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bookappeal 's review for:
The Library Book
by Susan Orlean
Orlean describes her re-introduction to public libraries as a parent, an experience that brings back the fond memories of regular trips with her mother to the local library. Now living in Los Angeles, she becomes interested in the history of the Los Angeles main library when she takes a tour and finds out that the library experienced a devastating fire in April 1986. The cause was determined (possibly in error) as arson but a strong enough case could never be made against the one suspect, Harry Peak, a young man who aspired to be an actor and was prone to exaggeration about his life. This book could have left the Peak investigation behind. The more interesting parts of the book revolve around the library. Orlean occasionally gets into the weeds with side plots she finds interesting but the library's history, the differences of main librarians over the years, details about the fire, how the tragedy affected employees (which is only barely addressed), and the role of libraries in all communities prove to be more entertaining and enlightening than the story of a unreliable fame-seeking failed actor suspected of arson.