The Book Report Episode #47
Episode #46
Returns By Mark Lawrence
The Book
This book, released on February 3rd, 2024, is volume 1.6 of the Short Stories from The Library Trilogy. Unfortunately, again. It is not sold in a physical format in a shop but can only be purchased as an ebook through Amazon. According to Amazon, this ebook has 56 pages.
I also didn’t realise that the cat Wentworth, is based on his pet cat, Wobble.
What Did I Think
This book is the second of two short story books linked to the Library Trilogy. But this volume has two stories instead of the one in Overdue. These stories are separate from the main story.
Returns
The first tale has Livira returning a book that Yute entrusted her with. She is being escorted by the good boy Volente. Livira notices that the book is coded she is unable to translate. This changes when she finds the cypher scratched into the space the book is allocated. She sits down and reads the story, and we are told of the journey Yute and his companion took to collect an overdue book.
The book that Yute and his companion are off to collect tells of things that are yet to happen, even though nobody understands that. We also find out Yutes full name and that the animals, of the library, are not restricted to the normal lanes of the Exchange. If there is a book that needs to be found the guide will find it no matter where it is.
I would have liked to have read more of the travels of Yute, as this ended a bit too quickly. Maybe Mr Lawrence could write a book one day about the adventures of Yute.
About Pain
The second story is about a man living his life when Volente turns up and gives him a book to return. Volente has decided to be their family pet.
From what I can tell the book is Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. But it is never completely said. Volente seems to do this every so often that he has to return the books to the library. This time, he meets Livira, who is working at the desk and after a discussion, is convinced to read the book and continue to read it once every ten years.
Over the decades; his opinion of the story changes, with how his life develops: with kids and life in general. But the book stays the same.
The story spans about forty years, or so, in modern London. But I also think the story is set in the future as another character Clovis, at the end of the first book was an enemy of Livira. She literally wanted to kill her. Here they seem semi-close.
Clovis is in disguise, as a human and is living in the world as a jacked-up MMA fighter.
I also believe Livira is cheating, a little, by using the Exchange to jump ahead in time.
This is one of those stories that makes you think about how things change and how life experiences can change perspectives. While the object stays the same. Maybe try it for yourself. Pick a book and go back after a certain amount of time.
Would I Recommend
If you enjoy Mr Lawrance’s journey with the Library Trilogy you will also enjoy the short journeys. I would definitely recommend this book for your list.
Even if you haven’t read it yet. This book isn’t taxing and can be read pretty quickly.
So please, if you get the chance, give this book a go.
Would you like to purchase your very own copy?
