This is a lightweight account of the history of the LA Public Library and the fire that occurred there in 1986. Due to the author's fame, I'm sure this will be a best-seller and that readers will rave about it. I, however, found it to be too-frequently superficial and full of unfortunate literary license-taking. The information on the science of fire is scientifically inaccurate and extremely romanticized; similarly, the material on music scores is also incorrect. Perhaps the ultimate ill-considered anecdote in the book--one that caused me long moments of fury over Orlean's trademark sense of entitlement--was Orlean's utterly banal and irresponsible decision to burn a copy of Fahrenheit 451 (what else?) outdoors (on a cookie sheet, as if that makes it safe) in LA County, where she writes about deliberately disregarding the burn bans in place to protect the city and its surroundings.

Orlean's account of the fire is fast-paced and holds the attention, with the exception of the chapters on the history of Central Library, which can drag a bit. That may be because the rest of the book darts back and forth, always returning to the day of the fire, and the history chapters tend to be longer, meaning more time is spent before returning to the throughlin.e.

Orlean is also very open about her emotional biases, which is good because this book is very much about the human element of both libraries generally and the fire. Reminders that libraries are for all people in the community are frequent, with discussions ranging from ESOL classes, adult diploma programs, and childrens'/teen programming abounding.

In the end, this is a book about the health, value and meaning of libraries and the personal and communal devastation when one is destroyed, focusing on one library with personal meaning to the author

I didn’t expect to like this book because I generally don’t care for nonfiction. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is more than just an account of the Los Angeles library fire, it is about libraries and their impact on our lives. Thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Librarians, booksellers and avid readers will LOVE The Library Book by Susan Orlean. With well-researched detail, Ms. Orlean uses the 1986 L.A. Public Library fire as a framework for what I found to be a love story to libraries. Her emotional connection using memories of her mother adds a personal touch to the often technical descriptions of library science, fire regulations and legal precedents. I found her historical references just as compelling as her vision of the future relevance of libraries. The characters spanning hundreds of years are in the category of "you can't make this stuff up"! And in the midst of the sad tale of destruction and loss, there is inspiration. I sincerely hope that this book shines a light on the importance of libraries in our communities, perhaps now more than ever.

What a cool and interesting story this was! I really enjoy Susan Orlean’s writing – she has an engaging style that makes non-fiction read like fiction (The Orchid Thief was my first example of this phenomenon, and I’ve been hunting down non-fiction to find more ever since!) and that pulls the reader into the information being presented. In this book, she takes on the mysterious fire of the L.A. Public Library – and the history of the library since its inception. And along the way she teaches you about other libraries, trends in library management, arson investigations, criminal and civil litigation, architecture, book restoration, and family dynamics (both biological and the families we choose). It’s a LOT to cover, but she manages to weave it all together into a narrative that is not only coherent, it’s entertaining no matter which component is the focus. No small feat, that…

The book opens with the library fire, and closes with it too - but not in the way I expected. Along the way we learn about the investigation into the fire, the main suspect, and the library's life from inception to death and then rebirth. It's a fascinating tale populated by a cast of characters that could only be real - so many of them are chockablock full of quirks and foibles that no author would dare create them all and insert them into the same story! The writing is, as always with Orlean, excellent. This was a great tale from start to finish - and especially throughout all the meandering side-trails along the way!

On April 29, 1986, a fire broke out in the main Los Angeles Public Library and burned for over seven hours and destroyed over 400,000 books and damaged even more. But who set the fire is still unknown for sure. Susan Orlean writes about the librarians past and present and the different buildings and the stories behind them that the library had been located in. Fascinating new book that I learned a lot from that I highly recommend.

I love libraries....they have been a favorite haunt of mine since a little girl reading in the kids book sections.. This book had great information about the LA Public library and its history and the fire.that caused such severe damage. It was a very enjoyable read; however it did take me longer than usual to finish reading the book. I found that my attention wandered to other books along the way....but I still came back to this book to watch the stories unfold. I received an ARC from NetGAlley and publishers of this book for my honest review, which this is.

Enjoyed this from beginning to end. Loved the history of books and libraries as well as the story of the LA library fire. Everyone in the book is interesting thanks to the author who included just enough back story and personality to make this book one that I couldn't put down.

I was enthralled at Orlean's excellent writing, vivid descriptions and meticulous research into the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire at the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986. it is both a love letter to all libraries and a deep exploration of a tragedy where the victims were hundreds of thousands of books and irreplaceable historical records. As a librarian, Orlean made me proud to have chosen this noble profession, which I have always seen as a calling. I found myself bookmarking many passages that described so well the joys and sorrows we experience and reminded me of what I enjoy most about this work.

Susan Orleans strikes again with a masterful telling of the mysterious fire at the Los Angeles Public Library in 1986. As she explores the still unsolved crime with a deep dive into the life of the key suspect, Orleans weaves in a fascinating mix of her own remembrances of the library as a young girl visiting with her mother, alongside a history of libraries around the world. It may sound like too much crammed into one book but it works perfectly. As a librarian I loved this book on a deeper level as I know the work that library staff put into their work, as well as the impact that the library has on readers throughout their life. I can’t recommend this book highly enough and will be making sure it has a prominent spot on our shelves when it comes out.

