Notes for review: there are few things more dangerous to a reader than an entertaining book about what a clever person has read. A few decades ago we were all reading Helene H.'s "84 Charing Cross Road". Just recently I have been strongly tempted by Prof. Flynn's book he wrote to his students (in fact, I'm buying two classics just based on the sample chapter I found on his website, and I almost never actually buy books).

Hornby's essays here are explicitly crafted to wreak mayhem on one's reading list. Bad man!

And—
Five stars, but don't go thinking this is a life-changing opus. (Or even life-ruining, despite what Hornby might desire.) These are bite-sized essays that will leave you smiling, looking forward to more, and inspired to read read read, which to us is like telling an addict that the heroin is on the house. What it promises, it delivers.

I feel like a broken record, but I am genuinely surprised that I enjoyed this book. A series of essays about a bunch of books I’ve never read? Sounds terrible. But, Hornby was such a funny narrator that I had a great time. I loved his random rants about small things and life, his self-deprecation, and how he approached thinking about books in direct relation with whatever else was going on with him. I think it may have helped that I read this book in between others, essentially whenever I was waiting for my “real book” to be ready for pickup at the library. All in all, a fun read.

Damn it, Nick Hornby - just when I think I have my 'to read' list under control you give me even more suggestions. (I'm looking at - or is it for? - you Citizen Vince by Jess Walter, and Moondust by Andrew Smith.) Now that the ranting is done it can be said this is another solid collection of amusing and occasionally insightful essays.

"Housekeeping vs. the Dirt," like Hornby's other collections of his "Believer" book reviews, is almost a 'choose our own adventure' of critical reading. Do you want something to read straight through and savor? Would you rather have a book-shelf favorite that can be picked up and visited a chapter at a time? Would you like something that is a philosophy of reading, or a study of writing, or an exploration of one man's "personal reading map?"

That phrase is Hornby's, by the way. When trying to explain venturing outside his normal range of novels for a series of seemingly disconnected biographies, he describes his grand view of books: "I would like my personal reading map to resemble a map of the British Empire circa 1900; I'd like people to look at it and think, How the hell did he end up right over there? As it is I make only tiny little occursions into the territory of my own ignorance...."

See, that's what these books are. Instead of "collections of reviews" they're rather long form discussions with a friend about what he's reading. If your friend just happens to be English, very well written himself, and prone to occasionally drifting off, quite intentionally, to talk about Arsenal football instead. But that's the joy of it, as a writer he's more than experienced enough, more than comfortable enough to just say what he means and keep the tone conversational. He's not actively trying to impress anyone with his oh-so-clever thoughts about books. You know, like people sometimes do on social media sites. Not that I'M feeling self-conscious or...oh, nevermind.

The strictures set up by "The Believer" can be hampering on the column (only writing reviews of things you liked, no 'slagging off' lousy books). Such an ideal keeps going back and forth between a brilliant idea and much improvement over the rest of modern pop culture, and ridiculously limiting for honest review. But Hornby has fun with it. He seems to have as much fun reviewing the concepts behind people's writing as anything else, like discussing an author's habit of writing contemplative novels about well educated, introspective people as "cheating a little." This is followed by discourse on the greater challenge of writing characters from all walks of life and education so that they are well expressed, whether the character themselves would know how to do that or not.

Besides, Hornby is one of those talented reviewers where "in my humble opion" is always just understood in the subtext. He doesn't write in absolutes, in "one must do this and not that," and it's always fun to see him be pleasantly surprised by something he's read. Because as a reader, I know that feeling myself. And while I've never quite 'connected' with Hornby's fiction, I love the easy conversation on books that is embodied in these collections. And I'll enjoy any discussion on books or other forms of culture where a tangent on what today's youte are aware of ends with the exhausted dismissal: "But what do you care? Oh, go back to your hip-hop and your computer games and your promiscuity. (Or your virginity. I forget which one your generation is into at the moment.)"

I absolutely loved this collection. I will be reading all of Nick Hornby's book reviews.

When he's not writing about football or God, I really love Nick Hornby. He's like the smart, funny, friend that you can talk books and music with but would never be caught dating. And I've got to say, he's got some great insight on both books and music - though this book is about books. It's a collection of his columns for 'The Believer', where he was supposed to review books in a supportive, non-competitive environment - so basically he couldn't write negative things. So, he began to cherry-pick, selecting books to read that he thought he might like. Each essay begins with the books he read and bought that month (often not the same).

I loved hearing his opinions on the books - the essays are tightly written and his observations are very astute. I'd already read a few of these books, but ended up adding about 10 of his recommendations to my reading list. The book also includes very short excerpts of 3-4 of the books, so you can have an idea of what he's talking about (and if your sensibility gels with his).

I thought this was really great. If you're a fan of Hornby, you probably will too. I didn't give it five stars because it took me a while to get to - and through. There just nothing compelling about a book essentially of lists. While that's not a fault with the writing, it is a fault with the kind of book this is. And it may not be for everyone.

A well-written, informative read, and a perfect follow up to 'The Polysyllabic Spree'.
Hornby's wit and sarcasm, as always, never fails to make me laugh out loud.
Hornby has excellent taste in literature, and as a fellow bookworm, you'll definitely be adding a few of his book recommendations to your Goodreads 'to-read' list.

Here are a few excerpts from the book which I enjoyed. Please be advised, this qualifies as a minor spoiler.

"The whole purpose of books is that we read them, and if you find you can't, it might not be your inadequacy that's to blame. "Good" books can be pretty awful sometimes." (p.17)

"Please spend every last penny you have on books from independent bookstores, because otherwise you'll end up as sour and as semi-literate as the English." (p.78)

"The truth is, however, that it's old news. Almost nobody writes their own books these days; indeed, to do so is seen as a mark of failure in literary circles...I have always used an old lady called Violet, who lives in a cottage in Cornwall, in the far west of England, and who is an absolute treasure."(p.115)

I have to admit that I read Hornby's second collection of essays from the Believer magazine for purely tactical reasons. You see, I made one of these "New Year's resolutions" to read more. And since the other one, eat better and run in the morning before work, didn't pan out, I figured I needed to stick with the reading. So, to complete three books for Jan 09, I removed Housekeeping vs The Dirt from my bookshelf because I knew 1) it was short 2) a fast read and 3) it would be good motivation to rekindle my lost love of reading.

Just like his first set The Polysyllabic Spree, Hornby's 2nd collection of essays about the books he buys/reads every month were funny and a good kick-in-the-pants to get back to reading. I hear he has another collection out and I'm thinking of buying it as reserve for the next reading dry-spell, which I hope won't come soon.

I like Hornby's humorous reviews and found a title or two to add to my "to read" list.

I’m a sucker for books about people reading books.

Lots of good book suggestions, as usual!

Believer columns. Lists of books. Snarky. Sarah Vowell. Delightful.