The Librarianist is a poignant character driven novel by Patrick deWitt. Released 4th July 2023 by HarperCollins on their Ecco imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audiobook, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in early 3rd quarter 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The narrative moves very slowly and develops over time, but the prose is lyrical and luminous and so well crafted. It's not an action driven book in any meaning of the word, and the disparate characters are often head-scratchingly oblique to the story, but it is certainly capable of holding readers' interest.

Although marketed as a story about stories (and how living a life *for* literature can make people miss their own life stories), there are very few actual stories or book tie-ins to be found here.

It's an odd and polarizing novel; readers will either love or hate it. Bottom line: it's very well written, develops very slowly, and seems to drag at several points.

Four stars. Definitely one for fans of introspective, introvert characters who will enjoy the prose and not mind the meandering narrative.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Librarians are the gatekeepers of the tales and stories that we all want to experience. This is the beautiful and poignant adagio of one gatekeeper's life.

I enjoyed this book, but I had several false starts (hence why this review is late)! The premise led me to believe the story would take place in the present day, with Bob looking back and reflecting on his past, but the vast majority (more than three-quarters?) is set in his childhood and early adulthood. I didn't dislike this, but it disoriented me the first few times I tried to read it, and overall led to a different kind of book.

I'd describe The Librarianist book as quiet and cozy and slow-paced, with moments of charm and humor - certainly a character study. The running themes were community and belonging and trust, and I think fans of Fredrik Backman - especially Anxious People - would really enjoy it. Patrick DeWitt has a similar writing style, and the overall vibe is similar in that there are big existential questions, but you're never forced to seriously worry things won't turn out mostly alright.

Thanks to Ecco and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well developed characters but lacking plot. The story of Bob who works in a library and encounters other quirky characters throughout his life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC to review!

Unfortunately, I did not really enjoy this book. I feel like the description I saw didn't really match the novel itself. It was described as humorous in a self-deprecating way and seemed to be a lot more about Bob's attempts at bringing his skills as a librarian to the retirement home where he volunteered. However, this book would be more accurately described as three vignettes from periods of Bob's life.

It took me a long time to get into this novel--it wasn't until the end of the first section that things were even remotely interesting. The second "vignette," where Bob meets Connie and Ethan, was the novel's most interesting part, but it ended too soon. The third "vignette," where Bob runs away from home, was also interesting but literally served no purpose to the novel. It was frustrating as a reader to have three almost distinctly separate tales in Bob's life when they were hardly connected to one another, especially when the novel just ends abruptly. Where is the climax? The falling action, the resolution? The novel's lack of structure was disappointing and left me feeling like I wasted a lot of time with a book that didn't go anywhere and was missing a purpose.

I had read an excerpt of The Librarianist and thought the book would be right up my alley, as the saying goes. The premise appealed to me: a retired introverted male librarian unexpectedly finds himself volunteering at a local “retirement” home/senior center. I enjoyed the first part of the book which was present day/2005-6. Then the book takes us back to when Bob Comet (the titular librarian) was young and relates how he met his wife and so on (1942-1960). Those chapters were also interesting. But then, about halfway through the book, the author takes us on a long detour (1945) which I felt bore no connection with the rest of the book. He finally brings us back to 2006 for the last 10% of the book. I kept waiting for the 1945 events to have some relevance to the rest of Bob’s story, but unless I missed something, there was nothing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was rather late to it. I bounced between the ARC and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. The narrator, Jim Meskimen, did a good job with the various voices. All opinions are my own.

Patrick deWitt's "The Librarianist" presented an intriguing premise that instantly appealed to me: a story centered around Bob, a retired librarian with a lifelong passion for books. My anticipation was high, expecting a narrative rich in literary references and engaging character development. However, the book, even with its moments of brilliance, ultimately fell short of its potential.

The story revolves around Bob Comet, who, after finding a missing senior citizen, starts volunteering at a senior center. This setup leads to flashbacks exploring two significant periods in Bob's life before returning to the present. The narrative's pace is noticeably slow, which, in my opinion, could affect the reader's ability to remain engaged.

Despite these criticisms, "The Librarianist" does possess an understated charm. It invites readers to ponder the simplicity and beauty of an ordinary life well-lived. Bob Comet's journey, characterized by moments of sorrow, joy, loneliness, and companionship, is depicted with heartfelt warmth and humor. The non-linear narrative, while challenging to adapt to, enriches the story, revealing the layers of Bob's character as it oscillates between past and present.

The novel emphasizes that a life need not be defined by dramatic upheavals or extraordinary events. Instead, it celebrates the quiet, often overlooked experiences that shape a person's worldview. This message, conveyed through beautiful prose and a relatable protagonist, is where "The Librarianist" truly shines.

In conclusion, while "The Librarianist" may not fully meet the expectations set by its premise, it remains a poignant and thoughtful exploration of life's quieter moments. It's a book that has its own magic, capable of inspiring introspection, even if it might not captivate all readers due to its pacing and character choices.

A lovely, normal, everyday character is at the center of this one. It was interesting reading about his young, middle, and later life. The author connected the pieces well and made you want to root for Bob consistently. This is the kind of literary fiction I love, where the observations about life are spot on, and you're a little sad, and you laugh a little, and you just keep reading.

Secondary characters, especially those in the retirement home, were memorable.

My only gripe is the ending, in that there wasn't one.

