widely, because some of her essays about books in the genres I know best made me go, "Okay, you think this is innovative because you've never readanything elsein this subgenre. "
The best essays are definitely the ones where she talks about what the book means to her, specifically, and links it to a time in her life or a mental state. This book would be SO much better if it were structured around any kind of theme, but I think the one I'd most like to see is her life in books. (I would read that from almost ANYONE. Tell me what books were important to you or very present in your life when you were four! Fourteen! Fifty! Whatever.)
I don't know. I can't dislike this, I can't recommend it, I can't find a feeling to have about it. It's a perfectly fine book, but I honestly cannot understand why it exists.
This is a series of short essays about a bunch of books without any particular focus. So it's not just lesser-known great books. (The Great Gatsby is in here, ffs; Kakutani opens her review by acknowledging that most of her audience will have written a paper about it in middle or high school. I know I did, and she didn't have anything to say that Mrs. Dosher didn't already teach me.) It's not just older books. (For example, On Earth We're Briefly Famous is in here, which was released in 2019, probably just before Kakutani started writing this book.) It's not on any special theme, though it feels like about half of the books are related to Trump, fascism, totalitarianism, and the decline of actual truth. (Is this stressful reading? Why yes. Yes, it is.) It's just some essays about some books she loves.
And that's part of the problem. She clearly loves these books, and she is unsurprisingly great at describing the central premise and pulling a few excellent quotes to give you a sense of the book. But one hundred raves in a row gets old. I would have loved to see some essays in here on books she hates, just so it was a little less one-note.
Another part of the problem is that, okay, sure, I didn't know about all these books. That 1981 book about Hollywood's classic romantic comedies? I'm thrilled to learn it exists! I would LOVE to read it! And I can't fucking find it, because it was published forty years ago. Meanwhile, the books I can easily get -- Educated comes to mind -- I already knew about. My mind was made up about whether to read them or not long before I read this book, and reading it didn't change anything.
Also, Kakutani is, as I said, unsurprisingly and wildly well-read, but she doesn't cover every genre with equal deftness. (No human could.) I really wish she had focused on just the areas she knows well and reads in widely, because some of her essays about books in the genres I know best made me go, "Okay, you think this is innovative because you've never readanything elsein this subgenre. "
The best essays are definitely the ones where she talks about what the book means to her, specifically, and links it to a time in her life or a mental state. This book would be SO much better if it were structured around any kind of theme, but I think the one I'd most like to see is her life in books. (I would read that from almost ANYONE. Tell me what books were important to you or very present in your life when you were four! Fourteen! Fifty! Whatever.)
I don't know. I can't dislike this, I can't recommend it, I can't find a feeling to have about it. It's a perfectly fine book, but I honestly cannot understand why it exists.
June 16, 2022
Very USA-centric, Political & Trumpphobic
Review of the Clarkson Potter hardcover (2020)
I'm a sucker forbooks about books,so when I saw Kakutani's100+ Books to Read and Rereadlisted, I didn't hesitate. I imagined that it would be an overview of classics to modern day, perhaps geared to favourite books that Kakutani hadn't been given a chance to review during her career as the New York Times chief book reviewer.
While my assumption was correct about mostly classics & contemporary fiction (& surprisingly a lot of non-fiction), there were about 20 or so books inserted for what seemed like the purpose of discussing American democracy, politics and/or world dystopias with no opportunity missed to take a swipe at Donald Trump. It is like Kakutani didn't get it all out of her system inThe Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump(2018) and just had to keep on going. This dates and rather spoils this otherwise well written collection badly. You may think that I'm exaggerating here, but when your entire review of George Orwell's1984(1949) is about Donald Trump, I'd say there are some issues there.
The book had the added oddity of using frequentpull quotes* as if to pad the material as is done in newspaper and magazine articles.
To end on a positive note, the collection is wonderfully illustrated with about 27 imagined book covers by the chalk artistDana Tanamachi,who has illustrated at least several real-life covers previously issued in the Puffin Chalk series such asPeter Pan(Puffin-Chalk 2014),Pippi Longstocking(Puffin-Chalk 2013) andThe Wizard of Oz(Puffin-Chalk 2014).
