Bibliodicks & Tricks

The publicity had me at "bibliodick." I've known a few "dicks" in my days, but never one meriting the prefix "biblio". The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Bartlett is one of the few I really could scarcely put down once I began reading. And I hope the author won't be insulted when I say I kept forgetting it is a true crime story. It reads like a novel. Enthralling. I was also enraptured and encouraged to find a veteran journo who could switch to a long form and write such a lyrical and erudite narration. Kudos! That the story is about old books is a bonus.

Not so enticing is Jill Dearman's bang the keys "Based on eternal principles that work for scribes of all stripes." I hesitate to trash the production of someone I've connected with on LinkedIn for fear she'll drop me, and I won't be able to stand the rejection. Well, let's just say that I am not persuaded by her acronymic B.A.N.G. "four steps to a lifelong writing practice." And I was totally turned off by her style--a breezy affection of a 40's noir film star channeling Tallulah Bankhead (darling!) If you're in need of prompts, the back cover promises "an armful of clever and penetrating exercises." That, there are in abundance. Oh, and lots and lots of name dropping.

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