Slightly Chipped: Footnotes in Booklore

Another winner from the Goldstones! I got it yesterday, sat down and read it straight through. This is one of the few books I read with pen and paper at hand to take notes on interesting places to go, books to buy, and subjects to explore. After reading Slightly Chipped I went upstairs and bought 5 of the books they mentioned - alas not firsts and on the Internet so I didn't get the full flavor of the experience! I am eagerly looking forward to Warmly Inscribed.

I loved this book - most unexpected because I know nothing about book collecting. The 'real-time' and unpretentious approach to the story telling by the authors of their 'adventures' really works well. I also greatly appreciated the 'aside' stories - Bloomsbury, the 'duk' and 'duches', Cudjo, Rosenbach, etc. - I would never had known about some of these. I especially liked the apparent 'closeness' of the authors in their endeavors. One word of advice for the authors, however - although your 'review' of the West Street Grill was interesting, stick to books - I'm a Bob Evans type guy myself. I'm looking forward to reading "Used and Rare" and "Slightly Chipped II".

Much like their first book, Used & Rare, Slightly Chipped is another foray into the wonderful world of book collecting. The authors have a wonderful and charming voice that makes readers want to not only go out book-buying with them but also to dinner.

This is a great little book about the Goldstone's personal explorations into the book world and the people they meet there. Their descriptions of the people they meet, the Duke and Duchess, book dealers and their shops, fairs, auctions, etc., are exactly in keeping with the tone of the first book and I enjoyed it quite as much. One of the things that impressed me the most was the thoughts, pro, con, and speculative, about the internet and where it may or may not be going and possible ramifications of this. It is important, but nobody can truly answer that question yet. I loved it. I use the internet (obviously). I live in small town USA and love books, but cannot always get my hands on them without long distances and elaborate plans. Bibliofind is worth a lot to me all on its own. Helpful or not, I just enjoyed reading the book. It wouldn't even be the same without the menus. The mood is all part of the book. I can't wait for the next one.

I'm a book collector, which is what drew me to this book in the first place. And I was not disappointed. But my wife, who is not a book collector, also loved it. It is an engaging, humorous, insightful whirl through the world of quirky characters who populate the rare book world. My wife especially enjoyed the chapter on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's garage sale at Sotheby's. Very funny stuff. I highly recommend Slightly Chipped to anyone who loves books.