He loved "Stones" so much that he decided to see what else Mossman had written. And found . . . nothing. Thus began one reader's determined search for a writer whose work had deeply affected him.

Moskowitz decided to film his two-year, cross-country journey, and the result is "Stone Reader," a fascinating documentary that celebrates the love of books and reading. His ultimately successful search for Mossman becomes the excuse for Moskowitz to indulge his rampant bibliomania. He interviews, among others, John Seelye (who wrote that New York Times review), Robert Gottlieb (the editor of "Catch-22"), Frank Conroy (head of the Iowa Writers' Workshop) and acclaimed critic Leslie Fiedler, who has since died. Mossman comes up, but mostly they talk about why they love books, which books they love, and anything else pertaining to the unquenchable addiction to the written word.

The movie examines the phenomenon of the "one and done" author, as they're known in the book biz. Novelists like Harper Lee, Ralph Ellison and Margaret Mitchell, who had one great book in them and . . . well, that's all she (or he) wrote. Moskowitz also explores how books can become markers in one's personal history. The memory of the summer you read "Moby-Dick" can be as pungent as the one of the Easter you spent with your grandmother.

"Stone Reader" is about 20 minutes too long and a little low on drama. But you're not likely to see a more impassioned and heartfelt tribute to the joy of reading.