“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”—Jhumpa Lahiri.
Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Wished you could live inside the fantasy world you imagine so vividly while reading about it? What book would you choose? Would you travel to England to spend time in the regal world of Jane Austen or would you be drawn into the amazing adventures found in Narnia? There are so many astonishing places, but so little time. I’m glad I wandered into Kate Quinn’s new book The Astral Library—a fantasy adventure that acknowledges her childhood love of fantasy stories and serves as a “love letter to books and libraries, blending whimsical elements with a more serious, topical theme about the threats libraries face.”
Quinn overtly and covertly reminds readers that libraries are sanctuaries. When Alix Watson is having a terrible day (in a pretty bad overall life), she seeks refuge in one of her favorite places: the Boston Public Library. As she hurries inside to find a place where no one will see the tears she’s holding back, she happens upon a hidden library within the library where books are portals to other worlds. There she meets a stern guardian. Together they work to protect The Astral Library from an unknown enemy that pursues them through different literary worlds. Alix is a feisty, flawed character that has always found comfort and love within the pages of her favorite books. As a book lover myself, it’s impossible not to cheer for her.
The Astral Library is a complete 180 from previous books authored by Kate Quinn who is considered “a master of historical fiction” by many. As one who seldom seeks out the fantasy genre, I hesitated a moment before picking up this one. But Kate has never let me down, so I decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed. The rating on Goodreads is a little low, in my opinion. Fitting, I know, but I’d give The Astral Library more stars—at least 4, for the amazing classics Quinn inspired Alix to explore.