A Review of a Book of Reviews

Big Frank has been reading “Nonrequired Reading” by Wislawa Szymborska. This is a collection of book reviews that Szymborska wrote for the Polish newpaper, Gazeta Wyborcza. She admits in the beginning of this volume that she never really enjoyed the standard review formula: describing the nature of the book putting it into some larger context, and then, “give the reader to understand that it was better than some and worse than others.” As a result she gave herself free reign to adhere to that formula (at times), but more often to use the topic as an opportunity to spin off in whatever direction she desired. The result is a wonderful exploration with Szymborska as a guide of a wide range of books and an even wider range of topics.

A book on statistics lead her to a conclusion that Big Frank shares with her: “In her book she tries to portray a normal family in various real-life situations. Unfortunately, the Kowalski family feel statistically typical, which immediately turns them into abstractions, since individual ever feels typical. The book is easily digestible, but not particularly nourishing.”

A book on French humor lead Szymborska to wonder why there are no such categories of seriousness. “I think humor and seriousness are equally important, which is why I eagerly await the day when seriousness will get its cumuppance and start envying humor.

In a review of a book on Hatha Yoga Szymborska cannot help herself when the author, after leading her through some rather demanding contortions reveals that this is only one small step towards the ultimate goal: “losing their individual I in the Cosmos at large.” Szmborska counters with: “Here the skeptic stops to ask himself if this is really his business. Maybe just the opposite: he shoulnd’t lose himself, but simply live his life through in its human separateness with all the consequent difficulties? And as for loosing himself – there’s always time for that after death.”

And so it goes through books on Indian abductions, domestic birds, sick dogs, wallpapering your home, gladiators, vandals, etc. etc. In all cases, sometimes you learn something about the subject, and the book, but you always get Szymborska’s read – and that makes it all worthwhile. In the end, you won't be reading this book in order to choose which Polish book to read - it will be rather to enjoy a few hours with Wislawa Szymborsa.