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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
A bit far-fetched but I loved the references to the children's books.
I could NOT put this one down. I read it in one very long sitting and have the backache to prove it. Riveting, amazing, heartwarming .... and gives insight into what's perceived as right and wrong.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 I wanted to like this book way more than I did. Part of it was the story was so unrealistic that it was hard to stay with it. there was lots of potential of the story of the librarian and the young probably gay boy but it swerved into a crazy place and then added a Russian back story for the librarian.
I thought this book was a charming story, although I will admit the second half of the book gets really slow. The book is about Lucy and Ian, a librarian and her young borrower. Lucy likes Ian and she worries he is being brainwashed because his homophobic parents have put him in a class to try to stop his "tendencies." They also try to control his reading.
When Ian runs away from home, Lucy becomes his unwitting accomplice and the book becomes a question of who is kidnapping whom.
Worth reading, The Borrower is a great debut novel.
When Ian runs away from home, Lucy becomes his unwitting accomplice and the book becomes a question of who is kidnapping whom.
Worth reading, The Borrower is a great debut novel.
Entertaining and fun, particularly for the children's lit references. Requires a willing suspension of disbelief, but it's fiction, so that's not necessarily a bad thing in my opinion. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
This is the story of Lucy, a children's librarian who runs away from home with Ian, an odd and endearing young boy who is a frequent patron of the library. The premise is far-fetched, definitely, but Ian is such a wonderful character that I didn't mind the craziness so much. There are lots of in-jokes related to children's literature and anyone who loved to read as a kid will want to give Ian a big hug. There were many moments that made me smile in that lump-in-your-throat kind of way. I think my siblings in particular would probably like this one.
Somewhere around 3.5 stars.
It's rare that I never even get an inkling of how a book is going to end, especially when I've only got around 60 left to go. But I had no idea. I knew Lucy would end up in a library, because that's how the book starts, but I had no other idea.
I kind of... it was meandery, but in a good way. I liked the adventure, the road trip, but I also liked Lucy's constant introspection and doubt. The way finding out about her life, family, and friends would reframe the current situation for her. And I loved the way she tried. so. hard. for Ian.
It's rare that I never even get an inkling of how a book is going to end, especially when I've only got around 60 left to go. But I had no idea. I knew Lucy would end up in a library, because that's how the book starts, but I had no other idea.
I kind of... it was meandery, but in a good way. I liked the adventure, the road trip, but I also liked Lucy's constant introspection and doubt. The way finding out about her life, family, and friends would reframe the current situation for her. And I loved the way she tried. so. hard. for Ian.