Spoiler-Free Blog
If you’re looking for a book with a witty view of life, quirky and unusual characters, and dry humor – The Librarianist may be for you.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley and Ecco for the ARC!
What’s it about?
Bob Comet is a retired librarian. After a chance encounter with a confused elderly woman, Bob begins volunteering at a retirement community, where he reckons with his past.
This was a quick and meaningful read.
Bob is immediately a sympathetic and real character. He’s a little quirky, perhaps neurodivergent, and I loved his honesty and his love for the simple things in life. He’s in his seventies at the start and is a bit lonely – and it’s this loneliness that leads him to volunteer for the local retirement community. Thus begins the story.
I liked the nonlinear aspect of the storytelling. We start in the mid-2000s, and then jump back in time to Bob’s marriage, and then to his childhood, and then back to the mid-2000s.
I loved each section except for part 3, when we went back to his childhood. That section struck me as a bit meandering, and I felt I could’ve done without it. Though it does have some funny moments.
Overall, I loved that this story gives readers the impression that it’s never too late to find community. Nor is it too late to become someone different. It’s hopeful, touching, and generally funny with eccentric characters abound.
Should you read The Librarianist?
It was light and easy. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys reflective stories about life.
Mark your calendars: this one is expected to release on July 4, 2023.
Check out some of my other recent blogs:
2 responses to “The Librarianist: Hopeful and funny”
Definitely want to read. I love the part “Nor is it too late to become someone different.”
Yes — it’s a great message!