The Librarianist

A Novel

De: Patrick deWitt

Narrado por: Jim Meskimen

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

From bestselling and award-winning author Patrick deWitt comes the story of Bob Comet, a man who has lived his life through and for literature, unaware that his own experience is a poignant and affecting narrative in itself.

Bob Comet is a retired librarian passing his solitary days surrounded by books and small comforts in a mint-colored house in Portland, Oregon. One morning on his daily walk he encounters a confused elderly woman lost in a market and returns her to the senior center that is her home. Hoping to fill the void he’s known since retiring, he begins volunteering at the center. Here, as a community of strange peers gathers around Bob, and following a happenstance brush with a painful complication from his past, the events of his life and the details of his character are revealed.

Behind Bob Comet’s straight-man façade is the story of an unhappy child’s runaway adventure during the last days of the Second World War, of true love won and stolen away, of the purpose and pride found in the librarian’s vocation, and of the pleasures of a life lived to the side of the masses. Bob’s experiences are imbued with melancholy but also a bright, sustained comedy; he has a talent for locating bizarre and outsize players to welcome onto the stage of his life.

With his inimitable verve, skewed humor, and compassion for the outcast, Patrick deWitt has written a wide-ranging and ambitious document of the introvert’s condition. The Librarianist celebrates the extraordinary in the so-called ordinary life, and depicts beautifully the turbulence that sometimes exists beneath a surface of serenity.

Slow to start but worth the wait!

I had trouble getting into this book, at first. I even had to restart it a couple of chapters in because it felt like I was missing something. The story seemed to meander for a little while, but the mixture of personalities was really interesting. Then, a little twist came, and it really took off! Sometimes, you’ll laugh out loud and other times it will break your heart. But it’s a very satisfying read.

Wonderful Listen

A new author to me, Ill look for others of his work. Charming, funny, insightful and heartbreaking. Well written, wonderful characters suffering the human condition and the damage done long before we meet. The story starts slowly and ends with little fanfare. It is an existence observed.
Excellent narration as well

A deeply meaningful and quirky narrative.

I found the novel quite absorbing.
With many poignant moments. I laughed quite a lot But also became quite absorbed in the characters especially bob. The narration was wonderful. I will explore more of the books of this author.

Just a good old comfortable story!

I loved this book. The narration starts off flat, initially detracting from the story, but stick with it. At some point the narrator becomes more animated and the story moves forward with vivid imagery. A tale to be told.

Loved this book.

Clear, visual writing with wonderful characters and story line. Just right.
Eager to read/listen to more of Patrick deWitt’s novels.