If you are a fan of libraries or even books in general, you will LOVE this book! Susan Orlean does an amazing job weaving the 1986 Los Angeles Library fire (an event I knew nothing about) with the lives of librarians and patrons who were affected. I read this book last night, and after reading about the catastrophic museum fire in Brazil this morning, I found this book to be even THAT much more poignant. I loved the history of the library and the mystery and investigation into the fire. Ms. Orlean has written a book that serves as a tribute to libraries, and I have to say, it was phenomenal. I plan on recommending this book to library lovers and history lovers everywhere!

Like many of Eisenhower’s patrons, Susan Orlean’s early reading years were inspired by her local public library. Visiting the Bertram Woods Branch of the Shaker Heights Public Library in Ohio with her mother was a mainstay of her childhood. Of course she, again like a lot of patrons, drifted away from the library during her adolescence, not to return until she had her own child. Together they became regular visitors to the Central Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library where her childhood infatuation rekindled itself.

It was there that she first heard about the fire.

In 1986, the staff at the Central Library had become complacent to the threat of fire. False alarms had become common and the list of code violations directed at the overstuffed library continued to grow. So on April 29th, when the fire alarm rang out again, no one was too concerned. Library staff corralled up patrons and everyone made their way out of the building. Fire department personnel responding to the alarm weren’t too worried either. This wasn’t their first trip to the library and they’d never had a real emergency to deal with. But the sighting of a waft of smoke rising above the building was the first indication of a problem that would eventually become the largest library fire in U.S. history. Over one million books were lost or damaged.

In The Library Book, Susan Orlean uses the disaster of the Central Library fire to tell a number of stories: the history of the Los Angeles Public Library and it’s series of idiosyncratic directors; her own history with books and libraries, the struggle to resurrect and expand the Central Branch; an inside look at the operations and social services of today’s library, and the search for the eccentric young man who may (or may not) have set the fire.

Although the Eisenhower Library is modest in comparison to the Los Angeles Public Library and its 73 branches, Susan Orlean’s look at the L.A. Central Library feels remarkable familiar. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work at Eisenhower, passages in The Library Book will tell you everything you need to know. And if there’s a lesson to take from the book it’s this: you don’t have to be a child, or have one, to benefit from visiting the library. There’s a lot here for everyone.

Wow... this was fantastic. If you love books, libraries, and real life mysteries, then this should go on your "to read" list. Orlean cleverly weaves the story of the 1986 Los Angeles Central Library fire around bits and pieces of library history and trivia. I know it may sound a bit of a snooze, but it's just so well written that I enjoyed every bit- from the interesting personalities of some of the library's earliest librarians to the bizarre story of suspected arsonist Harry Peak. It made me a little sad since I rarely go to the library any more, as I get my library books delivered wirelessly to my Kindle, but the brief shout out to OverDrive and the future of libraries and library books did make me smile.

What a delight! A book that first looks at the mystery of who started the fire in the LA Central Library in 1986, but then expands to a history of libraries, the importance of books, the changing job of being a librarian, the process of arson investigation, and so much more. Although the text explores a wide variety of topics and covers over a century of history, it's a huge plus that it's infinitely readable and engrossing.

Full disclosure -- I spent the last 25 years as a school librarian, so maybe I'm biased and inordinately interested in books and libraries. I admit that this is what drew me to this book, but the storytelling skills of Susan Orlean kept me reading. I was pleasantly surprised to find a non-fiction book that reads like a good mystery and an entertaining novel. I will be seeking out Orlean's other books. I discovered facts about books and libraries that I never knew. What a great way to learn something new.

I couldn’t love this book more if I tried! What an amazing reading experience and history lesson on a wonderful library and a journey of an author’s life with books.

The Library Book is one of the best books I have read in months! Susan Orlean's new book about the LA Public Library fire in 1986 is non-fiction that reads like fiction. I was working in a public library at the time of this fire and I never heard of it!

Orlean's love of libraries coupled with her ability to tell a fascinating story make for a compelling read.The facts and figures are incredible. I'm glad my husband is patient, as every few pages I just had to share another tidbit I had just read. Beyond the facts and figures, the writing is excellent. I gave my Kindle highlight feature a workout while reading this. There were just so many lines I didn't want to forget.