When I read the synopsis of the book,The Libraianist, I thought what a great idea. A retired librarian who uses his skills to become a volunteer at an assisted living home. I was enjoying this slow paced novel until the story went off into several chapters of the main character childhood. I felt like this could have been 2 separate novels. The novel is slow paced, but it became so slow that I had a difficult time staying involved with the plot. Thanks to #Netgalley for the advance ebook.

Picked up The Librarianist a few times but couldn’t connect with it. May have been a case of it’s me, not you.

As a librarian, this is a book that I knew I was destined to love. However, Bob Comet, a retired librarian, who is at the heart of this story, never found his way into my heart. I thought the middle of the story, exploring Bob's earlier life, slowed the pacing of the book enough that it was distracting, and that uneven pacing may be why I can say I am glad I finished the book - but I do not love it and would have to find the perfect patron to recommend it to.

Bob Comet is kind of a pain. He's a very rigid, regimented creature of habit. You wonder how he ever had friends or a wife. Until, of course, you start to know him better. You see past the mantle he uses to hide himself. You see that Bob is in pain. I loved the cast of characters in this one. I loved how they came together and became a village. Great story!

One day Bob asked, “How did you become a librarian?” Sandy went back in his mind. “It seems to me I went to school for it, but that might just be a nightmare I once had.”

Patrick DeWitt is a talented writer, and his way with words delights me. This book was worth reading but it was also slow and strange. Definitely character driven, and a bit meandering.

There’s a flashback in the last third of the book that was fascinating but almost felt like a different book. But isn’t life like that? We have chapters that are incongruous with the rest of our lives, and we may never find meaning or reconnection with those chapters.

Ultimately this is a story of a man with a fairly small life, how he experiences heartbreak and loneliness, and how he finds connection in small ways. Small isn’t insignificant though, and I was touched by the beauty in the simplicity of every human life.

Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary advance ebook.

I liked this book okay, I think it was very strong in the first part - very quirky, fun, endearing. Reminded me of Fredrik Backman, tone-wise, and a little bit of Shelby Van Pelt. The first bit in the present is great. The first flashback is also great - it's giving us a lot of answers to questions the first one rose!

And then it just... lost the plot?? A huge section of this drags and doesn't seem to go... anywhere. I found it really hard to want to pick it up again. The ending should have started sooner and lingered longer - the hotel section could have been cut out entirely. It served no purpose.

If you like a really slow, slice-of-life, you might enjoy this - and I did enjoy parts of it, but overall found it not the most engaging plot.

Several library staff have read this book and it's left us all scratching our heads. It reads like two different books blended together with some overlapping characters. I think what the author was trying to portray, that we are all librarians of the stories that make up our lives, gets lost. Bob is an interesting character, and the current timeline story has some real magic there, but it gets muddled by the addition of a very long flashback. Shorten that one, add a couple of other glimpses into Bob's life, and you would have had a much better book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for the eGalley to review!

This was not what I expected when I picked up this title, though I'm not entirely disappointed. It was a bit boring to read at times, but I was interested in the story and invested enough in at least Bob's character that I read through to the end. deWitt has a habit of run-on sentences and paragraphs, which make for a difficult, winded read sometimes, but I do like the turns of phrase, the diction, and the way people and scenes are described in such a matter-of-fact/straightforward way.

The story is really nothing more than a recounting of Bob's life, starting and ending with the seniority of it at a senior living center and detailing the events of his running away at age eleven, and later in his life of his troubled relationships with Connie and Ethan, in the middle (though not in that order). The ending doesn't culminate in much, with only the inference of Bob coming to terms with where his life ended up. I personally found this ending abrupt and a tad dissatisfying.

My favorite part of the entire book, and the most interesting in my opinion, is Bob's running away from home. The characters in this section were the most entertaining to read and it was this entire section I practically read in one sitting because of how much more I enjoyed it compared to the section about Bob's triangular relationship with Ethan and Connie (who I didn't hate, but was sad and frustrated with when I read about them).

It's obvious that Bob may very well be autistic (I cannot recall if it's mentioned anywhere, though). He prefers routine, doesn't do socializing well, and his special interests are definitely librarianship and reading. I can relate, and I never once felt that he was boring even though he may come off that way to other people. I don't think I truly disliked any one particular character's, well, character, though some were definitely more developed than others I could certainly leave or take.

Overall, I'm not regretful I read this book. I did enjoy many parts of it and it is indeed the most general of fiction. If it had been solely about Bob's childhood and then transitioned into his librarianship, that wouldn't have been bad either.

This book was an enjoyable read for me, up until the end. It follows Bobs life and changes time periods many times from now to his early adult life to him being a child and back to now. I didn’t mind it switching, but I did find parts of the story more boring (mainly during the childhood time, I feel like this part dragged on a little too long). The writing of this book is wonderful though and you get to know Bob very well. Again, I will say I did not enjoy the way this book abruptly ended and I was hoping for more, but that’s just my personal opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ebook of this ARC to read and rate honestly!

For some reason, this book, despite the great title and cover, just did not appeal to me enough to get past 30%. I would pick it up, read a bit, then put it down. Repeat for weeks. Not the author's fault. I'll keep trying even though this one has been archived.

I'll be honest, I got a few chapters into this book and lost interest. It simply didn't hold my attention. That said, I can see how it would be enjoyable for someone who is more interested in the writing style and the subject matter of a retiree going about his life after leaving his job of 30 years.

Requested this for editorial background for review on BookBrowse. See:

https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/ma297664/the-librarianist#reviews
https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/btb/index.cfm/ref/ma297664/the-librarianist#btb