What's On the Menu?

Welcome to the Mighty Bibliovore! I plan to serve up reviews of books I have read and books I am currently reading, along with speculations about books I would like to read, information about books soon to be published, playtime with books that refer to other books, and an all-around celebration of books.

I plan to have contests--perhaps to find the source of a quote, or to take a picture that reflects a scene from a book. Perhaps we'll discuss the pros and cons of movies about books. One regular feature will be the reading of famous picaresque novels and playing the game of hunting down the references--and reading them. (Picaresque: when a literary work makes references to other literary works; vs. pastiche: a literary work in the same setting and with the same characters as a specific previous literary work, usually as a tribute. I plan to review a few pastiches, as well.)

I will also try answer that age-old question: what books might my [fill in the blank: husband, sister, 10-year old nephew, boss, friend's graduating daughter...] like? As we go along, I'll make sure to include suggestions on who might like a given book (intended audience or not!), and on other works that might have similar attractions.

What is a Bibliovore, you ask? The origin of the word Bibliovore is eclectic--you will have noticed that the suffix "--vore" is Latin for "eater" and the prefix "biblio--" is Greek for book. A carnivore is an eater of meat, an herbivore is an eater of grasses and leaves, an omnivore is one who eats anything put in front of them; therefore, a Bibliovore is one who eats books. There is an implied appetite in the word as well: a "--vore" doesn't just nibble; he devours, he subsists upon! So the correct definition is: someone who eats books for breakfast! And the Mighty Bibliovore is actually an omnibibliovore, so beware! Hide your books and manuscripts!

Six years ago, my daughter was in her school's "Battle of the Books" club. Their team needed a name, and "Bibliovore" was my daughter's suggestion after a lively debate at home about the mixed etymology of the word. My husband even drew a little Bibliovore mascot--I'll have to dig it out and add it to an upcoming blog entry. I'm not sure what name they finally ended up with, but my daughter was unquestionably the Bibliovore-in-Chief of their team. She could gulp down any of the books on the list, digest them thoroughly and (ahem, sorry) regurgitate all the miniscule little details, so they did pretty well in the competitions, after she got over her shyness and desire to let her teammates have a chance to answer.

In any case, the name Bibliovore stuck in our family, because our little darlin' came by the trait honestly. Contrary to the old investment ad which says, "they came by it the old fashioned way--they eeeeaaaaaarned it," our daughter came by it the REAL old fashioned way. She inherited it. She won't be inheriting much money... Wasn't it Erasmus who said, "When I have a little money, I buy books. If any is left over, I buy food and clothes" ?

I hope readers will want to stop by and see what's next on the menu. Suggestions are welcome, as well, and polite agreements or disagreements in comments will add a zesty sauce.