The Books They Gave Me: True Stories of Life and Love

In this morsel-at-a-time book, editor Adams pulls from her blog of the same name 200 anonymously submitted anecdotes about books given between friends, family, and lovers. They are sad (an adult daughter receives The Runaway Bunny from an absentee father and recalls hearing the story in her mother’s voice), ethereal (a traveling stranger becomes a temporary lover and leaves only a Rilke book, while the narrator doesn’t even ask his last name), sweet (a mother gives her working daughter Forever Young for her 18th birthday), deliciously vindictive (a spurned lover hides a Hemingway book belonging to a boyfriend’s boxed set: “Every time I see it sitting on my shelf, I smile knowing my bookshelf is one fuller, and his boxed set is one short”). The result, taken holistically, is not only fun but provides fascinating insights into the relationship between people and books. However, the same brand of story sometimes repeats itself: prone to repetition are ill-suited titles that precede the dissolution of relationships and books of wisdom given by mentors or parents. Nevertheless, there are enough uniquely charming stories to make for a satisfying read. Agent: Adam Schear, DeFiore and Co. (Nov.)