The Library Book by Susan Orlean

"This is why I wanted to write this book, to tell about a place I love that doesn't belong to me but feels like it is mine, and how that feels marvelous and exceptional. All the things that are wrong in the world seem conquered by a library's simple unspoken promise: Here I am, please tell me your story; here is my story, please listen."
              -from the author

Recently a friend asked me what I was reading and I responded, "The Library Book." She asked, "Which one?" Rather humorous. Another friend had recommended it a while back and I was planning it for our November Page Turners selection. I ordered the eBook from the library too soon, I guess, and when it became available I had to read it. Hope I remember at least some of it in November!

This nonfiction is very unique, to say the least! Ms. Orlean, a staff writer for The New Yorker, is obviously passionate about books and libraries. She became fascinated with the devastating fire of 1986 in the Central Library of Los Angeles, "the single biggest library fire in the history of the United States," and has researched it thoroughly for this book. Her cast of characters are mostly the librarians who ran the library one after another from its beginning in 1926 along with the primary suspect in the possible arson, aspiring actor Harry Peak.

The author manages to even work in some history of libraries and describes the role they have played and continue to play in our culture. Her description of recent developments was quite interesting. She wrote of bookmobiles which I remembered fondly from my youth. She described the founding of OverDrive which handles e-book loans for many libraries around the country. As a matter of fact, that was where the copy I was reading originated. Ms. Orlean  goes on to discuss the recent phenomenon of The Little Free Library of which I have seen "branches" in our neighborhood and at our church.

The only negative I would mention would be the chronology. At times I was confused as to pre-fire and post-fire events. I rate the book a 4. It was a compelling story though not really a page-turner. The amount of research and passion that went into the writing deserves much admiration!
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When our group met to discuss The Library Book, we used questions issued by the publisher as jumping off points. We especially enjoyed hearing each other's personal experiences with libraries. Some of us remembered actual library buildings and others recalled enjoying bookmobiles or school libraries. A few participants found the book disjointed but someone made the point it was something like a library in itself, with a mixture of facts and story. Some thought the author purposely went back and forth from description and fact to narrative to keep the reader's interest. The group's average rating was 3.6.