Dear Fahrentheit 451 by Annie Spence

Dear Fahrentheit 451

by Annie Spence

A librarian's laugh-out-loud funny, deeply moving collection of love letters and breakup notes to the books in her life.

If you love to read, and presumably you do since you've picked up this book (!), you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it's clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end.

In Dear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up with The Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter to The Time Traveler's Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence's take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature--sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths.

A celebration of reading, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is for anyone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book...and another, and another, and another!

Reviewed by lovelybookshelf on

5 of 5 stars

Share
I enjoyed Annie Spence's thoughts on all sorts of books, her bookish matchmaking, as well as hearing about the quirkier tastes of some of her library patrons. I connected with her musings, maybe because we're of the same generation, but also, there were a number of well-loved books she *didn't* like and I felt, whoa, I'm NOT the only one who couldn't get into that one! Bookish nostalgia and commentary on books old and new, and oh my word the SUGGESTIONS (I especially appreciated her "recovery read" suggestions.) Rest in peace, TBR list.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 4 November, 2017: Finished reading
  • 4 November, 2017: Reviewed