Summer Hours at the Robbers Library

A Novel

By: Sue Halpern

Narrated by: Josh Bloomberg, Dara Rosenberg, Allyson Ryan

Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

From journalist and author Sue Halpern comes a wry, observant look at contemporary life and its refugees. Halpern's novel is an unforgettable tale of family...the kind you come from and the kind you create.

People are drawn to libraries for all kinds of reasons. Most come for the books themselves, of course; some come to borrow companionship. For head librarian Kit, the public library in Riverton, New Hampshire, offers what she craves most: peace. Here, no one expects Kit to talk about the calamitous events that catapulted her out of what she thought was a settled, suburban life. She can simply submerge herself in her beloved books and try to forget her problems.

But that changes when 15-year-old, home-schooled Sunny gets arrested for shoplifting a dictionary. The judge throws the book at Sunny - literally - assigning her to do community service at the library for the summer. Bright, curious, and eager to connect with someone other than her off-the-grid hippie parents, Sunny coaxes Kit out of her self-imposed isolation. They're joined by Rusty, a Wall Street high-flyer suddenly crashed to earth.

In this little library that has become the heart of this small town, Kit, Sunny, and Rusty are drawn to each other, and to a cast of other offbeat regulars. As they come to terms with how their lives have unraveled, they also discover how they might knit them together again and finally reclaim their stories.

©2018 Sue Halpern (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Three narrators blend seamlessly to present a story that switches time, locale, and voice frequently.... Ryan's and Rosenberg's performances are deftly enhanced by third narrator Josh Bloomberg's winning storytelling. Diverse characters and personalities - many eccentric - add to the listening experience." (AudioFile)

Good travel read

Good story, kept my interest, enjoyed the ending, a book of life’s ups & downs & the ability to overcome.

Enjoyable read

I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book, but I found it very enjoyable. It’s light reading, But it isn’t silly or trite. The characters all developed, by the end of the book, into new versions of themselves (with the exception of the older men). I would be happy to recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable light read.

Great Story

The story and performance were outstanding. Loved the way the writer told Kit’s story while twisting in Sunny and Rusty’s adventure. You can easily imagine sitting in that old library and listening to the “Four” talk about their life and loves.

Great Story. Well Read.

I enjoyed the story very much. It was a little confusing with how many people read it. But I couldn’t stop listening to it.

Small town catharsis

There is a lot to like in this story of multiple characters finding purpose and friendship in a declining town. But the choppiness of the narrative, quick shifts from one character to another, detracted from the character development. And the ending felt rushed, several characters seeming to make major personality shifts that were unrealistic. The narration was ok, not memorable.

Excellent!

Awesome novel! Multifaceted, complex characters and thoughtful plot. Well researched and artfully written. -- Rev. Stephen York, Maine

Charming 4.5 Listen

Wonderful characters in an unfolding story of the human condition and struggles to overcome.
Very well narrated by all.

Great story.

I really enjoyed this story. It is quirky and a little dark at times but overall a good story. It takes a bit but the whole jumbled comes together at the end for the most part. I enjoyed the narration and with three narrators, it made it easy transitioning between chapters. Good story and great narration.

Loved all the characters

With the exception of Sonny. Thought the story had some lovely insight as to how we process trauma and what creates a family. Sweet tale, listened twice.

Good storytelling

The story is a good one to tell. It keeps you turning the pages, even if it’s not the most captivating you’ll read. There’s good character progression. The only thing that really rubbed me the wrong way is that it gives the impression that it’s easy to get a librarian job if you love books. But being an actual Librarian by title takes advanced degrees, particularly the Reference Librarian and Special Collections positions mentioned in the story as jobs you just go get. That part is misleading and, ironically, not well-researched.