Enjoyed this from beginning to end. Loved the history of books and libraries as well as the story of the LA library fire. Everyone in the book is interesting thanks to the author who included just enough back story and personality to make this book one that I couldn't put down.

I was enthralled at Orlean's excellent writing, vivid descriptions and meticulous research into the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire at the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986. it is both a love letter to all libraries and a deep exploration of a tragedy where the victims were hundreds of thousands of books and irreplaceable historical records. As a librarian, Orlean made me proud to have chosen this noble profession, which I have always seen as a calling. I found myself bookmarking many passages that described so well the joys and sorrows we experience and reminded me of what I enjoy most about this work.

Susan Orleans strikes again with a masterful telling of the mysterious fire at the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986. As she explores the still unsolved crime with a deep dive into the life of the key suspect, Orleans weaves in a fascinating mix of her own remembrances of the library as a young girl visiting with her mother, alongside a history of libraries around the world. It may sound like too much crammed into one book but it works perfectly. As a librarian I loved this book on a deeper level as I know the work that library staff put into their work, as well as the impact that the library has on readers throughout their life. I can’t recommend this book highly enough and will be making sure it has a prominent spot on our shelves when it comes out.

Interesting look at this fabulous library and the terrible fire that damaged it. I would love to visit this library one day.

The public library I use most often is a small branch one which was doomed to closure but rescued by the fierce determination of local users, supported providentially by a famous local author. It is currently closed for three weeks for refurbishment and I miss my weekly visit very much.

Susan Orlean's excellent book has, to some extent, filled that gap. It is wonderful to read what is essentially a love letter to libraries everywhere, although it focuses on the Los Angeles Central Library and the story of the devastating fire there in 1986. Orlean has researched the library's history in meticulous detail. Her anecdotes about the successive chief librarians - a bunch of quirky characters - bring that history to life. The unresolved mystery of the cause fo the fire is an intriguing thread running through the book. But what I liked best was Orlean's exploration of the library now - the colossal range of material it houses, the way the staff operate this amazing resource and make it available to the public, and the library's central role as a social hub, supporting in particular the homeless and marginalised.

The epigraph for each chapter consists of bibliographic details for two or three titles, chosen to reflect the chapter's content in some way. She must have had great fun selecting them. I enjoyed the glimpses of her personality through her experience of the library and her reasons for embarking on the book. This is a great treat for anyone who loves libraries.

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC.)

As lover of libraries, I immediately downloaded this advanced copy. With masterful precision, Orlean weaves our mutual and deep rooted love of all things literary into an intriguing, hypnotic, yet wholly realistic, historical narrative.

This book should be on every library shelf (in massive quantities).

I liked this book. The subject matter was interesting but for some reason I had a hard time getting into this book. It took longer for me to read than I expected.

I was enthralled at Orlean's excellent writing, vivid descriptions and meticulous research into the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire at the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986. it is both a love letter to all libraries and a deep exploration of a tragedy where the victims were hundreds of thousands of books and irreplaceable historical records. As a librarian, Orlean made me proud to have chosen this noble profession, which I have always seen as a calling. I found myself bookmarking many passages that described so well the joys and sorrows we experience and reminded me of what I enjoy most about this work.

"People think that libraries are quiet, but they really aren’t. They rumble with voices and footsteps and a whole orchestral range of book-related noises—the snap of covers slapping shut; the breathy whisk of pages fanning open; the distinctive thunk of one book being stacked on another; the rumble of book carts in the corridors.". I could not have put this better!

I’m torn on this review. It is beautifully written but I could not get through the book. I found myself reading other novels every 20-30 pages of the library book.

I read many books about books and this story is exceptional because it contains the history of libraries and their books, the present challenges, as well as hope and a plan for the future. The central theme, the unsolved mystery of the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Central Public Library, is woven artfully through examples of how important libraries are in our personal lives and in the health of our communities. The investigative reporting style was balanced with personal stories of the impact libraries played on the author and individuals in the central story. I was fascinated with the details about library organization, function and the dedicated professionals that tend them. I found myself re-creating my childhood introduction to the library and reliving my lifelong fascination with libraries. and the pull a book exerts on me as I browse through a stack, a shelf or an online list. I share the author's prediction that libraries will be a never ending story.

What a treasure for anyone who loves books or libraries. I highly recommend this book. Orlean sure can write.

