The depiction of Ivy's memory loss is MADDENING. I get she's not supposed to be remembering everything but I was so frustrated by the time the engagement party rolled around. Also Ivy constantly declaring herself an independent woman, but please come save me was so annoying. June Jones is a library assistant who has never left her hometown. After her mom passed away, June never stopped grieving for her, and still lives in her childhood home (that has “fecal-colored carpet for a bathroom floor”) with her cat, Alan Bennett. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to June, a librarian assistant at Chalcot Village library. Following in her mum’s footsteps, June has been working at the village library for a number of years. She’s a quiet, hard working and kind librarian assistant. June has a lot of patience when dealing with the regular, more mature, village residents. This was going to be a solid 4 or 5 stars book until about 50% into the story. The setup was wonderful. Old manor that used to be an abbey, the moors and the fog, the cold and unwelcoming servants, and a mysterious library... What is there not to like about this?

This story is a great reminder of the many benefits of belonging to, and supporting your local library. A powerful reminder about the importance of community, kindness and friendship. A truly stunning debut' Hannah Tovey, author of The Education of Ivy Edwards With The Last Library, British author Freya Sampson delivers a refreshingly feel-good first novel about the sustaining power of books and how libraries unite communities and forge lasting relationships that improve lives... The Last Library unravels with great wit and tenderness. Sampson assembles clever, funny scenes where June transforms from a wallflower into a take-charge, crafty young woman who is forced to handle difficult people and navigate situations that enlarge her ingenuity. Readers will eagerly invest in the cause to save the library and be greatly amused by plot twists that play out with pleasant surprises and heart-tugging twists * Shelf Awareness * She studied History at Cambridge University and in 2018 was shortlisted for the Exeter Novel Prize. So yes, the premise is excellent. But the execution confused me and frankly, bored me. It was hard to follow who is who, and to connect with any of the characters, and the one I finally managed to warm up to, Runit the librarian gets killed unceremoniously and off screen, after which I had no more interest in continuing at all. Too many characters which are not fleshed out and are hard to tell apart, too many neologisms which are not explained (until one finds the glossary at the end of the book -- tip for ebook writers: put it at the front). The plot makes no sense -- the danger in creating an extremely powerful enemy is that then you also need to create intricate plots to foil him, but here I am not buying that anyone could be foiled this way; it is too simplistic (with a generous helping of deus ex machina).If June wants to save the place that means so much to her, she'll have to make some bold changes to her life: opening up her heart to friendship, opportunities and maybe even more . . .

My heart was in my throat -- no more libraries -- no more print books. Now we all know how I love to read--and even the thought of this sends shivers down my spine!! Oh I now read E-Books-but that is actually pretty recent--and I may not go to libraries anymore--but if you asked my Mom she would tell you that whenever she happened to ask what I wanted to do--I answered "let's go the the library!" Whether it was the NYC Library or the little one in our town--that's where I wanted to go!!

The Last Library

This was a true bended knee to the books of the past and had many Jane Eyre vibes, but the second half was both confusing and had me going down many dark and dank corridors to elicit what was going on. The book is one extended infodump much like that explanation up there, and what it needed most of all is a good, ruthless editor, or at the very least critical beta readers. I am not sure what can be done to improve the prose itself which lumbered along painfully, throwing me out of the story frequently -- other than practice. One of my friends who's now an award-winning author said she needed to write a million words before her books were worth publishing, but I read her work before she got published, and she was already a joy to read, so I am not sure that's true in and of itself. Maybe one needs to read more of what one wants to write? And the practice might need to be targetted and under the supervision of a capable instructor? Anyway, this was not written competently enough for me, alas. Unfortunately, since with that premise I so wanted to like it.

Though not extraordinary in itself, this book sets a new - as yet unparalleled - standard. Its brilliant execution is equal parts fast-paced, heartfelt, purpose-centred and never overdone. Its characters are not only endearing (and perhaps idiosyncratic) but as much protagonists of the story - with a history and a beating heart; a soulful existence - as the Library itself. The literary references are from contemporary fiction and Classics across all genres, and beautifully complement the story. Adding an extra dose of texture and enjoyment is also the Occupation initiated by Stanley - the chapters I read most avidly. Anyway. The long and short of it is that while British writers are good and the cities are pretty, contemporary books make me uncomfortable and I hate thinking about their food.

June stepped into her Mum's shoes at Chalcot Library but has felt she's been living in her shadow for the last eight years. Now the library is threatened with closure will she find the confidence to fight it and realise it's ok to let go of the past. With an array of fabulous characters this is a truly lovely and endearing read * Nina Pottell, Prima * Lonely librarian June Jones has never left the sleepy English village where she grew up. Shy and reclusive, the thirty-year-old would rather spend her time buried in books than venture out into the world. But when her library is threatened with closure, June is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the heart of her community and the place that holds the dearest memories of her mother.