Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bilbiotopia

What a great little book. BIBLIOTOPIA or, Mr. Gilbar's Book of Books & Catch-all of Literary Facts & Curiosities compiled by Steven Gilbar is wonderful collection of all book and literary trivia. From "Origin of the 'book'" to "Some Memorable Closing Lines" and "Famous Last Words," BIBLIOTOPIA has list after list of nothing but trivia. If you don't like lists, then this book is not for you. The book has no real arrangement -- I think the lists are entered as created by the author.

Origin of the 'book' = "The word comes from beech because the ancient Saxons and Germans usually wrote runes on pieces of beechen board.

Closing line = "That might be the subject of a new story, but our present story is ended." Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment"

Last words = "Blaise Pascal: My God, forsake me not."