Tim Cummings's Reviews > The Library Book

For a book about a library, which at the outset feels like it could be so geeky, cheesy, and WOMP WOMP, it reads like a thrilling murder mystery, replete with suspense, intrigue, emotion, and psychology. I found it profoundly moving. I feel like we all have some emotional attachment to the library in one form or another. This book in particular touched on some very personal stuff: My dad was a NYC Fireman for 30+ years, but we never connected. However, we shared a love for books, and when this tall, wide-shouldered, intimidating 'stranger' with eyes as blue as sirens came home, he would always bring me with him to the local library. I took out as many books as possible, which at the time was 8. And so I equate libraries with some kind of ... desired connection ... or at least ... a bridge between two worlds: his and mine. Susan Orlean is so masterful and lovely and wise and curious. She wrote this book about libraries and fire and firemen in a way that made sense to my heart and mind, like a tall glass of clear, cold water. It's a deeply brilliant exploration of the shared structures we create for one another in life, both physical and metaphysical. It celebrates and esteems the unsung and oft-forgotten heroes and heroines of society: Librarians.