Trivia and Links
*Pull quoteis the term for when a quote is pulled from an article (usually in a magazine or newspaper) and duplicated in a larger font block of text inserted on the page in order to emphasize it. Look up definitions related to Magazine Designing [June 16, 2022 Update:A previous link here is no longer working and has been removed].
See several examples of Dana Tanamachi's imagined book covers at herInstagram
See a timelapse video of Dana Tanamachi designing her cover for "Peter Pan" on Vimeohere.
Review of the Clarkson Potter hardcover (2020)
I'm a sucker forbooks about books,so when I saw Kakutani's100+ Books to Read and Rereadlisted, I didn't hesitate. I imagined that it would be an overview of classics to modern day, perhaps geared to favourite books that Kakutani hadn't been given a chance to review during her career as the New York Times chief book reviewer.
While my assumption was correct about mostly classics & contemporary fiction (& surprisingly a lot of non-fiction), there were about 20 or so books inserted for what seemed like the purpose of discussing American democracy, politics and/or world dystopias with no opportunity missed to take a swipe at Donald Trump. It is like Kakutani didn't get it all out of her system inThe Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump(2018) and just had to keep on going. This dates and rather spoils this otherwise well written collection badly. You may think that I'm exaggerating here, but when your entire review of George Orwell's1984(1949) is about Donald Trump, I'd say there are some issues there.
The book had the added oddity of using frequentpull quotes* as if to pad the material as is done in newspaper and magazine articles.
To end on a positive note, the collection is wonderfully illustrated with about 27 imagined book covers by the chalk artistDana Tanamachi,who has illustrated at least several real-life covers previously issued in the Puffin Chalk series such asPeter Pan(Puffin-Chalk 2014),Pippi Longstocking(Puffin-Chalk 2013) andThe Wizard of Oz(Puffin-Chalk 2014).
Trivia and Links
*Pull quoteis the term for when a quote is pulled from an article (usually in a magazine or newspaper) and duplicated in a larger font block of text inserted on the page in order to emphasize it. Look up definitions related to Magazine Designing [June 16, 2022 Update:A previous link here is no longer working and has been removed].
See several examples of Dana Tanamachi's imagined book covers at herInstagram
See a timelapse video of Dana Tanamachi designing her cover for "Peter Pan" on Vimeohere.
January 20, 2021
This was a beautiful little edition of one person's opinions on essential library residents. And it really is beautiful. The size, the illustrations, the layout, just adorable.
The content?
Meh.
While I do love the passion in which the author writes about her choices I found this book to be so unbelievably, overwhelmingly American in perspective. Especially in the context of politics it felt very ~ the United States does democracy and it's the only one worth mentioning~, it just sort of felt very... I don't know... like there was a very strong veneer of American Exceptionalism.
So this was more of a two and a half star read but I rated up for simple aesthetic reasons.
The content?
Meh.
While I do love the passion in which the author writes about her choices I found this book to be so unbelievably, overwhelmingly American in perspective. Especially in the context of politics it felt very ~ the United States does democracy and it's the only one worth mentioning~, it just sort of felt very... I don't know... like there was a very strong veneer of American Exceptionalism.
So this was more of a two and a half star read but I rated up for simple aesthetic reasons.
January 2, 2021
I read Ex Libris: 100 + Books to Read and Reread during the holidays and it was such a treat! This is the new book about books by the renowned NY Times book critic Michiko Kakutani (I recently read another one of her other books this fall and gave it 5 stars too.)
I love Ex Libris and Kakutani’s writing. She so intelligent yet also so heartwarming and I love this mix. Gone are the days where Francine Prose and Harold Bloom (stuffy old school book critics!) are dictating to us on how to read books with their long and windy prose. I so welcome this fresh voice.
There is a brief 2-3 page summary of each book and beautiful accompanying illustrations. It’s not a big book so you can tote it around. Kakutani doesn’t just include classics, (she picked Moby Dick, The Odyssey and The Waste Land among others), but she also showcases contemporary books such as Lab Girl, Educated and There There. There are also books by Tolkien, Shakespeare, Morrison, Didion, Orwell and political writers. Even The Federalist Papers and Harry Potter made it (how different could two books be!) and one of my favorite memoirs: The Liar’s Club. It’s a great mix of books.
