Take a photo of a barcode or cover
sheeptracks 's review for:
The Library Book
by Susan Orlean
What a satisfying reading experience I have had with The Library Book! The writing was detailed and interesting in every way. The structure of the book took me through time exploring general library history, the development of the professional librarian, the specific circumstances of the serious destruction caused by fire in 1986 at the central library in LA, fire science and investigation, the recovery from that fire, library architecture and the history of Los Angeles. There’s more too—real life characters with unforgettable personalities and stories, local government, fundraising/ policy setting, and a good look at innovative ways that libraries serve their communities. Every time there was a passage about the head librarian deciding that younger children could come into the space through the years, I was taken back to my childhood days in my town’s beautiful library. And that first library card when a child can sign their name! Yes! The story of Harry Peak and whether he set that fire will always be a bit of a mystery, but I am really glad that Susan Orlean made me aware of what happened. Libraries do hold so many stories—not simply the ones in the official material housed there, but within each patron’s life and mind as well.