Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    The Library Book
    Unavailable
    The Library Book
    Unavailable
    The Library Book
    Ebook392 pages7 hours

    The Library Book

    By Susan Orlean

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    Listen to the audiobook instead

    About this ebook

    A New York Times Book of the Year, 2018
    A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK

    A dazzling love letter to a beloved institution - our libraries.

    After moving to Los Angeles, Susan Orlean became fascinated by a mysterious local crime that has gone unsolved since it was carried out on the morning of 29 April 1986: who set fire to the Los Angeles Public Library, ultimately destroying more than 400,000 books, and perhaps even more perplexing, why?

    With her characteristic humour, insight and compassion, Orlean uses this terrible event as a lens through which to tell the story of all libraries - their history, their meaning and their uncertain future as they adapt and redefine themselves in a digital world.

    Filled with heart, passion and extraordinary characters, The Library Book discusses the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAtlantic Books
    Release dateJan 3, 2019
    ISBN9781782392279
    Author

    Susan Orlean

    Susan Orlean has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992. She is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including The Library Book, Rin Tin Tin, Saturday Night, and The Orchid Thief, which was made into the Academy Award–winning film Adaptation. She lives with her family and her animals in Los Angeles and may be reached at SusanOrlean.com and on Twitter @SusanOrlean.

    Read more from Susan Orlean

    Related to The Library Book

    Modern History For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      How High We Go In The Dark

      Dec 29, 2021

      ▸ RELEASED 18 JANUARY 304 pages | Hardback/ebook ▸ Author Sequoia Nagamatsu ▸ Publisher Bloomsbury There are surprisingly few SF stories about death. Sure, many books and films kill off characters. But only a handful – like Tarkovsky’s Solaris, or Te

      1 min read

    • Article

      Cherie Jones

      Jan 7, 2021

      Cherie Jones
      3 min read

    • Article

      Me, Myself, and You: Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’

      Apr 15, 2019

      In her latest novel, Rooney suggests that individual identity is actually a microcosmic social structure, made up of webbed relationships and collective agreements. The post Me, Myself, and You: Sally Rooney’s ‘Normal People’ appeared first on The Mi

      6 min read

    • Article

      Talking To Strangers

      Oct 10, 2018

      Talking To Strangers
      13 min read

    • Article

      'The Library Book' Is A Delightful Love Letter To Public Libraries

      Sep 27, 2018

      New Yorker journalist Susan Orlean continues her usual practice of captivating readers by investigating her own obsessions.

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Elizabeth McCracken

      Dec 4, 2018

      I suffer from reading amnesia quite terribly. I often joke to my students that the only book I reliably remember having read is Lolita. I also suffer from the particular anxiety that comes with knowing too many writers: I feel certain I am going to a

      2 min read

    • Article

      Worlds Of Ink And Paper

      Nov 22, 2022

      As a young girl, I still remember my dear mother, smile on her face, curled up with Family Circle magazine in her lap. She was engrossed in an article titled “Butternut Wisdom,” written by Gladys Taber. At my age, it didn’t mean a thing to me. But as

      6 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Sacks, Zambreno, Lawlor, McEwan, and More

      Apr 23, 2019

      Out this week: new Ian McEwan, a fascinating study of the American heartland, and the final collection from the late, great Oliver Sacks. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Sacks, Zambreno, Lawlor, McEwan, and More appeared first on The Milli

      4 min read

    • Article

      Most Anticipated: The Great 2023A Book Preview

      Jan 9, 2023

      Welcome to our biannual Great Book Preview! We’ve assembled the best books of 2023A (that is, the first half of 2023), including new work from Nicole Chung, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Claire Dederer, Brian Dillon, Samantha Irby, Heidi Julavits, Catherine La

      29 min read

    • Article

      Books

      May 15, 2023

      Books
      6 min read

    • Article

      The 25 best Australian books of 2022: Chloe Hooper, Alex Miller, Jessica Au and more

      Dec 19, 2022

      Simon & Schuster Chloe Hooper’s talent for piercing the beating heart of a story is turned inwards in this beautifully rendered and very personal book about how to talk about death with her young children, after discovering their father had an aggres

      9 min read

    • Article

      The Quarantine Bookshelf

      Mar 19, 2021

      The Quarantine Bookshelf
      4 min read

    • Article

      Lesley Pearse

      Jun 4, 2020

      Lesley Pearse
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Quarantine Bookshelf

