The Librarianist

I'm gonna make a hash of this review. The equation goes: the better the writing, the more incoherent my praise becomes! I think I'm intimidated by the sheer craftsmanship. 😅
I am cast giddily back to my experience of reading North Woods: the episodic nature of the storytelling, more historical than I anticipated, potentially not the kind of tale I'd usually like, but thanks to the INCREDIBLE writing, I LOVED IT. 
Despite what might objectively be considered myriad melancholy experiences shot through with pleasant humour, you don't come away sad, or as is my wont if I think it's overwrought, mad. 
The characters are not necessarily always charming, but they are charmingly drawn, there's a sense of effortlessly breathing life into people we may not spend a great deal of time with, and yet still have a great sense of. 
I feel I should caution my fellow ‘read the synopsis? Never!' daredevils, that where I thought this book was going at the end of the first chapter is NOT where it landed. I'd be happy to read a book that centred solely on a retired librarian, and interactions with a seniors centre enriching all those involved, this was not that, or rather that was a book ending moment but not the full story. If you've got any recs like that I'm happy to take them! [I've already read The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams which I think is the closest I've come to old person, library, community vibe]. 
Not quite a caution, but in attempting to recommend this to the right audience I do want to emphasize: loss is a theme throughout, death of loved ones, but also people who leave, people who approach the end of their lives. What really worked for me was the sense not that anyone settled for a life they were unable to improve, but that they recognized happiness and the truth of life plans going awry, that they made choices but also had to acknowledge when change was not in their control, maybe forgive the universe, and the people in it, and live a full life regardless of how others would perceive it. 
Sidebar: Is there any textual evidence clearly provided that backs up my fannon casting of Bob as demisexual? Not really, no. Did the way he was written make me feel seen and more connected to the character? Yes, and a personal reader interpretation can provide such joy, and does not necessarily need to become discourse. 

⚠️dementia, suicide