The Library Book in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 01, 2019 Colleen Chi-Girl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks, women-centered, us-no-amer, education-teaching, faves, 2019, non-fic, california, reese-bkclub, books-libraries

This is definitely a 4-1/2 star book. Susan Orleans’ compelling idea and method of telling a story about the LA fire was so much more than that. It’s about her love of books and libraries, while weaving in the history of LA and it’s library history. Beginning in the 1800’s. There are a host of characters, from those who worked at and ran LA’s first library, continuing to present day, with so much interesting historical info on the inhabitants and facts you can’t even imagine. She takes us throug ...more

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Oct 06, 2019 superawesomekt rated it really liked it

Shelves: history-and-bio

I'm not sure what I expected this book to be, but it wasn't most of them. It's not really true crime. It's more like well-researched narrative and history of the Los Angeles public library—the central branch specifically—centered around the 1986 fire. Orlean is quite the wordsmith. There were several turns of phrase that were masterfully fun and well written.

Recommended to: history lovers and bibliophiles ...more

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Jun 29, 2019 Rebecca Manery rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, libraries-and-librarians, history, 2019-reading-list-candidates, books-about-books

From The Library Book by Susan Orlean: "The library is a whispering post. You don't need to take a book off the shelf to know there is a voice inside that is waiting to speak to you, and behind that was someone who truly believed that if he or she spoke, someone would listen. It was that affirmation that always amazed me. Even the oddest, most particular book was written with that kind of crazy courage--the writer's belief that someone would find his or her book important to read. I was struck b ...more

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Jun 02, 2019 Katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, female-author, books-about-books

This book tells the history of the Los Angeles Public Library, a massive fire that occurred there in 1986, and relates what the library is like today. While the story was centered around the mystery of the fire, that was the part of the book I found least interesting. I was intrigued by how the library evolved through time and how different directors had different ideas as to what a public library should be. I also really liked reading about the inner workings of the library today, some of the c ...more

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Jul 01, 2019 Amy Nash Parker rated it really liked it

Loved the concept of this book and how Orlean made something so “nerdy” like library history come alive! I had no idea that libraries today can be such a springboard for community and social justice platforms such as homelessness, immigration, and child welfare. Not to mention the fact that I fell in love with my local Los Angeles library system- I had not visited the central library and that was one of the first things I did after reading this book!!

The mystery of the 1986 fire coupled with “h ...more

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Aug 30, 2019 Joanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

Maybe 3.75/4 stars... I often pick books at random based on the cover or the title without reading the blurb just to be surprised. This was one of those picks. And, as I was reading - since I had no idea what it was supposed to be about - I couldn't figure out if I was reading a fiction or non-fiction book. It reads as both at times. But, more than that, it reads as a love story to books and libraries and librarians - so many of my favorite things. ...more

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Jun 20, 2019 Jen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: to-read-2019

I loved this book. It's really three stories in one which is the history of LA, the history of libraries in general and then how the history of the LA Library and the city itself intertwine. Overall this is a statement over the role libraries play in our lives and how they reflect the cities themselves and also provide a public good. It also gives me a lot of hope for the future of libraries. All book lovers will love this one. ...more

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Dec 04, 2020 Jen rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, history, true-crime, california, books-about-books, z-2020-read

Orlean does a fine job weaving together the fire, the history of the LA Library, and library history in general. However, it was more a pleasantly informational tapestry than a compelling narrative.

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