Literature Lover's Book of Lists: Serious Trivia for the Bibliophile

by Judie L.H. Strouf

Book Overview

A collection of lists organizing many interesting facts, terms and examples relating to literature: genres, periods, themes, authors, characters, awards and more. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735200173
• ISBN13: 9780735200173
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Press
• Length: 418 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 7.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful resource

Like Steven Gilbar's "The Book Book" (see my review), this is a great item to just pick up and open; you're sure to find something interesting in it no matter what page you choose. Though not marketed as such, it will prove most interesting to parents of children from grade-school through high-school age, and may indeed be used as a compendium of reading lists by homeschoolers. Besides allusions, quotations, and definitions, the bulk of the book, as with Gilbar, is given over to lists of books--everything from "Best-Selling Books" to "1990s Literature From Around the World;" there's no reason an intelligent teen can't take a taste of everything Strouf lists. Serious-minded ones may also want to check out List #9 ("Influential Writers from Around the World"), #14 ("Literary Criticism"), and #16 ("U.S./British/Irish Critics") for ideas on where to go next. But above all, buy it for Sections 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 (Books...for All Ages, Genres...for Every Taste, Drama, Themes, and Literary Periods) and the titles and authors in Section 4 (Poetry). It's true that there are a few rather glaring typos that would have been caught by an editor who knew his books, but by searching under both author and title you should still be able to find all the items listed. Then get yourself a used copy of Gilbar (get his "Great Books" too) and "The Prentice-Hall Good Reading Guide," and you'll have a treasure trove worthy of the fabled Indies to search and sample.

A wonderful resource

Like Steven Gilbar's The Book Book (see my review), this is a great item to just pick up and open; you're sure to find something interesting in it no matter what page you choose. Though not marketed as such, it will prove most interesting to parents of children from grade-school through high-school age, and may indeed be used as a compendium of reading lists by homeschoolers. (For example, if you turn to page 245, "Animals: Books & Stories" in "Themes: Under One Umbrella," you'll see listed, under Crane/Stork/Goose/Duck/Swan/Penguin, titles ranging from Mr. Popper's Penguins and Make Way for Ducklings to The Snow Goose and Cranes in My Corral, Hyde.) Besides allusions, quotations, and definitions, the bulk of the book, as with Gilbar, is given over to lists of books--everything from "Best-Selling Books" to "1990s Literature From Around the World;" there's no reason an intelligent teen can't take a taste of everything Strouf lists. Serious-minded ones may also want to check out List #9 ("Influential Writers from Around the World"), #14 ("Literary Criticism"), and #16 ("U.S./British/Irish Critics") for ideas on where to go next. But above all, buy it for Sections 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 (Books...for All Ages, Genres...for Every Taste, Drama, Themes, and Literary Periods) and the titles and authors in Section 4 (Poetry). It's true that the index includes only authors' names, no titles, which to my mind is a fault (and somehow neglected to includ the comic-strip creators from pp. 86-8, even though many of them have had their works collected in bound form). It's also true that there are a few rather glaring typos (mostly having to do with book titles) that would have been caught by an editor who knew his books, but by searching in your library or online under both author and title you should still be able to find all the items listed. Then get yourself a used copy of Gilbar (get his Good Books too), Nancy Pearl's Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason and More Book Lust: 1,000 New Reading Recommendations for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason, and The Prentice Hall Good Reading Guide, and you'll have a treasure trove worthy of the fabled Indies to search and sample.

If it has to do with Literature, This Book has the Answers

If you like books, writing and words, you will get lost in this book for hours. There are nearly 200 lists relating to genre, authors, characters & settings, awards, literary terms and more. For coverage, click on Table of Contents in the left-hand column of this page.Judie Strouf, MA, is an author of six professional books for language arts and English teachers. She spent years teaching literature and served as head of an English department. As the author of 113 books (including revisions and foreign-language editions) and over 500 magazine articles, I keep this book within easy reach and refer to it often. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com.

A terrific compendium of wide-ranging literary information.

Literature Lovers Books Of Lists: Serious Trivia For The Bibliophile is a splendid compendium of information ranging from the practical to the whimsical and meant for anyone who loves books, reading, and the rich literary legacy available for free to anyone with a library card. Organized into nine sections, Literature Lover's Book Of Lists offers almost two hundred lists relating to literary genres, authors, characters and settings, awards, literary terms, books of prose and poetry available on audio cassette, and more. If there is a bibliophile on your gift list, you can't make a better choice than sending him or her their very own copy of Judie Strouf's Literature Lover's Book Of Lists!

Incredibly comprehensive and useful.

This is a must-have resource item for anyone who reads, and would be incredibly useful for teachers, students, booksellers, and ANYONE who comes in contact with books. Strouf offers info on poetry, plays, journalism, classics, contemporary fiction and nonfiction, fables, Shakespeare, literature references, and so much more. It's all arranged in a perfectly easy format and style for reading straight through, or for browsing, or for looking up specific information on just about anything that's ever been put into a book. This is definitely the most useful resource tool I've come across for understanding and enjoying the written word. There are a few typos that are mildly distracting, but the phenomenal wealth of information contained in this book really make it a something that you will go back to again and again. Buy four copies - one for yourself, one for your reader/friend, and especially one for any student about to enter middle school, high school, or college. (That's three, but I guarantee that you'll find someone else in your life who absolutely has to have this book once they see yours!)