What You Are Looking For Is In The Library

 

What You Are Looking For Is In The Library / Michiko Aoyama
trans. from the Japanese by Alison Watts
Toronto, ON : Hanover Square Press, 2023, c2020
300 p.

This is a lovely small book following the lives of 5 different characters, who all have in common Sayuri Komachi, a librarian in the small community-centre-based neighbourhood library. 

Each character appears in the next one's story, even if incidentally, and that's a nice connection too -- this really does feel like a neighbourhood. And throughout each story, Sayuri Komachi seems to magically know just what book to give her readers. They each ask for something, and Mrs. Komachi gives them a list of topical books on the subject they are requesting, but there is something extra too; an odd book that is a total outlier at first glance, but turns out to be exactly what they didn't even know they needed.  

From a young woman stuck in a nowhere retail job, to a stay at home mother wanting to re-enter her publishing career, to a new retiree and a young man looking to get out into the world and find a role for himself -- there are many different life moments represented here, and many different kinds of books that will help them. Mrs. Komachi has a mystical sense of what her readers need, even when they don't know themselves, and so the stories are unexpected and engaging as we follow their journeys of discovery. 

The tone is light, although there are some uplifting passages meant to encourage the readers of this meta-tale. It's like self-help but not so obvious or strident. The use of books to help during life transitions is what bibliotherapy is all about, and that's something I'm always interested in. While Mrs. Komachi is almost divine in her ability to see what someone needs, in real life, with some conversation and research, many librarians can also provide potential titles to help a reader through a life transition. So I found this book charming and fascinating for many reasons! 

There is also the inclusion of cats, little felted figurines, sweet cookies, and many other charming and comforting elements. This is a book that will leave you with a positive feeling, a great one to read if you're feeling a bit down and need some uplift. It's written in short connected chapters so also easy to dip into bit by bit. A great discovery! 

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library / Hester Fox
TO: Graydon House, c2023.
316 p.

I picked this one up because of it's beautiful cover, and it's promise of bookish intrigue. It was another one that was just okay, with some really good bits but underwhelming as a whole. 

In 1929 England, Ivy Ratcliffe inherits Blackwood Abbey and becomes Lady Haywood overnight. She is a very distant relative of the last Haywood, which comes as news to her. At 23, she's at loose ends and desperate for a place to live, so jumps on the bequest despite its conditions. She must live alone at Blackwood Abbey, a place very distant from London and everything she knows. 

She arrives, finding a dour housekeeper and a handsome though brooding caretaker (named Ralph). She first encounters him as her chauffeur, then realizes he does just about everything around the estate. And somehow, Ralph feels so familiar to Ivy as the weeks go on...

The plot started out promising - a crumbling pile, probably haunted, mysterious servants, and a massive and amazing library. There's the ingratiating neighbour who quickly becomes a fiance although Ivy can't quite recall how it happened. And there are strange episodes of amnesia that Ivy slowly comes to realize are stealing away her memories of things that others recall clearly. 

The amnesia bits were a narrative pain, actually. The story jumps suddenly because of them, and because of the writing style it doesn't work as smoothly as simply as having an unreliable narrator. Fox also goes back to the same moments of forgotten drama numerous times, which starts to feel repetitive. However, the story concludes with a bit of a bang -- and with a rather over-the-top ritual intended to raise a demonic monk from the dead that once stopped, kind of just fizzles out. 

It's an uneven story, with potential. I really liked the servants and their story, and felt that the mystery about them as well as the Haywood family history was lots to include. The dusty library with mysterious presences felt a bit like M.R. James' The Tractate Middoth, which was atmospheric and enjoyable. But it didn't hang together for me, and so it's only a middling read. I hope that her next book will have a tighter plot alongside all the atmospheric settings and characterizations.  
 

Chicago & the Harold Washington Library

 

I was in Chicago last week -- not for BEA, sadly, but for another exciting event that I greatly enjoyed -- but of course I had to take time to head to the closest library for a little busman's holiday.

  

The closest library happened to be the glorious Harold Washington Library, newly built in 1991 but looking as if it has always been there. In fact, one of the employees told us, when we asked about what refurbishments had been done, "It was built from the ground up, Ma'am" - and went on to explain that the library sat on what had been a parking lot. This was a security guard who was so enthused about his library that he told us who the architect was, where they got the inspiration for the design, and the sources of many of the materials (from other buildings nearby). It was great!

The library was gorgeous, with many elements from the past incorporated to give it a solid presence. It fits right in with all of the other fascinating architecture in the South Loop. And yet it also stands out, with great presence.

 

 

As a librarian, I was fascinated by the 'popular library' on the main floor, a section to just pop in and grab the latest and hottest titles. The periodicals and public computers were on the 3rd floor, and I made use of the computers - interesting being on the other side of the counter for a change.

There was a stunning art piece in the stairwell of the 3rd floor, a Vietnam war memorial consisting of dog tags with the names of every person who had died there. The person I was with took the time to read the installation info while I was on the computer, so we found out that this was the only monument in the US besides the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington to include all those names. It was an affecting artwork.

 

Looking up from the main floor through the stairwell to the 3rd floor

In fact, there is a lot of art in the library, and even incorporated into the building itself. There were some displays of art journals and of  "tiny houses" which I thought were lovely.

  

 

my favourite tiny house

 We went up the the atrium on the 10th floor, which is gorgeous. It was being set up for a special event, and we were told that between May and November there are special events constantly, whether library events or rentals for weddings and such. What a beautiful space it would be to hold an event!

 

 

I chatted a little with some of the staff about library procedures and their still present card catalogue in the arts section - it is mainly used as a display space now :) I also peeked it to their MakerLab but didn't take any photos as there were people using it - it was not a huge space but looked like there
was a lot going on.

I enjoyed visiting this library, and found all the staff friendly and forthcoming in reply to my questions. I'm glad it was near to my hotel and I had the chance to drop in. Other libraries are always so interesting.

This one was extra special because of the stunning building itself. I couldn't stop looking around at everything - it's very impressive. I'll leave you with some of the amazing historically influenced details.

  

A Distinctly Bookish Tea!

As longtime readers may know, I'm a big tea drinker as well as a reader -- "tea & books" is one of the best combos I can think of.

Last year, I worked with our local tea store, Distinctly Tea, to develop an Evergreen Tea Blend in celebration of the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen Award (part of the Forest of Reading). It was a special "Evergreen" blend made up of organic green tea with a touch of piney, smokey Lapsang Souchong. It's the signature blend, but it's also one that divides tea drinkers into those who love lapsang and those who really, really don't. (I love this blend by the way, and it's still available)

This year, thanks to the continued enthusiasm of Dianne Krempien, tea sommelier and owner of Distinctly Tea, we've created a new blend. Introducing....

the Evergreen OWL Blend!

(Orange With Lime Rooibos blend)

It's $10 for the 75 gram tin; it is a delicious, fruity non-caffeinated blend that smells absolutely luscious. I can attest to its yum factor both as a hot tea and as iced tea. And because it's non-caffeinated while being revivifying, you can have it day and night, and it's great for kids too. (tea party, anyone?) And don't forget to check out the Ontario Library Association's 2015 Evergreen Nominees for some fantastic reading suggestions to go along with your tea.

Distinctly Tea ships outside of Canada, and are generously donating 30% of sales to my library. Celebrating great reading with a marvellous tea, how could it be better? I encourage you to take a look -- order online or use it as a reason to come and visit Stratford!

But be sure to say hello if you do ;)

The Vital Importance of Library Teapots

At my workplace we were recently looking through some library history books from the 70's to be recatalogued. Then we came across this gem. The things we find!