In Salon, Charles Taylor reviews Nick Hornby's new book of book reviews, The Polysyllabic Spree. Amongst many fine passage in the piece, this one shook me by the shoulders like an old friend:
That recognition starts with the two lists that headline every Hornby column: "Books Bought" and "Books Read." Sometimes entries in the former end up on the latter that month, a few months later or not at all. Anyone who buys more books than he or she can read (i.e., any reader), and who then lets those acquisitions hang around for months or years, will look at those lists and sense a kindred spirit. (The surest way to spot a nonreader: someone who comes into your house, looks at your books and asks, "Have you read all these?") [full review]
So relieved I'm not the only one.
