This book is way too long, and I think it should have been told in chronological order. There is no sense to the narratives, and it jumps back and forth between childlike writing and adult themes. I read this for my library's book club, and it seemed promising. A book about books! But the titles are misleading. This is a book about people who love books, and their weirdness and some might say wonderful lifestyles. The only time I was remotely interested is when Alice started talking about her father's job as a school librarian and his conflicts against the administrators about what a library is. I wish it had been edited and marketed better.