      Mar 19, 2021

      The Quarantine Bookshelf
      4 min read

    • Article

      Natural Highs From Our Natural World

      Jan 22, 2024

      One of the most obvious reasons we read at all is to gain insight into the point of view of someone other than ourselves. Reading outside of our own experience can only serve to broaden our horizons and our minds, and this week we have a couple of sc

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Chelsey Johnson

      Dec 13, 2018

      I launched a debut novel and bought three to five books at every store where I read on tour, so I struggle to even start to encapsulate this year in reading. And year-end lists tend to cycle around the same famous books again and again, so I’ll try n

      6 min read

    • Article

      Ngā Pukapuka

      Dec 7, 2020

      Ngā Pukapuka
      4 min read

    Reviews for The Library Book

    4/5

    1,174 ratings143 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Well-written, engaging, and eye-opening history of the Los Angeles Public Library. The narrative centers on the 1986 fire, and then radiates outward into the past to uncover the history and people behind the library from its beginnings in the 19th century, and into the present, as the library is renewed.If the book has a shortcoming, it is that it could have done with more graphics. If you go online there are some dazzling images of the LAPL. Although these may not have translated well into black and white for this book, at least better images of the building, its layout and signature elements would have not gone astray.This being real life, the story of who set the fire is perhaps anticlimactic, but it can only be what it is. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      This is a history of the Los Angeles Public Library, with a focus on the 1986 fire that destroyed a good part of their collection and seriously damaged the building. It is a great read.
    • 4/5
      On April 29,1986, the most catastrophic library fire occurred in 5e LA Central Library. It reached temperatures of 2000 degrees, burned for more than seven hours, consumed more than 400,000 books and damaged more than 700,000 more. Orlean investigates the fire and in the process showcases the vital role that the public library has played and does play in our indicidual lives and in our communities. She also manages to relate the evolution of the library and its continued importance in our society. A little disjointed at times as she reflects from one period to another, but still an enlightening read for lovers of the written word and lovers of the library.
    • 4/5
      This is a nonfiction account of the 1986 fire at the LA public library, but really the author dives into the history and purpose of libraries in general. Even though she meandered at time, I was interested throughout the book. I loved learning about the librarians’ personal lives and the everyday struggles they face. “On a library book shelf thought progresses in a way that is logical but also dumbfounding, mysterious, irresistible.”
    • 5/5
      The Library Book by Susan Orlean on the surface is a book about the Los Angeles Public Library fire in 1986 that burned for over seven hours, the single biggest library fire in the history of the US. It’s actually a love letter to libraries, their history, their place in our communities, and the tireless men and women who work there. I’m a lover of libraries, have used them in many capacities throughout my life, but was amazed what I did not know (and what I learned). The author writes not simply about the Los Angeles Library but the history of libraries, their evolution, their future. It gave me a renewed appreciation for the vast role libraries play within communities and how that will continue to evolve. I highly recommend this for bibliophiles and history buffs alike. I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.
    • 5/5
      Come I understand that I am a librarian, but this was my favorite book I've read in a little while. Really well written, three different main threads going at the same time (and keeping my interest in all three), great research, some nice humor. I tweeted the author that it was obvious this book was written with a lot of love; love for people, for books, for history, and of course for libraries.
    • 5/5
      Learning of the devastating fire that nearly destroyed the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986 set the author on a four-year research path that resulted in this captivating non-fiction work that vacillated between heart-pounding drama as wisps of smoke make a path through overcrowded stacks to tedious descriptions of the librarians who helmed LAPL starting in the 1870s.•Great technical details of methods used to freeze, dry, and salvage over a half million damaged books. •What the Central Library meant and means to its community, and what challenges libraries everywhere face as patron needs change.
    • 5/5
      I love books about books but this is so much more. It's a story of the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library that is anchored by a horrendous fire that occurred in 1986. Orlean interweaves her story with the employees, alleged arsonist, firefighters, the books and the building. Her research is outstanding and her elegant writing kept me reading. Thoroughly recommend this book.
    • 5/5
      Loved this story of the 1986 fire in the Los Angeles Public Library. It is a crime story as well as the story of the many interesting people that have made the library what it is today. It is also a love story to libraries in general--a place where everyone is welcome, there is something for everyone, and a place not just to store books but a place of ideas, dreams, and comfort.There are many interesting characters that inhabit this story from the likable but random young many who was charged with the arson to the 18 year old Mary Foy, the first female librarian in an establishment that allowed only men. Librarians are really the heroes of this story as they have stood against censorship of ideas and freedom of information. Charles Lummis is another memorable character who was a journalist, an adventurist, and a librarian who was determined to make the LA Public Library one of the best in the world. The author also takes a realistic look at libraries today. While technology brought about many challenges, the challenges of homelessness and human needs brings even larger and harder challenges which are harder to remedy. Still today, most cities and town support libraries and see their place in an ever diverse society. Truly an enjoyable read. And, I loved the format of the book including the very realistic book pocket in the back. This is a book for anyone who loves to read and loves libraries.
    • 5/5
      Orlean is an amazing writer. In this book she has made the history and librarians of the Los Angeles Public Library seem like a fast-paced novel, and turned the 1986 fire that destroyed much of the Central Library collections into a detective story for the ages. Even the science that saved so many books becomes fascinating. She weaves together the history, the librarians, the fire, the search for the arsonist, the life of the main suspect, with the cleanup and the present. Masterfully done nonfiction writing is such a joy to read!
    • 4/5
      300 pages of library—and librarian—love. What's not to like?
    • 5/5
