Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks

This was a fun read for anyone who loves books. Annie Spence is funny and smart and definitely my kind of librarian! I have noticed a couple of things that many of the reviewers with low star reviews mention repeatedly, and I'd like to give you my take on it.The language: yes, she uses a few swear words. Even drops the f-bomb a couple of times. If that's something that truly offends you, then yes, stay away. However, some reviews have made it seem like she swears every other word, and that is completely untrue. It's sparing, and honestly, I feel like anyone that hasn't lived a completely sheltered life will not blink at the language in this book.The snark: this is a comedy book in many ways. Yes, she does write some truly heartfelt, lovely notes to the books she loves, but a lot of these are funny musings on books she didn't. I love the snark. I don't think that everything needs to be so serious and she definitely didn't "bash" any books, she poked fun. She talked about a book she hid because she hated reading it to her child (because he loved it so much they had to read it to him all the time) and I'm sorry if you're offended by the idea that she "hated reading" that particular book to her child, but I don't even have kids and I completely understood where she was coming from. There are books that I hate reading to my nieces and nephew too. It doesn't mean I hate reading, or I hate reading to them, but have you read some kids books these days? They're not all wonderful. Some are bad and the repeated reading of them is awful. It just is. She also was honest about books she didn't like, even if they're considered classics! Pearl clutching is happening because she didn't love The Hobbit! That's okay. Not everyone is going to like every book. I read The Fellowship of the Ring in high school and it was such a slog. I have the whole series, but am I ever going to read them? Honestly, probably not. I only keep them because the set is lovely and was a gift from my brother, because they're his favorite books. It happens!My final thoughts here are this: I think sometimes people (especially book people) have a tendency to take ourselves and our love of reading too seriously. Reading does not have to always be met with a complete reverence as a sacred thing. It's supposed to be fun, and enlightening, and fulfilling. All this to say, this may not be the book for everyone. There is no one book for everyone. But, as a librarian myself, I recommend this to anyone who loves books and I also recommend that as you read it, relax into it, let go, and try not to take yourself so seriously for a few minutes. Just enjoy spending some time with someone who clearly loves books and loves her job as a librarian.

I received this book on the day it released (yesterday) and simply couldn't put it down (well, except when life realities got in the way). Annie is as clever as she is likeable, with a snarky dark side that I just loved. With short chapters that alternately made me giggle and tear up or get wistful, it was the perfect read for my busy, easily interrupted life as a mom. I was impressed by several things. First, I'm blown away by the sheer volume of books she has read and has opinions about- copious and truly diverse. Having not come to pleasure reading until later in life, I found her wide array of knowledge to be inspiring and informative. She made even the most obscure titles sound interesting.Secondly, Annie is just really funny. I can imagine her actually holding these books in her hands and expressing her clever sentiments. Or quietly being snarky with me by the bookshelf at a party. I love the little personal and family details that she weaves into the stories, making the book even more endearing to me.Finally, this book inspired me to read more books. I love books that make me feel this way. I have a very lengthy list of her recommendations and am looking forward to getting started-- with the help of my local library.FYI to potential readers, Annie uses some language, and some less-than-savory themes are discussed... because of humor and because of books. I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to reading it again in the future.

Loved this book! It is split into two parts, the first consists of breakup / love letters to the books in her life as a librarian, and the second are hilarious book lists that may help you in certain situations, such as how to turn your lover into a reader.
 Regarding the letters - there were books I had not read (Virgin Suicides), and some I added to my TBR because of her letters (as if I needed more to read). She was spot on in some of her reviews (50 shades...) and some I politely disagreed with (I was not that big a fan of The Goldfinch, sorry).
The book lists were my favorite though, and I thought this format was absolutely genius. She starts the lists off with the topic of 'I'd Rather Be Reading', and gives excuses to tell your friends so you can stay home and read, along with a book that pairs with the theme of the excuse. I was dying on a few of them, for example, "I'll be at my high school reunion. Want to be my date?" And then she recommends Home Land by Sam Lipsyte, which is apparently a novel about a guy that has a high school nickname of Teabag. It just keeps going from there.

LOVED IT! As an ex-librarian I chuckled, laughed out loud, savored the sweet spots (to reread FROG & TOAD now with Annie Spence’s tenderness for them made it all a new experience), made out lists, and ordered several more of this book as gifts. Spence is an uninhibited reviewer who isn’t trying to create the 100 BOOKS YOU MUST READ BEFORE YOU KEEL OVER. This is pure joy. And her view of hobbity creatures still makes me laugh. Spence is a librarian with a robust joy of books that she loves or not. It’s delightful. And yes, I ordered some FROG & TOAD for adults and children. Ms. Spence, they owe you for the uptick in orders of some books because of you in the stacks.

Given how much I love to exchange book recommendations and stories of the books that changed my life, I knew I would enjoy this read. And by the end, it felt like I had met a friend for coffee and spent hours discussing our favorite reads, and some of our not-so-favorite ones, too. I also found a list of new literary friends I need to meet and worlds to get lost in during my reading. And, the author gives to best answer to the question of which author would you invite for dinner, and why. The answer is Anne Frank, "because I would love to watch that bright young woman’s smile grow upon learning that she is an internationally celebrated author." And I am not crying now, YOU are crying.