I don’t remember where I heard about The Astral Library, by Kate Quinn, but for some reason I put a hold on it in Minuteman, and it became available last week. I loved all the book references, and the Boston setting. The Boston Public Library in Copley Square is a major character.
Lots of highlights!
The Librarian’s response to Alix Watson’s questions is for her to ask a new committee put together by the Library Board:
Collection Development: why there is a limit of trying three books
Ethical Resources Committee: why people inside the book will automatically accept you as one of them
Bibliographics: determines the interview process for ‘semi-ageless guardian of astral plane book sanctuary’
Alix to Librarian: I think you just make up new Board committees every time I ask a question you don’t feel like answering.
IOU—Beau Sato-Jones owes Alix Watson the unconditional loan of one (1) fabulous outfit for the event of her choosing.
For quick travel, Library staff can move through a book’s margins, but it’s never very exact. Why? That’s a question for the Logistics Department.
First three dark red warning cards:
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Sarah Ross/ Sarah Hudson; TAoSH by ACD; orig. checked out 2019
Jane Eyre: Stephanie Scopelli/ Sophie Dent; JE by CB; orig. checked out 2023
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Larry Barr/ Lawrence Douglas; TAoTS by MT; orig. checked out 2025
We meet The Gallerist and The Programmer:
- How do you travel from an Astral Library to an Astral Gallery? Through a book of paintings, of course.
- AGNIS. Astral Gaming Network Interspace System
The Astral Library is in emergency lockdown, thanks to one really epic SHUSH.
The tablet had upgraded Alix to costume change privileges along with the ability to margin-travel, and Beau is impressed: Burgundy silk crepe with jet beads. What are we, 1922 from the mid-shin length? Looks like a Vionnet from the bias cut—
Beau to Alix: You are the only person I have ever met who’s read Sir Walter Scott.
sesquipedalian: someone who likes big words
The Librarian recovers in the Downton Abbey: Mysteries of the Manor video game, which Alix enjoys: Every time I come through, Carson the butler stops to ask if I want a bite to eat sent up to the room, and I say yes, and he has the same line about these sad days we find ourselves in, what is the world coming to, and later Anna the lady’s maid brings up the same cream scones, raspberry jam, watercress sandwiches, and Victoria sponge. But it’s delicious. Let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten Victoria sponge in actual Downton Abbey.
In the epilogue, one year later, Alix has a job as a Page and Beau had taken over the Astral Library Wardrobe Department.
In the Author’s Note: Sharp-eyed readers will catch references not only to Narnia and Oz, but to the worlds of N. K. Jemisin, Ursula K. Le Guin, J. R. R. Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Tamora Pierce, Jeannie Lin, Anne McCaffrey, Leigh Bardugo, Ayana Gray, Rebecca Yarros, Sarah J. Maas, Rick Riordan, Lev Grossman, and G. R. Macallister.
And I loved the cover:
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