The author has written a valentine to libraries. As a librarian I was eager to read this book, and as a fan of Susan Orlean, I was confident it would be a great read. In addition to being the author of many popular books, including The Orchid Thief, Orlean has been a contributor to The New Yorker since 1987, and this story reads like a delicious New Yorker profile full of quirky characters and astonishing facts. Ostensibly this book examines the origins of the worst library fire in American history, April 29, 1986, burning for more than 7 hours in the Los Angeles Central Public Library and damaging or destroying more than a million volumes. The question: is it arson and if so, who set the fire? The story is a mystery and a police procedural, but it is so much more. , Starting with her own fond memories of regular visits to the library with her mother, Orlean immerses herself in the history of the library and all the strong-willed individuals who made their mark. Academics, dreamers, politicians, con men all played a part in the history of the Los Angeles library. The reader sees the history of the United States from women's rights to the Depression to the change in the institution from book repository to community center. I loved every page, and I don't think it is just because I'm a librarian. The book conveys a wonderful sense of America's quest for self-improvement and a kindness fills its pages that makes your heart grow two sizes.
I have browsed in the LAPL but had no idea, at the time, of the history of that remarkable building. I'd love to go back and visit again, viewing it through the lens of this book.

Fascinating! The Library Book interweaves the story of the giant fire at the Los Angeles Public Library (which I never knew about!) and it's aftermath with the history of the library and the interesting librarians who ran it. The author also visits the library in present day and I enjoyed comparing and (mainly) contrasting it to the small suburban library where I work. The book is incredibly well written. The description of the fire read like a good suspense novel. This librarian almost wept reading the list of all that was destroyed. I loved that instead of having a title, each chapter began with a list of several books (titles, authors, and call numbers) about the chapter's theme(s), which is such a creative idea and made me wonder what the chapter was going to be about.

The Library Book was a riveting exploration of libraries in general, the history of the library system of Los Angeles, and the possible future of public libraries, centered on the catastrophic LA Central Branch fire of 1986. Susan Orlean has obviously done thorough research. But most importantly she wields her facts skillfully, weaving in history, with its colorful cast of library folk, her own relationship to the public library, and the events surrounding the devastating fire. What’s more, this book speaks to all those who work in, patronize, or believe in the current and future mission of the public library. Orlean defines that mission using data and the words of the former and current staff of LA Central, and of others who contribute to the continuation of public libraries. The Library Book is well written, entertaining, and like the best non- fiction, reads like the best fiction you’ve ever read.

If you like books and libraries and history, with a bit of mystery throughout, then you should read this book. Cleverly crafted to keep your attention locked in, The Library Book is well written, full of anecdotes, and facts about the Los Angeles Public Library and the fascinating people who have worked there over the years. Centering on the devastating fire of unknown origins within the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986, this books spans the generations before and after to give a fully detailed picture of the library and its times. Did he or didn’t he? That is the lingering question entwined throughout this book that left me wanting to go to Los Angeles, not for the glamour and stars, but to visit the library. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy that I am so glad that I read.

A fascinating look into the colorful characters and history of the LA Central Library as only Susan Orlean can tell it..

I remember how blown away I was by Orlean’s writing when I first read The Orchid Thief. Orlean has the unique skill of being an amazing journalist who is able to empathize and write with amazing clarity and beauty. On the surface, The Library Book is about the Los Angeles Public Library fire of 1986, which was the largest library fire in the history of the United States. Imagine how many books were lost! Digging deeper, this book is also a love story about libraries in general. I related to the opening of the book where Orlean writes of feeling as though she grew up in libraries because that’s where her mother brought her. I was that same kid, and I remember sleeping on the bottom shelves in the stacks when my mother would volunteer. Later in my life, I became the president of my local Friends of the Library group. I have always felt at home in the stacks, but even if I hadn’t the beauty and power of this book would speak to me.

The story of the library fire started out so beautifully and interesting and then it just bogged down and I couldn't continue

I really enjoyed this book and the way the author weaved in the story of the fire and the history of the Los Angles Libraries and libraries in general. It was a fun and educational read and makes me want to read more books by Susan Orlean. What I found so fascinating was the evolution of libraries and how they are so essential to our country and the democracy we want. I love how the library deals with the homeless issue and how even with the plethora of online information that it is still relevant to the next generations. With Overdrive and other cloud based book repositories lending out billions of books ( I would love to see that electronic board in their HQ's) it is wonderful to know that there will still be a need and a place for brick and mortar buildings. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn a little more about the hows and why of the how libraries came to be and why they are so essential.

I absolutely loved this book! It is written about the fire at the Los Angeles Central Library in the 1980's but it is truly a love letter to libraries and librarians. I love how each chapter starts with a list of books pertaining to topics in that chapter.