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A Reader on Reading
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
39 posts | 8 read | 22 to read
In this major collection of his essays, Alberto Manguel, whom George Steiner has called the Casanova of reading, argues that the activity of reading, in its broadest sense, defines our species. We come into the world intent on finding narrative in everything, writes Manguel, landscape, the skies, the faces of others, the images and words that our species create. Reading our own lives and those of others, reading the societies we live in and those that lie beyond our borders, reading the worlds that lie between the covers of a book are the essence of A Reader on Reading. The thirty-nine essays in this volume explore the crafts of reading and writing, the identity granted to us by literature, the far-reaching shadow of Jorge Luis Borges, to whom Manguel read as a young man, and the links between politics and books and between books and our bodies. The powers of censorship and intellectual curiosity, the art of translation, and those numinous memory palaces we call libraries also figure in this remarkable collection. For Manguel and his readers, words, in spite of everything, lend coherence to the world and offer us a few safe places, as real as paper and as bracing as ink, to grant us room and board in our passage.
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Andrea313
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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The Winter edition of my favorite magazine arriving on Christmas Decoration Day feels SO perfect. Looking forward to putting my feet up with this tonight! #OhReader #ReadingAboutReading

jlhammar Just got my copy the other day! Such a fun magazine. 13mo
29 likes1 comment
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GatheringBooks
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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#NovemberNarrative Day 5: Perfect book for #BookLoversDay - posting a few days in advance since traveling again - now at the airport. ✈️🛩️

Eggs Yes it is👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2y
49 likes1 comment
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Nessavamusic
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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#wondrouswednesday

⚪️Absolutely
🔵A beautiful fantasy cover is my favorite
🟣tagged would be a good one

Eggs Well done - love the title❣️ 3y
29 likes1 comment
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tournevis
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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A day late for #two4tuesday

1. In the whole house, about 2500 since the last purge. I have more than twice that at the uni.
2. The office shelves transformed into a minimally good-looking backdrop for my course recordings.

Thank you to @thespineview Thank you @Eggs for remembering me. (Edited to add @eggs whose tag vanished when I posted)

marleed Oh I love looking at the bookshelves of hosts and guests on tv these days. Today I noted an interviewee was quick to get his well-place Kamala Harris memoir in the shot! Your shelves are beautiful! (edited) 4y
tournevis @marleed Thank you! I love looking at shelves too. My favourite are those behind sports journalists, they're devoid of books and if there's books, it's only sports bios or theirs. That's it! Carefully placed books are fun to spot, like in the last 5 months, books on Trump have disappeared from US shelves and appeared on Canadian shelves, because you can't afford to be associated with T* in the US, but you should look like you denounce him up here! 4y
TheSpineView Never too late! Thanks for playing! 😘📚🌞😊 4y
See All 6 Comments
tournevis @TheSpineView 😘😘😘 4y
Eggs ❤️❤️ 4y
tournevis @Eggs 😘😘😘 4y
40 likes6 comments
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JulietReads
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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The impossible task of every reader is to rebuild the ideal library.

34 likes2 stack adds
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Tanisha_A
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Stumbled upon this brilliant article by Mr. Gaiman, on why we read and what books do for the human experience. Read the full write up here - https://bit.ly/2asqgOU

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GatheringBooks
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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#ReadingFavourites
1️⃣ Print - through and through
2️⃣ my bed or bear our floor-to-ceiling window in my beanbag
3️⃣ coffee and cookies
4️⃣ multiple books all at once
5️⃣ I read anytime, anywhere, any day. :)

30 likes1 stack add
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tournevis
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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1️⃣ 15% ebooks, 85% dead tree.
2️⃣ Nearly 0% borrow.
3️⃣ c100, mostly non-fiction, of the c5000 I own.
4️⃣ Nope.
5️⃣ Officially no. I do try to keep it to a minimum or to free.
6️⃣ They are not stacked. They are carefully placed with all the other books on the shelves.
7️⃣ I was one of those for a long time.
8️⃣ Probably a month. There abouts.
@Kaye

Kaye Thank you @tournevis for your answers. Very helpful. 🙂 7y
tournevis @Kaye Pleasure, though I don't know how much it could help, because I am an outlier. I have a gigantic work library. I was not exagerating when I wrote 5000. I have about 500 at home and the rest piled and stacked to the 12 foot ceiling in my office at uni. Not a normal reader. 7y
Kaye If it works for you, then it‘s ok 👍. Probably most book people like having huge shelves of books. I don‘t fit into that category. 7y
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tournevis @Kaye Most people don't get to more than 1000 I think though. Academics are a kind all to their own. 7y
Kaye Yes, probably true. But you sorta need those if it‘s part of your job, so those might not count for extravagant spending. 7y
tournevis @Kaye Extravagant, no. Expensive, hell yeah! 7y
Kaye 💰 💴Yep, books aren‘t cheap ! 7y
29 likes7 comments
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Daisey
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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1. Pretty much anywhere, but couch the most or outside when the weather is perfect.
2. Usually bookmark or post-it
3. Can stop anywhere
4. Yes and yes
5. Yes, prefer music, but can tune out anything while I read.
6. Several
7. Everywhere
8. Silently
9. Sometimes, and I‘ve been known to skip ahead and backtrack to read a book all out of order.
10. Prefer like new, but not overly careful
11. Sometimes
12. Nobody, just join in!
#ReadingHabits

