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reidob 's review for:
The Library Book
by Susan Orlean
This is just a delight to read. Susan Orlean is one of those rare and wonderful breed of literary nonfiction writers who can make any subject fascinating. For me, she is in the same pantheon as [a:Erik Larson|5869|Erik Larson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1304371037p2/5869.jpg], [a:Bill Bryson|7|Bill Bryson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578597522p2/7.jpg], [a:Simon Winchester|14053|Simon Winchester|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1286848563p2/14053.jpg], and [a:Sebastian Junger|16494|Sebastian Junger|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1458242367p2/16494.jpg] as authors who can accomplish this feat.
In this case, Orlean's subject is a library, specifically the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, which burned, presumably due to arson, in 1986. She intertwines three story lines: the history of the library system, the present day status of the library, and the investigation into the arson and the prime suspect. She also covers quite a bit of why libraries are the way they are and how they have changed over time. Does this all sound somewhat dull? Far from it. This is, believe it or not, edge of your seat stuff.
One of the joys of her writing is that she focuses on people rather than things or events. The history of the library is told through the lens of its many directors (some of whom were extremely colorful characters), the present day narrative concerns the employees she meets and their eclectic interests, and so on. Never a dull moment. As in her excellent [b:The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession|228345|The Orchid Thief A True Story of Beauty and Obsession|Susan Orlean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328347217l/228345._SY75_.jpg|911511], she propels the story along at a pace that is relaxed yet compelling. I was always hungry to know more at the end of each chapter.
Of course, the potential pitfall of this kind of writing is the possibility of trivializing the subject matter, but for the most part Orlean avoids this. Some might feel that she skips a bit lightly over the tragedy of a life lived by Harry Peak, the arson suspect. He was a compelling character, though, and bemusing as well as amusing, so it is difficult not to treat him with a somewhat lighthearted touch. Overall, though, she manages to match the tone of her writing to the gravity of the situations she encounters.
Overall, a delightful read. Highly recommended.
In this case, Orlean's subject is a library, specifically the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, which burned, presumably due to arson, in 1986. She intertwines three story lines: the history of the library system, the present day status of the library, and the investigation into the arson and the prime suspect. She also covers quite a bit of why libraries are the way they are and how they have changed over time. Does this all sound somewhat dull? Far from it. This is, believe it or not, edge of your seat stuff.
One of the joys of her writing is that she focuses on people rather than things or events. The history of the library is told through the lens of its many directors (some of whom were extremely colorful characters), the present day narrative concerns the employees she meets and their eclectic interests, and so on. Never a dull moment. As in her excellent [b:The Orchid Thief: A True Story of Beauty and Obsession|228345|The Orchid Thief A True Story of Beauty and Obsession|Susan Orlean|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328347217l/228345._SY75_.jpg|911511], she propels the story along at a pace that is relaxed yet compelling. I was always hungry to know more at the end of each chapter.
Of course, the potential pitfall of this kind of writing is the possibility of trivializing the subject matter, but for the most part Orlean avoids this. Some might feel that she skips a bit lightly over the tragedy of a life lived by Harry Peak, the arson suspect. He was a compelling character, though, and bemusing as well as amusing, so it is difficult not to treat him with a somewhat lighthearted touch. Overall, though, she manages to match the tone of her writing to the gravity of the situations she encounters.
Overall, a delightful read. Highly recommended.