The fire is covered in Chapter 2. I wondered as I was reading, how is she going to fill an entire book about this and keep me hooked? Silly me, I should have known better. It is Susan Orlean...of course she will keep me hooked.

One of my favorite book-nerdy features was how she used book titles and call numbers to introduce each chapter. Clever.

This is a must-purchase for public libraries, high-school libraries, and any book groups who enjoy literary non-fiction. It begs discussion!

Thank you #NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC ebook for my unbiased review.
#LibraryBook #SusanOrlean

4 stars
Susan Orlean has written a book with a very interesting look at the history of Los Angeles library and the fire that destroyed the main branch in 1986. Orlean intertwines the story of the fire with both past and current stories of happenings at the library. The Library Book is a very historical look at the building of libraries from its founding days to current times. Part of the book (very little actually) focused on the arson set fire (or was it arson?) that destroyed most of the books (more than 700,000) and the building in 1986. Orlean details the fascinating process of how the books were salvaged after the fire by freezing them for two years and painstakingly thawing them out and drying them. The restorers were able to save 75% of the books.
I initially thought this book was going to just be about the fire and I was disappointed it was not. However, the book is truly a fascinating look at libraries, how they function and the lives they impact.
For anyone who thinks libraries are obsolete should read this as well as anyone who has ever used a library. It is slightly wordy and could have benefited by losing 50 – 100 pages, still I recommend reading The Library Book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #LibraryBook #NetGalley

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book focuses on the great library fire in LA on April 29, 1986. This was not a huge headline at the time as the headlines were saturated with the Chernobyl disater.

I had no idea that this fire had occurred, and enjoyed reading and learning more about the fire. The book also had a lot of library history and other facts and tidbits sprinkled throughout. If you love your library, I recommend this one!

A collection of facts, opinions, and accounts of the devastating library fire that ravaged Los Angeles's Central Library on April 29, 1986, The Library Book by Susan Orlean reads like the bottomless rabbit hole Wikipedia can be. You start one place, click links that take you sixteen steps away and then you wonder how the hell you managed to arrive at your current location. You backtrack, perhaps at your point of origin, perhaps just nearer it, and go again.

Still unsure of my rating, I'll split the difference and land on a three-star one.

The parts of this book that actually cover the unsolved fire and Harry Peak (the main suspect) are fantastic. A well-focused and incredibly well-researched topic, Susan Orlean, without question, knows her stuff. She has a great voice and presents everything (concrete fact, supposition, or her own opinion), succinctly and knowledgeably. It's the history of practically everything ever connected that gets a little wobbly and long-winded.

While there were without question tangents Orlean would introduce which reconnected with the central topic easily, smoothly, and felt important or (at the least) entertainingly interesting, there were sections where we strayed too far for too long. I loved some of the history of the building, the area, and the people. But more information is sometimes just too much, and I felt this novel could've benefited from some trimming and excising.

History, politics, community and arson--Susan Orlean's latest work of non-fiction reads like great entertainment! I love investigative historical fiction (The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan is a favorite!) and this novel really treats readers to something new and different.
The Los Angeles library fire of 1986 was overshadowed by meltdown at Chernobyl, but both events have had long lasting historic impact.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who's ever said that history is boring. 4 stars!
Thank you netgalley and Simon&Schuster for the free read in exchange for an honest review.

In "The Library Book”, award winning writer Susan Orlean tells the story of the 1986 fire that devastated the Los Angeles Public Library, destroying 400,000 books and damaging many more. I had actually never heard of it, but the author explains why. Chernobyl was the same day and we were a little preoccupied with nuclear winter.

A library fire sounds like a straightforward enough story, but the author turns it into something so much more; there is mystery, intrigue, arson, humanitarian efforts and community help, which all makes for an interesting read. Non-fiction that reads like fiction is always good.

This book, however, draws you in and makes you care about the library. You care about how the fire started, you care about the fate of all of those books, and you care about the people involved. It’s a bit of a love letter to libraries everywhere.

