As a book lover and a library devotee, any story about damage to book collections or libraries are deeply sad and upsetting to me. So it was, of course, challenging to read about the catastrophic fire at the Lost Angeles Public Library in the mid-1980’s. Author Susan Orlean puts together a fascinating look at the fire and the investigation that followed, as well as the efforts to rebuild. Woven into the story are chapters dedicated to the history of the library, as well as their future in today’s society. Like libraries themselves, The Library Book has a little something for everyone–history, mystery, crime, action, drama, and more. It’s like a love letter to a favorite and cherished institution, and all who continue to celebrate its place in our lives.