“A ‘constant reader’ who generously advocates for a wide diet of literature, from novels to poetry to narrative nonfiction to essays and all that lie between, Seaman counsels that 'the more varied our reading, the more detailed, intricate, and vital our perceptions become.' A lively and entertaining contribution to the shelf of books about books."

Kirkus

"Readers know the feeling that is equal parts escape and appreciation. Book groups, especially those that read classics and demanding books, would have a terrific time discussing River of Books. Donna’s writing about her reading life is sure to inspire readers to contemplate their own and lead to lively discussions."

Booklist

"Donna Seaman reads with her whole body, and River of Books is a hymn to her vocation, a testament to her immersions, the story her transports. The surface is calm, but the water runs deep in this memoir of intense responses, of enchantments and ecstasies." 
 

EDWARD HIRSCH, author of Stranger by Night, editor for 100 Poems to Break Your Heart

"River of Books is a beautiful memoir. Deeply personal, it is moving, dazzling, and spiced with touches of Seaman's slantwise sense of humor."  

SARA PARETSKY, author of Pay Dirt and other V. I. Warshawski novels and the memoir, Writing in an Age of Silence