The Librarianist explores the life of Bob Comet, a 72-year-old retired librarian living in Portland, Oregon. Bob has lived a markedly quiet life with the exception of two major events: a grand adventure after running away from home at a young age, and a marriage gone sour in his mid-twenties. The timeline of this story bounces between the beginning of Bob’s retirement in 2006, the start of his career and marriage in the 1960s, and his childhood in the 1940s. This book is slow but also compulsively readable and absolutely hilarious at times. I listened to the audio version of this book and Jim Meskimen’s narration of this story could not have been more perfect. Bob’s story begs the question of what constitutes a life. People in Bob’s life seem to be of the opinion that his love of reading, peace and order keep him from living his life. But, is a life spent in solitude and introversion not a life? The repeated descriptions of the peace and contentment Bob feels preparing to open the library in the morning by himself says otherwise. Bob’s life story presents the idea that one cannot avoid having a life. If one does not go out searching a life, one will surely find them. While Bob’s story has been a quietly told one his impact exists no matter how small he feels his life has been. Patrick deWitt’s decision to write Bob as a librarian was perfect. Bob, like many librarians, makes a quiet but deep impact that can feel invisible but is felt broadly. The heartbreaking saga of Bob, his ex-wife and ex-best friend definitely heightened the already very high wall Bob has built between himself and the rest of the world. This wall stands until a chance encounter early in Bob’s retirement that urges him to reflect on everything he’s lived through. For a long time, Bob has not been a person who makes things happens but that things happen to. But perhaps it’s not too late to change that. The Librarianist is a quiet yet raucous tale in the vein of A Man Called Ove and Remarkably Bright Creatures. Bob’s story is one I won’t soon forget. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the audio ARC of this novel.

The novel was very written, and the narration superb. If your preferred genre is literary fiction, then this is your novel. I was expecting more in the way of a plot revolving around a library, but that is not the case with this novel. It reminded me somewhat of the novel A Man Called Ove.

I fell in love with libraries the day I walked into my school library and have been a librarian ever since, therefore I read everything I get access to that deals with librarians and libraries. NetGalley granted me access to the audio version (I love audiobooks and prefer to listen to them over watching television). Bob Comet was a librarian and the main character. His approach to his career was very different to mine, but thoroughly enjoyed this book and it’s performance.

This was my first book by Patrick deWitt. The Librarianist is a captivating story of librarian Bob Comet…told in reverse. Overall a well written story of love and loss, with quirky characters. My only complaint is despite the title, not enough time was spent on books and library. Jim Meskiman was a well matched narrator.

Thanks Net Galley and Harper Audio for the early copy. All opinions are mine.

Bob, a retired librarian, has lived most of his life with books as his companions until he finds a lost and confused woman. He returns her to the senior center and becomes a volunteer. As he becomes involved there, his life takes a turn. Through many recollections and memories, the reader learns of Bob’s past. There is a full range of emotions that are accompanied by loneliness. This is a sweet book filled with gentle humor and thoughtfulness.
Jim Meskimen’s narration is a perfect match. His voices are distinctive and imbued with emotion. His pacing is just right.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Quirky... engaging... a captivating story.

The bouncing back and forth through time didn't always seem to be coherent, and there seemed to be lots of unnecessary chasing of not so interesting plot points, that reminds me of my own awkward storytelling, but over all... I couldn't put it down.

Bob Comet is a retired librarian living out his retirement in the refuge of books and his daily walks. One day his usual routine is disrupted by a lost elderly woman in the grocery store. Bob helps the woman, Chip, make her way back to the senior center she wandered from. This chance encounter turns into an opportunity for Bob to do something a little different. Bob soon finds himself volunteering at the center and attempting to share some books with the residents. His time at the center brings a painful revelation from his past. Revelations of his life spent on the side-lines, a rough childhood, time as a runaway, love found and lost, bring this story full circle. The Librarianist is a story of the power of love, friendship and belonging.

The audio production of this story was well done. Jim Meskimen brings the perfect voice to Bob, embracing his sarcastic and unique tone, while giving other key characters their own authentic voices. Meskimen brings the story to life, making for a wonderful listening experience.

This novel travels through the life of Bob Comet, a librarian, who true to his profession loves books and loves to comedy with people. As a librarian myself I enjoyed the narrative. The life story is unique and full of quirky coincidences. Some of the tales seem rather tall, but they make for a good story. The characters are fairly likable and the resolution is comforting.

This heartfelt book about a quiet, retired man complacently getting through life is filled with appealing characters, lively dialog and a dry sense of humor.

