Book Review: In the Stacks

Title: In the Stacks: Short Stories about Libraries and Librarians
Author: edited and with an introduction by Michael Cart

Review: This sounded fascinating when I first heard about it. I started reading it at Christmas and realized that I was wrong in that assessment. The paperback version is nearly 270 pages of 8-point type, 19 short stories about two relatively dry subjects. I’ve had to force myself through the majority of the collection. Three of the stories were outstanding: "Summer Librarian" by Sue Kaufman, "Rubber Life" by Francine Prose (who is, incidentally, not a favorite of mine), and "Exchange" by Ray Bradbury. A couple of the others were so dreadful (or just dreadfully dull) that I couldn’t finish reading them, something that I find very difficult and depressing. And in a compilation like this, it just pisses me off because the stories—and their inclusion—only serve to foster the misperception of libraries and librarians as dull as dishwater entities.

I can say that In the Stacks earned a 7 solely on the basis of the three above-named stories, although there were several others that contributed to the book’s quality. However, I’d have happily paid more than the $14.95 cover price to have done without about 6 of the others. [Sigh.] Recommended with reservations.