I learned about the library system in LA and its history and politics, as well as the corporations and the community who rallied around the library and their patrons. Who knew that freezing books preserved them until the preservationists could really come and save the day? The author's attempt to solve the crime of LA’s library fire is embedded within other “news” about fires and libraries. The reader learns the history of libraries, motives of arsonists, ancient library fires, investigations of fires, and even unusual library patrons.

I would give this a 4 1/2 star rating, as there seemed to be an bit of editing that still needs to occur, imho. I think the statistics started to become blah blah blah and the bit about burning a copy of Fahrenheit 451 on a cookie sheet in the drought in LA just should have been deleted. It’s just wrong.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

This is nonfiction that reads like fiction. This is a compulsively readable book that bibliophiles will love. It's an ode to libraries, but it is also the unraveling of a mystery. Having been a young child when the fire occurred in 1986, I was not familiar with the story of the Los Angeles Public Library fire. What unfolded under Orlean's very capable hands was a fascinating exploration of the power of libraries. A must read for lovers of the written word!

Fascinating History of the LA Public Library
This true story begins on April 29, 1986...the day of a devastating fire at the Los Angeles Central Library. Susan Orlean investigates a mystery that has never been solved: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library...and if so, who?

Ms. Orlean shares extensive research in this riveting book about the history of the library, the library architecture, the library employees, library patrons, the library culture and the accused arsonist, Harry Peak.

My Thoughts
I worked as a school librarian for many years, so the title of this book piqued my curiosity. The author tells of her childhood love of reading and her frequent visits to a public library in her neighborhood. She wrote this book as a tribute to libraries and the important role they play in our society.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and that is certainly the case with this book. In her quest to investigate the library fire, Ms. Orlean traces the history of the library back to 1926. She explores the library culture and the personalities of the people who held leadership positions at the library and the librarians who spent their days performing the duties required to serve the library patrons. She investigates the challenges the library has faced in recent years and shares her thoughts about the future of the library.

The author can't understand why anyone would intentionally start a fire in the library. She is not convinced that this was actually a case of arson. However, she admits that this is probably a mystery that will never be solved. Harry Peak, the main suspect in the arson case, was arrested but released because of lack of evidence. He later died of AIDS.

I found this book extremely informative, enlightening and even entertaining. The author did an amazing job mixing the intrigue of the fire mystery and the more unremarkable history of the library.

I believe this book will be on the shelves of many libraries and all library enthusiasts will devour the pages and be hungry for more. Highly recommended!


MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Weaving her life-long love of books and reading with the fascinating history of libraries and the sometimes-eccentric characters who run them, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean presents a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling story as only she can. With her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, she investigates the legendary Los Angeles Public Library fire to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives. To truly understand what happens behind the stacks, Orlean visits the different departments of the LAPL, encountering an engaging cast of employees and patrons and experiencing alongside them the victories and struggles they face in today’s climate. She also delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from a metropolitan charitable initiative to a cornerstone of national identity. She reflects on her childhood experiences in libraries; studies arson and the long history of library fires; attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; and she re-examines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the library over thirty years ago. Along the way, she reveals how these buildings provide much more than just books—and that they are needed now more than ever.

I will say that the writers love of books shines through in this story called The Library Book. Susan Orlean has impeccable writing skills that leave you breathless from the descriptions that she gives. I felt as though I were a part of this book in some way and wanted to help libraries all over. This is technically about one library. A library that burned down dur to a fire and was not salvageable at all. What really happened to the library? Was the fire intentionally set? Orlean rakes you on a journey that will keep you enthralled to the very last page and the understanding that libraries all over provide more than we think.

5++ stars ⭐️ out of 5

The Library Book is an addicting read. Susan Orlean combines the allure of an unsolved mystery, a forgotten but fascinating bit of Los Angeles history, and a cultural exploration of the importance of libraries. Well written, personal, and educational... excellent book.

Just what I expected from this author, a rich, readable library love story. For those of us who work in a library it's reassuring to know that we all face the same daily challenges and struggles. I loved it. Every library in the USA should buy at least one copy.

