Women Who Love Books Too Much
Bibliophiles, Bluestockings & Prolific Pens

Brenda Knight

Of course it was the title that caught my attention! Although I'm not certain anyone can love books too much, I'll concede that others (the non-bibliophiles in the world) may think so. It was recommended by the group at The Readers Place, and I quickly borrowed it from the library.

This is a small book profiling many of the great women writers of the world, along with a couple other influential women on the art of writing. It doesn't focus on just the past few centuries, but occasionally wanders way back into cultures that were before Christ and is often chronicling women from the early Christian years right up to the present. Although the writers from the past couple centuries tend to be anglo-centric, the total list is not.

Knight brings in female authors from Sumeria, India, Japan, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Germany... the list continues. The authors range from early scribes and poets up through J.K. Rowlings today. She presents women who were influential in their religion, in their families, and in politics. All the vignettes are enough to whet the appetite of any bibliophile of either gender. I have since purchased this book, and have mentally added volumes to my "To Be Read" list.

Since these are just insights, Knight doesn't belabor any particular author. The facts she brings forward are well written, inciting more interest. The book can be easily read in five minute bursts, but doesn't drag if the reader is sitting down for a long period, either. I recommend this book. But fair warning, it will only add fuel to any bibliophile's fire.

Unless you don't want to read anything ever again, you'll want this book.