Books for Living

''Reading challenges you to figure out what kind of person you want to be.''I might as well spare you all with my boring introduction and tell you this is an astonishing book. Not simply good or well-written or interesting, but astonishing! One of the best non-fiction books I've ever read, one of the best book ‘‘about books'' of recent times.As you might know from my reviews, I'm not usually moved by a book, no matter how much I may have loved it. But this one...one must have a heart of stone (yes, cliché, I know) so as not to be deeply touched by Will Schwalbe's writing. He has a way with words that cries out to the reader and the reader freezes and listens, transfixed. I've never felt that with a non-fiction book. He takes some of life's greatest difficulties, some of its most well-felt emotions, and tries to show how books can help us- nay, heal us- to overcome them, to cope with them, to avoid being defeated and traumatised. Not only he succeeds in doing that, but has managed to make me look upon well-loved books under a different light, to realise them better, to love them even more.He bares his soul and talks about his life in a conversational tone, as if he's talking to a close friend. How can one not appreciate that, especially as he touches upon some really sensitive topics. In beautiful, engaging language, he shares his views, his experiences and not once does he become bossy or self-centered. He is open, honest and sympathetic, the voice of a friend you haven't met for a long time. His ‘‘me'' and ‘‘I'' are confessions, not egocentric speeches of achievements.His heartfelt, moving remarks about the horrific discrimination against the LGBT community during the 1970's are wonderfully reflected in his text about [b:Giovanni's Room 38462 Giovanni's Room James Baldwin http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1389658936s/38462.jpg 814207] by [a:James Baldwin 10427 James Baldwin http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1343346341p2/10427.jpg]. While I was reading his text about the outbreak of HIV, the hysteria, the hatred of the misinformed society, I felt terror gripping my heart. This is how good Schwalbe's writing is. Images from history pass through your eyes as if you have been carried away in that era (and I wasn't even born at the time), as if you're experiencing them this very moment.I really enjoyed the fact that he writes primarily about less well-known books. Yes, you'll find [b:1984 5470 1984 George Orwell http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348990566s/5470.jpg 153313], [b:Rebecca 17899948 Rebecca Daphne du Maurier http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg 46663], Murakami's works, but his focus turns elsewhere, and I found that extremely refreshing. He makes a text about a book which advises you on how to de-clutter interesting and enjoyable. On a more personal note, I loved his references to his teachers, and as a teacher myself, I sincerely appreciated his wonderful passage about mediocrity, using none other than Odysseus, the mythical king of Ithaca, as his inspiration.I don't have much to say. To state that I recommend this book would be a frightful understatement. I think it is essential that everyone who loves books shoud read Books For Living, not to discover new books (that as well), but to experience a kind of writing that is immediate, sincere, free of pretensions and fake philosophies full of verbose nonsence. This is a breath of fresh air. Breathe it deeply. I leave you with one of the most touching sentences I've ever had the pleasure to read...''I read to live. I read for life''.