I ate up this nonfiction number that weaves together the history of the LA library, the histories of libraries throughout all of time, the events involving the LA library fire in the 1980s, and tidbits about the many services that the library currently provides.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am OBSESSED with libraries and the many services that they provide to the communities that they serve. Have you ever thought about how libraries are one of the only places in America where people can congregate for free without having to be a paying customer? In addition to access to books, computers, and knowledge, libraries provide many essential resources and services, like tax preparation tips, to their local communities. I'm so passionate about libraries that my old coworkers used to subtly bring up the library just to prod me into my tirade about the importance of libraries -- I love libraries and I love this book! This is all to say, the appeal of this book may be totally niche, but I am the perfect reader for it.

Orlean is very talented in how she blends all of these histories, including an investigation into the cause of the great library fire, and modern day events together to create a brilliant nonfiction piece that is completely captivating. I talked about this book with everyone I saw while I was reading it and shortly after and I recommend you do the same!

& here's my favorite lil fragment that captures the beauty and comfort of libraries,
"The library, where lonely people can feel slightly less lonely together"

Over the last week since I read this book I think I've told nearly everyone I know to read it. Orlean has an incredible gift when it comes to rendering stories on the page and this story of the 1986 Los Angeles Library fire is no exception. I have never read such a beautiful description of something so destructive. She covers every aspect of the fire--the history of the library, the fire itself, how the staff handled it, how the fire fighters fought and investigated the fire, who might have started it (and the entire investigation related to that), as well as how it was rebuilt and incorporated once more into L.A. culture.

The amount of research that went into this book is immense. Orlean dug up everything you can imagine about the library's past and spoke to countless individuals ranging from the staff, the firefighters, the police and the family of the man they believe ultimately started the fire.

In passing in the book, she mentions that she had decided to stop writing, but the story of the fire compelled her back into words. For that I am grateful, because as a writer myself, her writing is a true inspiration: her descriptions, her turns of phrase, her deep dives into the people of her books, making you feel like you are there with them. Please Susan Orlean, never stop writing.

Thanks S&S and Net Galley for the early read of this book.

Susan Orlean is an excellent writer. This book about the LA public library, and specifically about the fire that occurred here in 1986, could have been a dry account of the facts sprinkled with anecdotes about library life, but instead her sparkling prose brought the library world and its employees and patrons to life.

Anyone who has ever frequented libraries in any capacity will relate to this story. It's so much more than a retelling of the events that happened here in the 80's, it's really an ode to libraries and why we love them.

Okay! Time to explain myself.
In <i>The Library Book</i> Orlean aims to offer a well-rounded discussion of libraries, rooted by the story of the Los Angeles Library fire in 1986. When I read the summary of this book, there was a lot of emphasis placed on the library fire, which really drew me in. I was curious to learn more about it, and hoped this book would provide a detailed, exciting explanation. Instead, I found Orlean's narrative style rather choppy, and lacking focus.

The narrative is hard to follow, especially since Orlean introduces so many different 'story lines'—historical (sometimes multiple historical threads going at once), observational, her own memories— and then alternates between each one in chapters that vary in length. While this usually keeps a book moving and helps me maintain focus, I found it hard to remember the details of the previous section on that same topic when I returned to a chapter on that same topic.

Since Orlean jumps between all these topics so often, it makes the whole narrative hard to follow, and creates a lack of focus in general. While I appreciate library history and all the other details Orlean explored, I wanted to learn more about the fire itself. It was hard to mush all the different chapters I had read about the fire into one coherent story, since all the chapters are broken up and separated. I feel like this book should be marketed less as one about the fire, and one more about libraries (or the LA central library) in general. I think that would have helped me 'tame' my expectations regarding the focus of the book.

My last complaint is that sometimes Orlean gets so deep in small plot points that really have no purpose. She goes on and on with small, topical details about library history, which especially began to grate on me in the end. I felt that the book really dragged on in the end, as I began to get sick of the lack of focus on the fire, and the endless, seemingly meaningless, details about the library, or libraries in general. I felt like Orlean was listing trivia points for no point other than to show off all the weird things she discovered during her research. It would have been nice to see all these details cohered into some sort of larger purpose, but that didn't happen.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but as I continued, I began to get more frustrated. If you are curious about library history and the LA public library system, then I would definitely read this book, just to learn some history. Orlean's writing is strong and propels the book forward, at least making this a pleasurable read. I did really enjoy parts of this book, so I can't completely write it off.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for providing me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.