Susan Orlean investigates the fire that swept through Los Angeles’ Central Library |
| The Thread's Must Read | |  “A new Susan Orlean book” are magic words in some circles. If you love nonfiction packed with intricate detail and nearly unbelievable characters, Orlean has a history of delivering. “The Orchid Thief” is still a recommendation I make to people on a regular basis.
Her newest, “The Library Book,” looks at the catastrophic fire that raged through Los Angeles’ Central Library in the 1980s. And while it has its true-crime elements of unpacking the arson investigation, the book takes its time exploring the history of libraries themselves, and their role in culture.
If, like Orlean, and like me, you spent your formative years wandering among the books and marveling at the sheer volume of options in the library, this book will be a welcome read, especially as libraries continue to evolve.
-Tracy Mumford | |
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