I’m such a fan of Patrick deWitt’s witty, slightly off-the-wall fiction that I put in a request for a proof copy of The Librarianist, something I rarely do these days having taken to reading via NetGalley, much to my own surprise. French Exit, his last novel, was memorable for a particularly unusual cat which I won’t let out of the bag for fear of spoiling it for those who’ve yet to read it. His new one follows Bob, a quiet man in his seventies leading a humdrum life, who finds himself taking an unusual step after helping a cashier in his local supermarket.
Bob came to reading in his youth. It was the old story of an isolated child finding solace in the school library while his peers shrieked their joys and agonies up from the playground.
Bob’s a retired librarian who’s barely set foot out of Oregon, still living in his childhood home, the one he ran away from in his life’s great adventure, aged eleven. His routine consists of reading, walking, eating and sleeping now that he’s no longer working at the library where he was employed after graduation. Bob was brought up by his mother, no father in sight, and was briefly and surprisingly married to Connie, the daughter of an eccentric library regular. Ethan was his one friend, charmingly handsome enough to wreak havoc amongst young women. These three briefly formed a trio until the inevitable happened and Bob was left alone to lead an uneventful life. When he picks up supplies at the local supermarket, he comes across a catatonic woman in her sixties, clearly in need of help, and gently guides her back to the Gambell-Reed Senior Centre where she lives. Surprising himself, he offers his services as a volunteer. After a few false starts, Bob makes friends with a couple of the more forthcoming residents until an astonishing revelation is made.
The passage of time bends us, it folds us up, and eventually it tucks us right into the ground.
Bob is an ordinary man, living on the fringes of other people’s worlds, who attracts a cast of unusual and vivid characters to him. His story is told in a series of flashbacks in which his marriage to Connie and his friendship with Ethan are to the fore but almost a third of the novel is taken up with Bob’s biggest adventure, running away from home in the manner of so many of the heroes of his favourite childhood books. DiWitt has a great deal of fun with Ida and June, the two travelling performers who introduce themselves as thespians when they discover Bob in their reserved train carriage. It’s a slightly surprising diversion, one which some Goodreads reviewers were not at all keen on, but I enjoyed this episode which reverberates through Bob’s largely solitary life, featuring in a recurring dream he often tries to recapture upon waking. Not my favourite diWitt – that’s still The Sisters Brothers – but I liked this entertaining story of an unremarkable man leading a life shaded with melancholy and the remarkable people he draws to him along the way.
Bloomsbury Books: London 9781526646897 352 pages Hardback
I’ve just finished this as it happens, and you’re a lot keener on this book than I was. I thoroughly enjoyed the first part, when we begin to learn about this slight misfit of a man and some of his backstory. But the further I read on, the less I was interested. I was among those readers who found his running away episode a slightly self-indulgent add-on on deWitt’s part. Yes, it was quite a good story in its own right, and I accept it was part of Bob’s make-up. But for me it assumed far too large a part of the whole narrative. I think I described it as a bit of a curate’s egg of a book.
Not his best, for sure, and being a fan likely made me predisposed to enjoy it. Lots of Goodreads folk would agree with you about the ‘adventure’ but I found the ‘thespians’ an entertaining couple. If it’s your first deWitt I hope it won’t put you off.
It did a bit. Or it had. You’re encouraging me to give him another go. Yes, I liked the thespian bit. I just found it irrelevant.
The Sister Brothers kind of passed me by but this book has caught my attention. Probably because of that striking cover and reference to libraries it sounds perhaps a little whimsical but effective, your review has definitely put it on my to borrow list.
Opinion seems quite divided on this one. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
This does sound nice enough but I guess French Exit is the one for me to start with since it has that magic word 😛
Ha! I’d be very interested to see what you make of that cat.
Good review.I requested this on Netgalley but it still says “Pending.” I will probably read it. Now I’m interested in French Exit!
Thank you. Glad I’ve piqued your interest in French Exit!
I looked for it but none of my libraries has it in audio–I may get it with my Audible credit.
Have you seen the movie–it came up in my Amazon search.
I’d heard there was one but haven’t watched it. As ever, I’m a bit wary of adaptations although The Sisters Brothers worked well.
I know what you mean about being “wary”–true crimes are often committed in turning books into movies!
Indeed!
Still havent read Sisters but I loved French Exit, so looking forward to this (and catching up on Sisters)
Hope you enjoy it, Kate. It seems to have hit the spot with fans, not so much with other readers.
It’s waiting for me on my pile…
I’m amazed you haven’t read it already!
I’m a fan of deWitt so I fully expect to enjoy this one, even if it’s not his strongest. I appreciate you managing my ridiculously high expectations!
Ha! You’re welcome – I think you’ll be fine as you’re a fan.
I haven’t read anything by deWitt yet but I love the sound of this one. It’s definitely on my long list of books to buy.
Pleased to hear that! Hope you enjoy it.
I remember enjoying The Sisters Brothers a lot when it came out, but oddly enough I never went on to read anything else by deWitt. This sounds good, but maybe not quite up there with his best. I get the sense that French Exit might be a stronger book (or less devise?) than this one. Would that be fair?
I prefer French Exit, Jacqui. Although I enjoyed this one, I think Bob’s great adventure will divide opinion. It certainly did on Goodreads!