What a banger of a book 3 and series ender! I was pretty lukewarm about books 1 & 2, but this book brought it all home 1,000%! Not only was it action fWhat a banger of a book 3 and series ender! I was pretty lukewarm about books 1 & 2, but this book brought it all home 1,000%! Not only was it action from page 1, this book had drive and all our characters had purpose. (I really feel like books 1 & 2 were weak building blocks to the grand finale & this book showed up!)
I loved the end, bittersweet choices and all. It made sense to me for Claire (view spoiler)[to give herself up to become the god of the Library. (hide spoiler)]. <3
I wasn't sure if I would continue this series, but here we are!
Like book 1, I found the writing to be quite poetic, but gosh, darn, slow. And stuffy.I wasn't sure if I would continue this series, but here we are!
Like book 1, I found the writing to be quite poetic, but gosh, darn, slow. And stuffy. Stuffy and slow. With all the action at the end. With the best part of this series, its characters, separated for most of the book. :(
Brevity is the new, inexperienced, and semi-wayward librarian. Probity (view spoiler)[was obviously full of ill-intent from the get-go (hide spoiler)]. Claire is now the Archivist, as stubborn, and regretful as ever. (Though, she marches forward with a stiff upper lip.) And, this book's stars were, IMO, Hero & Rami. (view spoiler)[I LOVED their friendship and budding romance! (hide spoiler)] Great character development from them! The character and the angel.
The Dust Wing is such a sad/depressing idea. And I loved how spooky it was.
The end reveal was pretty solid (view spoiler)[that books have souls, or slivers of souls (hide spoiler)], I just wish the rest of the book had the same pacing as the end.
The best quote from the book was actually from Probity. In Chapter 7, she says (written down from the audiobook):
"You saw one fire," Probity said quietly. "I've seen them all." Brevity opened her eyes to question that but stopped. Probity was already lost in thought, looking into the shadows of the library, but seeing something else. "They burn them first. The stories. Humans always come for the stories first. It's their warmup before they start burning other humans. It's their first form of control. To burn the libraries, to burn the books, to burn the archives of a culture. Humans are the stories they tell. If you want to destroy your enemy, destroy their stories. Even if the people survive, it will be as if they never existed at all." Brevity chewed on her lip. "Humans do a lot of terrible things during war." "War?" Probity said, and it was caught somewhere between amusement and agony. "Shall we revisit the peace-time burning, then? Libraries censored and burned? The stories that died and were forgotten by accident? By neglect? By ignorance? By- and here, the most notorious peace-time murderer of all- by piety. Books burned because they threatened bronze-age beliefs and scared old men in long robes. I'm not sure if humans have sacrificed more ink than blood to their gods over the years, but if not, it has to be a near thing."
"In a place like Auschwitz, where everything is designed to make you cry, a smile is an act of defiance." Pg. 196
"God has allowed Auschwitz to exist, "In a place like Auschwitz, where everything is designed to make you cry, a smile is an act of defiance." Pg. 196
"God has allowed Auschwitz to exist, so maybe he isn't an infallible watchmaker, as they told her. The most beautiful flowers emerge from the foulest dung heap. So maybe, thinks Dita, God isn't a watchmaker but a gardener. Pg. 201
Absolutely incredible that this is based on a true story.
It really boggles the mind how some Jews in camps found what to protect. I've heard stories of torahs and menorahs and matzahs. I just read a children's book (a true story) about a tree in a ghetto. And here, we have books. What beauty. What tragedy. What resilience.
A few reviews mention the book feeling slow, and I don't remember that from my reading, but I also listened to the audiobook, so it may have been a different experience. Though I found the switch of POVs and focus on other characters slightly confusing throughout (bringing me into Dita's story and then taking me away), I appreciated getting to know them, loved them, and cried for them. Especially Fredy Hirsch, Miriam, her husband Yakub, their son Arieh, and Rudi Rosenberg and Alice. :( ...more
Really enjoyed this in a big way. Loved watching Nora find herself. And herself. And herself. And herself. Again and again. <3 You'd think after a poinReally enjoyed this in a big way. Loved watching Nora find herself. And herself. And herself. And herself. Again and again. <3 You'd think after a point you'd get bored, but I never did. I was cheering her on in each life, hoping that this one would be the one! (view spoiler)[I wanted her to live! I wanted her to choose life! (hide spoiler)]
I was very stressed out in the library at the end, but I am so proud of her, (view spoiler)[not only for making the correct decision to not stay in the last life -stealing another Nora's life-, but for fighting to come back to her life and starting from there. Taking the crap that she wanted to escape, and saying no! I'm going to make this better. And especially for knowing she could find happiness with Ash, but not going after him right away upon her "return," and working on herself first. Wow! (hide spoiler)] So emotional!
Also, I couldn't hold it in with the cat. My heart! ...more
I ended up loving the idea of the The Library of the Unwritten more than I actually loved the book itself. That's not to say I didn't like it, I just I ended up loving the idea of the The Library of the Unwritten more than I actually loved the book itself. That's not to say I didn't like it, I just didn't end up loving it.
