The Librarianist. Patrick Dewitt. 2023. 253 pages. (Ebook.) .

It takes 60 pages of this novel by the Canadian/American before anything makes any sense. Then there is a backwards time shift to the 1940s and 50s and startling revelations suddenly come into life. Playing on the stereotypical librarian, Bob Comet is a bland introvert, with low ambition, few friends, and a very limited emotional range. It seems that he would be content to live his whole life in a routine of near total anonymity with every day like the previous one, and becomes upset when that becomes impossible. This is the exact opposite of what usually makes for an interesting fictional character, and the writing is also anything but fast-paced. But he grows on you. When he gets involved with others who are certainly interesting rogues, chiefly Connie and her family, and Ethan, and is reluctantly pulled into many unpredictable crises and surprises.

I do not understand the ist on the librarian of the title. There are enough surprises to keep the reader engaged although there is nothing very profound about this story. Altogether a pleasant read.

Thanks, Goodreads.

8/10