How to Buy a Love of Reading

This will go down as one of my most memorable reads, and when I finished, I was still in that world - I missed the characters, and contemplated turns in plot for weeks. It is well-written, clever, the descriptions are rich and textured - so much so that initially, it pays to read at a slow pace and savour them. When you do so, Egan Gibson brings you into this world, of the amazingly rich, their children, and the things that matter to them - some of which don't matter to "the rest of us," leaving us with the rest - the real stuff - which is what great novels are made of. The voice pokes fun at the fake things, the things on the surface, which means you are immersed in them initially, all told with a knowing wink, but enjoy them, as even better stuff follows. The author has done meticulous research on many fronts - I particularly found it amusing regarding metafiction, which I have had limited exposure to - and also elucidates the author's main criticism of it, that it ceases to emotionally move us, precisely the opposite of this book. In the aftermath of finishing it, I found myself poring over different parts of it, re-reading it to notice all those little details which I had missed the first time around, things which may have seemed unimportant at first glance but which took on such power and magnitude later on in the story. This is one of those books you read and remember for a long, long time.

This finely-crafted novel introduces a collection of damaged people whose lives are entertwined in surprising ways. From the gang of rich young people whose misery stems from an impressive variety of causes, to their parents who try to get past their own misery through their children, from the tortured artists to the cameo appearances, the characters showcase the many ways that economic and physical realities can lead to complex emotional lives. The plot is like an elaborate set-up of dominoes: once it's set in motion, we can only watch as everything falls into place, however much the characters imagine they have control over their lives. Alongside the story is an ongoing examination of literature and literary devices which is neither intrusive nor too self-conscious. This would make a great book club choice.

One of the ways that I judge a book is whether I even remember it when it's over. This book and its characters have been stuck in my head for over a week now. I find myself frequently thinking about Carly, Hunter, and all the other characters' decisions, both good and bad. I enjoyed the book. I felt a connection to Carly - having myself been the chubby girl in high school. I also felt a connection to Hunter and his inability to really be himself around his friends. Overall, I think that it's one of the best books I've read in a while and I probably won't stop thinking about it any time soon. I diagree with the marketing of this book as "chick-lit" and a "beach read." (I really hate the term beach read.) This was a thought-provoking and insightful look at life.

"How to Buy a Love of Reading" is an extremely well written book. Gibson has a talented way of keeping the reader hooked. There were many times when I found myself thinking how clever Gibson was at her descriptions found throughout the book. Immediately, you feel sympathetic towards Carley: senior in high school, over-weight, parents overlook who she truly is, a relationship with Hunter who is Mr. Popular and yet she is on the other side of the popularity spectrum who will do anything to save him. Do not be mistaken by its cover, this is not a chick-lit book. It has much depth and by the end of the story you are incredibly connected to Carley and her struggle to save Hunter and find herself. I highly recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this book despite what I think is fairly deceptive flap copy. I expected a much more tongue-in-cheek narrative that this book offers- the satire is fairly light in my opinion. Despite that, the story itself is compelling, and Carley (who I disliked in the beginning) develops into a character with wonderful depth. Her struggle to survive while trying to save her best friend is unexpectedly poignant, and I enjoyed watching Carley slowly come to recognize her own worth outside of Hunter's reflected glory. There was plenty of scope for wry laughter once Bree (and her painful novel) make an appearance. Bree's level of narrative deconstruction will entertain anyone who's ever endured a college writing class. Her efforts to find a narrative truth are unexpectedly assisted by Carley's hatred of books and refusal to accept Bree's idea of storytelling. Gibson perfectly captures the feelings of isolation and confusion that all teenagers experience (no matter their parents' socio-economic situation), and ably crafts a realistic (though rather surreal) story. Highly recommended.