In this delightful, funny, and moving first novel, a librarian and a young boy. Lucy hull is a 26yearold whose rebellion against her. But like a good librarian, i just sat at my desk and waited. Rebecca makkai s the borrower is full of books, libraries, crosscountry hijinks, accidental parenting, love gone wrong and friendships gone right. Rebecca makkai is the chicagobased author of the story collection music for wartime, as well as the novels the hundredyear house a bookpage best book of 2014 and winner of the chicago writers association award and the borrower a booklist more about rebecca makkai. Dec 24, 2018 the borrower, by rebecca makkai most of the time, i vaguely despise the concept of rewriting a famous book. Some of their stories ended well, and some ended very badly. Makkai tackles difficult subject matter like sexuality and identity with warmth and humor, and deftly avoids veering into overly saccharine territory. It was a booklist top ten debut, an indie next pick, an o magazine selection, and one of chicago magazines choices for best fiction of 2011. The borrower by rebecca makkai josephines readers advisory. The borrower by rebecca makkai penguin books australia. Ian needs lucys help to smuggle books past his overbearing mother, who has enrolled ian in weekly antigay classes. The borrower by rebecca makkai unabridged audiobook.
Of all the characters in the book, darren might be the most real, although hes an amalgam of several different people i knew in high school and college. Her first novel, the borrower, was release in june 2011. Jan 01, 2011 rebecca makkai is the author of the short story collection music for waritime viking, 2015 and the novels the hundredyear house and the borrower. Her careful, attentive approach seamlessly weaves literary lore into her unusual and touching story of a librarian fighting for social liberty and freedom of. Charming borrower really a horror story the washington post. Ok, margaret atwood famously did it with the penelopiad, but she was a wellestablished author making a feminist point, and obviously not compensating for an inability to think of her own story.
But the evil of this librarian who is trying so hard to be anti everything that she doesnt like christians republicans heterosexuals goodness morality. Entertainment weekly the great believers soarsmagnificentmakkai has full command of her multigenerational perspective, and by its end, the great believers offers a grand fusion of the past and the. Bump it up your own library queue, because this is one book you wont. Rebecca makkai is the author of the short story collection music for waritime viking, 2015 and the novels the hundredyear house and the borrower. Rebecca makkais the borrower is full of books, libraries, crosscountry hijinks, accidental parenting, love gone wrong and friendships gone right. Rebecca makkais first novel, the borrower, was a booklist top ten debut, an indie next pick, and an o magazine selection. Dec 03, 2011 for starters, makkai doesnt seem to have a firm grasp on library operations, or at least doesnt evidence it in the book.
The borrower the first novel from the acclaimed author of the great believers rarely is a first novel as smart and engaging and learned and funny and moving as the borrower. The borrower by rebecca makkai book cover, description, publication history. Her work has appeared in the best american short stories, harpers, and tin house, among others. Lucy hull, a childrens librarian in hannibal, missouri, finds hers.
It may seem inappropriate to call a novel involving a kidnapping heartwarming, but thats exactly what the borrower manages to be. Lucy hull feels sorry for ian drake, the most devoted attendee of her readaloud on friday afternoons. The great believers asks big questions about redemption, tragedy, and connection. Makkai takes several risks in her sharp, often witty text, replete with echoes of. In this delightful, funny, and moving first novel, a librarian and a young boy obsessed with reading take to the road. Rebecca makkai is an american novelist and shortstory writer. Rebecca makkai is the author of the borrower, the hundredyear house, and music for wartime. Lucy neednt rely on ian for his address and phone numbers. Rave stephenie harrison, book page what sounds like the setup to a joke of questionable humor transforms into a charming debut novel in rebecca makkais hands. O, the oprah magazine makkai is clearly a lover of the public booklending institution.
The borrower is a wonderful celebration of books and friendship, brimming with literary references and plenty of laughs. How could any one of any age resist rebecca makkais charming the borrower. Praise for the borrower rarely is a first novel as smart and engaging and learned and funny and moving as the borrower. Her short stories have appeared in four consecutive issues of the best american short stories 20082011. The precocious ian is addicted to reading, but needs lucys help to smuggle books past his overbearing mother, who has enrolled ian in weekly antigay classes. Richard russo, pulitzer prize winning author of that old cape magic and empire falls. Rebecca makkai s debut novel, the borrower, is a charming and poignant romp through memory, childhood, and literature that will utterly bewitch anyone whos ever found salvation between the covers of a book. Her first novel, the borrower, was released in june 2011. How could any reader of any age resist rebecca makkai s charming the borrower viking, a novel that tracks the relationship between a 20something librarian and a 10yearold boy with punitive parents. Rebecca makkai is a chicagobased writer whose first novel, the borrower viking, june 2011, is a booklist top ten debut, an indie next pick, an o magazine selection, and one of chicago magazines choices for best fiction of 2011. Lucy hull, a childrens librarian at a small library in a small town, lives alone and, in her late twenties, thinks that is what she wants. Praise rebecca makkais the great believers is a page turner among the first novels to chronicle the aids epidemic from its initial outbreak to the presentamong the first to convey the terrors and tragedies of the epidemics early years as well as its course and repercussionsan absorbing and emotionally riveting story about what its like to live during times of crisis. Now, the awardwinning writer, whose stories have appeared in four consecutive editions of the best american short stories, returns with a highly anticipated collection bearing her. Lucy hull, the narrator of rebecca makkais first novel, the borrower.
Rebecca makkai is a writer to watch, as sneakily ambitious as she is unpretentious. Makkai shows promise in her overworked debut, an occasionally funny crime farce about a hapless librariancumaccidental kidnapper. Rebecca makkais first novel is an intriguing and very engaging road trip story, owing equally to lolita and huckleberry finn, with assistance from nearly every notable childrens and ya book of the last century or so. I immediately went back to my library and checked out the ebook of the borrowers, and spent all day today rereading it, while listening alternatively to my favorite parts. The borrower i listened to this book and was disappointed to find it just a another gay agenda book designed to prey on young children. The borrower, by rebecca makkai anz litlovers litblog. In rebecca makkai s debut novel, a librarian and a young boy obsessed with reading take to the road. June 27, 2011 a childrens librarian in hannibal, mo.
Part caper the two take off on a road trip that has moments of danger but never turns dark, part comingofage and not just for the kid. Silence, invisibility, nothing but a rambling cloud of old book dust. But because this novel by makkai is so beautifully done, i couldnt stand to be away from the characters for one more minute. Makkai will have you cheering for her librarian heroine, who has all the history and darkness of a russian novel in her veins, mixed with the humor and spirit of bridget jones. On the surface this appears to be a story about a young. The borrower by rebecca makkai by produced by eight fortyeight. Richard russo, author of pulitzer prizewinning empire fallslucy hull, a childrens librarian in hannibal, missouri, finds herself both kidnapper and kidnapped when. It was a booklist top ten debut, an indie next pick, an o magazine selection, and one of chicago magazine s choices for best fiction of 2011. In rebecca makkais debut novel, a librarian and a young boy obsessed with reading take to the road. Read the borrower a novel by rebecca makkai available from rakuten kobo.
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