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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 028.9
EAN num: 9781567922950
ISBN number: 1567922953
Label: David R. Godine Publishing house
Manufacturer: David R. Godine Publishing house
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 175
Printing Date: October 30, 2005
Publishing house: David R. Godine Publishing house
Sale Popularity Level: 719792
Studio: David R. Godine Publishing house
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
What is the origin of the word 'book'? What is the oldest working library still in existence? What is an 'enchiridion'? An 'amphigory'? A 'duodecimo'? Which two Nobel laureates refused the prize in literature? How many trees must sacrifice their lives to produce a thousand copies of a 96-page volume of verse?
These are some of the questions posed (and answered) in this fascinating farrago of literary trivia, a treasure trove of obscure and irresistible facts, definitions, lists, and quotations that touch on every aspect of books, including their authors, publishers, printers, collectors, critics, readers, and enemies. Under headings that explore the entire history of bibliomania from 'The Invention of Paper' to 'Some Horror Writers' Offcial Websites,' the entries in Bibliotopia provide the insatiably curious reader a delightfully desultory literary education, the kind one might pick up at a cocktail party on Parnassus.
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Rated by buyers 
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This is a very poor excuse for a book of literary trivia. It is nothing but lists, without even context, much less commentary. Some examples:
p. 25
"Pen/Nabokov Award Winners"
2004 Mavis Gallant
2002 Mario Vargas Llosa
2000 William Gaddis
Hello? For what books?
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p. 29
"Some authors at Farrar, Straus & Giroux"
Joseph Brodsky, Colette, Carlos Fuentes, etc., etc.
Again, what books did they write?
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p. 30
"Some Notable Trilogies"
The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
The Haitian Trilogy by Madison Smartt Bell
etc., etc.
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p. 66
"Wisdom of Mark Twain"
A couple dozen quotes, several of which are NOT Mark Twain, most of the rest are not exact quotes, and citations are given for none.
Rated by buyers 
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Any who love books will relish this collection of literary trivia: a gathering of obscure book-related facts, definitions, lists, quotes and more which span the history of books from their invention to modern times. From the history and evolution of book companies and authors to reading lists and top works, BIBLIOTOPIA: OR, MR. GILBAR'S BOOK OF BOOKS & CATCH-ALL OF LITERARY FACTS & CURIOSITIES invites leisure browsing.
Rated by buyers 
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but I am somewhat disappointed. Gilbar is the author of GREAT BOOKS, a list of the books he read over a five year period, with short summaries of each book. I still look at that book, though I have had my copy for about 15 years or so. (It is out of print, but you can still find used copies of it through Amazon.) He also edited a great book called READING IN BED which I recommend. So -- Anyway -- when I saw his name on this, I immediately picked it up. And it is somewhat disappointing -- it contains lists and trivia, but less information that is leading me directly to books I might want to read, than the earlier works I mentioned above. This is something you want to take a look at before you purchase.
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