Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

9 reviews

sarahb919's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

2nd time reading this book. Still really good and interesting. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Grief

Moderate: Homophobia, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Drug use

Minor: Classism, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Violence

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!

---

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

hanz's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

Think I'd class this more as history or even social issues as opposed to true crime. The book jumps around a lot between the fire and its investigation, the history of the LA library and the current people and services of that library. 

The history parts were my favourite and there were a lot of interesting facts about the people involved in the early stages of the library. 

Occasionally hard to follow because it jumped around a lot and I found that some of the chapters ended quite abruptly and didn't really have a conclusion to add to the overall point of the book, however I'm relatively new to non fiction so could just be me. 

The author also repeated used either he or she to refer to an arbitrary person, which was a little jarring and felt out of place with some of the themes of the book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Sexism, Infidelity, Death, Child death, Antisemitism, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness

Minor: Homophobia and Racism

beyourbestshelf's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Sexism

jazhandz's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

I tend to find most narrative nonfiction dry, but this was intensely readable. The passion was vivid, clear, and lovely to read throughout the book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Classism

To elaborate on classism: I found the way the writer describes homeless library patrons to be intensely uncomfortable to read, and it came up repeatedly.

lunep's review against another edition

informative mysterious slow-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Alcoholism, Violence, Homophobia, Addiction, Drug use, Police brutality, Racism, and Sexism

caseythereader's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

 - THE LIBRARY BOOK is more than just an investigation of whether L.A. Central Library was a victim of arson. It's also a history of the branch, of libraries generally, and a look at what libraries have evolved into today and the challenges librarians tackle every day.
- This book is a love letter to libraries and a message of gratitude to librarians. The descriptions of people and places read like fiction, and I just couldn't put it down.
- I really appreciated the repeated emphasis on how libraries are expected to fill every social need and gap in our safety nets, in particular in regards to supporting unhoused people but also in dozens of other ways. It shows us how far beyond their limits (financial, educational, etc.) we have forced them to stretch. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Terminal illness, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Classism, Racism, Suicide, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Addiction

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.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

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

librarianmage's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

Started promising but felt too disjointed. Not quite what I expected.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Sexism