What I did really like: The world-building is really rich. I just love the idea of an unfinished library in hell. I love the idea that the books have so much potential that demons want them for their power. I love that books' unfished characters can come out and try to find their still-living authors to get them to finish their stories. I love that that's really dangerous and bad for the authors... It's all so good!
What I loved a little less: This book reads kinda slow and a little too long. Especially knowing that it's a first in a series. And character-wise, I thought Claire was a little dry for the MC. I know that's how she was written; stuffy and in charge. But I ended up loving all the side characters more. Hero especially. And Leto.
The politics and the ending was only OK for me & I'm not sure I will continue reading just because my TBR pile is so so long, and this was about a 3/3.5 star book for me. Maybe. We'll see....more
I haven't read Lost in the Library yet, but I was able to appreciate this as a really fun homage to NYSo cute!
4 star review (by two adults, no kids):
I haven't read Lost in the Library yet, but I was able to appreciate this as a really fun homage to NYC and to the NY Public Library on its own.
I loved the art (Patience and Fortitude have the sweetest little faces), the NY landmarks (all made my heart go a little squeezy during this time of quarantine), and the libraries (some I recognized!). The "quest"/plot is simple enough, and I can imagine this would be a fun read with kids before going to the main NYC library branch on a trip. I personally didn't love the rhyming scheme (A, B, A, B)... I thought the four line stanzas were too much of a mouthful to read out loud, but my husband disagreed. (I prefer a three line stanza: A, B, A.) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯...more
This is a sweet coffee-table collection of comics about being a book lover. I've seen some of Debbie Tu3.5 A sweet ode to books in graphic/comic form.
This is a sweet coffee-table collection of comics about being a book lover. I've seen some of Debbie Tung's comics floating around the internet before and there are some which I flagged and love (Obviously I love books -I spend my free time here on Goodreads after all lol.) for the shared experience of loving a book & having a hard time letting go of the characters and a story after turning the last page; or the excitement of find the title of a book within the book itself (I always love that lol); or of being nervous about lending out my precious paper babies. I did find this a little long(?) though for a book about books. I totally enjoyed the read but was surprised at its 137 pages of comics length.
This would be a great book to gift alongside a mug or a comfy couch blanket....more
This book was really, really hard for me to get through. We read it in my book club and I just kept putting it down. I found a lot of the passages werThis book was really, really hard for me to get through. We read it in my book club and I just kept putting it down. I found a lot of the passages were weighed down by flowery prose --to the point where I'd read some sentences over and over again with focused intention, just trying to understand the point being made.
Most of the book-club gave this 1-1.5 thumbs up. I'd give this about a 1 thumb up = 2 stars. I loved reading about Judaism and about (us being) the "People of the Book" But ... At best I found this book a bit thought-provoking & at worst this reminded me of reading a really long-winded academic piece written next to an open thesaurus while trying to hit an unknown word count.
Putting that aside, my biggest criticism of the book is actually that I don't fully buy into the thesis. Maybe this is because I'm a religious Jew living in America & Amos Oz & Fania Oz-Salzberger are secular (non-religious) Jews living in Israel. I like the idea of Jews being a people of words, but I think we're actually a lot more than that. I think it's easier for Israeli Jews to find their Jewish identity and culture, and in this case, attribute it to words... But we Jews out here (outside of our European shtetels from the past and the current Jewish state) know that we are a people of traditions. We've practiced and celebrated Judaism in the same repetitive way for the last century, and I think that's what has kept us mostly unassimilated, and still Jewish. Sure, our practices are based on words (Torah, Mishnah, Talmud, etc.), but IMO it's the practice of the words that has kept the Jews around. Especially when the poor of us didn't have access to books and the written word (back a few generations), or when our books were taken away from us from various ruling powers.
I enjoyed the book club discussion when we met on this... I just didn't love the book....more
This was a really fun, well put together book (in my adult opinion)!
I liked the layout of art, pictures, and layered text made to look like a containThis was a really fun, well put together book (in my adult opinion)!
I liked the layout of art, pictures, and layered text made to look like a contained collage on each page. I liked the books featured, the facts, the news paper page, and Handel's sheet music page.
Would be really fun to read with a child before a trip to their local or National library. :)...more
This is one book that lives up to its hype. 5 stars for being wonderfully digestible and a bit of a genre-mash-up, like A.J. hates but I love (part myThis is one book that lives up to its hype. 5 stars for being wonderfully digestible and a bit of a genre-mash-up, like A.J. hates but I love (part mystery, part coming of age, part literary review, part love story, and part family story). It's sweet and poignant, (and sad,) and simultaneously comforting, like being in a small bookshop, being surrounded by the books and stories you love.
I love everyone (especially Lambiase for some reason. From the 'unimportant supporting character' to the savior of this book's happy ending, I really fell for him. I love his relationship with A.J. and Maya, and Ismay so much. Their later in life romance is so sweet.) & I especially love what baby Maya does for A.J. and how Amelia is sweet and sunshine (sunflowers), and how books are so important to all of them.
