This unique collection of essays on the experience of reading is a genuine pleasure to browse through. Editor Zane, whose day job is to edit the book page of the Raleigh News & Observer, asked 34 writers-among them Lee K. Abbott, Frederick Busch, Bebe Moore Campbell, Haven Kimmel, Jill McCorkle, Lee Smith, and Anthony Walton-to select a single book and use one adjective to describe their encounter with it. Each of the writers used the fill-in-the-blank formula of "The Most__Book I Ever Read" to select adjectives that best describe their adventures in reading. The adjectives are as diverse as memorable, lovely, enchanting, daunting, resonant, wise, classy, familiar, devastating, fearless, exotic, seductive, elegant, disappointing, unpleasant, and luminous. The selections range from literary classics by Camus, Forster, Welty, and Faulkner to esoteric works of literature to books one feels one should have read. The writers also contribute personal essays about their encounters with literature that are true hybrids of literary criticism and fiction and make for a rewarding reading experience. An excellent addition to any library's collection.-Pam Kingsbury, Florence, AL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
