The Back Page

Citation

Mugridge, R.L. (2011), "The Back Page", Collection Building, Vol. 30 No. 1, pp. 69-69. https://doi.org/10.1108/01604951111105069

As editor and publisher of Booklist, Bill Ott is well known for the columns and reviews that he has written for more than two decades. In this volume he has brought together 84 of his columns that illustrate the breadth and depth of his knowledge of literature, as well as his personal creativity and eclectic interests.

The Back Page includes columns predominantly published within the last ten years. They are organised into five sections, the first of which is Books and Authors. Collected here is a diverse mix of essays addressing both well known and lesser‐known authors and books. All of them reflect Ott's unique take on literature and popular culture. They include discussions of works by fiction and non‐fiction authors such as Anthony Powell, Grace Metalious, Thomas Friedman, and others.

The second section includes more than a dozen of Ott's columns dealing with a variety of genre fiction authors such as George Pelecanos, Michael Connelly and John Le Carré. It is here that Ott's enthusiasm for crime fiction and spy novels becomes apparent. In the third section, Life at Booklist, Ott writes about his experiences as editor of Booklist such as the challenge of coming up with a list of the 100 best books of the past 25 years and the “catastrophe” of not having reviewed a book that ultimately becomes a best seller.

The fourth section of The Back Page, entitled Life beyond Booklist, is a collection of Ott's columns that go beyond books and reviews, yet are still related to reading and literature in some way. Here is found a column on diagramming sentences, with examples drawn from well‐known political figures' speeches, and illustrations. Another column in this section describes how Ott's reading habits (i.e. a fondness for crime fiction) got him excused from jury duty. The final section of the book includes 22 quizzes, chiefly on literature and film. These difficult quizzes are challenging and thought provoking, yet simultaneously entertaining.

Overall, this is an amusing and educational collection of columns from a well‐known author, editor, and publisher. They make for enjoyable reading for anyone who loves books and film.