THE LIBRARIANIST, by Patrick deWitt (Bloomsbury, $37)
Bob Comet, the unassuming hero of Patrick deWitt’s sweet, beguiling novel The Librarianist, is a 71-year-old retiree living in Portland, Oregon. The title is a deWitt word, reflecting Bob’s extreme immersion in that most honourable of professions, librarian.
For 45 years, Bob’s unambitious career offered two things: a deep sense of fulfilment and a haven from the world, which he preferred to experience through reading.
In retirement, he has no friends or family. He sincerely believes he is “not unhappy”, but that notion is about to be challenged.
DeWitt introduces