Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
This book is sweet and interesting. Its very beautiful as well, but that didn't save it. I did thoroughly enjoy the beginning (I was ready to fall in love) but it sort of lost me. I felt the Russian stuff was lazily researched and Lucy being the daughter of an American Jewish women was totally like ignored... even in the way Lucy spoke about Leviticus. Where was the nuance that there are Jewish people who are kosher and not homophobic? I felt everything was Way too focussed on the Russian and American dimension which bothered me.
I also felt like... really creeped out with how people other than Lucy regarded Ian. I felt his story could have been so much stronger. We never even get a solid grip on why he needed to runaway. We have Lucy and others perceptions but it's obvious that Ian has been heavily indoctrinated and we needed a break through in that.
3.5 stars
I also felt like... really creeped out with how people other than Lucy regarded Ian. I felt his story could have been so much stronger. We never even get a solid grip on why he needed to runaway. We have Lucy and others perceptions but it's obvious that Ian has been heavily indoctrinated and we needed a break through in that.
3.5 stars
Lucy Hull is a Children’s Librarian. Ian Drake is a very precocious 10 year old, and Lucy’s favorite patron. Ian’s mother is a very strict, conservative, Christian who puts a lot of limits on what Ian can and cannot read (no Harry Potter, occult, witchcraft, wizards, homosexuality, fantasy, etc.). One day, quite by accident, Lucy discovers that Ian’s parents are sending him to a weekly “camp” with a minister who is “famous” for his seminars and classes to change people from homo- to heterosexual. When Lucy inadvertently kidnaps Ian, or is it that Ian Librarian-naps Lucy, they are in for an epic road trip from Missouri to Vermont with lots of interesting stops and characters along the way.
This book had me laughing, uproariously, at times. Probably because I am a librarian as well. For example, Lucy and her co-worker, Rocky, go out for coffee frequently and turn just about everything into a Dr. Suess book with hysterical results. Also Lucy makes some great lists that are usually a spoof of a children’s book. Case in point, “If you give a Librarian a Closet”.
I loved the dynamics of Lucy and Ian’s friendship. Ian’s unwitting sarcasm and aptitude at lying to keep he and Lucy out of trouble was great.
Ian reminds Lucy of a friend she had growing up and she feels the need to protect him. Ian loves that Lucy will conspire with him to check out whatever books he wants. They care deeply for one another, unconditionally. This built on their shared love of books and reading and Lucy would do just about anything to get Ian away from his folks and Pastor Bob. I also loved how Makkai interweaves the storylines of famous children’s books throughout. It was a fun, fast read.
Parts of the story did drag a bit, especially when Lucy’s boyfriend was on the scene…but he provided necessary tension. But that would be my only complaint.
This book had me laughing, uproariously, at times. Probably because I am a librarian as well. For example, Lucy and her co-worker, Rocky, go out for coffee frequently and turn just about everything into a Dr. Suess book with hysterical results. Also Lucy makes some great lists that are usually a spoof of a children’s book. Case in point, “If you give a Librarian a Closet”.
I loved the dynamics of Lucy and Ian’s friendship. Ian’s unwitting sarcasm and aptitude at lying to keep he and Lucy out of trouble was great.
Ian reminds Lucy of a friend she had growing up and she feels the need to protect him. Ian loves that Lucy will conspire with him to check out whatever books he wants. They care deeply for one another, unconditionally. This built on their shared love of books and reading and Lucy would do just about anything to get Ian away from his folks and Pastor Bob. I also loved how Makkai interweaves the storylines of famous children’s books throughout. It was a fun, fast read.
Parts of the story did drag a bit, especially when Lucy’s boyfriend was on the scene…but he provided necessary tension. But that would be my only complaint.
I listened to this book on Axis 360.
This book tugged at my heartstrings and made me want to hug all of my special middle schoolers who find their solace in the pages of the books I lend them. I love the age relationship that Lucy has with Ian, and I love that I could see my too-cautious self reflected in her. This book did a great job of showing the complicated boundaries that come with working with students who live hard lives. I would love to give this book five stars, but it’s so unbelievable that I found myself rolling my eyes at some points. Otherwise, a really sweet read!
I would recommend this book to anyone who knows what it’s like to want to protect a child from the people who are supposed to keep them the safest.
This book tugged at my heartstrings and made me want to hug all of my special middle schoolers who find their solace in the pages of the books I lend them. I love the age relationship that Lucy has with Ian, and I love that I could see my too-cautious self reflected in her. This book did a great job of showing the complicated boundaries that come with working with students who live hard lives. I would love to give this book five stars, but it’s so unbelievable that I found myself rolling my eyes at some points. Otherwise, a really sweet read!
I would recommend this book to anyone who knows what it’s like to want to protect a child from the people who are supposed to keep them the safest.
Really liked this one. Probably will read the rest of her catalogue.
It was good though I found the protagonists to be less interesting than the supporting characters. They are the ones who will stay with me from this one.
I was never terribly impressed with this book and it stretched my bands of reality.
I never did decide whether I liked the narrator, Lucy. This was an interesting read, and I certainly wanted to find out what happened at the end. A quick, entertaining read.
I really loved this book in the early stages. Ian is a thoroughly amusing kid and Lucy is a typical jaded librarian. The entire concept of the boy kidnapping the librarian is fun and the mechanics of the kidnapping work well. But to me, it's all downhill from there. Lucy morphs into this ridiculous, irresponsible, completely unlikeable person. Ian morphs into the most demanding, annoying (no longer precocious) child in the history of fiction. I just wanted to bash their heads together. The only bright spot in the remainder of their irritating journey was their visit to Lucy's father, a Russian immigrant who may or may not be involved in the Russian mafia and who is absolutely hilarious.
I was really disappointed that a book with such a strong start and great concept would ultimately be a hard-to-finish book, but unlikeable characters just do that for me. If only they stayed as likeable as they started!
I was really disappointed that a book with such a strong start and great concept would ultimately be a hard-to-finish book, but unlikeable characters just do that for me. If only they stayed as likeable as they started!