First off, let me say that I love books about books. From biographies of my favorite authors to John Dunning's Bookman mysteries my inner book lover gets an extra high when listening (or reading) books about books. So when I read the back cover blurb of the book "The Borrower" I was immediately intrigued. It read "In This Delightful, Funny, and Moving First Novel, A Librarian and a Young Boy Obsessed with Reading Take to the Road". I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover (or marketing blurb) but this audio book had me placing the first CD in my player and wanting it to be great. I was not disappointed.
Starting off in Hannibal, Missouri (a nod to Mark Twain) Lucy Hull, the young librarian finds herself trying to help her favorite ten-year old patron Ian Drake run away from home. Ian is addicted to reading but enlists Lucy's help to smuggle books past his ultra-conservative mother. What starts off as helping a young boy expand his mind through books, eventually turns into being kidnapped by the same young boy. Lucy and Ian embark on a improvised journey that takes them from Missouri to Chicago, Canada and Vermont. Unique characters abound in this story from Lucy's Russian father to a boyfriend who seems to be hiding in the shadows. Mid-way through you ask yourself "is it just Ian who is running away?"
This book features plenty of book references and a fast moving plot of two souls on the run trying to figure out where to go next and who's playing who. This is not your usual kidnapping story, there is no gun play or high stakes chase. Told from Lucy's point of view, it is humorous at times, but it does ask some serious questions about the responsibilities of individuals and the right of parents to control a child's craving for knowledge in books. There is also an underlying story of Ian's sexuality, that from a ten years-old standpoint is confusing, but high on the mother's list of things to control.
Reader Emily Bauer does a fantastic job handling all the major and minor characters. Her voice for Lucy has a perfect blend of naivete and youth that makes her real. As you hear her verbalize Lucy's inner thoughts you can understand why she makes some of her more unusual decisions. This is one of the reasons I love listening to audio books. My imagination could never fill-in the voices of a twenty-something female and a ten-year old boy the way that Emily Bauer does. Along with Lucy and Ian, she also expertly performs both male and female characters including the Russian father.
The one downside of the book is that it does stretch believability regarding the search for the missing Ian. But just sit back and enjoy the ride.
The Borrower written by Rebecca Makkai and read by Emily Bauer. Published in 2011 by Highbridge Audio. 10.5 Hours on 8 CD's.
Want to learn more about The Borrower or listen to it, check it out at:
http://www.talkingbooksplus.com/Audiobooks/CatDetail.php?recordID=13149
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