Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a pre-release copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.

The Library by Susan Orlean is the story of the Los Angeles Public Library which burned down in 1986. While the subject matter was interesting, once I got through the details of the fire, I found the book difficult to get through, and did not finish. I feel that a librarian or a library enthusiast would love this book, but I found it very hard to get into.

I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to read this amazing story.
First thing I need to note is that Orleans’ writing style was so beautifully addicting, I was immediately sucked in and could not stop reading.
The overall story was about the 1986 fire at the Central LA Library, but the author delved into the complete history of the library as well. I will say some times from chapter to chapter it felt a little jumpy, because she tried to incorporate her modern day interviews with her story of Harry Peak the suspected arsonist and with the history of the library. At times I had to pause to figure out where I was in time, was I in the early 1900s? Was it 1986? Was it 2015? That was my only plight in this whole book. It was super well researched and it brought feelings of nostalgia and all my childhood days at the Tustin Public Library with my family. It also sparked in me a profound appreciation for our public libraries all over the world.

This is a book about libraries for librarians and anyone else who has ever stepped foot on a library. If I weren't already a librarian, I would want to be one after reading this in depth history of the LA Central Library...and libraries in general.

Vintage Orlean. Few writers can take something so seemingly bland and then spin a gripping and informative yarn about these things before our very eyes.

Libraries are my sacred places, so this was a fascinating read for me. Few of us get to experience the workings of the whole organism called the public library. Expertly researched, this book breathes life into the complex web of the library system, and demonstrates its importance to the community.

The best possible book for a book lover! Great pace, loads of lovely details about the history of books, and a compelling mystery that ties it all together and keeps the pages turning.

I loved this book! I was completely drawn in to the telling of the library fire and loved the background given about libraries in general. Having spent a vast proportion of my life in various libraries, the stories of the many different patrons of libraries and the wonderful staff that can be found there was truly heartwarming. Highly recommended, thanks NetGalley!

When The Library Book began, I found myself enthralled and fully immersed with what author Susan Orlean was displaying on the page. Fortunately, that element is continued throughout the book, creating a highly detailed read that ranks as one of the most informative of the year. However, even though there is a strong abundance of information to savor, the inclusion of some irrelevant details and even entire sequences causes the book to be both ambitious and over-reaching. Quickly into the experience, the focus of Orlean’s research shifts in such a drastic way, that it tarnishes the stellar content she fuses into each page. Ultimately, The Library Book is a faulted read due to its overly ambitious design, but still remains entertaining and informative throughout its lengthy page count even with a clear abundance of irrelevant content.
What is ultimately the strongest aspect of the book is what it sets up from the very first page. Right from the start, Orlean appears keen on exploring the tragedy of the 1986 Los Angeles Library fire. This thread of the book is masterful in both its design and execution. Uncovering hidden details about the primary suspect Harry Peak was a fascinating ride that almost felt like a quality mystery novel at times. It is a pure shame then that the focus of the title drifts so dearly off course.
As suggested by its title, The Library Book is practically a detailed history of libraries, even including the very creation of the place. While I often found myself charmed with the passion of the topic that Orlean was displaying, I couldn’t help but notice how disjointed the plot thread was with the primary story. In fact, during the confusing time jumps between the place in the history that Orlean was exploring and the fire itself, I had to flip back a few pages just to note where the book was. As a lengthy read, it should not make readers do that. Unlike works like Inception or Dunkirk, the reason for these confusing time breaks is never explained, much less given a proper reason for its existence. Not once during the entire read did I think that it was a worthy addition to the story, that enhanced the experience. In addition, the sheer abundance of this second plot thread confused and deterred me as a reader and fan of the original story. I estimate it takes up more than half of the entire book, causing the pacing to drag to a sluggish and boring speed. Through the week it took to read the title, it never felt as if the writing was ever rewarding enough for my patience and perseverance through its slaggy pacing. It felt like a forced hobby at times, an experience that no author should strive for their readers to feel.
Despite these critical flaws that nearly puncture the book to its death, this title by the author of The Orchid Thief is still able to succeed thanks to just how descriptive and informative it actually is. It is clear from the very start the amount of effort and hard work that Orlean has put into the book. Each new bit of research feels meticulous and detailed, but is never so overbearing as to where I lost my interest. Even though the book was drab and slow, I never gave up on the title as it had these bits of information that proved to be some of the most interesting facts that I have heard in recent memory. In fact, as stated before, The Library Book is one of the, if not the most informative reads of 2018. No other book this year has displayed such a meticulous work of research and information. Based on this one element alone is the confusing storytelling of the book redeemed. Any avid reader or fan of libraries shouldn’t hesitate to pick up this October title just for the information alone.
As a whole, Susan Orlean’s The Library Book is nothing short of a mixed experience. It may feature one of the worst forms of non-fiction storytelling in recent memory due to its drab pacing and overly ambitious design. But it redeems those critical flaws through Orlean’s light and speedy writing style and the sheer abundance of information for readers to devour. It may not be the best book of the year, but it is a worthy read that ultimately still deserves a place as one of the best books that I have read in recent memory.

