The Island of Lost Maps: A True Story of Cartographic Crime
by Miles Harvey (Random House, 2000)
Slightly frustrating non-fiction that strays far from its central story (the serial map thievery perpetrated on American libraries by Gilbert Bland). Harvey’s extensive research leads to some diverting asides, but equally into a drawn-out narrative of his own existential crisis as researcher.
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn
by Mark Lawrence (Ace, 2023); audiobook read by Jessica Whittaker (Bolinda, 2023)
An infinite library given epic treatment. As stirring as the story becomes, its unfolding cleverness relies upon (and is disguised for much of the book by) meandering, almost ponderous character explorations. Given such build-up, the lack of closure is reprehensible. Trilogy schmilogy.
The Librarian
ed. Todd Sanders (Air & Nothingness Press, 2022)
An exquisite collection of SF short stories. Some work better than others as standalone pieces, but all contribute to defining the titular character and capturing that shared sense of hope, wonder and inquiring open-mindedness instilled and symbolised by libraries throughout the multiverse.
Ink and Bone
by Rachel Caine (Allison & Busby, 2015)
An alternative history dystopia where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived to become a malignant, shadowy world power. Caine ticks most of the right boxes, yet the story, for all its inventiveness, is ever so slightly formulaic, prepping an ongoing series.
The Library of the Unwritten
by A. J. Hackwith (Ace, 2019); audiobook read by Lisa Flanagan (Penguin, 2019)
Hackwith brings some new, fantastical ideas to the magical libraries subgenre, albeit that several of the key elements seem fashioned purely to suit the plot. The storytelling is steady if fastidiously descriptive. The characterisation gains a lot from Lisa Flanagan’s audiobook reading.
The Library at Night
by Alberto Manguel (Alfred A Knopf, 2006)
A sprawling, erudite collection of musings vis-à-vis libraries, literature and the human condition. Manguel clearly lives for books. He waxes lyrical and makes interesting connections. The Library at Night is a sleepy sort of read but contains no small number of curiosities.
The Library Book
by Susan Orlean (Simon & Schuster, 2018)
Starts off sounding like a schlock documentary but then settles down into a browser’s mix of crime investigation, biography, and library history (both general and with specific regard to Los Angeles). Pleasantly intriguing, so long as you’ve no particular destination in mind.
Improbable Libraries
by Alex Johnson (Thames & Hudson, 2015)
What library could consider itself complete without this book about… libraries! Johnson has compiled a stout coffee table compendium of innovative and unusual book-borrowing facilities from around the world, all beautifully photographed and all celebrating (and inspiring) our collective love of reading.