I received a free copy from NetGalley. Lots of facts about libraries and how they are run. Lots of info. on a specific library and their fire and history. A little dry at times, it is an interesting tale.

This book has her signature combination of threads that add up to a whole: we hear about the horrendous fire at the LA main library, we trace the early history of the library and its colorful head librarians, we hear about the issues that face libraries today (homeless users) and we hear about the puzzling self-contradictory man who was accused of but probably did not start the library fire. Orleans knows that people like to read about other interestisng people, so she switches among library staff, the arson suspect and his family, and current library staff.

Very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed this piece of library history.

A descriptive account of the magnitude of the devastation caused by the LA Library fire. The author's research into the history of the library was very educational. Her descriptions of the behind the scenes library functions were spot on as well as her noting the trauma felt by the librarians long afterwards.
Libraries will need to purchase multiple copies as I predict high demand for this title.

I wept through the first chapter of this book. Susan Orlean takes readers inside the 1986 fire the devastated the LA Central Library - how it started so unexpectedly and how it blazed so rapidly and fiercely, destroying irreplaceable materials and forcing firefighters to rotate out after increasingly short periods of time. From there, she smoothly spirals out, exploring the history of the LAPL and some of the fascinating people who drove it; the search for what caused the fire and a possible arson suspect.; the debate over what to do next and struggle to save damaged materials; and the role of the library as it has developed over time. A fascinating read, excellent for people who love books about books, libraries, history, LA, and terrific storytelling.

This book is a testement to the love of books and libraries by most people. The historic facts of the fire of the LA Library are intriguing and devastating. Wonderfully written by Orelan.

An excellent book about libraries, particularly one, the Central Library of LA. Orlean explores the horrific and devastating destructive fire of April 1986. It was fascinating and difficult to read how many books, manuscripts, and other irreplaceable items the fire consumed, I had never heard of this fire so it was enlightening reading. It was also Intriguing to read about the efforts to save the damaged books. Orlean looks at the importance of libraries and how they continue to evolve in an ever changing environment, She Introduces employees and patrons alike, which make the library come alive. She shares her personal connection with libraries, something I can wholeheartedly relate to. Libraries are the best resources communities have. Orlean does the LA library system proud with her story.

Truly loved this book. Learned a lot too. It’s about so much more than one library. Fabulous writer. Highly recommend this for everyone.

This is one of my favorite books of 2018. It's part true crime, part homage to the Los Angeles Public Library and libraries in general. The chapters alternate between recent history involving the unsolved fire investigation and the history of the library starting from the very beginning. I think this would be an excellent book for fans of books about books, true crime and book lovers in general.

“Even the oddest, most peculiar book was written with that kind of crazy courage - the writer’s belief that someone would find his or her book important to read.”

The Library Book is a love letter to books, but mostly to libraries and the people who work in them. It took me back to my childhood of weekly trips to the local library to exchange my book cache and summer reading challenges, and then hiding out for hours in my college’s library when my roommates were too loud or annoying. Susan Orlean rightly describes libraries as sanctuaries, community centers, and places of refuge for those who need shelter or support from their city agencies. I don’t spend as much time in libraries these days as I used to, but The Library Book made me want to stop by local branch to wander through it with a new set of eyes and appreciation for all it has to offer.

I first read Susan Orlean’s works in my undergraduate English program. I read several of her books while studying narrative nonfiction and enjoyed learning about interesting people (Female bullfighters) or animals (Rin Tin Tin). Libraries aren’t a new topic for me by any means, but there was plenty to learn and be surprised by in The Library Book. I really loved learning about the history of the Los Angeles library system and in particular, Central Library. Orlean takes the reader through the evolution of the library, its Head Librarians, and how the library’s programs grew and adapted to me the needs of its members over time.

The Library Book also follows the saga of its big fire in 1986 and the only suspect, Harry Peak. I think this is where the book falters a little bit -I was less interested in the life story of Peak and the investigation into the Library fire or its suspect. These chapters seemed at times misplaced or too lengthy - the real star is Central library itself, and all of its history, drama, and glory.

I can’t wait to visit Central Libray myself soon to see it all for myself. I will also be seeing Susan Orlean in person at my local bookseller next month.