I love her choices! This book could be a perfect book gift for any reader because it’s so gorgeously illustrated too. Most importantly, it’s approachable for any reader and you can feel the warm & fuzzies of book love.
I love Ex Libris and Kakutani’s writing. She so intelligent yet also so heartwarming and I love this mix. Gone are the days where Francine Prose and Harold Bloom (stuffy old school book critics!) are dictating to us on how to read books with their long and windy prose. I so welcome this fresh voice.
There is a brief 2-3 page summary of each book and beautiful accompanying illustrations. It’s not a big book so you can tote it around. Kakutani doesn’t just include classics, (she picked Moby Dick, The Odyssey and The Waste Land among others), but she also showcases contemporary books such as Lab Girl, Educated and There There. There are also books by Tolkien, Shakespeare, Morrison, Didion, Orwell and political writers. Even The Federalist Papers and Harry Potter made it (how different could two books be!) and one of my favorite memoirs: The Liar’s Club. It’s a great mix of books.
I love her choices! This book could be a perfect book gift for any reader because it’s so gorgeously illustrated too. Most importantly, it’s approachable for any reader and you can feel the warm & fuzzies of book love.
January 20, 2021
This is the kind of book I find most dangerous because it makes me realize that I’ll never be able to read all the books I want to read and it adds to my already mountainous TBR.
Kakutani is a former chief book critic for the New York Times and is also the author of The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump. Ex Libris is a compendium of books that the author considers worthwhile reading with a heavy emphasis on the issues of the day. This does not mean she recommends all new releases but rather works that address issues in our current conversation. This is a diverse collection spanning the centuries with selections ranging from The Federalist Papers to newer novels like The Underground Railroad.
I borrowed this from my library but would recommend this for any avid reader’s permanent collection.
Kakutani is a former chief book critic for the New York Times and is also the author of The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump. Ex Libris is a compendium of books that the author considers worthwhile reading with a heavy emphasis on the issues of the day. This does not mean she recommends all new releases but rather works that address issues in our current conversation. This is a diverse collection spanning the centuries with selections ranging from The Federalist Papers to newer novels like The Underground Railroad.
I borrowed this from my library but would recommend this for any avid reader’s permanent collection.
November 29, 2020
Such a disappointing book. Here is a book about books, written by someone who is acknowledged as one of the greatest book reviewers in the English language. I expected insight, I expected great writing, I expected an exploration of books, and writing, and reading. What I got was brief notes on a hodge-podge of books. Like a few pages on each entry (and some entries were for multiple books) that did little to explain what the books were about, or why someone should bother reading them. A few of the books mentioned were favourites of mine, but even the descriptions of those left me cold. It felt like a publisher had hit up Kakutani to write a book that booklovers were sure to buy in droves, and Kakutani just looked at what she had sitting on her nearby shelves and dialled it in.
December 16, 2020
HarperCollins puts the last nail to the coffin we readers have built for ourselves by giving us this gorgeous collection of books that have inspired generation and have the power to give us a view of what the real world looks like-through fictional narratives and original tales. If you feel bad for yourself by adding a new book to your shelf as your unread books stare at you point blank (hint: ME!!), this book will make you feel worse.
That said, I'll tell you exactly what to look for, in this collection. Kakutani skillfully divides the books into multiple sections. She, then, meticulously jots down the books you must read/re-read along with his views on why he puts across such a notion. The book is 100% spoiler free and provides insights on the themes explored in these books(in short) and the author's reasons to write the book. Social significance is another instant covered in these essays, one that can help you with the specific reading goals, if any.
Illustrations back this book up incandecently, with covers reimagined and sections divided in a classy manner. Overall, a book that will satisfy your cover-loving AND content-loving soul.
That said, I'll tell you exactly what to look for, in this collection. Kakutani skillfully divides the books into multiple sections. She, then, meticulously jots down the books you must read/re-read along with his views on why he puts across such a notion. The book is 100% spoiler free and provides insights on the themes explored in these books(in short) and the author's reasons to write the book. Social significance is another instant covered in these essays, one that can help you with the specific reading goals, if any.