RaimeyGallant Great answers! 7y
44 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Thanks for the tag @tournevis 😘
1.Yup, depending on season...on my balcony in warm weather ~ couch or bed in chilly weather 😎
2. Bookmark, when I remember to grab one😜
3. Prefer end of chapter🤓
4. Not always😋
5.No, NEVER🤯
6. Can‘t stay book monogamous 😉
7. EVERYWHERE 😍
8.#SilentReader🤐
9. I‘ve been known to skip pages😝
10. #sloppyReader 😬
11. Sometimes, but ONLY if it‘s my book 🤭
12. Tagging @Simona

kspenmoll “can‘t stay book monogamous” 😂 7y
Kalalalatja Love your use of emojis in this one 😂😂 7y
tournevis 😘😘 7y
Reviewsbylola I‘m a spine Cracker all the way. 😬 7y
111 likes5 comments
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tournevis
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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1 My spot on the couch. My bed. And anywhere else I can.
2 Bookmark, unless not.
3 I can stop reading any time I want. Just after that next page.
4 Yes, of course.
5 Yes, unless I'm reading for work.
6 I prefer one at a time, unless I can't.
7 Anywhere.
8 In my head. It's great in there. Lots of fun people!
9 In non fiction books, yes. Otherwise no.
10 Moderate breaking, if necessary.
11 No!
12 @Cinfhen

Cinfhen Thanks for the tag💕🥂 7y
tournevis @Cinfhen 😍🤩 7y
37 likes2 comments
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tournevis
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Yup, no surprise there.

https://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/

Thank you @DarcysMom

jfalkens I got the same 😊 7y
rabbitprincess I got that assortment too! 7y
32 likes3 comments
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tournevis
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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#readingjourney2017

Instructive, Diverse, Decreasing.

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tournevis
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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#2018goals

I've been steadily sicker in the last 2 months, going on 3, and my ability to concentrate and read is pretty much gone. What little I can I spend marking, so I've not read for pleasure much. I miss it. We don't know what's wrong yet, tests come in on the 18th. I have a feeling they won't reveal anything though. I want my life back. /rant

candority Oh no 😔 I hope you feel better soon! 7y
Redwritinghood Hope things turn around for you soon and you start feeling better. 7y
Kristyngansen Sending healing wishes. Feel better! ❤️ 7y
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britt_brooke Hugs 💚💚💚 7y
CocoReads Oh no-I hope you get some answers soon. Hugs and healing thoughts. 7y
Kalalalatja Sending hugs and thoughts 💜💜 7y
RohitSawant Hope you feel better soon. Sending healing thoughts your way. 💜 7y
MrBook Aahhh! Nooo 😩! *biiiig hug* from @BookBabe and me!!! 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Oh no!! I hope you feel better soon and get answers!! ❤️❤️ 7y
BookishTrish 💭 of you 7y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @tournevis you‘re welcome ❤️ 7y
Clwojick Thinking of you, and sending positive vibes! ❤️❤️❤️hope you get some answers soon... I know how terribly frustrating waiting on results can be. 7y
tournevis @Clwojick 😘😘😘 7y
TheKidUpstairs Sending you love and healing thoughts. Not knowing is so hard, so I hope you have some answers soon! 7y
tournevis @TheKidUpstairs 😘😘😘 7y
Jabberwocky 💛💛 So much spoonie love. I‘m young so most of my drs refuse to acknowledge my symptoms and I hate not having the ability to convince them. Go gentle on yourself 💛💛 7y
CouronneDhiver Oh dear. 🙁 I hope you‘ll be feeling better very soon. 7y
2BR02B How frustrating. I'm sending you good vibes and hoping the tests come back with something conclusive. 💕 7y
Owlizabeth Hugs 💞💞💞 7y
LeahBergen Hugs. 💕💕 7y
tournevis @Owlizabeth 😘😘😘 7y
tournevis @LeahBergen 😘😘😘 7y
tournevis @2BR02B Thx 😘 7y
megt Sending good vibes! My mom recently went through months of feeling progressively worse while waiting for doctors to listen and then, finally, do tests. I know how frustrating and discouraging it can be. I hope the test results lead to answers and treatment options/plans to get you on the path to feeling better! 💕 7y
tournevis @megt 😘thx 7y
38 likes29 comments
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UglyOldBat
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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From Reading Books fb page

