Shelf Addiction
  • Home
  • The Podcast
  • Blog
  • Monthly Read-Alongs
  • About Shelf Addiction
    • Media Kit
    • Advertising
    • Privacy Policy
  • Support Us
  • Shop
  • Tee Public Merch Store
  • Book Club Guide
  • Giveaways
Sign up for the FREE Shelf Addiction Newsletter!

Review: The Borrower, by Rebecca Makkai

11/5/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Publisher: Penguin Books
Release Date: Reprint edition (May 29, 2012)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 3336
Source: Library Borrow
Genre: General Fiction
Review Date: November 5, 2012
Rating: 3 bookmarks


Book synopsis: Lucy Hull, a young children's librarian in Hannibal, Missouri, finds herself both a kidnapper and kidnapped when her favorite patron, ten- year-old Ian Drake, runs away from home. The precocious Ian is addicted to reading, but needs Lucy's help to smuggle books past his overbearing mother, who has enrolled Ian in weekly antigay classes with celebrity Pastor Bob. Lucy stumbles into a moral dilemma when she finds Ian camped out in the library after hours with a knapsack of provisions and an escape plan. Desperate to save him from Pastor Bob and the Drakes, Lucy allows herself to be hijacked by Ian. The odd pair embarks on a crazy road trip from Missouri to Vermont, with ferrets, an inconvenient boyfriend, and upsetting family history thrown in their path. But is it just Ian who is running away? Who is the man who seems to be on their tail? And should Lucy be trying to save a boy from his own parents?


This book is different...very different.  I started reading this a little over 3 weeks ago. I read a few pages (about 30 or so) on two different occasions then I finally forced myself to read the rest of the book yesterday morning.  I have to talk about it at book club, so I couldn't put if off any longer.

I initially wanted to read this book because I love libraries. I also liked that the book centered around a librarian.  I don't think I've ever read about about a librarian before.  After reading this book, I glanced at the reviews to see others take on it.  Many have raved about this book, and many hated it. For me, I liked it.  It wasn't bad nor was it outstanding.  I liked the pace of the book and I liked the story over all.   
This story is all about Lucy wanting to protect Ian from his own parents.  I understand her motives, I just don't agree with her methods.  Putting what I disliked about Lucy aside, the book was written is such a way that wasn't boring.  It kept my attention from pg 30-336, in one sitting.  With that said, I still had a hard time relating to Lucy.  Not only did I have a hard time with Lucy, I could not believe Ian either.  He's a very manipulative little boy. My niece is 10, she'll be 11 in a few weeks. She NEVER has had tantrums like this little boy did. It's crazy to me how he was able to manipulate Lucy.  That's really how she got into this disaster of a situation. Too bad she couldn't think her way around a 10 year old's manipulation.  Then again, maybe she didn't want to, and his "kidnapping" her was a good excuse for her to help him.  Lucy is clearly missing the voice of reason that tells you not to do something.  Even though the entire time she has thoughts of getting arrested, it's like she couldn't stop the train once it left the stop.  I can't not believe she got away with what she did. Yes, her intentions were good at heart, but she totally crossed the line and had no consequences at all.  This story was totally void of realism in that regard. 

I'm not really sure how I feel about the supporting characters, especially Lucy's dad. He sounds like a great role model there...(can you hear my sarcasm?). Then this random piano player Lucy carries on with. Really there is no purpose to that story line. I think that he just helps pad the story more.

Ian's parents seem pretty lame to be quit frank.  Trying to un-gayify (is that even a word!) your child? That's sad. Not letting him read or do anything that's not religious? That's even more sad. We don't live in boxes. In my personal opinion, sheltering children to that extent does nothing but hurt them in the long run.  I can totally see Ian rebelling completely as he gets older and even into adulthood.

Even though unrealistic, I'm happy with the ending. I'm glad that nothing detrimental happened to Ian, and maybe he learned a lot along his road trip with Ms.Hull, his favorite librarian.

This story touches a lot of hot spots for people. Homosexuality, religion, parenting, etc.  I recommend this book for book clubs because I'm sure there will be some heated conversations and varying perspectives on this book.
Get the Kindle version here:The Borrower: A Novel
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Gain access to exclusive content!
    Picture
    Click for Shelf Addiction merch!
    Follow on Bloglovin

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Get ONE month FREE!

    ​Rating Scale: 

    Picture
    Wonderful! Loved it! Add it to your shelf!
    Picture
    ​Very good read! It's bookshelf worthy.
    Picture
    ​I liked it. Borrow it from the library or a friend.
    Picture
    I got through it...barely! If you must read it, borrow it.
    Picture
    Don't waste your time.

    Picture

    Currently Reading

    Somebody I Used to Know
    Hidden Bodies

    Follow on Bloglovin

    Read the Printed Word!
    Picture

    DISCLAIMER 
    All affiliate links used on this site are links which I will receive a small commission if you purchase using them. A percent of all monies earned goes to help pay for this website and giveaways hosted by me .
    Click here to read the 
    Privacy Policy for Shelf Addiction


    Categories

    All
    1 Bookmark
    2 Bookmarks
    3 Bookmarks
    4 Bookmarks
    5 Bookmarks
    Aa Fiction
    Armchair Bea
    Audiobook
    Author Features
    Autobiography
    Biography
    Blog Tours
    Book Conventions
    Book Haul Tuesday
    Bookish Bargains
    Bookish News
    Bookish Pod Chat
    Book To Movie Adaptations
    Book To TV Adaptations
    BookTube Weekly
    Buddy Reads
    Chick Lit
    Christian Fiction
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporary Romance
    Cover Reveal
    Dystopian
    Erotica
    Fantasy
    Fantasy Series
    Feature & Follow Friday
    General Fiction
    Giveaways
    Guest Posts
    Historical Fiction
    Horror
    Inspirational
    Literacy Events
    Memoir
    Movie Reviews
    Mystery
    Narrator Interviews
    New Adult
    Non Fiction
    Paranormal
    Paranormal Romance
    Pop Culture Sunday
    Read Along
    Read A Thon
    Romance
    Romantic Suspense
    RTU
    Sa-book-club
    Saturday Book Chat
    Science Fiction
    Seasonal Reading
    Shelf Byte
    Short Stories
    Steampunk
    Summer Of Indie
    Suspense
    TBR Jar
    The Book Exchange
    The Recap!
    Thriller
    Throwback Thursday
    TPCP
    Tv Show Reviews
    Urban Fantasy
    Why I Love Wednesdays
    Womens Fiction
    Ya Dystopian
    Ya Fantasy
    Ya Fiction
    Ya Historical Fantasy
    Ya Historical Fiction
    Ya Mystery
    Ya Paranormal
    Ya Retelling
    Ya Romance
    Ya Science Fiction
    Ya Steampunk
    Ya Thriller
    Ya Urban Fantasy

    Reviews Published

    Sponsor Love

    Picture
    Advertise on 
    ​Shelf Addiction!

    Picture
    Picture
    We can't do this without you!! Support this podcast! Use the referral links, leave a review on your platform of choice, donate a coffee or checkout the merch store. Even show your support on Patreon!

    Podcast Book Chats, Bookish Topics, Book Reviews, Audiobook Reviews, Author and Narrator Interviews, Online Book Club

© 2012-2023 shelfaddiction.com. All rights reserved.