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alba_marie's review
4.0
After reading the Ten Thousand Doors of January, I came across this story and as I was frustrated with the recent book club book, I decided to read it knowing it would make me happy. Published by Apex magazine, this is a short story about a witchy librarian, a lost boy, and a lot of books with something to say. I enjoyed the story and can see how the author might a have gone to writing short stories with a hint of portals/Doors existing to a fully-fledged book about the mysteries of Doors to other worlds.
abderiandumpling's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ceridwyn's review
5.0
A short story about loving books and the need for escape we find in them. Made me cry.
librarycatnip's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
A real look at what librarians are and do, with a little bit of magic
incipientdreamer's review
5.0
This was a beautiful story from master storyteller Alix. E. Harrow. The idea of magical librarians was wonderful. And reading the right book at the right time, and how important that can be for so many people. I loved Harrow's idea and execution. Her writing was amazing as always. The only complaint I had was about the audio narrator. I kinda regret listening to the audio instead of reading the story online. The narrator was gods awful and really ruined the immersion for me.
prog51's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
nataliya_x's review
5.0
Oh, this story has its own listing now? Reposting review here (since I don’t know which posting will get hit by the next round of deletions: this or Apex Magazine one):
————
This story is told by the second kind of a librarian. Come again — which kind, you ask? Well, here you go:
There are books that people want to read. And there are books that they *need*, which surpasses mere “want”. The second kind of librarians can tell. But there are rules: “Both of them mean the same thing: We give people the books they need, except when we don’t. Except when they need them most.”
Sometimes what you need most is an escape. From life, from ordinary evils, from mundanity. Sometimes you are a yearner, and it’s really the matter of life or death.
It’s another one of those absolutely delightful stories that make you sigh with happiness. Well-written, perfectly developed for its length, and just lovely. Not to mention that any book set in a library already has a head start for the permanent spot in my heart. To quote Jo Walton, “I mean bookshops make a profit on selling you books, but libraries just sit there lending you books quietly out of the goodness of their hearts.“
Now I know that Alix Harrow is definitely not a one-hit wonder (I just read and loved her first novel, [b:The Ten Thousand Doors of January|43521657|The Ten Thousand Doors of January|Alix E. Harrow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548174710l/43521657._SY75_.jpg|63516505]).
5 stars.
Read it here: https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witchs-guide-to-escape-a-practical-compendium-of-portal-fantasies/
—————
Also posted on my blog.
————
This story is told by the second kind of a librarian. Come again — which kind, you ask? Well, here you go:
“(There have only ever been two kinds of librarians in the history of the world: the prudish, bitter ones with lipstick running into the cracks around their lips who believe the books are their personal property and patrons are dangerous delinquents come to steal them; and witches).“
There are books that people want to read. And there are books that they *need*, which surpasses mere “want”. The second kind of librarians can tell. But there are rules: “Both of them mean the same thing: We give people the books they need, except when we don’t. Except when they need them most.”
Sometimes what you need most is an escape. From life, from ordinary evils, from mundanity. Sometimes you are a yearner, and it’s really the matter of life or death.
“I do my best to give people the books they need most. In grad school, they called it “ensuring readers have access to texts/materials that are engaging and emotionally rewarding,” and in my other kind of schooling, they called it “divining the unfilled spaces in their souls and filling them with stories and starshine,” but it comes to the same thing.“
It’s another one of those absolutely delightful stories that make you sigh with happiness. Well-written, perfectly developed for its length, and just lovely. Not to mention that any book set in a library already has a head start for the permanent spot in my heart. To quote Jo Walton, “I mean bookshops make a profit on selling you books, but libraries just sit there lending you books quietly out of the goodness of their hearts.“
Now I know that Alix Harrow is definitely not a one-hit wonder (I just read and loved her first novel, [b:The Ten Thousand Doors of January|43521657|The Ten Thousand Doors of January|Alix E. Harrow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1548174710l/43521657._SY75_.jpg|63516505]).
5 stars.
Read it here: https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witchs-guide-to-escape-a-practical-compendium-of-portal-fantasies/
—————
Also posted on my blog.
gingerbookaddict's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
5.0
"There are Books potent enough to save any mortal soul: books of witchery, augury, alchemy; books with wand-wood in their spines and moon-dust on their pages; books older than stones and wily as dragons."
https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witchs-guide-to-escape-a-practical-compendium-of-portal-fantasies/
https://www.apex-magazine.com/a-witchs-guide-to-escape-a-practical-compendium-of-portal-fantasies/