emilylovesgoodbooks's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use
bebidocrimes's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
This was less a story about the 1986 LA Central Library fire and more a story about its full history, as well as a love letter to all libraries. Nonetheless, a delightful read! It really rekindles my love for what a library does for its community, as well as all that it can become. They are a shining beacon of community support and everyone needs to nurture a strong appreciation for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Grief
Minor: Death
akvolcano's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.5
Very informative on the central library and libraries in general! I have to say, I enjoyed the first 10 and the last 10 chapters much more than the middle 12. The author did an thorough research of the history of the library, and added (usually) appreciated thoughtful commentary. I listened to the audiobook and I’d recommend others to do the same!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief
Minor: War, Outing, Ableism, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Sexism, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Homophobia, Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Transphobia, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Hate crime
shirlev's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
“Writing a book, just like building a library, is an act of sheer defiance. It is a declaration that you believe in the persistence of memory.”
I can have a little vocational awe*, as a treat. This was an engrossing read about libraries, probably made more beautiful by the fact that it wasn't written by a librarian. There's definitely room to prod at the author's starry-eyed view of libraries as quasi-religious spaces staffed by priests of knowledge, but I don't think it's especially egregious.
I liked her treatment of Harry Peak, though I wish there had been a little bit more grappling with the connection between his seemingly pathological lying and his family's homophobia. The end of the Peak's story is unsatisfying, but that's what draws me to non-fiction in the first place- the challenge of making meaning when constrained by (what we think of as) the truth.
The weaving together of the three major threads (the fire, the broader history of the LAPL, and the current day workings of the LAPL) was a little clunky, and I'm not sure how much it actually added to present it in this way. Maybe the sections on the current day library are more interesting to people outside of the library world, for me they were the least interesting part of the story.
Overall, a great little book to hopefully ease me back into regular reading.
*If you are a librarian, or work in the "helping professions" (healthcare, education, religion, etc), or care about people who do, you need to read Fobazi Ettarh's "Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves". https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/
I can have a little vocational awe*, as a treat. This was an engrossing read about libraries, probably made more beautiful by the fact that it wasn't written by a librarian. There's definitely room to prod at the author's starry-eyed view of libraries as quasi-religious spaces staffed by priests of knowledge, but I don't think it's especially egregious.
I liked her treatment of Harry Peak, though I wish there had been a little bit more grappling with the connection between his seemingly pathological lying and his family's homophobia. The end of the Peak's story is unsatisfying, but that's what draws me to non-fiction in the first place- the challenge of making meaning when constrained by (what we think of as) the truth.
The weaving together of the three major threads (the fire, the broader history of the LAPL, and the current day workings of the LAPL) was a little clunky, and I'm not sure how much it actually added to present it in this way. Maybe the sections on the current day library are more interesting to people outside of the library world, for me they were the least interesting part of the story.
Overall, a great little book to hopefully ease me back into regular reading.
*If you are a librarian, or work in the "helping professions" (healthcare, education, religion, etc), or care about people who do, you need to read Fobazi Ettarh's "Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves". https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia
hannahpings's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
moved me to tears. i love libraries, and i love librarians, and i think los angeles is so special
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Chronic illness, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent
alenert's review
informative
mysterious
4.25
I really loved this! Part a telling of the investigation into the 1986 Los Angeles Library Fire, part a history of libraries, and part an exploration of the continued value of libraries today (with focus on the LA Library as a primary case study). This is a great read for anyone who loves books, libraries, and/or is interested in community spaces and the importance of the library as an institution in our society.
--
SMALL audiobook gripes (I promise despite the amount of explanation these are SMALL things!!):
(1) each chapter starts with a short list of book titles, which, at least on audio, did not add anything to my reading experience. I couldn't process at all whether they were setting up themes of the chapter or what. I don't know if this would've been different if I'd been able to look at them on page, but I'm not a big fan of pre-chapter "set up" material anyway. At least in the audiobook I wish these were left out, as they were more distracting than anything.
(2) a few of these titles are in other languages, and Orlean makes ZERO attempt to say them with any nod to their native pronunciation. I've never heard more Americanized pronunciation in my lifeeeeee! (This happens like 3-4 times, it's not a big part of the book.)
--
SMALL audiobook gripes (I promise despite the amount of explanation these are SMALL things!!):
(1) each chapter starts with a short list of book titles, which, at least on audio, did not add anything to my reading experience. I couldn't process at all whether they were setting up themes of the chapter or what. I don't know if this would've been different if I'd been able to look at them on page, but I'm not a big fan of pre-chapter "set up" material anyway. At least in the audiobook I wish these were left out, as they were more distracting than anything.
(2) a few of these titles are in other languages, and Orlean makes ZERO attempt to say them with any nod to their native pronunciation. I've never heard more Americanized pronunciation in my lifeeeeee! (This happens like 3-4 times, it's not a big part of the book.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
ncoletti's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Fire/Fire injury
fkshg8465's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.0
About the Los Angeles Public Library fire in the 80s and the history of librarians and so much more, like homophobia , sexism, and flawed police procedures/politics. Made me want to be a librarian myself! Learned a lot and while the mystery remains unsolved, I too had a lot of sympathy for the main person of interest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Homophobia
faithx5's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
alba_marie's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Terminal illness