Search This Blog
April Reviews Link-Up
May Reviews Link-Up
June Reviews Link-Up
July Reviews Link-Up
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (3)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho (2)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (2)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (2)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (1)
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (2)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Canada (1)
- England (7)
- France (1)
- Indonesia (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Italy (1)
- Scotland (2)
- The Netherlands (1)
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Monday, December 31, 2018
Despite Excited Buzz, The Library Book Is A Little Disappointing
7:57 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The Library Book by journalist Susan Orlean has gotten so much buzz this year that you probably already know exactly what it's about. Just in case you've been living in a remote cave on the edge of civilization, here's the blurb from the back of the book:
Weaving her lifelong love of books and reading into an investigation of the fire, award-winning New Yorker reporter and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean delivers a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling book that manages to tell the broader story of libraries and librarians in a way that has never been done before.
In The Library Book, Orlean chronicles the LAPL fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity; brings each department of the library to vivid life through on-the-ground reporting; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; reflects on her own experiences in libraries; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago.
Along the way, Orlean introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters from libraries past and present—from Mary Foy, who in 1880 at eighteen years old was named the head of the Los Angeles Public Library at a time when men still dominated the role, to Dr. C.J.K. Jones, a pastor, citrus farmer, and polymath known as “The Human Encyclopedia” who roamed the library dispensing information; from Charles Lummis, a wildly eccentric journalist and adventurer who was determined to make the L.A. library one of the best in the world, to the current staff, who do heroic work every day to ensure that their institution remains a vital part of the city it serves.
Brimming with her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, The Library Book is Susan Orlean’s thrilling journey through the stacks that reveals how these beloved institutions provide much more than just books—and why they remain an essential part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country. It is also a master journalist’s reminder that, perhaps especially in the digital era, they are more necessary than ever.
I love libraries and books about libraries and books about books, so naturally I was excited to read this one. Orleans' examination of the devastating fire and her ruminations about books/reading in general are fascinating, but The Library Book still got dull for me in places. It made for such slow reading that I actually put the volume down several times. In the end, I enjoyed the read overall, but I didn't love it like I thought I would. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, and references to sex and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Library Book from Barnes & Noble with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
Daily Prompt 27 April Saturday5 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!22 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Audiobook: The Mango Tree1 day ago
-
-
-
Need a laugh?1 day ago
-
-
Long Time Dead by T M Payne1 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Final Cut by Marjorie McCown3 days ago
-
-
-
-
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth4 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Reading as a retreat from reality1 week ago
-
Reading Recap March 20243 weeks ago
-
-
March Monthly Wrap-up3 weeks ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?6 months ago
-
6/25/23 Extra Ezra10 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
-
▼
2018
(223)
-
▼
December
(48)
-
▼
Dec 31
(12)
- Sweet, Heartfelt YA Novel a Happy Way to End 2018
- Despite Excited Buzz, The Library Book Is A Little...
- Loosey-Goosey Structure Makes New Thriller Not So ...
- Appalachian Midwife Novel Interesting, But Sluggish
- Second Installment As Enjoyable As First in Divert...
- Twisty Psychological Thriller Is Thoroughly Engaging
- Sweet, Wholesome Heart Land An Enjoyable Read
- Moriarty's Newest Another Disappointing Non-Charmer
- Despite Predictability, Small-Town Murder Mystery ...
- Handwriting Analysis Mystery a Meh Kind of Read
- Taut, Tense Game Warden Mystery Launches Intriguin...
- Intriguing Dark Park Mystery a Thrilling Page Turner
-
▼
Dec 31
(12)
-
▼
December
(48)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
I know a lot of people love this one, but I can see where it could bog down, too. You need to get out of the bookish doldrums and find some really good reads for next year! ;D
ReplyDeleteBeing a librarian that title compels me to check this one out. Probably what the author had in mind. I haven’t put it on my list, though, and not sure I will.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this one, but it intrigues me (and the beginning paragraph up there made me mentally scream; ALL THOSE BOOKS, DESTROYED! *sobs*). I can see how it may be a slow read, but it definitely sounds like it would be up my alley. I'll keep an eye out for it. :)
ReplyDelete