Illustration by Josue Evilla. Photographs: Adam Ferguson for The New York Times (Petraeus); Mary Evans Picture Library (Huns); SZ Photo/The Image Works (Vietnam); Tony Karumba/Agence France-Presse â€" Getty Images (Afghanistan); Ed Darack/Science Faction â€" Getty Images (helicopter) This week in The New York Times Book Review, Ligaya Mishan reviews Joe Queenan’s “One for the Books,†a memoir about life as a voracious reader. Ms. Mishan says that Mr. Queenan, a “famously dyspeptic humorist,†is in this book “mostly in celebratory mode, writing of his love of literature.†Ms. Mishan writes:
Fortunately, given Queenan’s particular skill set, he finds plenty in the book world to sneer at, too. On the cheapskates who frequent secondhand bookshops: “People should consider it an honor to pay full price for a book by Don DeLillo or Margaret Atwood.†On reviews containing the adjective “luminousâ€: “I prefer books that go off li! ke a Roman candle.†On the futility of book clubs: “Good books do not invite unanimity. They invite discord, mayhem, knife fights, blood feuds.†He refuses to read novels in which the protagonist attends private school (so long, Harry Potter), or books written by fans of the Yankees, a group that turns out to include Salman Rushdie. And he reserves particular scorn for readers of e-books, who, he argues, “have purged all the authentic, nonelectronic magic and mystery from their lives.â€
This week, Mr. Queenan talks about his reading habits; Leslie Kaufman has notes from the field; J. D. Biersdorfer discusses new apps about famous wars; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.
