A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK A WASHINGTON POST TOP 10 BOOK OF THE YEAR * A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER and NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2018 “A constant pleasure to read…Everybody who loves books should check out The Library Book.” –The Washington Post “CAPTIVATING…DELIGHTFUL.” –Christian Science Monitor * “EXQUISITELY WRITTEN, CONSISTENTLY ENTERTAINING.” –The New … “CAPTIVATING…DELIGHTFUL.” —Christian Science Monitor * “EXQUISITELY WRITTEN, CONSISTENTLY ENTERTAINING.” —The New York Times * “MESMERIZING…RIVETING.” —Booklist (starred review)
A dazzling love letter to a beloved institution–and an investigation into one of its greatest mysteries–from the bestselling author hailed as a “national treasure” by The Washington Post.
On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual fire alarm. As one fireman recounted, “Once that first stack got going, it was ‘Goodbye, Charlie.’” The fire was disastrous: it reached 2000 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 mesmerizing and uniquely compelling book that manages to tell the broader story of libraries and librarians in a way that has never been done before.
In 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 across the country and around the world, from their humble beginnings as a metropolitan charitable initiative to their current status as a cornerstone of national identity; brings each department of the library to vivid life through on-the-ground reporting; studies arson and attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; reflects on her own experiences in libraries; and reexamines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the LAPL more than thirty years ago.
Along the way, Orlean introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters from libraries past and present–from Mary Foy, who in 1880 at eighteen years old was named the head of the Los Angeles Public Library at a time when men still dominated the role, to Dr. C.J.K. Jones, a pastor, citrus farmer, and polymath known as “The Human Encyclopedia” who roamed the library dispensing information; from Charles Lummis, a wildly eccentric journalist and adventurer who was determined to make the L.A. library one of the best in the world, to the current staff, who do heroic work every day to ensure that their institution remains a vital part of the city it serves.
Brimming with her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, The Library Book is Susan Orlean’s thrilling journey through the stacks that 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. It is also a master journalist’s reminder that, perhaps especially in the digital era, they are more necessary than ever.
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Just finishing a book I can recommend without any reservations whatsoever to anyone who loves books — Susan Orlean’s THE LIBRARY BOOK, the story of the Los Angeles Public Library, taking as its center the fire that consumed much of the original Central Library building, burned 400,000 books and damaging 700,000 more.
I think that Orlean, who also wrote THE ORCHID THIEF and SATURDAY NIGHT, among others, is a modern master of nonfiction narrative, and this book doesn’t have a dull page in it. It’s studded with unforgettable personalities and jaw-dropping facts (for example, the library database, although it’s public and everything in it is free, is probed daily by Chinese and Russian hackers as a warm-up for more demanding targets), and running through it is a deep, resonant devotion for reading and the institutions that make it possible for so many of us to do so. Librarians, who work for not much money in an environment that is open literally to everyone, rank high in the panoply of modern-day saints, I think.
It’s also as funny as hell much of the time.
I simply cannot imagine a fan of books — whether writer or reader — not finding this book immensely pleasurable. And it should be required reading for anyone who has ever wondered why we still need libraries in the 21st century.
For bibliophiles who love libraries as well – Susan Orlean takes an unconventional subject and explores it thoroughly
What is this book?
Is it a True Crime book about a mysterious fire in the Los Angeles public library? Is it about the Los Angeles public library itself? Or is it about libraries in general?
The answer? Yes.
Susan Orlean splits this book into three parts – a True Crime about a fire, a part about the Los Angeles public library, and a part about libraries in general
And in general, she alternates chapters.
One chapter will be about Harry Peak, a dilettante actor who may have started the fire, or might not have.
The next will be about the history of the Los Angeles downtown library.
The next will be about libraries in general.
To enjoy this book – find which section you like, explore that, and skim the rest
I found the part about Harry Peak the most compelling. Why? Because whether or not he did it, the character Harry Peak is a genuinely likable guy, who has no prior record.
He definitely has his troubles – but it’s rare to find a guy like him in a True Crime tale – no prior arrests, no history of anger. Everyone notes how he is unpredictable and a bit of a fabulist – but he doesn’t have a history of making other people pay for his problems. In fact, just the opposite – times get difficult, and he just makes up a story about how he met a celebrity, and that brings people happiness.
And yet – he may have committed a real crime.
Or not – you decide.
Regardless, Susan Orlean brings an unconventional bit of non-fiction here in The Library Book – I’d check it out if I were you. It has a broad, multi-pronged scope, but I bet there is something in there for you.
