I recently pulled out my old Legos from childhood to play with my young daughter, so this book caught my eye. It was a light read and it grabbed my interest from the start. The basic premise is that a journalist stumbles upon some old Legos that have been collecting dust in a closet since childhood. He delves into the world of Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL), attending conferences, getting behind the scene tours of the Lego HQ, and going to Lego Land, among other things. He finds that over the course of writing the book, both he and his wife become AFOLs themselves. I didn't like how intertwined the story was with his personal life, but I suppose that added to the readability. A fun one for hearing all about the world of Lego. Another audiobook finished courtesy of my recent slew of weekends driving to Boston- and a non-fiction piece, no less! I definitely found myself zoning out throughout various parts of the book, but this is overall an informative glimpse into both the history of Lego(never Legos, the reader/listener learns quickly) and modern Lego culture. The author's personal Lego history provides many poignant anecdotes that color the story in a most pleasing manner.Bender also weaves in his personal trials such as his wife's repeated attempts to get pregnant, and it's very evident how Lego bricks are a stress reliever, therapy, and an escape for him, but also a social tool and a true love. His wife builds with him, and Bender draws parallels between their individual personalities and communication styles and their complementary building styles.The author's occasionally self-deprecating tone and lack of self-confidence in his building abilities, especially creative free-building ones, definitely resonated with me on a personal level, and I found myself mentally encouraging him on several occasions.Overall, a solid book, evoking lots of childhood memories and even awe at Lego's business model, which seems to basically boil down to brick perfection and compatibility. I'm motivated to go dig out the boxes in my parents' basement, and eternally grateful for a mother who kept such childhood treasures.
What do You think about LEGO: A Love Story (2010)?
Funny & quirky in that its perfect for those who are spouses or parents of Lego addicts/lovers!
—Brave
Grat book. If you like LEGO and want a good read, this is worth it
—dudlord
I enjoyed this book. Learned a lot about "adult" world of Lego.
—rach
Wonderful book and a great insight into the LEGO fan world.
—William
Started out intriguing, but quickly lost my interest.
—kraziemama