Illustrations back this book up incandecently, with covers reimagined and sections divided in a classy manner. Overall, a book that will satisfy your cover-loving AND content-loving soul.
December 29, 2020
Giving this a star is generous.
Such a disappointing book. I expected more of an analysis of the individual books. What I got was the author's opinion on the current political situation. Where or not you agree with her politics, I think everyone can agree this is not a books about books but a way for the author to get someone to listen to her.
Such a disappointing book. I expected more of an analysis of the individual books. What I got was the author's opinion on the current political situation. Where or not you agree with her politics, I think everyone can agree this is not a books about books but a way for the author to get someone to listen to her.
March 22, 2021
The book is really beautiful: the cover, the illustrations, and the formatting. Kakutani, the former chief book critic of The New York Times, presents a list of books that were amongst the most influential for her. There were plenty on her list that I already wanted to read and I enjoyed her summaries of them but unfortunately, I wasn't convinced to pick up most of what wasn't already on my list.
June 30, 2021
Dit is een leuk hebbeding met een aantal leuke tips! Maar ik heb spoilers gelezen en daar ben ik niet zo blij mee. Mijn recensie kan je hier lezen:https://axellesbooks.wordpress.com/20...
October 9, 2021
(As of 10/08/2021 I've read 37 of the works listed, for what it's worth) This shall be given, to a number of my book-loving friends, as gifts this Holiday Season! First, this is one beautiful book, inside and out. Congrats to the designer (not named, perhaps the publisher, Clarkson Potter?) and the illustrator, Dana Tanamachi. Second, I really liked Kakutani's approach, a the essays and books listed focus more on the authors. There are sections like, 'Books by Vladimir Nabokov' (Two specific works are listed) or 'Books by Joseph J. Ellis "(Four works are listed) or 'Books by Joan Didion' (Two works listed). But third, it's Kakutani's stunning" Introduction "that's not to be missed: I loved when she praises those people who inspired her to read. Still, this is a list of books, and some of my favorites aren't here while for me some questionable works are represented (ALL the plays of Shakespeare? That feels lazy to say. Tommy Orange's" There There "? is a contemporary novel just not for me I guess.) That said, it was great to see Naipaul's" A House for Mr. Biswas "here, a masterpiece oddly overlooked in '1001 Books To Read Before You Die" Ah, everyone is such a critic.
November 29, 2020
Have always wanted to read all the books in the world but definitely having lack of time? (well, we of course cannot).
This is The Book for you.
'Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread' by Michiko Kakutani and illustrated by Dana Tanamachi is a beautiful book everyone must have in their collection. The book consists of around 100 stories and books like Americanah, The Great Gatsby, Frankenstein, The Lord of The Rings, The Goldfinch, Midnight’s Children, etc. and the author has written her views about each one of them.
This book also holds as the perfect coffee table book, as well as a perfect collectible for your home library. The art is absolutely gorgeous along with some letterings and equally gorgeous cover. The book holds views which are absolutely spoiler free, and the books and stories mentioned in this book are very diverse each of them focusing on different genre, topics, themes, etc. And I definitely agree with some of the views in this book written by the author.
No, this is not a critic view or anything of that sort. Here the author has only tried to make us push gently to read these books. Disclaimer by author says, “In these pages, I’m writing less as a critic than as an enthusiast. I’m not trying to explicate hidden meanings in these books or situate them in a literary continuum; I’m trying to encourage you to read or reread these books, because they deserve as wide an audience as possible.”
So I highly recommend you guys to check this book out, a perfect gift for your loved ones too.
A huge thanks to Harper Collins for sending me this.
This is The Book for you.
'Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Reread' by Michiko Kakutani and illustrated by Dana Tanamachi is a beautiful book everyone must have in their collection. The book consists of around 100 stories and books like Americanah, The Great Gatsby, Frankenstein, The Lord of The Rings, The Goldfinch, Midnight’s Children, etc. and the author has written her views about each one of them.
This book also holds as the perfect coffee table book, as well as a perfect collectible for your home library. The art is absolutely gorgeous along with some letterings and equally gorgeous cover. The book holds views which are absolutely spoiler free, and the books and stories mentioned in this book are very diverse each of them focusing on different genre, topics, themes, etc. And I definitely agree with some of the views in this book written by the author.
