I learned a lot about Rare Book Collecting from this tale. 'Tis a world of extremes; extremely rare books and extreme prices. The prices are often subject to ridicule by the public. More than one a anecdote is passed along in which a Rare Book Dealer goes to the police to help with a theft. When informed of the price, tens of thousands of dollars is not uncommon, the officer levels a stare of incredulity at the dealer. "But it's just a book?!" they would stammer.

I fancy myself a bibliophile and must admit to being awed at reading about this first edition or that rare manuscript. I love the look of a wall lined with leather bound tomes. The prospect of holding in my hands a copy of The Invisible man with Jules Verne scribbling in the margins does indeed get my heart pounding. But that said, I really don't have much desire to hide such a piece of history in my home. I'd much prefer to see it on display at an archive or library somewhere, so that a myriad of people can bask in its glory. Unfortunately, there are those that feel differently, very differently indeed.

John Gilkey is one such uncouth gentleman. Working with a stack of credit card slips, he spends the better part of his adult life purchasing rare books with someone else's money. No matter how many times he's caught, he keeps doing it again. He makes an arch-nemesis of the self-styled "bibliodick", Ken Sanders. Who has an arch-nemesis these days? As the author plunged deeper into what is soon revealed as a very disturbed mind, it really comes as no surprise that Mr. Gilkey can lay such a claim. Mr. Sanders not only aids in one of the captures of the book thief but also helps wise up with fellow rare book dealers to Mr. Gilkey's scheme.

The author herself meets and interviews both men. In fact most of the tales told in the book are gathered through interviews with them as well as other folks in the rare book community. In the process, she feels she may have crossed a line. She feels frighteningly caught up in the fervor both men share for rare books. She also gave me a few interesting factoids, that I'll end with in hopes of wetting your appetite for the book.

~ Many collectors don't actually read their books. (p. 20)

~ Though, a predominantly male field, it is fast becoming populated with women. (endnote 7 for chapter 1)

~ The first edition of the first Harry Potter is a rare book, there was only 500 printed. (p. 23)

~ Sniffing a book isn't always some weird fetish, it's actually a method to detect mildew. (p. 23)

~ Collecting goes back to Euripides in around 400 BC (p. 24)

~ A lot of dealers are reluctant to report a theft because it would hurt their reputation and, thus, their business. (p. 32)

~ Book theft is more wide spread than art theft. (p. 37)

And finally, while note something she said directly, I noticed that a lot of her endnotes were of websites. I'm sure this is becoming rather common, given the proliferation of information on the internet but this is the first book I've read that had so many web references.

Pertamanya kukira ini novel detektif ternyata bukan hehe.
Buku ini membuatku sadar bahwa:
1. Ada buku yang harganya mahal
2. Ada orang yang gemar membeli buku dengan harga mahal
3. Ada orang yang mencuri buku - buku mahal
buku ini membuat kita sadar bahwa buku adalah harta yang sangat berharga bukan hanya karena isi tapi juga karena kelangkaan maupun cover. Padahal beberapa orang menganggap buku tidak penting termasuk ortuku.
Marilah kita hargai dan jaga buku.

Great nonfiction book on how being a bibliophile can go too far. I really can appreciate the amount of research done to show the depths of book collecting and what's involved in the trade. I recommend this to anyone who's passionate about books and collecting. There's a little bit of John Gilkey in all of us.

I loved it, maybe a little too much! A great cat-and-mouse story that brings to life the passions book lovers have for their books - not just their life-changing words but their physical manifestations.

A gift from my son, Reed.

I heard the author speak on NPR about the book, which led to a discussion with my 8 year old son about moral relativism and whether stealing, for whatever reason you do it, can be ok. The book was an interesting exploration of the same idea, along with the author's inquiries into her own responsibilities as the confidante of a criminal.

Who knew our very own local Ken Sanders was a book thief detective! Having met the Santa-like book seller in SLC and then reading this book was super fun

Author Allison Hoover Bartlett investigated these thefts in the rare book work perpetrated by John Gilkey with his schemes to buy rare books with stolen credit card numbers. His repeat offenses demonstrate his belief that he is owed these books because of his passion for them. He is candid with Bartlett about his misdeeds and his justification for all of it.

Of particular interest to me was the proactive theft prevention of Ken Sanders, a rare book dealer in Salt Lake City. He created a notification network between book sellers to share when a book was stolen so they could look for it on the market. I know Sanders as a contributor on our local npr station providing book recommendations. I’ve been aware of great works by Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and Terry Tempest Williams through his recommendations throughout the years.

I’m not a big true crime fan so thankfully this isn’t as dramatic as most true crime-- the stakes are a little lower. A $5,000 book theft is a big deal, but it isn’t murder. This was a quick and engaging peek into the rare book market and the obsessive collectors involved.

I mildly enjoyed this book. As a work of narrative nonfiction, I definately say it succeeded. I felt like I was experiencing this journey with the author and struggled with my own thoughts of what I would do if I was in her shoes. I like reading nonfiction because I like knowing that these people really exist; that events really happened. You don't have to go to fiction to read fascinating stories. People lead adventurous lives, and this book is a perfect example of that. I long to visit the many rare book stores mentioned in this book, to meet the formidable Ken Sanders, and to take a peek into the world of rare books. Since the book affected me in such a way, I would conclude that it was very well written.
As a true crime, though, it was a bit of a snooze. The book doesn't delve into the investigation, research, charge and conclusion of the crimes, but more on the characters involved and only grazes over the criminal proceedings.. If you prefer true crime, I wouldn't suggest this book.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and am happy I read it. I wouldn't say that I struggled to put it down at night, but I did enjoy turning the page.