Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
This is more than a book about the Los Angeles Public Library fire in 1986. It is a history of libraries and of the LA library in particular. Susan Orlean delves into what makes libraries great, the fascinating collections they contain and the politics that have played a role in their existence. This book is centered around the largest library fire in history. Many people don't know about it because it happened the same day as the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown, which overshadowed the story in national news.
But the fire was a huge deal in LA. It blazed for 7 hours and destroyed millions of books. The investigation determined it was arson and Harry Peak became the main suspect. Peak was a part time actor and a full time liar who loved to make up stories to entertain his friends and make himself appear more important than he was. While it was never proven that he started the fire, investigators still believe he did it today.
This book reads like a love letter to libraries. Susan Orlean grew up in libraries and still visits them today. She was able to learn the history and the inside workings of the LA public library and it is fascinating. My only quibble with the book is that Orlean reads the audiobook herself and I am not sure she was the best choice. Some people have a voice for audio and others do not.
But the fire was a huge deal in LA. It blazed for 7 hours and destroyed millions of books. The investigation determined it was arson and Harry Peak became the main suspect. Peak was a part time actor and a full time liar who loved to make up stories to entertain his friends and make himself appear more important than he was. While it was never proven that he started the fire, investigators still believe he did it today.
This book reads like a love letter to libraries. Susan Orlean grew up in libraries and still visits them today. She was able to learn the history and the inside workings of the LA public library and it is fascinating. My only quibble with the book is that Orlean reads the audiobook herself and I am not sure she was the best choice. Some people have a voice for audio and others do not.
3.75. Although specifically about the fire at the Los Angeles Central Library, this book is about libraries and librarians as well. The chapters jump around some, between the story of the fire and libraries in general, but I could still follow without being too distracted.
Great book for anyone who loves books and libraries. Along with her research about the 1986 fire at the at the LA Public Library, Orlean also gives information about the history of that library and the evolution of libraries from a place for the elite to read "approved" book to community centers without judgment about what a patron may be interested in. She also profiles many current librarians at the LA Public Library as well as many of the colorful ones who helped shape it over the past century with their various innovations.
One thing that struck me early on is how the importance of depends on the timing of the event. The saga of the LA Public library was someone lost to history until Orlean piece it together because it was overshadowed by the Chernobyl explosion.
One thing that struck me early on is how the importance of depends on the timing of the event. The saga of the LA Public library was someone lost to history until Orlean piece it together because it was overshadowed by the Chernobyl explosion.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and not just because it's like a love poem to libraries. The narrative structure, bouncing back and forth between the past and the now, the library's history and the tragedy of the fire, kept me reading and engaged.
Loved this book! Non-fiction about the fire that destroyed half a million books at the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986. I had no idea this ever happened. I was very much alive in 1986. How did I not know about this?
It's also about the history of the LA library system and the fascinating characters who have been in charge there, and libraries in general, and librarians; what it takes to run a library system; it's about the guy who was suspected of starting the fire, his family and life; arson versus accidental fires and how they're investigated; and how to salvage millions of pages in wet, smoke damaged books. Highly recommend!
It's also about the history of the LA library system and the fascinating characters who have been in charge there, and libraries in general, and librarians; what it takes to run a library system; it's about the guy who was suspected of starting the fire, his family and life; arson versus accidental fires and how they're investigated; and how to salvage millions of pages in wet, smoke damaged books. Highly recommend!
Before I read this book, I could not image how a book about libraries could have such a high rating. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book! So easy to read and so interesting!
The amount of stories that the author has worked into this book is amazing. It is so much more than the story of the fire at the library, it is about the people throughout the life of the library, the city, the building and the collection. I could read more about each of them on their own.