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The Library
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
24 posts | 11 read | 22 to read
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review
annamatopoetry
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Mehso-so

I can't say there was anything wrong with this book, but it still felt a bit laborious to get through. No stories were bad, it was just never brilliant.

blurb
annamatopoetry
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Alma mater mention! Well, for less than a year of grad school I don't think it counts if you don't have a degree from there? Anyway, fun fact: Lund University was founded in an effort for "swedishify" Skåne, an area that had until very recently been Danish since Lund's founding. I had philosophy lectures in Kungshuset, "the kings' house", the oldest building on campus.
(let's pretend I didn't hate Lund)

quote
annamatopoetry
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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"Personalized illustrations were a key component of any luxury Book Of Hours; ranging from the ubiquitous coat of arms to full-page portraits of the owner and their family /... /These delicate and sumptuous miniatures ensured that such books were prized possessions, passed down to children or other members within the ruling dynasty."

blurb
annamatopoetry
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Decent start. Not pictured: the most absurd pistachio croissant

review
Purpleness
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Pickpick

I enjoyed it, so I‘ll give it a pick, but it was definitely Euro-centric (as some other reviewers on here have pointed out as well) and some may find it dry.

58 likes1 stack add
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Purpleness
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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What? Citizens were allowed to borrow books from the public library?!! 🤯
So thankful to live in a city with a good public library that actually lets us borrow books.

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Purpleness
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Best way to spend an afternoon off:)

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Purpleness
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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quote
Purpleness
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Bookwomble I'd love some books with little monkeys and letters of gold! 😌🐒🪙📖 I'd be in dad's bad graces, too 😆 13mo
Purpleness @Bookwomble Me too! How could you not? 13mo
charl08 Me three. Where do I order? 13mo
Purpleness @charl08 Apparently from scribes in 13th century Paris. Not sure about delivery times😜 13mo
charl08 @Purpleness shucks, my time machine is in the garage... 13mo
41 likes5 comments
blurb
scripturient
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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i.besteph Beautiful click! 😍 2y
TrishB Great pic ❤️ 2y
squirrelbrain Perfect! ❤️ 2y
See All 6 Comments
Caroline2 Fab photo and great looking book, is it any good?? 2y
BookBabe Wow, gorgeous! 2y
84 likes6 comments
blurb
Mirazzles
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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This library hold came in on Libby. It seems quite fitting with the windy and gloomy day ahead.

45 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Mybookcafelife
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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I‘m finally back home to my little library. It was a great summer away from home, but I sure missed my books and reading corner 😁

This is my favorite corner in my little library 🤗
#homelibrary #bookshelves #mylittlelibrary #readingcorner

review
Palimpsest
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Pickpick

I read this book in April and should have reviewed it then. Yes, this book is a bit dry, especially two of the chapters in the middle, but it‘s also the most comprehensive book on western libraries that I‘ve ever read. If you can get through the pedagogical feel of it, it holds a wealth of information. If you like something a bit more relatable choose Stuart Kells or Matthew Battles books on libraries. This is still a pick for me.

iread2much Cute reading partner! 2y
Palimpsest @iread2much thanks! That‘s Annabelle. 2y
Graywacke Gorgeous kitty. I read Battle‘s book ages ago. This sounds interesting. 2y
53 likes3 comments
review
sdbruening
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Bailedbailed

Okay, it‘s just too dry for me 🙁 But here are tidbits I learned from the first 50 pages. The history of people disdaining trashy or fun literature being included in libraries goes all the way back to Rome. Most classical texts have come to us today because of the pious works of monks.

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Vivlio_Gnosi
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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A book about the history of libraries with a picture of my favorite library on the jacket??? #TBR stack here you go!!

9 likes1 stack add
review
SW-T
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Panpan

An odd book. While it says it‘s a comprehensive history of the library, it spends a lot of time on white male Europeans who were private collectors. Glances over places like China, Tibet, India, and Japan. Some of the information seemed out of date, other information inaccurate, and they contradict themselves in some spots. Felt like a couple academics with dreams but no real world exposure decided to publish a big book to show their friends.

Chelleo 😂🤣😂 Love this review! 3y
SW-T @Chelleo Thanks. The book made it easy. 😉🤣 3y
23 likes2 comments
blurb
Addison_Reads
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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So excited to find these on the new release shelf at my library today. 💚

review
keepingupwiththepenguins
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Mehso-so

Pettegree and der Weduwen‘s focus is more on the ancient, medieval, and Renaissance history of the library, when it largely existed as personal collections of the wealthy and powerful. I‘ll admit I skimmed some of those chapters, but if those eras of history make your heart sing, you‘re in luck. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/new-releases/

48 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Aims42
The Library: A Fragile History | Andrew Pettegree, Arthur der Weduwen
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Starting this 400+ page chunkster and am so excited! I‘ve been checking my library app daily to see where I was on the waitlist. Today the text came it was ready for me to pick up 🙌🏻

Link to Goodreads for a summary since it‘s not showing on Litsy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57356057

52 likes4 stack adds