This book renewed my love for libraries! As a child, I was obsessed with my local library and so many of my early memories are connected to it (learning to sign my name solely for the library card privilege, finally graduating to the "I Can Read" section, learning my library had a 20 book takeout limit, summer reading programs I took way too seriously, etc.). But as an adult, I've abandoned libraries, instead choosing to buy books, read ARCs, and download digital versions. I often still think about how cool it is you can go to the library and get books for free (!!), but I forgot (and in some ways, had no idea) about just how much the library offers.

At first look, Susan Orlean's book is centered on the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library. But this is just a very small part of a larger book that celebrates the history of libraries, all they have to offer, and the people who make it all happen. Orlean did a crazy amount of research for this book and uncovered so much great information for us. And I'm so excited that she wrote this book at this time when (in my opinion), books are more important than ever. It really opened my eyes to how lucky we are to have this amazing service in our lives, as well as how many issues libraries face and have faced throughout history.

Of course, the fire is covered pretty extensively in the book and it's a truly intriguing case. 400,000 books were destroyed (and 700,000 damaged), but because of other things going on in the national/international news, the story wasn't covered as extensively as it would have otherwise been (or as it would have been had social media been a factor). With law enforcement claiming arson and one main suspect involved, Orlean weaves the story in a way that will have you going back and forth on whether this man did it or not.

I've been a fan of Orlean's since reading The Orchid Thief in my high school journalism class and am so excited she's back with a book containing so much passion. Whether or not you're a library goer, I urge you to read this book (if anything, it will help you understand where some of your tax dollars are going!). Thanks to this book, I'm going to start seriously exploring my local library!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
I read this book over a month ago and completely forgot to rate and review it.
Why someone would try to destroy a large library with books is something I can't comprehend. I am a avid read and appreciate libraries of all sizes and types.
The first half of the book was interesting but the latter half drug on to long.. The ending was interesting, but it could have been reached sooner.

If you are a fan of libraries or even books in general, you will LOVE this book! Susan Orlean does an amazing job weaving the 1986 Los Angeles Library fire (an event I knew nothing about) with the lives of librarians and patrons who were affected. I read this book last night, and after reading about the catastrophic museum fire in Brazil this morning, I found this book to be even THAT much more poignant. I loved the history of the library and the mystery and investigation into the fire. Ms. Orlean has written a book that serves as a tribute to libraries, and I have to say, it was phenomenal. I plan on recommending this book to library lovers and history lovers everywhere!

Like many of Eisenhower’s patrons, Susan Orlean’s early reading years were inspired by her local public library. Visiting the Bertram Woods Branch of the Shaker Heights Public Library in Ohio with her mother was a mainstay of her childhood. Of course she, again like a lot of patrons, drifted away from the library during her adolescence, not to return until she had her own child. Together they became regular visitors to the Central Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library where her childhood infatuation rekindled itself.

It was there that she first heard about the fire.

In 1986, the staff at the Central Library had become complacent to the threat of fire. False alarms had become common and the list of code violations directed at the overstuffed library continued to grow. So on April 29th, when the fire alarm rang out again, no one was too concerned. Library staff corralled up patrons and everyone made their way out of the building. Fire department personnel responding to the alarm weren’t too worried either. This wasn’t their first trip to the library and they’d never had a real emergency to deal with. But the sighting of a waft of smoke rising above the building was the first indication of a problem that would eventually become the largest library fire in U.S. history. Over one million books were lost or damaged.

In The Library Book, Susan Orlean uses the disaster of the Central Library fire to tell a number of stories: the history of the Los Angeles Public Library and it’s series of idiosyncratic directors; her own history with books and libraries, the struggle to resurrect and expand the Central Branch; an inside look at the operations and social services of today’s library, and the search for the eccentric young man who may (or may not) have set the fire.

Although the Eisenhower Library is modest in comparison to the Los Angeles Public Library and its 73 branches, Susan Orlean’s look at the L.A. Central Library feels remarkable familiar. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work at Eisenhower, passages in The Library Book will tell you everything you need to know. And if there’s a lesson to take from the book it’s this: you don’t have to be a child, or have one, to benefit from visiting the library. There’s a lot here for everyone.

Wow... this was fantastic. If you love books, libraries, and real life mysteries, then this should go on your "to read" list. Orlean cleverly weaves the story of the 1986 Los Angeles Central Library fire around bits and pieces of library history and trivia. I know it may sound a bit of a snooze, but it's just so well written that I enjoyed every bit- from the interesting personalities of some of the library's earliest librarians to the bizarre story of suspected arsonist Harry Peak. It made me a little sad since I rarely go to the library any more, as I get my library books delivered wirelessly to my Kindle, but the brief shout out to OverDrive and the future of libraries and library books did make me smile.