THE LIBRARY BOOK is a great read. Ostensibly about the Los Angeles Central Library fire in 1985, and the single named suspect who never told the same story twice to investigators, or anyone else for that matter. In actuality, it is the story of the Los Angeles Public Library and how that history fits in with the history that is libraries. I can’t help but mention another book I read not long ago about a fictional library THE MAD LIBRARIAN, by Michael Gillebeau. There are sections of THE LIBRARY BOOK that explain and expand on the points made about a fictional library and a harried librarian. I am a book person through and through, so when one book leads so directly to another, I just have to talk about it.
Like the author, I had never heard about the library fire in Los Angeles because I too was living on the east coast. The fire would not have been in the east coast papers because they had already gone to press. The next days brought only stories of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. As I read Ms. Orlean’s description of the fire, I had tears running down my face. Alongside the senseless taking of life, I can think of nothing more heartbreaking than destroying a book, so the devastation of a library is akin to the mindless bombing of a city.
Libraries are so much more than repositories for books, so much more than a place to read and do research. In their quiet way, they are the lifeblood of community. Where do you go to be with other people? Where do you call for help with a crossword puzzle? Who do you turn to when you have no idea how to deal with something critical in your life? If you are not thinking library, you should be. Libraries help the homeless, help the unemployed and serve as a community centers for everyone. Anyone who thinks libraries have outlived their usefulness needs to read this book.
THE LIBRARY BOOK is not a feminist treatise, but it does point out the ups and downs for both men and women in the library system. An article written in 1876 suggested that highly educated women could be hired for less money than a man thus saving money for the city or town employing them in a public library. At one time, I would have found it strange to see such a blatant expression of sexism; today, I look at it as women caving to male dominance even at a time when most women did not work outside the ho9me. Reading this goes a long way toward explaining why it took so long for women to be allowed to vote, to own property, and why the Equal Rights Amendment has never been passed. I really wish someone could logically explain why women have always kowtowed to men and continue to do so today. It seems that everything I read, fiction and non-fiction alike, contains references to a particular male minority running everything.
I could go on and on singing the praises of this book, but I will end by saying SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY.
I remember when I first heard there was a place where one could borrow all the books one wanted to read.
My elementary school, Philip Sheridan, was brand new and filled with recently published children’s books. There was a small library in my second-grade classroom and after the teacher read a book out loud to the class I would borrow it and read the book myself. Then I started to pick up other books, like the biography of Robert Louis Stevenson which I read over and over. I knew his book of children’s poetry A Child’s Garden of Verses–now I knew there was a man behind the words.
When the teacher said there was a whole building of books called a library I went home and asked my mother if she would take me to the library.
She said I was too young and a year passed before we walked down the road to the Sheridan Parkside Library and I got my first library card. It was so hard to choose my three books! I borrowed Follow My Leader, which our teacher had read to the class, a history of Australia because I had an Australian pen pal, and D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths.
Wherever we moved, I continued to frequent libraries. And when our son was born, I would put him in the stroller and walk to the local library. As a preschooler, he would borrow 15 books a week. As a high schooler, he volunteered at the library resale bookstore. I joined book clubs at the local library wherever we moved. I made friends with librarians at the smaller libraries and the staff would know us. But I had never given much thought about everything that goes on to make a library run.
I had enjoyed Susan Orlean’s book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend and that motivated me to want to read The Library Book. As I read it I found myself thinking about the many libraries in my life, appreciating them more and more.
Orlean begins with stories of libraries in her life growing up and how she wanted her son to have the same experience. Going to the Los Angeles Central Library, one of the most beautiful buildings she had ever seen, she learned about the April 29, 1986 fire that destroyed a million books.
Why don’t we remember this event? Chernobyl took over the news that week.
Orlean’s book is a history of the Los Angeles Central Library, the investigation into the fire, the extraordinary work to save the books, and an exploration into the role of libraries in society today.
When investigators can’t determine the cause of a fire it is considered arson, and then comes the search for the person who started the fire. The case centered on Harry Peak, a fabulist with a deep need for attention.
We meet the memorable people who make the library run and see how the library functions in today’s society as a democratic, open, public space. The LA library has developed outreach programs to the homeless and unemployed and offers a safe place for teenagers.
Libraries everywhere are changing to meet the needs of its community. Digital books audiobooks are available to download to electronic devices. In our small suburban city full of young families the library has intergenerational coloring days, reading to pets, speakers and concerts, Lego days, movies, card making, scrapbooking, magic shows, and of course book clubs and summer reading programs.
I enjoyed the book as history and for its insights into an institution sometimes considered outdated, but which the Millennial generation has embraced. Most of all, I am grateful that Orlean has made me better appreciate librarians and library staff for their contributions.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Part love letter, part historical account, this is a beautifully written book on libraries, focusing on the Los Angeles Central Library and the impact they have on our lives.
