Book 801: The Little Library – Kim Fielding

What a lovely little novel. I grabbed it from the library after reading Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking for Love and it was a fun read as spring slowly approaches in Boston.

I obviously picked it up because of the title and was so happy the little library played such a big part, including one of the final scenes that totally had me tearing up!

The Little Library is the story of Elliott, a recently scandalized former professor trying to build back his career, and Simon, an ex-cop trying to figure out what to do with his life after a bullet to the knee forced a career realignment. Clearly, they’re going to fall in love and the library is going to play a part, this is a romance novel after all.

The first half of the novel was pretty slow. Elliott spent too much time wallowing in a situation he naively got himself into and Simon wasn’t even part of the story. Or he wasn’t named yet and just someone in the background. I appreciated that Simon wasn’t a skinny twink or muscle hunk. I feel I’ve read more body and race diversity recently which is always refreshing.

The story moves relatively quickly, but thanks to the one and done on-the-page sex scene roughly 2/3 of the way through the heat builds constantly. The follow up sex scenes are half-on half-off the page which is refreshing. And Fielding does a great job with humor during the scenes, which is not something everyone can do:

‘I’m glad you don’t wax,’ Elliott said, petting the sleek hair on Simon’s chest.
‘You have a thing for bears, huh?’
‘Hey, you’re the one who wants to be a park ranger.’
‘You got a pic-a-nic basket?’ Snorting at his own dumb joke, Simon caressed Elliott’s balls. Elliott might have objected to the humor except, well, Simon was caressing his balls. And that felt damned good. (Loc. 2,996)

If you’re taking things too seriously you’re not doing something right!

I truly enjoy the low angst of Fielding’s novels. The big drama in this novel is whether Elliott will get a job in another state and have to move and how Simon’s coming out to his family will affect their relationship.

But also, I think everyone should feel free to make his own space. To create his life in a way that feels comfortable to him instead of trying to fit a mold. Crap. I’m lecturing. Sorry. (Loc. 996)

Spoiler, they work it out and get a happily ever after including a niece they’ll raise as their daughter which was adorable even if you could see it coming a mile away. And OMG when Simon brings Elliot an adopted dog, swoon, the story really picks up after her appearance.

The other thing that really made me laugh is that I think the world is telling me to re-read The Handmaid’s Tale. Not only did I get some serious vibes from my last read (Body of Stars), but this one actually name checks it:

‘I didn’t come over here to rub your face in it.’ Scowling, Ladd picked up a nearby book and scanned the cover. ‘The Handmaid’s Tale. I’ve heard of this one. Didn’t they make a movie of it or something?’ (Loc. 173)

It has been seven years since I last read it and I haven’t actually seen the show yet because: depressing. But maybe I’ll give it a go instead of re-reading it again so I can keep checking books off my TBR list.

Recommendation: A thoroughly enjoyable low-angst read! There were some details that seemed a little excessive at points, but didn’t really distract from the story. Fielding did a better job with more minor characters standing out for me than in Teddy Spenser. She’s definitely on my read more list in the future!

Opening Line: “‘Dr. Thompson,’ said the stern woman on Elliott’s laptop screen, ‘you left what seemed to be a promising career at a research university and have spent the past two years teaching at a community college and online instead.'”

Closing Line: “Elliott kissed Simon’s cheek. ‘Let’s start with Goodnight Moon.'” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)

Additional Quotes from The Little Library
“Maybe he should sell his place here in Modesto and buy a house in the Sierras. A one-room cabin with a little porch where he’d sit and be visited—like Snow fucking White—by deer and birds and squirrels and friendly bears. He would wear nothing but denim and flannel, he’d grow a beard halfway down his chest, and he would communicate with the outer world only twice a year, when he’d hike down the mountain for supplies.” (Loc. 93)

“It was really hard to stay mad at the world while dodging a pissed-off hummingbird.” (Loc. 243)

“After considerable thought, probably when he should have been doing something more productive, Elliott concluded that one particular person was borrowing the books by Edmund White, James Baldwin, Gore Vidal, and the rest. Someone, obviously, with an interest in LGBT themes, although Elliott’s collection was mostly lacking in the L, B, and T parts. Not only did this mean he couldn’t fully assess the mystery person’s curiosity, but it showed Elliott’s own literary net wasn’t cast very widely. He got as far as logging in to Amazon and surfing to the transgender nonfiction category before he remembered he was supposed to be on a book-buying moratorium. With a pang of regret, he closed the laptop.” (Loc. 671)

“. . . unless a person was comfortable and confident in his own self-identity, he’d never have a meaningful relationship with anyone else.” (Loc. 1,246)

“One of my criminal justice profs used to go on about how most CJ policy is a balance between safety and freedom. More of one means less of the other. She must’ve told us that a dozen times. Now I’m thinking that it applies to more than just law enforcement strategies, you know?” (Loc. 1,339)

“El, when you talk about this stuff, it’s like you become more fully you. You forget that you think you’re a snail, and you become a star instead.” (Loc. 2,029)

“Her name was Ishtar. At least that was what Simon claimed. Elliott was fairly certain she hadn’t been called that until Simon signed the adoption papers, but she answered to it, wagging her long tail and giving a doggy grin when Simon tried it out.
‘So you just happened to find a dog named after a Mesopotamian sex goddess?’ Elliott asked skeptically.
‘Don’t worry. She’s spayed.'” (Loc. 2,452)

“Jesus. The core of kindness in this man was so solid and pure that Elliott was almost frightened by it. Elliott certainly didn’t deserve it. He wasn’t a bad man, and he avoided harming others, but he’d spent his life mostly absorbed with his own wants and needs. He certainly didn’t go around worrying about homeless dogs or children with food allergies. Even Elliott’s neighborhood library was self-serving in a way: a method to reduce his clutter and diminish the guilt about his book hoarding.” (Loc. 2,529)

“Sure, Simon’s good looks and solid physique had initially caught his attention. But now that Elliott knew him, he’d never look at him and see anything but beauty.” (Loc. 2,556)

“‘You’ll have to get a dog bed for in here too,’ Simon said sleepily.
‘She’s going to take over my life, isn’t she?’
‘She and I both will.’
That was a surprisingly agreeable thought.” (Loc. 2,567)

“What was the payoff? If Elliott went to Nebraska State—hell, if he went to fucking Harvard—what would he get in the end?” (Loc. 3,125)

“Elliott was going to tell him there was nothing stupid about hope, that love drove people into all kinds of untenable situations, that Simon’s parents were fools for rejecting such a remarkable son. But before he could get a word out, Elliott began to cry. Not noble, silent tears either. No, it was the kind of sobbing that rendered speaking impossible, that immediately made his nose all snotty. His eyes burned and his lungs hurt, and he didn’t even know why.” (Loc. 3,586)