Historical Fiction writer Kate Quinn has done something a little bit different from her previous books, this time leaning towards fantasy with The Astral Library. Readers will still have the opportunity to visit history, but this time only through the scenes and settings of classic works of fiction, as the protagonist moves from book to book in order to save a special library.
The Situation: Alix Watson understands that life is not fair. Her childhood in the foster-care system taught her that people will often let you down. In fact, she was placed in foster care after her mother ran off without her, following a man who was not interested in "the whole kid thing." Now Alix is 26 years old, working three dead end jobs, and has pretty much given up on the idea of ever attending college. One of her few joys is the reading room in the Boston Public Library. Alix has always loved books and big words, and the library is one of the few places in the world someone with little money can hang around for free. And one day, Alix stumbles through a hidden door, and finds that the library is even more magical than she realized.
The Problem: Beyond the magical door is the Librarian, who explains to Alix that she has been chosen, and she will have the opportunity to live inside of a book of her choosing, effectively leaving her old life behind. Alix is all for it and makes preparations, only for an enemy to begin attacking the library and its inhabitants. According to the Librarian, the last time this happened, it was because someone was after the people who had managed to escape their old lives to live in books. So Alix and the Librarian fight back, but this enemy is different. And defeating it may involve more than simply moving patrons to a safer place.
Genre, Themes, History: This book is a work of fiction that involves a magical library that allows people to literally escape into the pages of their favorite book. It begins in Boston where Alix lives and works, as the reading room at the Boston Public Library is one of her favorite places. And through her adventures, she has the opportunity to visit Sherlock Holmes' London, the world of Jane Austen, and the even Gatsby's parties. But Alix will also have to deal with the bureaucratic process, the intense fervor of a book-banner, and the ever-present whispers of both modernization and monetization.
My Verdict: What could be more alluring to any reader out there than the idea of being able to step into and walk around inside of a book? Even for only a little while. What Alix has been offered is a dream come true, and somehow, the magic of the moment does not quite come across. It could be Alix's rough edges, put there by her mother's abandonment and the harsh realities of a childhood in the foster-care system, as well as her current reality of barely being able to make ends meet. But even as she moves around from book to book, following the mysterious and stern Librarian, the movements feel dull, and any remaining magic becomes overshadowed by the author's message.
Favorite Moment: One thing this book accurately portrays is the terrifying power of a librarians "Shhh."
Favorite Character: Dennis is a ghost that lives in the Astral Library, and has apparently never quite been able to finish War and Peace, despite having tried many many times. I get it Dennis...that book is great but it is also a slog.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Sosuke Natsukawa's The Cat Who... series.
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