The Borrower in 100+ Books in 2025

Sep 18, 2011 Jgrace rated it liked it

Shelves: judithg, women-writers, audio, contemporary-fiction, debut, play-book-tag, jgrace, social-commentary, read-in-2011

The Borrower - Rebecca Makkai
Audio version narrated by. Emily Bauer
3 stars ( I liked it, sometimes, but not a lot.)

Twenty-something, Lucy Hull, has taken a limited but safe job as a children’s librarian in Hannibal, Missouri. An enthusiastic English major, she works hard to introduce her patrons to the joys of reading good literature. The Borrower is her story, told as a personal confession. It’s a confidential ‘Dear Diary’ self-analysis that manages to avoid any personal growth while includin The Borrower - Rebecca Makkai
Audio version narrated by. Emily Bauer
3 stars ( I liked it, sometimes, but not a lot.)

Twenty-something, Lucy Hull, has taken a limited but safe job as a children’s librarian in Hannibal, Missouri. An enthusiastic English major, she works hard to introduce her patrons to the joys of reading good literature. The Borrower is her story, told as a personal confession. It’s a confidential ‘Dear Diary’ self-analysis that manages to avoid any personal growth while including her judgmental opinions of the rest of the world.
She annoyed me.

Lucy has a favorite, frequent library patron named Ian Drake. Ian is an obviously effeminate boy from a restrictive, fundamental Christian family. His mother approaches Lucy for help in finding appropriate literature for Ian; books with “the breath of God.” When he is alone in the library, 10 year-old Ian actively defies his mother’s wishes and chooses other books. Lucy embarks upon a righteous, first amendment, campaign and assists Ian to the extent of checking out his books in her own name. She becomes concerned and personally outraged when she learns that Ian has been enrolled in ‘anti-gay’ classes with a radically fundamental preacher. Lucy’s involvement with Ian escalates when Ian runs away from home and takes up residence in the library.

(view spoiler)

The main character’s lack of growth leads me to the biggest problem with this book. The story is just a platform for the propaganda. And even though this is a viewpoint that I support, propaganda does not make good reading. As a springboard for discussion the book has a lot of potential. Makkai has approached issues that are worth serious thought and debate. She has unfortunately created a character, Lucy Hull, who is immaturely incapable of either. ...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Doris rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book starts with a young boy of 10, an avid reader, whose mother forbids him to read anything with deep interest. He reads everything, but his controlling, anorexic mother comes to the library where our heroine Lucy Hull works, and gives Librarian Lucy a list: no wizards, no wars, no interesting books - just those with "the breath of God" in them. He also isn't allowed candy.

As the book reads, you see that the theme in part is about those who paraphrase and pick through the Bible for verses This book starts with a young boy of 10, an avid reader, whose mother forbids him to read anything with deep interest. He reads everything, but his controlling, anorexic mother comes to the library where our heroine Lucy Hull works, and gives Librarian Lucy a list: no wizards, no wars, no interesting books - just those with "the breath of God" in them. He also isn't allowed candy.

As the book reads, you see that the theme in part is about those who paraphrase and pick through the Bible for verses they can pervert to their own ends. In this instance, the part of the Bible that says that men should not love men. Little 10-year-old Ian is apparently gay, and the possibility seems to horrify his parents, causing him to be forced into anti-gay classes. Lucy isn't convinced the boy is gay - and not sure it matters for a boy this young.

She connives with him to get him the books he wants, checking them out to herself so he can read what interests him. She is forbidden to let him read Harry Potter or Pendragon, but finds a way to let him read things like this.

At some stage, he breaks, wanting to run away, like every child at some point in their lives. One instance of his rebellion shows up at Hallowe'en for the costume contest, which I felt was very well written!

He finds a reluctant accomplice in the librarian, who is offended by those who take offense at those who are different, and Lucy agrees to take Ian away. From there, the story gets a little odd, but when Lucy meets with her parents we find this is the story of Lucy not Ian.

Her lack of consideration when she takes off was a bit disconcerting, as up to that point she seemed to be the soul of cooperation (except for sharing the forbidden books). This lack of consideration is at odds with her desire to call back and make sure her role at the library is covered and all tasks performed as they should be.

As the book progressed I saw that this book was a journey into Lucy's personal history and how her knowledge about her parents and their past has influenced her own thoughts on her self and her belief in her future.

I disliked Glenn and thought Tim was delightful, wondered about Rocky and was intrigued by the KGB agent. I was a bit annoyed with Lucy, who seems to hover on the periphery of the people in her life, not trying to find out more about people, jumping into bed with Glenn, obeying the rules set out by her landlord Tim, and just running away with Ian. But she does grow in the story, learning about herself and making some personal growth.

A great travel book but would probably be annoying on paper. ...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Shauna rated it liked it

Shelves: pendleton-book-club, book-club-suggestions

Well, I read it all. That's a start. And sometimes I try to read a book before I read the reviews, just to give it a chance. And based on one person's recommendation, and my book club's reading list, I downloaded the book (dang you e-reader for making me neglect actual, physical books), and I read it.

What I liked: all the references and connections to children's literature. Books I know as a second grade teacher. Heck! I know the title and the author....something I'm not even good at with my fa ...more

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May 23, 2011 Dolly rated it really liked it

Shelves: pets, education-school, childrens, library, other-usa, russia, 2011, religion-philosophy, new-england, halloween

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways and I really liked it. The fact that the main character is a children's librarian pretty much ensured that I'd like it, but the story was very good, too. I loved the discussion of First Amendment issues and the dilemma of censorship, especially for children who are interested in reading controversial books. I adored the many references to various children's books both in homage (see Madeline on p. 35, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie on p. 56 ...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Kate rated it really liked it

I thought this book was a charming story, although I will admit the second half of the book gets really slow. The book is about Lucy and Ian, a librarian and her young borrower. Lucy likes Ian and she worries he is being brainwashed because his homophobic parents have put him in a class to try to stop his "tendencies." They also try to control his reading.
When Ian runs away from home, Lucy becomes his unwitting accomplice and the book becomes a question of who is kidnapping whom.
Worth reading, ...more

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Apr 16, 2014 Mary Catherine rated it really liked it

I love books that are about the power of books and ultimately that's what this is about to me. I lost a little bit of interest in the 2nd half but the last few pages won me back. ...more

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Jul 15, 2011 Amy added it

I got halfway through this book and couldn't continue. The beginning of this book really intrigued me, but as soon as the the grand adventure started, I couldn't suspend my disbelief and/or the stupidity of Lucy. ...more

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