      Reading about a giant 1986 library fire in LA now counts as escapism. Orlean is a great writer who moves from the history of the LA library system to the way a fire spreads to an inquiry into the life of the guy who was ultimately blamed for (but never charged with) starting the fire. It’s a great read.
    • 5/5
      This was a fascinating book. It told the story of the 1986 fire at the Central Library in Los Angeles as well as the story of the main suspect, Harry Peak and the history of the library and it's librarians. If you are thinking this does not sound at all interesting, you would be totally wrong. Susan Orlean is a wonderful writer and she presents the story and the history in such a way that you will not want to put the book down. Book lovers will thoroughly enjoy this book. It gave me a new appreciation for libraries and what they bring to our lives. I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley.
    • 5/5
      The Library Book by Susan Orlean will be released in October 2018. I was fortunate to receive an ARC from Net Galley.The book is, superficially, the fascinating story of the 1986 fire that essentially destroyed Central Library in Los Angeles. Orlean discusses the fire itself and the damage it caused to collections, first from smoke and flame, and then from water hoses. Paid staff and volunteers made heroic efforts to save as many books, maps and other materials as they could both from the immediate fire and then later, as the wet books, which had been frozen, were brought back to life.Orlean also pursues the mystery of who started the fire. A suspect was arrested but there simply wasn't enough evidence to convict Harry Peake, a sometime actor whose story of that April day changed often and in startling ways but Peake admitted to setting the fire in at least one or two versions.But, the heart of the book is the story of the libraries in general and the Los Angeles County Public Library,in particular. She traces the history of the Central Library up to the fire, through to the present day and then imagines a bit of the future. Overdrive might change the nature of libraries, making it easier to access digital resources, but the story of the library throughout its history was and is one of service that goes beyond caretaking and dispensing materials. Orlean visits various departments including those who answer the phone and answer questions that, as one of them points out, could often be easily answered using Google. Not everyone goes online and some people just want to talk with a human being. The Los Angeles library system, along with many urban libraries, is on the front line of the homeless crisis. Beyond being a shelter during the day, the library connects homeless people to information and resources in both informal and formal ways as Orleans describes a program in which the librarians invited service providers to an organized fair where homeless patrons could be directed to the services they needed. Librarians carry a strong sense of social justice, deeply embedded concern for the "whole" person. Orlean begins each chapter with four book titles related to the coming text, including their Dewey Decimal number. And, throughout, her own love of books and libraries shine through. We sense a fellow traveler who wrote this book out of love and gratitude. The most touching parts of the book, I think, are the interviews with those who were at the library the day of the fire, whether librarians, patrons or firemen, and those who lived through the years of restoration of both the building and the books.
    • 5/5
      Oh, this was just lovely. The book is a history of the L.A. Public Library, particularly the 1986 fire that devastated it—and it makes you wish that every library system was fortunate enough to have a biographer, because Orlean pulls out the most marvelous, evocative details about it from its founding to the present day—but it's also a love letter to libraries in general, which is just a wonderful thing. Of course I love it, given how I feel about libraries. But it's also really accessible and warm, and I just want everyone to read it so they can feel that love too.A real review is coming shortly, but that's my mushy version.
    • 4/5
      Orlean is a nonfiction storyteller who is able to turn a library into a character that we care deeply about. The Los Angeles Public Library is at the center of her tale, and she describes its history in considerable detail, with a focus on its horrific fire in 1986. This book is also a true crime drama, since the fire was determined to be arson, with a primary suspect. To bring this homage to libraries to life, Orlean not only tells about each of the library directors since the L.A. Library's founding, but also enumerates all of the building's architectural origins and changes, as well as the political forces that have affected it. She became acquainted with many of the current library staff, and the portrait she paints of their jobs and the patrons they encounter is a particular strength of the book. This will have particular appeal to librarians and their fans.
    • 5/5
      librarian, library, books, nonfiction, journalist, grief The book begins with graphic descriptions of the awful destructive fire at the main library in Los Angeles which occurred on the same day as the Chernoble disaster. The description of the actions of the fire and of the bibliophiles who worked so hard to salvage whatever could be done is so clear that the reader feels the pain and frustration of the obliteration of so many unique and irreplaceable books, other ephemera, microfiche, and so much more. Then the book progresses through the librarians and other employees and how things were managed to the other satellite libraries to the logistical problems of libraries everywhere. There is much devoted to the evolution of library services, preservation of historical library buildings, and the processes of archiving and restoration of materials. But this is not just a dry recounting of facts, it is a loving sacrificial offering to beloved libraries the world over, and the humor is found in the books listed at the beginning of each chapter. No Time for Tears: Coping with Grief in a Busy World (2015) by Heath, Judy 157.3 H437. Fire! The Library is Burning (1988) by Cytron, Barry D. X624 C997. If you geek libraries, you need to read this book! Disclaimers:I have geeked books and libraries since forever, as do most of our children and grandchildren. Several of the grands would consider this a book of horror as they are old enough to decide that they prefer print copies. I requested and received a free review copy from Simon and Schuster Publishers via NetGalley. Now I have to get a print copy as soon as available!
    • 4/5
      The Los Angeles Public Library suffered a horrible fire on the same day as the Chernobyl disaster, which is one of the reasons that I had never heard about this event. More than 1,000,000 volumes were damaged or destroyed. The author speculates about the cause of the fire, discusses the history of this library and the ways in which libraries have evolved over the centuries. Interesting and informative.
    • 3/5
      Interesting but too much flowery prose.
    • 3/5
      A modern and rambling history of libraries using the skeleton of the history of the Los Angeles library with recurring chapters telling the story of the Los Angeles library fire of 1986.
    • 4/5
      "...to tell about a place I love that doesn't belong I love that doesn't belong to me but feels like it is mine, and how that feels marvelous and exceptional."

