Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

5 reviews

akvolcano's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

3.5

Very informative on the central library and libraries in general! I have to say, I enjoyed the first 10 and the last 10 chapters much more than the middle 12. The author did an thorough research of the history of the library, and added (usually) appreciated thoughtful commentary. I listened to the audiobook and I’d recommend others to do the same!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Grief

Minor: War, Outing, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Sexism, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Hate crime

mondovertigo's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Racism and Classism

bookworm_leilani's review

informative mysterious slow-paced

3.0

This book felt to me like it really could have used an editor: it was a bird's eye view of libraries in the US, with a particular emphasis on how they've adjusted to the internet, and a history of the LA library,  a summery of the LA Library fire and the accused arsonist Harry Peak, and bordered on being a profile of the modern LA library, all interspersed with personal anecdotes and memoir like passages. None of these are bad things, and they mostly go together, but the way they're mushed up feels less ambling and more disjointed. It doesn't quite do what it says on the tin, so to speak, either in terms of the title of the thing or it's cover copy.

Still, Orlean is an engaging and accessible writer, and humanizes her subjects both living and deceased without making it feel like people are under a microscope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Misogyny and Classism

Minor: Terminal illness and Emotional abuse

linesiunderline's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

A love letter to libraries past and present, and a catalogue of all that they offer to patrons, then and now, this book is fascinating and teaches readers a great deal along the way. Orlean’s writing is clear and compelling, and I mostly enjoyed the meandering structure, though it wasn’t what I had initially anticipated. Certain players in the library’s history were more interesting than others, and overall I’d have liked even more attention payed to Harry Peak’s part in it all. You’ll put this one down and be more awestruck than before at the miracle and necessity of libraries.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism

breadwitchery's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Death, and Terminal illness

Minor: Death of parent, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Racism