Scan barcode
introvertinsane21's review against another edition
3.0
I got it on a clearance sale for $2 and I'd say thank God because I would've never bought it. The story is fascinating but I think it belonged as a short story in an anthology instead of a single book. The illustrations were nice but it feels more style than substance. I'm not sure about other versions but the cover that I got was so fancy that I think it costs more than the story itself it feels unnecessary. I tore it as I was struggling to open it, maybe I'm an idiot but this is unnecessary complications. I like the story, though. It was vivid, creepy, & whimsical. But this is not a novel or even a novella. It's a short story with extravagant covers to add the cost.
fhan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rarewren's review against another edition
4.0
One of my library's 2020 adult summer reading activities—read a book by an international author—reminded me how I've wanted to experience the surreal worlds of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and annoyingly not gotten around to it. This novella with an intriguing premise (and book design) seemed like a fine place to start and, perhaps, gain some momentum. And how! It was as perfectly thrilling as reading Italo Calvino and Kurt Vonnegut for the first time. The story of a compulsively meek young reader trapped in a nightmarish public library unfolds kind of like a claustrophobic sequence in a David Lynch film and echoes elements of Franz Kafka, Lewis Carroll, and the Brothers Grimm. Just my cup of tea (or plate of fresh doughnuts, as the case may be).
nemegarcia's review against another edition
A quick read, feel like this is something that could be read to a child (complementary)
elena_niko's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a strange little book in the best way. The illustrations really added to the eerie, uncomfortable feeling you get as you read. The prose was simple and to the point...the point being "I want to confuse everyone, and also maybe make some people really scared of libraries".
coqu_eli_cot's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75