I think this is the first time I read a micro-history book that is a translated work. In the beginning I find the writing a bit dry, but once I am used to the style - it does feel different from American writers' - I find the story engaging enough.

Will put this into the Books about Things bookbox.

Taking out of MaryZee's Biography of things. Thank you for sharing. I think it will be nice to read something different.

I never thought about how the ballpoint pen came into being. Every invention has a story.

Enjoy! KTM RABCK to RNAi for One Word Title Release Challenge 2019

This was sent to me by the generous booklady331 as an RABCK along with Varina. I can't wait til end of term because I'm reading these after finals!!

This wishlist-tag book arrived safely today; many thanks! I really enjoy Biographies of Things, and look forward to this one.

Apr. 18: I've started this one as part of this year's BookCrossing 24-hour readathon (thread here). As so often happens to me with a biography-of-things, I'm already finding myself caught up in the colorful tale of an inventor whose life I'd never considered, even while using the end-results of his work daily through most of my life!

Later: While I appreciated the challenges of trying to develop and fund a new invention - not least during the ravages of WWII! - the book did feel pretty dry at times, and I was not as interested in the various legal aspects as the author seems to have been. I did get the distinct impression that Biro was an odd mix of naive and persistent, making some decisions on a whim yet persisting in the face of considerable difficulties. The book focuses on his relationship with Andor Goy, with both of them losing the rights to the pen after taking separate paths in their often-troubled business affairs.

There are some bits about the practical design of the pen, including the possible inspiration for the idea of a ball rolling through ink and the chemical issues of a substance that would stay in a flowable state inside the cartridge while rolling out cleanly and drying instantly - quite a challenge, and one that stalled the production of a successful design for years. But those were not the main focus of this book, and in the end it's more of a political/business cautionary tale.

But I'll never take pens for granted again!

Guidelines for safely visiting and stocking Little Free Libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, from the LFL site here.

I left this book in the repurposed-breadbox LFL on this lovely day, while admiring the blossoming trees nearby; hope someone enjoys the book!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2020 Keep Them Moving challenge. ***