I love that people love their libraries and the many stories woven to share the interesting list of people and events at the Los Angeles Main Library. I love it even more now.
A beautifully written book about the power of libraries and their importance to our communities and our society. This book made me feel nostalgic (it brought back childhood memories of my mom taking me to story hour at our local branch) and proud (my local suburban library is the thing I love best about my community), but most of all hopeful about the way we can work together in our thirst for knowledge. This isn’t really a book about a devastating library fire, but a love letter to the institution.
As the author says, “All the things that are wrong in the world seem conquered by a library’s simple unspoken promise: Here I am, please tell me your story; here is my story, please listen.”
I enjoyed The Library Book by Susan Orlean. It’s a lovely ode to libraries, librarians, and their patrons. The book is woven together with Orlean’s love of libraries and the many delightful tidbits of history she digs up about libraries in general and the LA library in particular. A casual history that bookish me definitely appreciates.
What a fun journey through the history of the L.A. Central Library, centering on the mysterious arson fire that burned nearly half a million books in 1986. Susan Orlean can make any subject feel like a wonderful adventure, but The Library Book has more than its share of larger-than-life characters.
A must-read about the importance of libraries and the people who dedicate their lives to these great institutions, with the famous Los Angeles library fire as a backdrop. Highly, happily recommended.
A heartfelt, beautiful exploration of L.A.’s Central Library, and a mysterious blaze that destroyed hundreds of thousands of books and maps. Not so much a true-crime tale, it’s part memoir, part history–and fully engaging.
The Library Book is a very personal memoir and also a whodunit which follows the tragedy of the LA library fire and tracks the uncovering of the events and the character supposedly responsible. Susan Orlean’s love of books and libraries is evident throughout. She did deep research into the mystery and reports the facts with wonderful clarity and compassion. This is a book you won’t want to put down. It leaves you wanting to walk into your own neighborhood library with a renewed sense of appreciation and love.
Gave me insight about the beautiful Los Angeles Central library. for those who have never been, it’s a beautiful building and librarians are pretty great.
I fell in love with libraries all over again. I had no idea how broad their reach is, or how many skills are in the wheelhouse of the library and the librarian.
Awesome awesome read!!!
The Library Book by Susan Orlean on the surface is a book about the Los Angeles Public Library fire in 1986 that burned for over seven hours, the single biggest library fire in the history of the US. It’s actually a love letter to libraries, their history, their place in our communities, and the tireless men and women who work there. I’m a lover of libraries, have used them in many capacities throughout my life, but was amazed what I did not know (and what I learned). The author writes not simply about the Los Angeles Library but the history of libraries, their evolution, their future. It gave me a renewed appreciation for the vast role libraries play within communities and how that will continue to evolve. I highly recommend this for bibliophiles and history buffs alike.
I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.
I picked up this book because I am a native Angelino growing up in SoCal in the 70s and I did not remember the great L.A. Library Fire. What I expected was a detailed account of the fire and, if it was arson, whether the person was arrested and convicted.
What Orlean has delivered is so much more than a nonfiction whodunit. An accomplished and award-winning author, Orlean says in the book she had given up the craft of writing until this project came along. I am ever so glad she returned to practice the art she so carefully has honed.
Rather than stick to one mode, Orlean masterfully weaves together true crime, feature reporting, local history, global history of libraries, and memoir to give us a gem of a book. Her encyclopedic knowledge and narrative style evokes that of the old storyteller, one who knows how to pluck rich details to create a mosaic that describes libraries in general and specifically the Los Angeles Public Library from the late-19th century to the present, post-war Southern California and our collective love for stories and how then say something about us (the last of which causes her to wax poetic and melancholic).
She includes great little elements, like the list of books at the beginning of her chapters. Far from being random, these nuggets serve as mysteries to be unlocked in the pages ahead. Also, wanting to understand better how books burn, she decides to burn a book herself (fittingly it was a copy of Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451).
The absolute best part of the book are the fascinating characters she meets and the delightful and often laugh-out-loud funny or downright fascinating tales they have to tell her. These stories can be indexed under to “too crazy not to be true” and complete the rich tableau that is this book. A lesser writer would have found the need to provide running, pithy commentary but Orlean clearly comes from the “less is more” school and, like the gifted writer she is, lets compelling characters tell their own stories.
In short, this is a book as much about life and stories and how those stories impact our lives as it is about a 30-year-old unsolved arson case. Because it is so much more, The Library Book definitely should be checked out by story lovers near and far.
The author gives an interesting history about the establishment of the library, its collections [especially the extensive map collection that it had prior to the fire], the personalities of the various head librarians and its unique architecture. I don’t feel that the mystery of the catastrophic fire was ever dealt with effectively.
Fascinating history. Creates more appreciation for the blessing and role of libraries in our lives.