Score: 7.2 out of 10

Thank you NetGalley, Susan Orlean and Simon and Schuster Publishing for giving me this ARC of The Library Book before its publication date in exchange for an honest review!! I love love loved this book. I love love love you guys. Group hug!

I’m going to start by saying that before reading this book, I had no idea about the fire at Los Angeles’ Central Public Library. How did I not know about this?! I felt so stupid for even calling myself a book and history lover without never before hearing about this tragedy. If you love history, read this book. If you love books, read this book. If you love libraries, read this book. If you love reading, read this book. This book was unlike anything I have ever read. It combined two things I enjoy to read and discuss: history and books. I was NOT expecting to love this book. I immediately had low expectations because I am not a fan of nonfiction. My experience with nonfiction books are typically dull, boring, how much longer until this is over kind of reads. However.. this book was a dream. I was hooked by page 9.. and yes I did book mark page 9 so I could recall just when I knew this book had me under its spell. I also loved the description of libraries in this book. Not just the LA Library, but libraries all over the world. The history tucked into this book was a sweet treat I was not expecting to get.

Please read this book. The library is where I first fell in love with books. With reading. With literature. You will learn so much about the world around you and how some countries deliver books on donkeys from town to town because they have no other way of spreading the joy that is a book. We are so lucky. We have access to books at our fingertips and access to whatever public library that is nearest to us. I had no idea until reading this book what all librarians do and what all libraries contain. It was seriously mind boggling.

The Library Book is a gift to any bibliophile. Preorder this book and get excited to read a story about books and libraries and just how important they are. Susan Orlean will capture you immediately and leave you feeling warm and cozy with her wit, knowledge and obvious passion for all things books. J.K. Rowling said it best..

When in doubt, go to the library.

Susan Orlean does it again! She cracks open a world and invites the reader in, instantly immersing you in a nonfiction narrative so superbly crafted it reads like fiction. A book guaranteed to spark book club discussions.

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough for librarians or library enthusiasts. Part memoir, part Los Angeles Public Library history, part insight into the wide range of topics and services libraries provide, The Library Book explores a world that a lot of people think they know about because they've been to libraries, but in actuality most likely have no idea what's going (which I honestly didn't know either until I became a librarian myself!) There was one chapter about a particular head of the LAPL central library who was on the eccentric side that I felt was long-winded and didn't relate back to the rest of the book terribly well, but other than that, I very much enjoyed this. On a road trip I was reading it out loud to my mom who was driving and she was really into it, too! And that's saying something!

Fascinating insight into the workings of the Los Angeles Central Library, particularly appealed to me as I used to work in a library. Could relate to the tales of customers and staff. This particular section made me smile! “Librarians also make a decent living. In the Los Angeles system, the entry level salary is more than sixty thousand dollars”

I love books and I love libraries. The bookmobile that traveled to the school across the street from my hometown was my best friend for many years as a kid when I would visit it every Wednesday it was parked outside near my house. (I think I read and reread Elizabeth Taylors autobiography-"Elizabeth Takes Off" 15 times.) This book is a love letter to library's and it tries to unravel the mystery of who or what caused a devastating fire to the LA library.
I recommend to anyone who absolutely loves books and reading only as it does have a lot of slower moving pages discussing libraries.
Thank you to Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book

