As you can probably assume from this book's title and front cover artwork, books and their varying genres and themes are the focus of this beautifully made and illustrated volume. The illustrations, to start with, are intriguing, unique, and make the reading of this book ten times more enjoyable and interactive. The author, Jane Mount, takes credit for the writing, research, and pictures; it is evident that this book took time to put together, but well-deserved and cherished hours, weeks, and months. She comments in her acknowledgements that "Making this book has been the hardest thing I've ever done," but that "If you're not challenging yourself, and not pushing to make the very best possible thing, then what's the point, really?" This multilayered creation mainly consists of assorted pages focused on a genre or common theme of books. One of the pages illuminates Mount's signature drawings of stacked books with the spines showing their titles and detailing. On the adjacent page, descriptions of certain authors' quirks, processes, or inspirations of books within the aforementioned genre are written, with little portraits to enhance the reading experience. Sprinkled quizzes, drawings of outstanding or just plain bizarre-looking bookstores, and all sorts of other individual entries can be found throughout. All in all, I enjoyed this book for the easy reading it offered as well as the delightful illustrations (as I have already said at least ten times).  It may offer you some titles to add to your reading list as well as booksellers near or far that you may opt to visit. I recommend Bibliophile to all who identify as established readers as well as those merely interested in the prospects; it is a book that conveys that there is a piece of fiction or nonfiction for everyone.

Another Inspiring Quote from Author Jane Mount:
"...the whole point of books, [is] showing us the world as others see it, helping us understand each other, reminding us we're all human" (10). 

Sarah Clarkson's take on the gift that is reading and writing spoke directly to my soul so many times on so many levels that I was truly astounded. Not only does she write effortlessly and personally to her readers, her verse undeniably conveys her passion for the written word and the way that she views literature to be one of the purest gifts from God for his children to better connect and understand him and the Bible. I felt myself getting chills at so many different truths that she was able to beautifully and simply express, ranging from the way that books can inspire, confuse, and lead us to God in our good times as well as the bad. The best part of this book I have to say are the numerous lists of her recommendations of books that shaped what she calls her lifestyle of the "reading life." Clarkson's lists range from prayer and theology devotionals to fantasy/mystical novels to powerful memoirs that she read in all different parts of her walk of life so far, with added commentary, insightful opinions, and synopses of the titles for the reader's information (If you are a fan of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other similar writers, you'll be hearing a lot about them and finding recommendations of their works and similar anthologies left and right!) I personally connected to this book and its author through the articulation of what it means to be a "book girl".  It is apparent through every chapter and on every page that books and writing are Clarkson's passion and life work as well as her way of spiritually connecting and living for the Lord. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to every Christian woman and every woman who feels a slight tugging on her heartstrings to delve deeper into literature and the transforming power it can have on the way we all live our lives. 

I couldn't choose just one quote to highlight from this book, so here are a few of my favorites (and the ones that I believe to be among the most insightful):

1) "Words make worlds, and the more words we encounter, the richer our concept of the world becomes, the more we are able to see what is possible" (42-43).

2) "To be a book girl is to own the identity of holy learner to the full" (43). 

3) "Word by word, the narratives we read equip our hands and broaden our imaginations for the real and daily narratives of our lives" (69).