The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a

Book Review >>> Stephanie Freas The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession

Hoover Bartlett, Allison. New York: Riverhead Books, 2009. 274 pp.

In Allison Hoover Bartlett’s The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, readers follow the motivations, hopes, and failures of three central characters: John Gilkey, a famous book thief, Ken Sanders, owner of a bookstore and rare book collector, and the author, who strives to record their tales. Bartlett aims to gain a strong grasp on what it is that draws people to rare literature and collecting objects of high value. While the title indicates a story of a world of literary obsession, this nonfiction piece delves further into the life of John Gilkey, his history with stealing books and Ken Sanders’ work of attempting to capture Gilkey and other book thieves. As Bartlett says, “books…are more than just beautiful objects, and their physicality makes their contents seem more meaningful, somehow” (215). In an era where everything is digital, now even books are electronic with E-book readers such as the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader, and the urge to collect books is one many clutch to. In her attempts to understand these two men as examples of the literary world of collecting, she believes that books are physical representations of our history. While some collect for the monetary value, others collect because books are “repositories for memories,” especially of childhood (Bartlett 20). Further, some men, like Gilkey, collect books not for a profit, but for the way the books make them look or feel; they represent an identity that some may not acquire otherwise. Despite her fascination with book collectors, the story inspiring Bartlett is Gilkey’s. She records her experiences with the man who attributes ownership of rare books and a wealth of knowledge to being someone of higher societal status. Sanders provides Bartlett with opposing information: those with great collections start out with little money, but only through time and work do they gain their desires. The tension between these two men who have never had personal contact with one another resonates through Bartlett’s own inner tension of collaborating an honest story that portrays the two lives of men, as well as her own, in ways to make readers aware of the effects that book collecting have on people (Bartlett 202). From here, we see men stealing books, men murdering others for a single copy, or people spending thousands of dollars to have the best collection to the point that it may be “an addiction, but finding those books is such a good feeling,” as collector Joseph Serrano admits (113). Bartlett’s research into the lives of those who love books beyond Gilkey and Sanders solidifies the text at hand; readers recognize that the market for rare books is far from rare. Bartlett’s style of presentation of the stories at hand is very personal; she often includes anecdotes that explain her own love for literature. Further, Bartlett segues into

Gilkey’s tale through her own encounter with a rare book she came into possession of which belonged to a library years before. Readers may notice that the general substance of the book is inspired by numerous interviews between Bartlett and either Gilkey, Sanders, or other book collectors that have been affected by Gilkey’s thefts and fraudulent purchases. Because of her approach to the stories, readers gain a more personal entrance into this world fascinated with books, but we also easily recognize the text’s shortcomings. For instance, Bartlett writes with uncertainty often; not only does she question the validity of her information, but also her own ability to understand the story, which makes it seem more genuine, but problematic. At different moments in the text, Bartlett attempts to impose bibliomania on herself just as she finds it in Gilkey and others. She ponders, “does the fact that I adore a book I cannot read a single word of indicate at least some leaning toward bibliomania” (131)? Here, Bartlett trivializes the issue at hand, indicating that anyone who loves books not for their content but for aesthetic pleasure may be bibliomaniacs themselves, although later she admits she is not a bibliomaniac. Overall, Bartlett’s The Man Who Loved Books Too Much aims, thematically and contextually, to dig deep into the literary world and show a side of it that modern society overlooks. Bartlett sets out to find the reasons people love collecting, especially—but not exclusively—books, to share the story of John Gilkey and Ken Sanders, and to explore her own love for books. Bartlett accomplishes all of these goals within the text. The issues she raises create an air of authorial uncertainty and create disjointed transitions between focuses of the literary world and John Gilkey’s own story. Although The Man Who Loved Books Too Much has various issues that affect the reading, it still is a read for audiences who appreciate non-fiction stories, or more specifically those who enjoy either educating themselves more about collecting or the world of rare books.