librarian, library, books, nonfiction, journalist, grief

The book begins with graphic descriptions of the awful destructive fire at the main library in Los Angeles which occurred on the same day as the Chernoble disaster. The description of the actions of the fire and of the bibliophiles who worked so hard to salvage whatever could be done is so clear that the reader feels the pain and frustration of the obliteration of so many unique and irreplaceable books, other ephemera, microfiche, and so much more. Then the book progresses through the librarians and other employees and how things were managed to the other satellite libraries to the logistical problems of libraries everywhere. There is much devoted to the evolution of library services, preservation of historical library buildings, and the processes of archiving and restoration of materials. But this is not just a dry recounting of facts, it is a loving sacrificial offering to beloved libraries the world over, and the humor is found in the books listed at the beginning of each chapter. No Time for Tears: Coping with Grief in a Busy World (2015) by Heath, Judy 157.3 H437. Fire! The Library is Burning (1988) by Cytron, Barry D. X624 C997. If you geek libraries, you need to read this book!
Disclaimers:
I have geeked books and libraries since forever, as do most of our children and grandchildren. Several of the grands would consider this a book of horror as they are old enough to decide that they prefer print copies.
I requested and received a free review copy from Simon and Schuster Publishers via NetGalley. Now I have to get a print copy as soon as available!

If you have any interest in libraries and collections of books, you must read this. It is about the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library. Learn the history behind the devastating fire, about the major suspect, and how the library recovered. I was as surprised to learn about this fire as I'm sure you are. Chernobyl exploded the same day as the fire so history almost forgot about the fire. So read the book.

This is a truly fascinating look at the history of The Los Angeles Public Library. While the story revolves around the devastating fire of 1986, it encompasses so much more. The author deep dives into the role libraries have had in society in the past, then looks at the present and imagines the future for them. I have added a visit to this library to my bucket list. If you love books and libraries, this is a must read.

I picked up this book because I am a native Angelino growing up in SoCal in the 70s and I did not remember the great L.A. Library Fire. What I expected was a detailed account of the fire and, if it was arson, whether the person was arrested and convicted.

What Orlean has delivered is so much more than a nonfiction whodunit. An accomplished and award-winning author, Orlean says in the book she had given up the craft of writing until this project came along. I am ever so glad she returned to practice the art she so carefully has honed.

Rather than stick to one mode, Orlean masterfully weaves together true crime, feature reporting, local history, global history of libraries, and memoir to give us a gem of a book. Her encyclopedic knowledge and narrative style evokes that of the old storyteller, one who knows how to pluck rich details to create a mosaic that describes libraries in general and specifically the Los Angeles Public Library from the late-19th century to the present, post-war Southern California and our collective love for stories and how then say something about us (the last of which causes her to wax poetic and melancholic).

She includes great little elements, like the list of books at the beginning of her chapters. Far from being random, these nuggets serve as mysteries to be unlocked in the pages ahead. Also, wanting to understand better how books burn, she decides to burn a book herself (fittingly it was a copy of Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451).

The absolute best part of the book are the fascinating characters she meets and the delightful and often laugh-out-loud funny or downright fascinating tales they have to tell her. These stories can be indexed under to “too crazy not to be true” and complete the rich tableau that is this book. A lesser writer would have found the need to provide running, pithy commentary but Orlean clearly comes from the “less is more” school and, like the gifted writer she is, lets compelling characters tell their own stories.

In short, this a book as much about life and stories and how those stories impact our lives as it is about a 30-year-old unsolved arson case. Because it is so much more, The Library Book definitely should be checked out by story lovers near and far.

Another hit from the acclaimed non fiction writer. As a child who grew up going to public libraries , working at one to pay for university and now being a teacher librarian herself, I immensely enjoyed this book and have never heard of the fire that burned down the Los Angeles central library. Another well researched book into a world that many do not understand by Susan Orlean.

Despite focusing on the Los Angeles library, Susan Orlean has written a wonderful insight into the workings of libraries and the people involved in making it what it is today to the millions of users world wide. A beautiful homage to libraries and their staff.

I was obviously intrigued by the description of this book immediately. What bibliophile wouldn't be? I, too, grew up in a library and would have been devastated (would still be devastated) to see my local branc burn down. But what started as a high stakes and eerie sort of profile of the fire and its main suspect became a sort of long-winded history of the Los Angeles public library system as a whole. And while I learned a lot, not all of the tidbits and facts were necessarily interesting, and because the book jumps back and forth a lot, I lost the thread of interest somewhere amidst the halfway point. I think this book could have been stronger were it about only the fire or if it were a book of essays about the library that included an essay about the fire.