The Book Collector - reviewed by Terry Toner

Posted: Wednesday Sep 20, 2023

The Book Collector - Reading and living with Literature by Tony Eyre - published in a small gift hardback by Mary Egan Publishing @ $45.00

At last it's 20th September 2023 !!!! it's been like sitting on a secret for several weeks.... now I can rave !!!!!

" A Beautique Gem"

That phrase headed up my notes.. that's as far as I got ... I carried on reading .. and leaving... and reading... I didn't want to rush it ... I didn't want it to finish - but sadly I did.... what can I say about a wonderful read like this??

People who know me - know that myself and books are a like force - though I'm sure the books could do without me -"myself" could not do without books.

I love books about books and book people - collecting books - buying books - hiding books - finding books... I doubt I will stop buying and collecting books .. ever..

I LOVE this book.

I recognised the feeling of this writer - the feeling of looking and finding a book you didn't know you wanted or needed - or the chance of being in an OP SHOP and there it was - just sitting waiting to be picked up for my library and me (Bullers Birds 1967 with a review enclosed in the original slipcase)...

Tony loves books too - he is more literary in his reading than me - BUT I must admit looking at the jacket of this wonderful book..I had two of the six on the front cover.. being a not too literary type I didn't think two out of six was too bad.

The author tells us about his love of books - one or two of the chases too and how he feels when he "lands" a coveted book he has been after - the joy.... who needs food?

His book place at home in Dunedin looked spacish (?) and comfortable.. I have a few spots like that at home too.

I enjoyed reading about Tony's LOVE of his books - first editions - finding a gem in the oddest or the obvious places and wondering why somebody hadn't seen that before you (5 Vols NZ Dictionary of Biography $2.50 - Two Dollars and fifty cents !!!)

I wonder if he too had sold a book and then wished he hadn't (10 Vols Illustrated London News 1914-1918) and worries about whether he will R e a l l y ever run out of shelving - let alone the room for another shelf.

I enjoyed reading Tony's adventures in Books - I've heard a whisper that subscription numbers of this book are healthy.. well-deserved I think - I hope this proves to be the case and that this little book is a true-life gem and lasts for many editions - hopefully that it is still in print long after Tony and I and others like us have bought our last book.

I think what I love the most about this book is that it proves to me that I am not alone in this wonderful world of buying - selling - finding - missing out - keeping - collecting - repairing - exchanging books - no matter how many books we have - there is ALWAYS just one more book sitting - waiting - just for us :-)))))

Don't let this book slip through your figures - first edition and all that and one day hopefully I'll meet the writer and ask for his autograph - yes a real fan boy - a first signed edition from New Zealand - terrific - I know my daughter will be pleased when this is one of the autographed books she will inherit and remember the joy of her father when he actually let her read his first edition..

Many thanks Tony for writing this wonderful book and to his publishers at Mary Egan Publishing for seeing such a wonderful story.

Believe it or believe it not - I could have added a lot more about this book - but then I don't want to spoil the joy in discovering just what an enjoyable this book is to read and own - don't lend it to too many people - let them buy their own - but please consider this as an excellent choice when gift time comes around - or even a copy for a friend who you know is just as crazy as you about books.

ENJOY!!!

Learn more and buy the book here: The Book Collector, Tony Eyre — Mary Egan Publishing