Book Review | THE LIBRARIANIST: The (Extra)Ordinary Life of a Solitary Reader

Loneliness can be killing for many. But not for Bob Comet (71), a retired librarian. He prefers books over people. Perhaps because he sees the outside world through the characters in the books. Bob prefers to spend his solitary days amid books in his house in Portland, Oregon. “He had no friends, per se; his phone did not ring, and he had no family.” Renowned best-selling author Patrick deWitt manages to tune in a melancholy rhythm to Bob’s quiet and monotonous routine from the start.

Bob steps out for his morning walks and does his weekly chores. However, a chance encounter with an elderly woman, who seems lost in a supermarket changes his life forever. Dressed in a pink sweatsuit, the woman is looking longingly at some cold beverages in a 7-Eleven store but is unable to decide what she wants. When asked about her family and residence, she is clueless. She suffers from dementia. Bob learns that she stays at the nearby senior citizen’s centre. He drops her there and before you know it, he is volunteering there. Reading stories, which many old folks are not even interested in listening to. There are funny conversations and memories of a lifetime. The novel scrolls back and forth when Bob was 11, the World War II days, the day he met his wife (Connie) and the day she left him for his best friend.

The novel jumps back and forth over half a century, which is jarring at times. But the different quirky characters – Linus, Ethan, Connie, and her crazy father induce lighter moments in this plain and simple book. Though the most incredible part of this book is deWitt’s witty dialogues. Although Bob has been wronged by his dear ones, he does not hold grudges. There is compassion, empathy, and copious doses of humanity in this tale. Of course, laced with a dry sense of humour. You feel sorry for Bob, but you realize that he has no qualms about it and gets along with misfits. There are several pages where the writing seems verbose and does not strike an emotional chord. And then suddenly there are smile-inducing moments in a page that make you realize the significance of small joys in our ordinary life.

THE LIBRARIANIST
Author: Patrick deWitt