The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

 Lynnie 

fantasy 

 

After being abandoned by her mother, Alix Watson grew up in foster care. She works multiple jobs to make ends meet and finds comfort and refuge at the Boston Public Library's reading room. One day, she opens a door and finds a magical, hidden library - the titular Astral Library, where people who are desperate, abused or lost can escape from their lives and live in the pages of their favorite books.  

It sounds like the dream of every kid who grew up finding escape within the pages of their favorite books right? That's what really drew me to this book. Unfortunately, Kate Quinn's description of The Astral Library is better than the execution. There are moments in this book that are wonderful. I was really engaged in the beginning and she brought the book home with a very strong finish. The middle however, plodded along and had a hard time engaging me; it was easy to walk away from and there were times I picked up other hobbies rather than read in the evening. 

While the message of the book is one that most agree with (certainly most of those who take the time to read advance copies and post on book social media sites) - books offer salvation for everyone who dares to turn their pages - it gets overshadowed by Quinn's heavy-handed writing and often cartoonish characters. Government overreach and book burners are bad, we get it. But in case we don't get it, Quinn tells us over and over and over again. Are you sure they're bad? Oh yes, thank you again for showing us why. 

There are some beautiful turns of phrase in this book, and some fun descriptions of how this world works. I just wish Quinn had let the world speak for itself rather than bashing us over the head with her message. 

The Astral Library will be published on Febrauary 17. Thank you to William Morrow, Kate Quinn and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of the book.