The Library Book
Books | History / General
3.7
(589)
Susan Orlean
Susan Orlean’s bestseller and New York Times Notable Book is “a sheer delight…as rich in insight and as varied as the treasures contained on the shelves in any local library” (USA TODAY)—a dazzling love letter to a beloved institution and an investigation into one of its greatest mysteries. “Everybody who loves books should check out The Library Book” (The Washington Post).On the morning of April 28, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. The fire was disastrous: it reached two thousand degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed four hundred thousand books and damaged seven hundred thousand more. Investigators descended on the scene, but more than thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library—and if so, who? Weaving her lifelong love of books and reading into an investigation of the fire, award-winning New Yorker reporter and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean delivers a “delightful…reflection on the past, present, and future of libraries in America” (New York magazine) that manages to tell the broader story of libraries and librarians in a way that has never been done before. In the “exquisitely written, consistently entertaining” (The New York Times) The Library Book, Orlean chronicles the LAPL fire and its aftermath to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives; delves into the evolution of libraries; brings each department of the library to vivid life; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago. “A book lover’s dream…an ambitiously researched, elegantly written book that serves as a portal into a place of history, drama, culture, and stories” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis), Susan Orlean’s thrilling journey through the stacks reveals how these beloved institutions provide much more than just books—and why they remain an essential part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country.
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More Details:
Author
Susan Orlean
Pages
336
Publisher
Simon and Schuster
Published Date
2019-10-01
ISBN
1476740194 9781476740195
Ratings
Google: 3
Community ReviewsSee all
"As a lifelong lover of books and libraries and the daughter and niece of librarians, this book hit at my heart. The LA Central Library had a massive fire in 1986 and hundred of thousands of books were lost. Through this book, the author details how arson was a distinct possibility and goes on a marvelous journal of all the inner machinations of libraries and their hard working civil servants. My heart hurt reading about all the books burning.😢"
Danielle Henry
"I enjoyed the journalistic take on the historical Los Angeles fire of 1986 and the devastation it caused the city library. This book was more than just the fire, Orlean gives a brief history of libraries and their pivotal role in the US. I very much enjoyed learning about the cast of characters that ran the LA library before and after the fire.
The most intriguing aspect of this book was the focus on arson, how it was viewed at the time of the fire, how it’s viewed now, and the suspect that the LA firefighters wanted to arrest. I learned different myths surrounding fires and have a new appreciation for just how powerful of fire can be.
I’m going to take away from this book just how universal the public want of libraries is. Even in a technology driven society libraries are plentiful and thriving. Countries all over the world utilize libraries and they continue to grow and change with the times.
At the start of every chapter, Orlean previews it by listing titles of books and other media that give a chapter a sneak peek. This gives the book a personal flare that kept me reading. This was unlike any nonfiction I have read before and I’m glad I read a hard copy of the book. Fans of history would enjoy this book:
3.5/5 stars"
Olivia Denning
"I love libraries and I loved this book. Great story"
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Sue Dibattista
"This book is something interesting . It is a love letter to books and the ways that books are precious. The man who was accused of starting the fire was definitely guilty or he wouldn’t have changed his alibi lol his discrepancies are just insane lol!"
Finn Hughes
"A must-read for anyone with a fondness of libraries. "
Maria West
"This collection of essays and two short stories is passionate. It made me fondly remember my library days as a child and thankful I can still and do use libraries today. Yay books!! Support libraries and use them 😁📚"
Jessica A
"Susan Orlean’s book On Animals"
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Sandra Nichols
"My semi-retirement life is working on a public library and running a K-3 library. So I do read a lot of “library” related books. This book is way beyond good..it is amazing. I cannot imagine being a part of such a huge library and rebuilding. The history is so detailed and well written. Very interesting to learn of the connection to Fahrenheit 451. #useyourlibrary"
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Annette Mi
"This. Was. Fantastic. The research put into educating the readers about the Los Angeles Public Library Fire of 1986 and Harry Peak created a magnificent book to retell the story. I loved learning about the librarians throughout the years and am dying to know...did he do it? "
EB Fisher
"After going back and forth on reading and not reading this for over a month, I finally finished it! And I ultimately enjoyed it. I’m not a big nonfiction reader, but I am passionate about libraries, so despite losing interest a few times, I was excited enough about the subject matter to keep returning to it. I, like the author, grew up going to libraries with my mom, and this book brought me back to those days. Some of my first trips driving on my own after I got my license were back and forth to the library to drop off and pick up books for my family (and by family, I just mean my mom and I, we are the readers) and I would sometimes wander the stacks for some peace before going home. I basically lived in the library at my college throughout all 4 years; it was a safe haven from difficult roommates and a quiet place to study...or just read! I loved getting an inside look to that world, and I found the underlying investigation of the library fire an interesting central thread. I’m so glad I stuck with it, and perhaps I’ll return back to a chapter here or there if I ever pursue my dream job of becoming a librarian."
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Allie Peduto
