ShelfariI just had the pleasure of reading “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.
The book is written in the first person, and details Ms. Bartlett’s journey as she learns all that she can about John Gilkey, a book thief with an unusual motivation; and Ken Sanders, the Book Collector who brought him to justice.
Ken Sanders is the first person that Ms. Bartlett is talking to in the book, and you get a fine introduction into Mr. Sander’s world of ‘literary obsession.’ Ms. Bartlett does not take too much time to make it very clear that this book is all about Gilkey and his obsessions. She does her best to treat Gilkey fairly, without painting him in any way as a good person. She compares and contrasts Gilkey’s obsession with the typical obsession for books that all book collectors have. She even briefly mentions a book that she managed to gain possesion of named ‘Krautterbuck’ and uses it as a foil to try and explain how someone could feel compelled to steal valuable books.
Gilkey himself is a charmer, a modern day rogue. He is also a very smart man who knows exactly what he can get away with in terms of stealing. A rather interesting tale is woven on how he stole his books, and other things that he wanted – including vacations and other items. He never admits how much he knows the system, but he constantly hints to it. The interesting part about the story is that Ms. Bartlett does her best to communicate not just his words but his tells when she is detailing any meeting. The tale is well woven, where you feel you almost know Gilkey and his obsession.
Ken Sanders is mentioned a lot as well, but we really only learn things about him to either detail how he caught Gilkey or contrast his obsession with Gilkey. That does not mean that he is not detailed, from his early years and how is book obsession grew to how he became a self-styled ‘bibliodick’.
My favorite part of the book doesn’t directly involve either of these two people. As intriguing as Gilkey’s story is and Sander’s story in catching him, the part that hit me the most was the last time Ms Bartlett met Lane Heldfond. One of Gilkey’s targets, she was instrumental as one of the first people able to identify him from a picture. Mrs. Heldfond was explaining why she was so angry with Gilkey, and by extention with Ms. Bartlett…
” ‘When he stole those books he took them from me, from him’ she said, indicating her husband, and then in a lower voice, turning for a moment toward her daughter, a dark eyed, dark-haired girl of nine or ten who was helping her dust the bookshelves, she said ‘He took them from her”
I have a two year old son, who loves for me to read to him. I hope he will love to read as much as I do. I remember every book that he has, and which ones have rips or stains. I know in what books people who love him have written messages to him. These books have little to no monetary value, but I would be crushed if any of them were stolen.
The final verdict? ‘The Man Who Loved Books Too Much’ is an enjoyable book for all, and those who love books will really enjoy it.
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