The City of Dreaming Books

by Walter Moers

Book Overview

In The City of Dreaming Books, Walter Moers transports us to a magical world where reading is a remarkable adventure.

The search for the author's identity takes Yarnspinner to Bookholm--the so-called City of Dreaming Books. On entering its streets, our hero feels as if he has opened the door of a gigantic second-hand bookshop. His nostrils are assailed by clouds of book dust, the stimulating scent of ancient leather, and the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590201116
• ISBN13: 9781590201114
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.9" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

the BEST .

I have given this book to others and have not gotten it back. That means it's a GREAT one. I need another copy to re read it before I read The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books again. My daughters and I love books and to read about books is even better. If you love books-this is a keeper and one to re read again and again. I do not want to say more and spoil the fun.

Best ever! Read now if you have any imagination at all

This is literally the most delightful book I've ever read. I laughed out loud too many times to count. The illustrations add a great deal to the story, too. This is the best book about books, writing, reading, the creative process, the wonder of the imagination, and the thrill of adventure. So full of wit and whimsy, it's like nothing else I've ever read (and I read TONS of fantasy, scifi, and historical novels). The beings who populate the book, as weird and unusual and varied as they are, manage to stand out as individuals with real character too. Moers has a voice that's truly unique in the literary field. I can't wait to read more of his stories.

A Truly Golden Book

After reading the first few pages, I fully intended to give this book a poor rating. The audacity, to write a book about excellent writing, without Moers writing also being of highest caliber. How presumptuous, how arrogant. The writing was merely poorly crafted children's fare, perhaps excusable only because the book is translated. It had an interesting, wonderful idea, of pursuing a world based on reading and books, but it would have been far more interesting and relatable if it had been about humans, rather than this silly dinosaur. I repent. Most completely. I was wrong in every way. This is one of the finest fantasy novels I've ever read. Moers actually takes a talking dinosaur and makes him interesting and a complete character. (To say nothing of the other species and humans in this world.) Moers doesn't rely on creatures others have constructed, but in every step forms his own creations. The character development in this novel is astounding, and so much deeper than what you find in most modern novels. This is a novel for adults with depth (and definitely not for children). It is not only extraordinarily well written throughout, but I now see those first few pages were exactly the right build-up, and the old-fashioned style (Dear Reader) fit exactly the theme and points Moers wanted to convey. I was supposed to do a lot of other tasks, and read other books. I couldn't stop reading this one. To say the unexpected happened is to say far too little, for Moers grabbed me by the collar and pulled me along his story so that I was continuously out of breath and at wit's end trying to guess what would happen next. Every word in this is honed. I am only sorry that it took me a while to realize that most names were purposeful, and often anagrams of actual writers. It takes true brilliance to create an engaging story that is at the same moment a profound commentary on the modern literature industry. City of Dreaming Books is a multifaceted universe like nothing else you've ever read. There is no comparison. It is a book created for those of us who love books. It is the book that you have been waiting for. It is the last book you need to read- or the last book you'll read purely for itself, for, in every book you read after this, there will be the memory of the perfection you once found here.

A Truly Golden Book

After reading the first few pages, I fully intended to give this book a poor rating. The audacity, to write a book about excellent writing, without Moers writing also being of highest caliber. How presumptuous, how arrogant. The writing was merely poorly crafted children's fare, perhaps excusable only because the book is translated. It had an interesting, wonderful idea, of pursuing a world based on reading and books, but it would have been far more interesting and relatable if it had been about humans, rather than this silly dinosaur. I repent. Most completely. I was wrong in every way. This is one of the finest fantasy novels I've ever read. Moers actually takes a talking dinosaur and makes him interesting and a complete character, to say nothing of the other species and humans in this world. Moers doesn't rely on creatures others have constructed, but in every step forms his own creations. The character development in this novel is astounding, and so much deeper than what you find in most modern novels. This is a novel for adults with depth (and definitely not for children). It is not only extraordinarily well written throughout, but I now see those first few pages were exactly the right build-up, and the old-fashioned style (Dear Reader) fit exactly the theme and points Moers wanted to convey. I was supposed to do a lot of other tasks, and read other books. I couldn't stop reading this one. To say the unexpected happened is to say far too little, for Moers grabbed me by the collar and pulled me along his story so that I was continuously out of breath and at wit's end trying to guess what would happen next. Every word in this is honed. I am only sorry that it took me a while to realize that most names were purposeful, and often anagrams of actual writers. It takes true brilliance to create an engaging story that is at the same moment a profound commentary on the modern literature industry. City of Dreaming Books is a multifaceted universe like nothing else you've ever read. There is no comparison. It is a book created for those of us who love books. It is the book that you have been waiting for. It is the last book you need to read- or the last book you'll read purely for itself, for, in every book you read after this, there will be the memory of the perfection you once found here.

Delightfully Demented

There is no author quite as quirky and off-beat as German author, Walter Moers. With his demented imagination, weird plot twists and wild, crazy characters in even wilder, weirder situations, one cannot help but wonder what sort of strange substance he is sampling. "City..." continues on in the wonderfully weird world of Zamonia. A world quite unlike any you have ever ventured into before. With his twisted philosiphies, demented creatures and appealing characters, his stories will surprise and delight. The protagonist in this novel is a young (a mere 70 years old) saurian called Optimus Yarnspinner. Upon his beloved Authorial Godfather's deathbed, he inherits an unpublished manuscript. A manuscript so profound, so engrossing that once one has read it, a writer will never wish to write again. So off goes our young hero, into the wild world to hunt for this anonymous author. To the City of Dreaming Books he makes his way - a bibliophile's utopia, and there he is tricked and trapped into the terrible and twisted catacomb of libraries. Here, in this maze of passages and tunnels, creatures more terrifying than your worst nightmare lurk. Here reading a book is genuinely dangerous, and ruthless bookhunters fight to the death for literary gems. Here, in the realm of the terribly mysterious Shadow King our intrepid writer finds himself. A real stand out novel, this would have to make it into my top #5 for 2007. It is a must-read for all you fantasy geeks with a love of libraries. And it would make an excellent role-playing adventure too! (Don't tempt me...)

BEYOND THE IMAGINATION

This is the first book I've read by Mr. Moers and promptly after starting it I purchased the others. I am almost finished with it and have loved every page. I am a passionate book lover so this holds extra appeal for me. But it is also a great fantasy creation which is my favorite genre. His prose is brilliant and has quite an old-world charm to it. And his artwork is stunning. In short, this is one of my top ten for 2007 thus far. Be prepared, it is very unusual, even for fantasy lovers. But an extremely rare example of one man's awesome imagination and quite beyond mainstream fantasy. Oopie, it's dark down here but you will quite enjoy the descent...