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A review by kandicez
The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
5.0
That was lovely! Over the last couple of years I have discovered an affinity for Irish writers. [a:Emma Donoghue|23613|Emma Donoghue|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1591714728p2/23613.jpg] and [a:Sally Rooney|15860970|Sally Rooney|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1534007127p2/15860970.jpg] especially. I will be adding [a:Felicity Hayes-McCoy|1313225|Felicity Hayes-McCoy|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1669721696p2/1313225.jpg] to that list and I'm delighted to see she has quite a few books.
The location of this book, a fictional area of Ireland invented on a napkin by the author, is as much a character as any of the people. [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg] is the best at using locations as characters, but Hayes-McCoy does a gorgeous job of that here. I want to visit. The advantage McCoy has over King is that her setting is not evil in the slightest. It is, however, tight knit and charming.
The main character, Hanna, is pretty unlikable to begin with. She's a librarian which should make me love her, but she is crotchety. Yes, crotchety, despite her relative youth. She doesn't think libraries should be fun and is - GASP - thoroughly opposed to book clubs meeting in the library. Having run an in-person book club at a local library for over a decade, this broke my heart a little. Hanna feels libraries are for books and that is all. I feel libraries are for books, of course, but even more importantly, for the people who will read those books.
The library should be a hub of activity. Not only book clubs, but computers with access to those who would otherwise not have it, lessons and classes, social groups, art, society. Everything. Libraries are funded by communities, and as such, should serve those communities. Thankfully, Hanna comes to realize this.
This story is essentially about a woman learning to be herself again, but also about a community learning to be its new self. A community coming together for all the things I mentioned and so much more. As a species, we are stronger together, and the support of those around us only increases our ability to do what needs to be done. Wo/Man is not an island. There are people who convince themselves they need no one, and I'm sure they feel content with this. They're wrong. While there is nothing wrong with solitude, after all, we may read alone, there is a deep yearning for companionship in every person. We read alone, but we understand better when we discuss. That's just a fact.
There was a small thread of romance in the book, but it is very small, and in no way overshadows the real story and I quite enjoyed that!
The location of this book, a fictional area of Ireland invented on a napkin by the author, is as much a character as any of the people. [a:Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg] is the best at using locations as characters, but Hayes-McCoy does a gorgeous job of that here. I want to visit. The advantage McCoy has over King is that her setting is not evil in the slightest. It is, however, tight knit and charming.
The main character, Hanna, is pretty unlikable to begin with. She's a librarian which should make me love her, but she is crotchety. Yes, crotchety, despite her relative youth. She doesn't think libraries should be fun and is - GASP - thoroughly opposed to book clubs meeting in the library. Having run an in-person book club at a local library for over a decade, this broke my heart a little. Hanna feels libraries are for books and that is all. I feel libraries are for books, of course, but even more importantly, for the people who will read those books.
The library should be a hub of activity. Not only book clubs, but computers with access to those who would otherwise not have it, lessons and classes, social groups, art, society. Everything. Libraries are funded by communities, and as such, should serve those communities. Thankfully, Hanna comes to realize this.
This story is essentially about a woman learning to be herself again, but also about a community learning to be its new self. A community coming together for all the things I mentioned and so much more. As a species, we are stronger together, and the support of those around us only increases our ability to do what needs to be done. Wo/Man is not an island. There are people who convince themselves they need no one, and I'm sure they feel content with this. They're wrong. While there is nothing wrong with solitude, after all, we may read alone, there is a deep yearning for companionship in every person. We read alone, but we understand better when we discuss. That's just a fact.
There was a small thread of romance in the book, but it is very small, and in no way overshadows the real story and I quite enjoyed that!