The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick
Published by Park Row Books 9780778369356
Hardcover, $24.99, 348 pages

Martha Storm, the main character in Phaedra Patrick's The Library of Lost and Found, describes herself as "a guardian of books". As a volunteer at her local library, she is "an event organizer, tour guide, buyer, filer, job adviser, talking clock, housekeeper, walking encyclopedia, stationery provider, recommender of somewhere nice to eat lunch and a shoulder to cry on- all rolled into one."

Martha takes on projects for people- laundering and mending clothes, reparing a tapestry for the church, caring for a friend's fish and plants that he has no room for, and so much more that her home verges on looking like a hoarder's house. People take advantage of Martha- her boss asks her to work holidays since she doesn't have a family, people at the library ask her to run errands for them.

She lives in her parents' home, where she cared for her them until they both passed away. When her boyfriend moved to America, Martha gave up her chance at love and happiness to stay behind and care for them.

One day a man who owns a nearby used bookstore leaves a book for Martha at the library. Inside the book is an inscription-

"June 1985, 

To my darling Martha Storm, 

Be glorious always, 

Zelda". 

Zelda was Martha's grandmother who passed away in 1982, according to Martha's parents. How could this be? And the book is filled with stories that Martha wrote as a child with her grandmother. Martha sets out to learn where this book came from, much to the consternation of her younger sister Lilian (who doesn't treat Martha any better than everyone else).

Lilian tells her not to look any further, but Martha must find out if her beloved grandmother is still alive. As the story progresses we learn more about Martha and Lilian's childhood. Lilian was close to their father, who was harder on Martha (even unkind), discouraging her from writing her stories.

Patrick's story is sweetly moving, with characters who have many shades to them. It would be easy to make people villains (Martha's dad) or heroes (her grandmother Zelda), but each character does good things and not-so-good things. I found them to be realistic, especially the familial relationships.

I enjoyed seeing Martha learn to stand up for herself and not let people continue to take advantage of her. She decides to ask for things that she feels she deserves- like a a paying job at the library- and she grows as a person. Many readers will identify with Martha.

If you like Elizabeth Berg's The Story of Arthur Trulov and Night of Miracles, and Patrick's first novel, The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, put the lovely The Library of Lost and Found on your list.  (And the cover is so beautiful!)

Thanks to TLC Tours for putting me on Phaedra Patrick's tour. The rest of the tour stops are here:

Review tour:

Monday, March 25th: Reading Reality

Tuesday, March 26th: A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall

Wednesday, March 27th: A Bookish Way of Life

Wednesday, March 27th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, March 28th: The Sketchy Reader

Friday, March 29th: Tar Heel Reader and @tarheelreader

Monday, April 1st: @bookstackedblonde

Monday, April 1st: Into the Hall of Books

Tuesday, April 2nd: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Wednesday, April 3rd: Patricia’s Wisdom

Thursday, April 4th: The Hungry Bookworm

Thursday, April 4th: @worldswithinpages

Friday, April 5th: What is That Book About

Monday, April 8th: @thegraduatedbookworm

Monday, April 8th: Amy’s Book-et List

Tuesday, April 9th: Novel Gossip and @novelgossip

Wednesday, April 10th: Read Eat Repeat

Thursday, April 11th: Girl Who Reads

Friday, April 12th: Kahakai Kitchen

Monday, April 15th: Jessicamap Reviews and @jessicamap

Tuesday, April 16th: Books & Bindings

Wednesday, April 17th: Audio Killed the Bookmark and @beritaudiokilledthebookmark

Thursday, April 18th: A Splendid Messy Life

Friday, April 19th: @jackiereadsbooks

Monday, April 22nd: Jathan & Heather

Tuesday, April 23rd: @novelmombooks

Wednesday, April 24th: Bookchickdi

Thursday, April 25th: Ms. Nose in a Book

Friday, April 26th: Thoughts on This ‘n That