The Library of Lost and Found
Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people—though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.
All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend—her grandmother Zelda—who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.
In my experience, if you ever volunteer to do things or work voluntarily for a charity, or in Martha's case a Library, then you are less appreciated than if you were being paid. You are put on, expected to do things that paid staff don't want to do. It can certainly be very cathartic to put you pen down, stand up and say, I'm off and walk out. What can they do? They can't fire you!
And Martha was certainly put upon, even more so because doing all those extra things, that she a single person without children/parents to look after, has the time to do. It made her feel that she had some worth.
Martha felt that she was never good enough for her father, she always came second best to her sister. Her mother said, Lillian has a special bond with her father, well she did didn't she.
Martha suddenly found the power to say no when she started to investigate the book left for her at the library. Her beloved Nana had left an inscription in it for her, but three years after she had supposedly died.
Of all the characters in the book, I most like Suki with her malapropisms, she was someone else who liked to help people out, but who could stand up for herself at times. The errant boyfriend who she gave him is culmination and not before time.
A sad story, not riveting, but real enough and well written.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange of an honest review.