What a delight! A book that first looks at the mystery of who started the fire in the LA Central Library in 1986, but then expands to a history of libraries, the importance of books, the changing job of being a librarian, the process of arson investigation, and so much more. Although the text explores a wide variety of topics and covers over a century of history, it's a huge plus that it's infinitely readable and engrossing.

Full disclosure -- I spent the last 25 years as a school librarian, so maybe I'm biased and inordinately interested in books and libraries. I admit that this is what drew me to this book, but the storytelling skills of Susan Orlean kept me reading. I was pleasantly surprised to find a non-fiction book that reads like a good mystery and an entertaining novel. I will be seeking out Orlean's other books. I discovered facts about books and libraries that I never knew. What a great way to learn something new.

I couldn’t love this book more if I tried! What an amazing reading experience and history lesson on a wonderful library and a journey of an author’s life with books.

The Library Book is one of the best books I have read in months! Susan Orlean's new book about the LA Public Library fire in 1986 is non-fiction that reads like fiction. I was working in a public library at the time of this fire and I never heard of it!

Orlean's love of libraries coupled with her ability to tell a fascinating story make for a compelling read.The facts and figures are incredible. I'm glad my husband is patient, as every few pages I just had to share another tidbit I had just read. Beyond the facts and figures, the writing is excellent. I gave my Kindle highlight feature a workout while reading this. There were just so many lines I didn't want to forget.

The fire is covered in Chapter 2. I wondered as I was reading, how is she going to fill an entire book about this and keep me hooked? Silly me, I should have known better. It is Susan Orlean...of course she will keep me hooked.

One of my favorite book-nerdy features was how she used book titles and call numbers to introduce each chapter. Clever.

This is a must-purchase for public libraries, high-school libraries, and any book groups who enjoy literary non-fiction. It begs discussion!

Thank you #NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC ebook for my unbiased review.
#LibraryBook #SusanOrlean

4 stars
Susan Orlean has written a book with a very interesting look at the history of Los Angeles library and the fire that destroyed the main branch in 1986. Orlean intertwines the story of the fire with both past and current stories of happenings at the library. The Library Book is a very historical look at the building of libraries from its founding days to current times. Part of the book (very little actually) focused on the arson set fire (or was it arson?) that destroyed most of the books (more than 700,000) and the building in 1986. Orlean details the fascinating process of how the books were salvaged after the fire by freezing them for two years and painstakingly thawing them out and drying them. The restorers were able to save 75% of the books.
I initially thought this book was going to just be about the fire and I was disappointed it was not. However, the book is truly a fascinating look at libraries, how they function and the lives they impact.
For anyone who thinks libraries are obsolete should read this as well as anyone who has ever used a library. It is slightly wordy and could have benefited by losing 50 – 100 pages, still I recommend reading The Library Book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #LibraryBook #NetGalley

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book focuses on the great library fire in LA on April 29, 1986. This was not a huge headline at the time as the headlines were saturated with the Chernobyl disater.

I had no idea that this fire had occurred, and enjoyed reading and learning more about the fire. The book also had a lot of library history and other facts and tidbits sprinkled throughout. If you love your library, I recommend this one!

A collection of facts, opinions, and accounts of the devastating library fire that ravaged Los Angeles's Central Library on April 29, 1986, The Library Book by Susan Orlean reads like the bottomless rabbit hole Wikipedia can be. You start one place, click links that take you sixteen steps away and then you wonder how the hell you managed to arrive at your current location. You backtrack, perhaps at your point of origin, perhaps just nearer it, and go again.

Still unsure of my rating, I'll split the difference and land on a three-star one.

The parts of this book that actually cover the unsolved fire and Harry Peak (the main suspect) are fantastic. A well-focused and incredibly well-researched topic, Susan Orlean, without question, knows her stuff. She has a great voice and presents everything (concrete fact, supposition, or her own opinion), succinctly and knowledgeably. It's the history of practically everything ever connected that gets a little wobbly and long-winded.

While there were without question tangents Orlean would introduce which reconnected with the central topic easily, smoothly, and felt important or (at the least) entertainingly interesting, there were sections where we strayed too far for too long. I loved some of the history of the building, the area, and the people. But more information is sometimes just too much, and I felt this novel could've benefited from some trimming and excising.