#reading #books #truth

Fang88 Oh this is awesome, haha 7y
Cortg Cute! 7y
Kristyngansen Love! ❤️ 7y
38 likes3 comments
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Sharpeipup
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Answers that begin with "C"
1. Cafe
2. Character
3. Cry
4. Country's history (feel like I already did this in college)
5. Cover blurb wherever it resides
#bookishwouldyourather
@Kalalalatja

Kalalalatja Haha I hadn't noticed all the C's 😄😄 7y
9 likes1 comment
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Lmstraubie
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Added the top two pins today. 😁

britt_brooke Nice! 👏🏻 7y
37 likes1 comment
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Librarianaut
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Packed up and going out in the mail tomorrow!
#SummerSantaGoesPostal

LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
Iamlisa22 Received it today! Can't wait to L👀k inside! 8y
58 likes2 comments
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WendyL
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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12 books read this month but only two counted for this challenge

BookishTrish Which two? 8y
WendyL Pretty Girls #litsyrc2 and Mississippi Blood #litsyrc8 I highly recommend both @BookishTrish 8y
36 likes2 comments
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MrBook
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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#TBRtemptation post 3! This is a highly-acclaimed series of 39 essays by the man called "the Casanova of reading". AM argues that reading defines our species--we must make a narrative out of everything we see and think about: the sky, faces, a forest, etc. From writing on the craft of writing to Jorge Luis Borges, he links politics to book & books to our bodies. Censorship, translation, libraries, many subject covered. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?

LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
56 likes9 stack adds1 comment
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scripturient
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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😊👍🏻

rabbitprincess The third one is the face I make when I see a title and think "Is this actually on my to-read list or did I just hear about it online? And did I hear good things or bad things?" ? 8y
124 likes1 comment
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scripturient
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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❤❤❤

Robothugs This is the truth! 8y
MicheleinPhilly PREACH! 8y
87 likes3 comments
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scripturient
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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😍

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BookishMarginalia
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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britt_brooke Where did you get this? I need one! 8y
BookishMarginalia We got it @TheBookmarkPR of course! @britt_brooke (edited) 8y
britt_brooke @BookishMarginalia 😁👌🏻👏🏻 8y
See All 7 Comments
bookdrunkard78 I love this!!! 8y
Linda906 I can do that!😀😀 8y
Graciouswarriorprincess I love it! I need to live closer to you! 👍🏻😃 8y
youngreadrshelf ❤️ pins! 8y
246 likes7 comments
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bio_chem06
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel

@Rachel1066 I forgot to tell you today, follow @Liberty on Litsy. She is one of my @bookriot faves and she always has great read suggestions and posts.
#bookobsessed #allthebooks

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ReadingEnvy
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Well I'm the huge nerd who sits at home on NYE to tabulate all her reading stats for the year. http://readingenvy.blogspot.com/2016/12/2016-reading-by-numbers.html

Julsmarshall Love it! If it makes you happy, do it! 8y
MrBook I think the only person may out-read you is @Liberty ! You are awesome 😎👌🏻🙌🏻! 8y
Reviewsbylola Whoa!!! 🎉🙌🏻🎉🙌🏻 8y
See All 27 Comments
Christine 👑 8y
LauraBrook I think most of us here are spending or NYE's the same way - I know I am! 🤓👍🏼 Congrats on such a great reading year!!! 8y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa That's wonderful! And yes, join the party...it's here on Litsy! 8y
BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
NatalieR You're not alone! 😋 Congrats on your book total. That's a crazy good number of books!! 📚 8y
Marchpane Happy New Year Jenny! 🍾🥂🎉🎉 8y
cariashley 😯 impressed!!! 8y
LauraBeth Wow!! 😀🎉👏⭐ 8y
Bookworm83 Excellent stats!! 📚🎉📚🎉 You are not the only nerdy one at home....I'm crawling in bed with my book and it's only 10:30 😃 8y
Knowledgelost So many books 8y
Eastbriar Wow!! 👏🏼👏🏼🎉🎉 8y
HardcoverHearts I'm so thoroughly impressed!!! 👏🏻🎉🙌🏻 8y
Chessa Wow!!!! 8y
ReadingEnvy @Bookworm83 I wish I could do that! My dogs are freaked out and the neighborhood pyros don't show any signs of slowing down 🔥🔥🔥 8y
Lindy Well done! 8y
Bookworm83 Your poor pups 😩 I always feel so bad for pets on nights like this. Truth be told, I'm not a fan of fireworks either. 8y
Sue Wow, that's amazing!!! Happy New Year!! 🎉🎉🎉 8y
Well-ReadNeck 👏🏽👊🏽🙌🏻 8y
Cinfhen Wowza 💗🎉📚🙌🏻UH.MAY.ZING❤️ 8y
sprainedbrain You are amazing!! 👏👏👏👏 8y
LauraJ That is insane! I bow to your amazing bookishness 🙇 8y
Beckys_Books I can't even comprehend how long it would take me to read that many books! Hat off to you and good luck in 2017! 8y
AmandaL Great job! 8y
103 likes27 comments
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theshrinkette
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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OMGGGGG IT'S HERE. MY BODY IS READY. #24in48 #readathon

