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A review by pattydsf
The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry
3.0
…the flow of paper, every year fifty thousand books fighting for the chance to come swell our groaning bookshelves, and every year they make me more aware of my limited span, my old age and my insignificance. p. 74-75
What a funny, little book. It was interesting to spend a few hours with the narrator of this novella. She is a librarian, a true devotee of books and libraries, who has finally found someone to listen to her opinions. Once she has captured a reader (who had fallen asleep in the library) and the reader holding the book, she wants us to know exactly how it is to work in a library. I never saw working in a library quite like she does, but it is amusing to hear her point of view.
Divry, the author, doesn’t let us know much about herself. So I have no idea what caused her to write this book. I imagine that she must have reasons for the strong feelings of her protagonist. Maybe she feels overwhelmed by the books in her life or maybe she has actually worked in a public library.
I have to say I am surprised that this short volume was ever published. At this point in time, many books are marketed to specific readers and I am not sure who the target audience is for this novel. I know that librarians may pick this up; another librarian read it and passed it on to me. However, a short book about unrequited love in a library seems to have a very small audience.
I recommend this to lovers of books, especially librarians. Don’t expect to love all that happens in this library, but it may make you look at your library with new eyes.
What a funny, little book. It was interesting to spend a few hours with the narrator of this novella. She is a librarian, a true devotee of books and libraries, who has finally found someone to listen to her opinions. Once she has captured a reader (who had fallen asleep in the library) and the reader holding the book, she wants us to know exactly how it is to work in a library. I never saw working in a library quite like she does, but it is amusing to hear her point of view.
Divry, the author, doesn’t let us know much about herself. So I have no idea what caused her to write this book. I imagine that she must have reasons for the strong feelings of her protagonist. Maybe she feels overwhelmed by the books in her life or maybe she has actually worked in a public library.
I have to say I am surprised that this short volume was ever published. At this point in time, many books are marketed to specific readers and I am not sure who the target audience is for this novel. I know that librarians may pick this up; another librarian read it and passed it on to me. However, a short book about unrequited love in a library seems to have a very small audience.
I recommend this to lovers of books, especially librarians. Don’t expect to love all that happens in this library, but it may make you look at your library with new eyes.