      If you love libraries this book will make you love them even more - while it revolves mostly around the burning of the L.A. Central Library in 1986 it also provides a rich history of libraries as a whole and how far beyond loaning books they go.
    • 4/5
      While the bits about the library were interesting, the telling was choppy. The science behind the saving of the books was fascinating.
    • 5/5
      Totally loved the book (which I listened to, enjoying Orlean’s voice as she read her own book).

      I’ve always loved libraries and this book really reminded me of when I worked for the Columbus OH Library system. Also the parts about Orlean going to the library as a young girl made me remember fondly bringing my kids to the local library (Robbins Library, in Arlington Mass).

      The history of the LA library system was engaging, as was the inconclusive search for the arsonist responsible for the burning of the LA Central library in the 80s.

      Great book for a book and library lover!
    • 3/5
      Interesting book on what libraries do built around the tragic fire at L.A. Public Library in 1986. Has a lot of history and bios. of people in Calif. who started the library in So. Calif. Could have been a little shorter but very enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book, especially during corona quarantine. It made me happy. I enjoyed both the mystery of the library fire, and all the tidbits of library history.
    • 5/5
      A wonderful book about libraries and the joys of reading. It's the history of the Los Angeles public library and it is fascinating
    • 4/5
      In 1986, the Los Angeles Central Library caught fire and burned for seven hours. This tells the story of the library: the directors, the collections, the politics, librarians, the suspected arsonist, and of course, the books and how they worked to save them.This is a very interesting look into the library and how things were done in the past and how things have changed and libraries have adapted.To this day no one was has ever been charged with the burning of the library.
    • 5/5
      Orlean book is about a fire in 1986 that nearly destroyed the building and did destroy hundreds of thousands of books. That part of the story is but a small part of the 311 pages. Orlean discusses libraries in general, librarians, and the history of libraries. Many people have criticized the lack of organization in the book, and it’s true that Orlean does skip around chronologically, but I didn’t find that either distracting or hard to follow. I think if you are a book lover, a lover of libraries and librarians, you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did.
    • 4/5
      Part true crime, part history, part love letter to a library. Mostly enjoyable, maybe a few too many “in between” parts compared to the fire thread which wove the book together.
    • 5/5
      This was simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. Orlean tells the story of library people—how they fight to create spaces for learning and living and how they rise stronger from tragedy. If you ever felt at home in a library, even once, you need to read this book.