I love the mystery of Tamerlane and of Maya's abandonment, and the reveal. I kind of love the disappointment of Leon Friedman and that reveal too. I love/hate how much of a snob A.J. is, and I love the message, in the end, is that we are what we love. The people, yes. But also the books. Even if A.J. Fikry would hate my personal reading tastes. ;)
The ending made me cry, of course. The audiobook was wonderful. The hardcover has that pretty (and hard to turn) deckle edge paper. I will be left thinking about this one for a long time....more
WOW. What a phenomenal & well written tapestry of a story.
Each story-within-the-story of how the Haggadah came to be (and how it was protected and suWOW. What a phenomenal & well written tapestry of a story.
Each story-within-the-story of how the Haggadah came to be (and how it was protected and survived) was so well told and well woven into the greater book. All I wanted was more.
I loved reading about all the different characters whose hands the Haggadah passed through, and "learning" about some different periods in Jewish history (through the Spanish Inquisition, Catholic Venice, Sarajevo during WWII, etc...). I especially loved the how the Haggadah, a Jewish book, was so well admired and protected by the Muslims of Sarajevo. I'd like to read more stories of inter-faith aid/cooperation...It's really something I never read about, even in fiction.
Besides for being a wonderful work of historical fiction, People of the Book made me think about how the actual Haggadah survived for so many centuries, and how many hands it really must have passed through... It really is a miracle!
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*Listened to the audio-book & very much recommend. The Israeli accent & Hebrew pronunciations were off, but overall, the book was very pleasing to listen to!...more
I love books about books, and all the Harry Potter references (and the fact that those references aren't3.5/4 Very cute, very fun, action-packed story.
I love books about books, and all the Harry Potter references (and the fact that those references aren't veiled and are super up-front), and the integration of other books (Narnia, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, and a Steven King novel) in this story is really enjoyable. I think this book/series would be a great answer to "my child has just finished reading Harry Potter, what next?"
Word of warning: Do not listen to this on Audiobook. There is a lot of shouting, yelling, and general loud exclamations throughout. A lot. lol....more
On one hand, I found this book to be enjoyable. It was well written, I was invested in the characters, and I loved the setting of Barcelona, post warsOn one hand, I found this book to be enjoyable. It was well written, I was invested in the characters, and I loved the setting of Barcelona, post wars. On the other hand, I found this book a bit slow, the plot forgettable, the mystery uninspiring, and the side characters a little flat. So, in total, I give this book 3.5 stars. It was fine. I didn't love it, and I certainly didn't hate it. It was just fine.
Fermín Romero de Torres was my absolute favorite character, and I'm debating reading The Prisoner of Heaven to read more of him....more
It is so detailed. So layered. So novel! It must have taken forever to put together. It's not perfect (why bWow, wow, wow. This. Book. Is. Incredible!
It is so detailed. So layered. So novel! It must have taken forever to put together. It's not perfect (why below), but I don't feel like I'm exaggerating when I say this book took genius to write.
HOW TO READ THIS BOOK: (OR AT LEAST, THIS IS WHAT I DID.) First pass is to read the actual text of the Ship of Theseus by V.M. Straka. I listened to the audiobook... As a story, it's only OK, but it's just a starting point, so don't get discouraged. Second pass, go through the book and read Eric's pencil notes to himself about the book. The back and forth/conversation starts when Jen picks up the book and starts writing notes to Eric & he writes back. Jen writes in blue ink & Eric writes in black ink. Third passAfter Jen and Eric go through the book once, they start again; this time Jen is orange ink & Eric is green ink. Fourth pass is the third time Jen and Eric go through the book. Jen is purple ink and Eric is red ink. The Fifth pass covers the last pass between Jen and Eric, in which they both write in black ink. There notes are way less frequent & mostly towards the end of the book.
These passes are mostly in chronological order, but not fully. It also only covers what they write to each other (including the postcards, which were hard to date, but were towards the "end" chronologically). At a certain point (view spoiler)[Eric & Jen get together in person (hide spoiler)], and we miss some things. Which is so J.J. Abrams IMO. Giving us most of the story, but not everything. I personally found the "fourth" and "fifth" passes of my reading to be the most frustrating. I was so confused & felt like I was missing notes between Eric & Jen, but you just (unfortunately) have to roll with it. As I wrote above, this book is brilliant, but not perfect.
Plot wise, I liked the present-day academic rivalry/mystery (of S.) and how "creepy" it got at the end. I also found getting to know Eric & Jen (two flawed individuals falling for each other in the margins of this book) to be really interesting (and brilliantly done). The actual mystery of who V.M. Straka really was and F.X. Caldeira actually interested me a little less than the mystery of S. because of how hard I found keeping the cast of characters straight in my head, especially after going through five passes of this book. (；´∀｀) I'm so glad Eric & Jen solved the mystery, but by then (the end), that was the least of what I was interested in, lol, + my frustration.
Overall, this book is a doozy, and I do recommend it, along with some deep breathing exercises. (≧▽≦)
*Also worth it: putting little post-its on the "inserts" with their corresponding page numbers on them in case you ever drop your book....more
Sorry, that person's shelf is private.
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