WhatDeeReads We still have a month to go. 8y
Suzze It may be a month, but we need time to pick and choose the ones to read! 😁😁 8y
MrsV I'm so down for this! I'm doing at least 4 reading challenges this year, so 2017 is going to be the year to the 📚 for me! 8y
OceanCityMama I'm so excited! It's my favorite marathon. @coastalreader is supposed to join me this time, I've never done it with a buddy before! 8y
LauraBeth Yay! 8y
66 likes5 comments
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AdaChivers
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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this #24in48 Readathon seems fun!
Go to @24in48 to see how to join the fun!

25 likes1 comment
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24in48
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Sign-ups for the next #24in48 on January 21-22 are open! Link in profile. I'll also be counting down with great readathon books every day until the 'thon, starting on Sunday. Will you be joining us?

LisaJo ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 8y
haileybean That's my birthday weekend! I have to work, I might try anyway to do it 8y
Varshitha Yayy!! 8y
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Eyelit Yay! So excited to do this again! 8y
amandacatherine Sad day. I have to drive out of town for a baby shower and will be lucky to grab even an hour of reading time. Maybe next time. 8y
24in48 @amandacatherine Audiobooks!! 8y
[DELETED] 3323341091 i am in! that is the first weekend of my vacation! woo-hoo! 8y
Roselyn_Reads Im so excited!!! 8y
Sharanya LET'S DO THIS! 8y
OceanCityMama I'm so ready! @coastalreader are you with me?! 8y
TheUnpopularReader Can't wait to get started 8y
Sara_Planz Yes!!!!!!!! 8y
HiddenGemBooks Just signed up! 8y
Smartypants I'm a 24in48 virgin. So excited to give this a try! 8y
melrailey What exactly is 24 in 48? 8y
24in48 @melrailey There's more info at 24in48.com but basically you read for 24 out of 48 hours. 8y
AprilMae @haileyhugsbooks we could get a hotel room and veg? You can nap before work and I'll sit in the hot tub?? Or.... You could request off 😉 8y
Ladybug66 I'm in 8y
100 likes20 comments
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scripturient
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Yep, sorry but not sorry. 😂😂

Martyn_J_Pass Amen! 8y
minkyb pretty picture 8y
See All 9 Comments
Elisa 😄😄👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
Marchpane I want this as a poster. Gorgeous 😍 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Yup. And I'm doing this on Christmas. The felines and I are just going to chill out and read books. They are behind on their reading challenge too...lol 8y
DrexEdit Me too @Marchpane! 💜 8y
kspenmoll NOT! 8y
Gissy Yep that's me all this time! 8y
154 likes9 comments
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CocoReads
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Found on a friends facebook. I'm sure we've all seen it before but it bears repeating.

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My_novel_obsession
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Happy #readathon all! ❤️📚📖

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RiotMom
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Me AF (as the kids say)

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Lilitherat
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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For me it's quite the opposite actually; the fear of never being able to read all that I want to read 😅

JoRead Indeed! 8y
28 likes1 comment
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scripturient
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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Yesssss! ❤️

pppooraikul So true. ❤️❤️ 8y
desertbibliophile Love! 💞 8y
Robothugs Love this quote! 8y
See All 7 Comments
BeththeBookDragon ❤️❤️❤️ 8y
Eugeniavb Love Manguel. He's a genius 8y
britt_brooke 💙💙💙 8y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Right On!⭐️ 8y
113 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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PresMoreLetters
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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I m just fascinated by others reading experiences

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Soubhiville
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
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#biblioweekend, go readers go!

SharonGoforth 👍👍 8y
LisaReads Love this!!! 8y
kspenmoll Missed my morning but starting now. 8y
Hooked_on_books Outstanding! 🙌🏽🙌🏽 8y
75 likes4 comments
review
chlobee
A Reader on Reading | Alberto Manguel
Pickpick

Perhaps not for everybody, but if meandering essays on the nature of reading and other bibliophilic topics interest you, then definitely pick this up. Alberto Manguel's writing positively oozes intelligence and the book went by quickly because of it.