I don’t generally like non-fiction. I’ve just always preferred the worlds that fiction can take me to over (what I’ve read of) what non-fiction does for me.
I’ve recently had a couple of notable exceptions to that, however. The Library Book by Susan Orlean is one of them.
At its core, it tells the story of the 1986 fire that demolished the Los Angeles Public Library, yet it’s done with a deft intertwining of crime, investigative journalism, science, autobiography, and introspection.
It’s easily one of the best, most engaging books I’ve read this year, bar none. I can’t recommend it highly enough.