The View from the Cheap Seats
Author: Neil Gaiman
Grade: A-
“Go where your obsessions take you.”
So I was looking for something a little different than my usual books lately and Gaiman is always a winner. This book of nonfiction covers a lot of things- a lot of different subjects. Some of it I had read before and there is a long stretch of book introductions in the middle that gets a little dull.
There is a very interesting and I think important article about honoring the Charlie Hebdo staff and the importance of free speech, including speech you don’t like. Which is something I noticed people are more and more intolerant to these days, especially on the Internet ironically enough.
However my favorite part was the beginning and whenever he talks about his love of stories, of reading, or words. He seems to remember every book he’s ever read which is amazing considering even now I have to keep a notebook to keep track. But it really made me think of the books that stand out to me from my childhood reading journeys.
“I was, and still am, on the side of the books you love.”
Me too.
There’s also a lot about the importance of fostering an actual love of reading- not just do it because you have to or because it will get you through school. And I’ve really been wracking my brain over this because as much as I love books, other than talking about them, and sharing recommendations I wouldn’t have any idea how to impart to a child a love of reading.
Although I did appreciate this quote; “Listen. If someone tells you what a story is about, they are probably right. If they tell you that that is all the story is about, they are very definitely wrong.”
(Hello 75% of my literature teachers. Well, there’s maybe something I would do to foster a love of reading. Change the way it’s taught in a lot of cases.) I’m still thinking about the bigger subjects brought up in this book. I also picked up a couple of book recommendations that I put on my endless TBR list. Book recommendations are always a bonus for me!
Recommend: Yes. Though if you are already a Gaiman fan you might have read some of it already.