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tom_in_london's review against another edition
5.0
This is fun: it's the story of Bob Comet, who is very innocent. His hard-drinking uncaring mother has left him alone in the world and unprepared for it. At first he gets a job in a nursing home, where some of the characters are hilarious; then as a librarian, he meets up with his girlfriend Connie; at a certain point in his discovery of everything for the first time, he "falls in love", only to discover an unpleasant feeling (which he doesn't know is jealousy) that is actually quite funny to read about.
This part of the story ends up in a dull suburban situation that has nowhere else to go, so deWitt changes tack and invents an earlier and more interesting phase of Bob's life, and that's where it all becomes wildly imaginative and even funnier.
Bob runs away from home by train and bus, attaching himself to a travelling troupe of two rather forbidding women who take up residence in a tumbledown hotel facing the Pacific Ocean. They give him a role, pay him a dollar a day, and teach him to do a 20-minute snare drum roll, which he has to practice outside by the ocean because of the noise. Two gangs of lumberjacks begin feuding in the nearby towns; World War II comes to an end; the local Sheriff volunteers to drive Bob home; and so on.
It's all very humorous, not only because of the crazy narrative but even more because of deWitt's excellent way with the English language, which make the reading a constantly fresh delight. The writing carries the narrative along and although there is a story, it kind of doesn't matter and is pretty ridiculous anyway.
What got me interested in deWitt was Nicole Flattery - see her review in the London Review of Books. https://tinyurl.com/343gpkdm
This part of the story ends up in a dull suburban situation that has nowhere else to go, so deWitt changes tack and invents an earlier and more interesting phase of Bob's life, and that's where it all becomes wildly imaginative and even funnier.
Bob runs away from home by train and bus, attaching himself to a travelling troupe of two rather forbidding women who take up residence in a tumbledown hotel facing the Pacific Ocean. They give him a role, pay him a dollar a day, and teach him to do a 20-minute snare drum roll, which he has to practice outside by the ocean because of the noise. Two gangs of lumberjacks begin feuding in the nearby towns; World War II comes to an end; the local Sheriff volunteers to drive Bob home; and so on.
It's all very humorous, not only because of the crazy narrative but even more because of deWitt's excellent way with the English language, which make the reading a constantly fresh delight. The writing carries the narrative along and although there is a story, it kind of doesn't matter and is pretty ridiculous anyway.
What got me interested in deWitt was Nicole Flattery - see her review in the London Review of Books. https://tinyurl.com/343gpkdm
askatknits's review against another edition
2.0
After so many great books, I was overdue for a "so so" book. The Librarianist was very so so for me. The story revolves around Bob Comet... a retired librarian(ist). Really... I did not get the "ist" at all. Anyway Bob is a quirky character. He stumbles upon a retired persons home and begins "volunteering" there. The story flashes back to when he met his wife and his early years of marriage... which was sadly depressing. The story then flashes even further back to when he was a young child... when the novel entirely derailed for me. It was just a very disjointed story for me however, ymmv.
ctlucas16's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
What a slog. I kept reading because I wanted to find out how it ended. I skimmed the middle because it was so dull.
books_link_likes's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
rylanobrien's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
The first half is very enjoyable. The second half is tedious and leaves you wishing for the first half again. Very disappointing.
marrbarnett's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
keliterate's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first encounter with any of deWitt’s works and I now have plans to get a copy of French Exit (when my book-buying ban is over).
The Librarianist follows the life of a quiet man, Bob Comet, who has worked all his life as a librarian, preferring his books over actual people. A chance encounter with a runaway elderly woman from a senior center opens up his otherwise quiet world to a trove of colorful characters.
The book is non-linear, which I tend to enjoy, as someone who is a big fan of flashbacks (and recalling the past in general). While I enjoyed thé flashbacks, I think the story in the current setting could’ve been fleshed out a little more. I fell in love with the characters in the senior center and was a tad bit sad that I didn’t get to explore their lives further. That being said, the flashbacks to Bob’s earlier life were certainly very entertaining. It seems as if Bob, despite his quiet demeanor, has a tendency to attract the most colorful people. I believe deWitt paints a realistic picture of a simple, quiet life; one that feels rewarding after a fairly colorful and complicated past.
I think people who truly live for reading will enjoy the book-related anecdotes in this novel. It was honestly very comforting to read about reading in a view very similar to mine. I do wish this was longer though! I’m not all familiar with how deWitt likes to end his books, but I just enjoyed his writing style so much that I was left wanting for more. The ending in particular felt a little bit rushed, and I wish it could’ve been built out more. All in all, however, I felt this was such a good read. Reminded me a lot of The Great Unexpected and All The Lonely People—if you are like me and love to read about the lives of the elderly, you’re going to enjoy this!
The Librarianist follows the life of a quiet man, Bob Comet, who has worked all his life as a librarian, preferring his books over actual people. A chance encounter with a runaway elderly woman from a senior center opens up his otherwise quiet world to a trove of colorful characters.
The book is non-linear, which I tend to enjoy, as someone who is a big fan of flashbacks (and recalling the past in general). While I enjoyed thé flashbacks, I think the story in the current setting could’ve been fleshed out a little more. I fell in love with the characters in the senior center and was a tad bit sad that I didn’t get to explore their lives further. That being said, the flashbacks to Bob’s earlier life were certainly very entertaining. It seems as if Bob, despite his quiet demeanor, has a tendency to attract the most colorful people. I believe deWitt paints a realistic picture of a simple, quiet life; one that feels rewarding after a fairly colorful and complicated past.
I think people who truly live for reading will enjoy the book-related anecdotes in this novel. It was honestly very comforting to read about reading in a view very similar to mine. I do wish this was longer though! I’m not all familiar with how deWitt likes to end his books, but I just enjoyed his writing style so much that I was left wanting for more. The ending in particular felt a little bit rushed, and I wish it could’ve been built out more. All in all, however, I felt this was such a good read. Reminded me a lot of The Great Unexpected and All The Lonely People—if you are like me and love to read about the lives of the elderly, you’re going to enjoy this!
kgraham10's review against another edition
3.0
Slow and a little dreary. Waaay too much time spent on the flash back to when he was 11. I would much rather hear about his current time and his choices on how to live moving forward.
liznew's review against another edition
2.0
This book was so disappointing. I loved The Sisters Brother, and French Exit, so was really looking forward to his latest book. Sadly it was a mish mash of stories from Bob’s life, and nothing was ever resolved.
nschenke's review against another edition
3.0
Bob Comet is a librarian living a very quiet life. His story unfolds through this book, from his childhood adventures running away at age 11, his life as a librarian, his love and loss of love, and his new experiences as a volunteer at a senior’s centre. Though Bob is very introverted, his life has been full of ups and downs and interesting encounters with interesting people.
I am not sure if the author wrote this story in a quiet almost boring way to reflect Bob’s introverted life but that is how it seemed to me. I did not find the book to be very engaging, though there were interesting and even heart-breaking aspects to his story.
I am not sure if the author wrote this story in a quiet almost boring way to reflect Bob’s introverted life but that is how it seemed to me. I did not find the book to be very engaging, though there were interesting and even heart-breaking aspects to his story.