Interesting look at this fabulous library and the terrible fire that damaged it. I would love to visit this library one day.

The public library I use most often is a small branch one which was doomed to closure but rescued by the fierce determination of local users, supported providentially by a famous local author. It is currently closed for three weeks for refurbishment and I miss my weekly visit very much.

Susan Orlean's excellent book has, to some extent, filled that gap. It is wonderful to read what is essentially a love letter to libraries everywhere, although it focuses on the Los Angeles Central Library and the story of the devastating fire there in 1986. Orlean has researched the library's history in meticulous detail. Her anecdotes about the successive chief librarians - a bunch of quirky characters - bring that history to life. The unresolved mystery of the cause fo the fire is an intriguing thread running through the book. But what I liked best was Orlean's exploration of the library now - the colossal range of material it houses, the way the staff operate this amazing resource and make it available to the public, and the library's central role as a social hub, supporting in particular the homeless and marginalised.

The epigraph for each chapter consists of bibliographic details for two or three titles, chosen to reflect the chapter's content in some way. She must have had great fun selecting them. I enjoyed the glimpses of her personality through her experience of the library and her reasons for embarking on the book. This is a great treat for anyone who loves libraries.

(Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC.)

As lover of libraries, I immediately downloaded this advanced copy. With masterful precision, Orlean weaves our mutual and deep rooted love of all things literary into an intriguing, hypnotic, yet wholly realistic, historical narrative.

This book should be on every library shelf (in massive quantities).

I liked this book. The subject matter was interesting but for some reason I had a hard time getting into this book. It took longer for me to read than I expected.

I was enthralled at Orlean's excellent writing, vivid descriptions and meticulous research into the circumstances surrounding the tragic fire at the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986. it is both a love letter to all libraries and a deep exploration of a tragedy where the victims were hundreds of thousands of books and irreplaceable historical records. As a librarian, Orlean made me proud to have chosen this noble profession, which I have always seen as a calling. I found myself bookmarking many passages that described so well the joys and sorrows we experience and reminded me of what I enjoy most about this work.

"People think that libraries are quiet, but they really aren’t. They rumble with voices and footsteps and a whole orchestral range of book-related noises—the snap of covers slapping shut; the breathy whisk of pages fanning open; the distinctive thunk of one book being stacked on another; the rumble of book carts in the corridors.". I could not have put this better!

I’m torn on this review. It is beautifully written but I could not get through the book. I found myself reading other novels every 20-30 pages of the library book.

I read many books about books and this story is exceptional because it contains the history of libraries and their books, the present challenges, as well as hope and a plan for the future. The central theme, the unsolved mystery of the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Central Public Library, is woven artfully through examples of how important libraries are in our personal lives and in the health of our communities. The investigative reporting style was balanced with personal stories of the impact libraries played on the author and individuals in the central story. I was fascinated with the details about library organization, function and the dedicated professionals that tend them. I found myself re-creating my childhood introduction to the library and reliving my lifelong fascination with libraries. and the pull a book exerts on me as I browse through a stack, a shelf or an online list. I share the author's prediction that libraries will be a never ending story.

What a treasure for anyone who loves books or libraries. I highly recommend this book. Orlean sure can write.

The author has written a valentine to libraries. As a librarian I was eager to read this book, and as a fan of Susan Orlean, I was confident it would be a great read. In addition to being the author of many popular books, including The Orchid Thief, Orlean has been a contributor to The New Yorker since 1987, and this story reads like a delicious New Yorker profile full of quirky characters and astonishing facts. Ostensibly this book examines the origins of the worst library fire in American history, April 29, 1986, burning for more than 7 hours in the Los Angeles Central Public Library and damaging or destroying more than a million volumes. The question: is it arson and if so, who set the fire? The story is a mystery and a police procedural, but it is so much more. , Starting with her own fond memories of regular visits to the library with her mother, Orlean immerses herself in the history of the library and all the strong-willed individuals who made their mark. Academics, dreamers, politicians, con men all played a part in the history of the Los Angeles library. The reader sees the history of the United States from women's rights to the Depression to the change in the institution from book repository to community center. I loved every page, and I don't think it is just because I'm a librarian. The book conveys a wonderful sense of America's quest for self-improvement and a kindness fills its pages that makes your heart grow two sizes.
I have browsed in the LAPL but had no idea, at the time, of the history of that remarkable building. I'd love to go back and visit again, viewing it through the lens of this book.

Fascinating! The Library Book interweaves the story of the giant fire at the Los Angeles Public Library (which I never knew about!) and it's aftermath with the history of the library and the interesting librarians who ran it. The author also visits the library in present day and I enjoyed comparing and (mainly) contrasting it to the small suburban library where I work. The book is incredibly well written. The description of the fire read like a good suspense novel. This librarian almost wept reading the list of all that was destroyed. I loved that instead of having a title, each chapter began with a list of several books (titles, authors, and call numbers) about the chapter's theme(s), which is such a creative idea and made me wonder what the chapter was going to be about.