A review by sarah_kurtz
The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson
3.0
Over all, this book was so-so for me.
I loved the idea behind the book because it’s about a library whose future is in peril. And because, a select group of the community comes together to try and save it. I feel that library’s are often under-utilized and especially during a pandemic (or whatever the heck it is we’re still experiencing) they’ve really struggled. The closing of library is something that’s pretty realistic and a threat that a lot of them do face. It touches on the importance of them and how for some while it’s a place to get some great books, for others it’s a job, it’s their ONLY way of having access to books, and really could be a potential safe haven for them.
I also loved that while it was focusing on a topic that could seem rather grim, or uninteresting to some, the author still found a way to work some humor into the situation. There was always a fun one-liner or one something wild and crazy happening! I mean, they literally call their group, FOCL (pronounced FUC-OL..I’m sure you get it.) for Friends of Chalcot Library.
One thing that I wasn’t particularly fond of in this storyline was the romance. It was pretty cliche and I saw it coming from the start, but it just lacked any sort of spark. But, we know how I feel about romances…
And finally, there is a TRIGGER WARNING in this storyline for death of a minor/major character depending on how you look at him. However, the grief in this story helps produce a beautiful outcome, so it’s good. Even if I did cry.
I listened to the book via audio, so it was a pleasant and easy listen, not sure I would have felt the same if I was actually reading it. So, three stars because I’m not knocking down people’s doors to tell them to read it, but it’ll definitely stay with me for a bit, too.
I loved the idea behind the book because it’s about a library whose future is in peril. And because, a select group of the community comes together to try and save it. I feel that library’s are often under-utilized and especially during a pandemic (or whatever the heck it is we’re still experiencing) they’ve really struggled. The closing of library is something that’s pretty realistic and a threat that a lot of them do face. It touches on the importance of them and how for some while it’s a place to get some great books, for others it’s a job, it’s their ONLY way of having access to books, and really could be a potential safe haven for them.
I also loved that while it was focusing on a topic that could seem rather grim, or uninteresting to some, the author still found a way to work some humor into the situation. There was always a fun one-liner or one something wild and crazy happening! I mean, they literally call their group, FOCL (pronounced FUC-OL..I’m sure you get it.) for Friends of Chalcot Library.
One thing that I wasn’t particularly fond of in this storyline was the romance. It was pretty cliche and I saw it coming from the start, but it just lacked any sort of spark. But, we know how I feel about romances…
And finally, there is a TRIGGER WARNING in this storyline for death of a minor/major character depending on how you look at him. However, the grief in this story helps produce a beautiful outcome, so it’s good. Even if I did cry.
I listened to the book via audio, so it was a pleasant and easy listen, not sure I would have felt the same if I was actually reading it. So, three stars because I’m not knocking down people’s doors to tell them to read it, but it’ll definitely stay with me for a bit, too.