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avialia's review against another edition
2.5
I mean they ok ish memories But that were not like AMAZING
essjay1's review against another edition
3.0
A compilation of stories by authors and journalists about libraries. Some of the stories are fascinating- particularly The Library of Babylon by Tom Holland and Alma Mater by Caitlin Moran. The main theme of the stories is rooted in the idea that a library can provide so much to so many.
becca_g_powell's review against another edition
3.0
This is a nice little book, worth reading a little bit at a time. I don't recommend reading it all the way through in one sitting (although it's short enough to do so).
The reason is that for 80% of the entries, it appears that each author was given a very specific prompt (something like "how did public libraries affect your life") and a word limit (each piece seemed a unnaturally a bit foreshortened). As a result, most of them are *very* similar in structure and content (Writer was working class or very poor as a child, luckily there was a public library nearby, child discovered it and read voraciously, child lists a bunch of authors they liked a lot, child grows up to be a writer, finished up with 1-3 paragraphs about why politicians who want to close libraries should be ashamed of themselves). If you read them all in a row, it gets tiresome.
I really liked Caitlin Moran's and Stephen Fry's versions of that idea, and I really disliked Alan Bennett's, which pretty much read like a poorly disguised back-door-brag about how genius and awesome and Literary he always was. A couple times there were actual short stories that just had libraries more subtly in the background, which were really my favorite and broke up the monotony of the "I love libraries, they are important" articles.
The reason is that for 80% of the entries, it appears that each author was given a very specific prompt (something like "how did public libraries affect your life") and a word limit (each piece seemed a unnaturally a bit foreshortened). As a result, most of them are *very* similar in structure and content (Writer was working class or very poor as a child, luckily there was a public library nearby, child discovered it and read voraciously, child lists a bunch of authors they liked a lot, child grows up to be a writer, finished up with 1-3 paragraphs about why politicians who want to close libraries should be ashamed of themselves). If you read them all in a row, it gets tiresome.
I really liked Caitlin Moran's and Stephen Fry's versions of that idea, and I really disliked Alan Bennett's, which pretty much read like a poorly disguised back-door-brag about how genius and awesome and Literary he always was. A couple times there were actual short stories that just had libraries more subtly in the background, which were really my favorite and broke up the monotony of the "I love libraries, they are important" articles.
slim_oysterhiatus's review against another edition
4.0
Nice collection from a diverse group of British authors, all of whom were influenced by their local libraries in different ways. One star I deducted because while they championed the library and pleaded for continued funding and support, many authors simultaneously opposed resources, like eBooks, that make libraries increasingly useful, portable, and accessible to everyone of different backgrounds and abilities.
nushhetti's review against another edition
3.0
An easy read of short stories about the importance and role libraries have played in the authors life. Ironically I read it as an e-book borrowed from a library I joined on line and have never set foot in. Also grateful that libraries exist.
riaryan's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Stars of the literary world gather together to share their love of libraries and celebrate the joy of books, and what a delight it is. It comes with a warning too of course, surrounding the future stability of the library institution itself.
sarasofraz's review against another edition
4.0
The Library Book is written by different authors who all have written different novels on the subject of libraries.
They're stories about growing up with libraries and other more about issues with libraries. But most of them are wonderfully written novels who all focus on one of my most favorite places on earth, libraries.
This book is fun to read and it makes you really excited about books and libraries and reading and i just read the whole in one go.
Idk but i think my favorite ones were the ones written by Stephen Fry or China Miéville, probably. I also liked Val Mcdermid's novel a lot, it's great.
So read it and enjoy it yeah?
They're stories about growing up with libraries and other more about issues with libraries. But most of them are wonderfully written novels who all focus on one of my most favorite places on earth, libraries.
This book is fun to read and it makes you really excited about books and libraries and reading and i just read the whole in one go.
Idk but i think my favorite ones were the ones written by Stephen Fry or China Miéville, probably. I also liked Val Mcdermid's novel a lot, it's great.
So read it and enjoy it yeah?
greenvillemelissa's review against another edition
4.0
Book #63 Read in 2018
The Library Book
This is a collection of short essays, written by authors or journalists, of what their libraries meant to them. It is a nice defense of why libraries are important and should be provided with adequate funding. I borrowed this book from the public library.
The Library Book
This is a collection of short essays, written by authors or journalists, of what their libraries meant to them. It is a nice defense of why libraries are important and should be provided with adequate funding. I borrowed this book from the public library.
sracinez's review against another edition
4.0
I came across this book completely by accident. I am not familiar with the "famous authors" who contributed to the book but I am very familiar with their sentiments about libraries. I love them! As I was reading, several quotes stuck out to me. I have gathered these gems into graphics and posted on my blog if you'd like to take a look.
https://behindeveryday.com/defense-of-library/
https://behindeveryday.com/defense-of-library/
teffin's review against another edition
3.0
this is such a cosy little book with essays by different people about libraries and books