The story of a sad little man, told mostly in flashbacks. The actual plot is the story of a few days in the man's life, as he comes out of his lonely home to volunteer at a nursing home once a week. He meets characters, learns about himself, etc. The flashbacks tell the most of the story, and build the tension/drama.

What sells this book is deWitt, his writing, his characters. We meet a teenage girl spurned by a teenage boy and see the girl's anger, sadness, fear, relief, a tornado of emotion in only a couple of paragraphs. We meet two thespians/lesbians and in a few pages we know the hardships they've survived and what they're willing to tolerate in what's left of their life. Each character brings their own story to add to the story for the sad little man.
They come to life quickly and fade just as quickly, making room for more stories.

If you've read deWitt, this is more of the same style and excellence. If this is your first time with deWitt, this is a good place to start.

**I received this book and audiobook from NetGalley, this is an honest review.

This book should be subtitled, "The Book of Bob." Bob is a retired librarian and this is the story of his life. He starts a new chapter when he stumbles upon a retirement home and is drawn to volunteer. This opens the door to a whole new life and also a door to look back on his life. While it is well written and well narrated, much of the story plods along and doesn't move the plot along. It is filled with beautifully touching moments and very quirky characters, which makes this worth reading.

In multiple timelines, we see the scope of one man's life and all the interesting and often sad happenings that defined him. Bob is a sensitive man, observant and cognitive of subtle interactions between people around him except when it comes to what to read to senior home residents. There wasn't a lot about his career, which surprised me given the book's title, but that's not a big deal. Many of the main events from his life centered around the library. I found myself really disliking Ethan and Connie long before they ran away together, and I don't care how tortured they were about their cheating. Bob struggled emotionally with a lot going on and I wish he'd taken a bigger stand a lot of the time, but the ending was lovely. Overall, a nice read, a little sad, a little frustrating, but Bob is a likable character.

Bob Comet’s story on the surface is one of a simple, even seemingly mundane life, but deWitt crafted a complex, interesting, and realistic narrative of a man who lived a rich literary life, and without possibly noticing it, an intriguing real one as well.

I don’t think the intention was for the MC to be autistically coded, but his inner dialogue gives that impression.

deWitt’s voice doesn’t remind me of anyone else’ and I look forward to reading more of his work!

“A portion of indignation was much the same as exercise.”

“ The passage of time bends us, it folds us up, and eventually it tucks us right into the ground.”

I really couldn't get into this one. Just too plain for me, and too all over the place to get into a groove with the audio.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for making this available for pre-publication review. There is only one quarrel I have with Patrick DeWitt…that Bob’s age is given as 72 and the details are of a much older man. Maybe that is true only from the perspective of this 72 year old reader? At any rate, a quiet story thoroughly laced with humor and compassion and the ordinary events that have happened in a most extraordinary life.

Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy of The Librarianist. Paul deWitt has written a wonderful story of Bob, a retired librarian. Bob bumps into a woman who lives in a senior home , and begins to volunteer his time there. What follows are the adventures of Bob as both a child and with the people in the home. It was thoroughly entertaining.

This was a meandering look into the life of a former librarian. Very character driven. Not a lot of action. Good look into aging gracefully and not giving up on life. I think this would be good for people who are of a similar age or retired. I enjoyed the characters but it took me a while to get through because of the slow pace.

I really wanted to love this book. But this premise has been done better by other authors.

I didn’t connect with any characters and from the description I thought there’d be more in the present with Bob and chip. But as soon as he found out Chips real name there was a flashback that never ended! The whole thing was just meh and I found myself not really wanting to listen. Unfortunately I’ve already told a few friends to not bother when it comes out.

As always though thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to listen and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an ARC of this audiobook.

I had never read anything by this author, but the title intrigued me, so I requested it. I started reading it and I really enjoyed it. I got all the way up to the last quarter of the book and I hit a wall . It was almost as if he decided to start writing another book. The characters we interesting, but it was just a really strange segment for me. I loved this book before I got to this point, so I was really disappointed in the turn that it took. Then the book just kind of ended. I definitely would have given this book four stars, but the end of it just ruined it for me. I didn't hate it, but I am not sure that I would recommend it to anyone.

I thought the narrator was great though.

I really had high hopes for The Librarianist because I live in Portland and I love libraries. However, this book was so boring. I could tell Patrick deWitt is a great writer, but the story went no where. It actually started off okay and I got more into it while reading about Bob, Connie, and Ethan. But then it took a pointless turn when a young Bob ran away from home. I almost quit reading. I would rather have learned what happened to Bob for the 50 years after his marriage ended. Anyway, great writing, but super boring story.