No, this is not a critic view or anything of that sort. Here the author has only tried to make us push gently to read these books. Disclaimer by author says, “In these pages, I’m writing less as a critic than as an enthusiast. I’m not trying to explicate hidden meanings in these books or situate them in a literary continuum; I’m trying to encourage you to read or reread these books, because they deserve as wide an audience as possible.”
So I highly recommend you guys to check this book out, a perfect gift for your loved ones too.
A huge thanks to Harper Collins for sending me this.
September 29, 2021
Make it staaaaaahhhhhhhp!
Look, I lean Left -- and I don't mean American Left, I mean Left. I loathe Donald Trump as much as the vast majority of people on planet Earth (and the slim majority of Americans who bother to vote). I dislike the Republican platform immensely, and I would be thrilled to never see Mitch McConnell's mug again. Theoretically, I'm in the target market for this!
But even I cannot take any more of the American "Liberal" cliché that makes up these blurbs. I managed about two-thirds, and that was rough going with a whole lot of skimming. Her commentary is largely the worst kind of reductive, repetitive, ink-wasting garbage.
Guess I'm not the target market after all.
The books on the list are a somewhat interesting mix, if you're an American who really only cares about American things yet also wants a soupçon of foreigners so as to feel global and informed (but not so much you feel painfully aware this is an untruth). If you're not American, and not working towards a masters degree on the American psyche, there isn't much here for you.
Borrow, I guess, if you want to see the list of titles. Don't buy.
Look, I lean Left -- and I don't mean American Left, I mean Left. I loathe Donald Trump as much as the vast majority of people on planet Earth (and the slim majority of Americans who bother to vote). I dislike the Republican platform immensely, and I would be thrilled to never see Mitch McConnell's mug again. Theoretically, I'm in the target market for this!
But even I cannot take any more of the American "Liberal" cliché that makes up these blurbs. I managed about two-thirds, and that was rough going with a whole lot of skimming. Her commentary is largely the worst kind of reductive, repetitive, ink-wasting garbage.
Guess I'm not the target market after all.
The books on the list are a somewhat interesting mix, if you're an American who really only cares about American things yet also wants a soupçon of foreigners so as to feel global and informed (but not so much you feel painfully aware this is an untruth). If you're not American, and not working towards a masters degree on the American psyche, there isn't much here for you.
Borrow, I guess, if you want to see the list of titles. Don't buy.
October 29, 2021
I love books about books. I collect them, I read them. There were a lot of parts of this book that I enjoyed, but I am giving it a 1 on goodreads because of all the Trump-bashing that was all throughout this book. I did not purchase this book to read anything political. I wanted to read it to learn and hopefully become inspired to read new books. I was under the impression that this book was about books. But, the constant comments about a president of the United States was annoying and in places completely inappropriate. No matter what my political belief is, I didn't think it was necessary to include such comments in a book such as this one. It would have been a wonderful book otherwise. I am so disappointed.
November 28, 2020
I was very disappointed in this. I expected so much more: former chief book critic for The New York Times, Pulitzer Prize winner. I'm sure her reviews in The Times were nothing more than the 2-pages offered here to each of the 100 books included: superficial, 5th Grade-level book reports. If anyone is looking for suggestions about books to read that they might have missed otherwise, I suppose this book is useful but beyond that I found it to be a waste of time. Far superior in this genere is Harold Bloom, How to Read and Why.
November 22, 2020
Oh my gosh, I LOVED Ex Libris... it's a celebration of books! Ms. Kakutani, a former NY Times book critic, loves books and her affection is obvious in Ex Libris.
As I listened, I learned of new (to me) books to read and about authors who inspired other authors. I also basked in fondly remembering wonderful books she cited, including:
Life by Keith Richards
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Another reviewer described Ex Libris as a treasure, and I can't think of a more fitting description. Highly recommended.
As I listened, I learned of new (to me) books to read and about authors who inspired other authors. I also basked in fondly remembering wonderful books she cited, including:
Life by Keith Richards
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Another reviewer described Ex Libris as a treasure, and I can't think of a more fitting description. Highly recommended.
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