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Renee Babcock's Reviews > The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections
The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections
by
by
Renee Babcock's review
bookshelves: did-not-finish, general-fiction, read-2022, netgalley
Jan 29, 2022
bookshelves: did-not-finish, general-fiction, read-2022, netgalley
I would like to thank Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.
I wanted to like this book. I'm always going to want to read something about books/libraries/academic libraries. This book did not work for me, at all.
But I had to stop reading this. 25% of the way through. This book was making me not want to turn on my kindle.
I work in academia, I have a more than passing understanding of how higher ed administration works. This book does not represent that world in any kind of accurate way. A university president who only spends his days training for the Ironman? Nope. (And then blames Liesl for not trying harder to make an appointment with him, are you kidding me?) A half million dollar artifact goes missing, and he says don't call the police? No freaking way. Characters who gaslight Liesl, and are guilty of insubordination, and harassment of same? Oh no no no, that's a quick call to HR to sort out.
One of the things that drove me crazy throughout the part I did read is how no one actually talks to anyone about anything. They just sort of talk around the problem, or not say anything at all. Honestly, a few come to Jesus meetings would sort things out pretty quickly.
Now, let's talk about characterization. It is so cliche. Liesl has spent a considerable amount of time being the deputy to the director of this library. Yet apparently all she's done is pay the bills and write some catering orders? Seriously? No! She doesn't get to that position without at least a Master's degree, and she doesn't get that without an actual knowledge of the library. I know these things! So when she becomes the acting director, everyone reminds her of how little she knows, how she's not the Director. The men in the book are quite terrible to her, they put her down, remind her she's not in charge (when actually she is), belittle her, and she just sits there and takes it. She does try to push back once or twice, but it's half-hearted at best.
I honestly couldn't do this anymore. I was looking for reasons to do anything but read this book, including cleaning out my kitchen cabinets.
I wanted to like this book. I'm always going to want to read something about books/libraries/academic libraries. This book did not work for me, at all.
But I had to stop reading this. 25% of the way through. This book was making me not want to turn on my kindle.
I work in academia, I have a more than passing understanding of how higher ed administration works. This book does not represent that world in any kind of accurate way. A university president who only spends his days training for the Ironman? Nope. (And then blames Liesl for not trying harder to make an appointment with him, are you kidding me?) A half million dollar artifact goes missing, and he says don't call the police? No freaking way. Characters who gaslight Liesl, and are guilty of insubordination, and harassment of same? Oh no no no, that's a quick call to HR to sort out.
One of the things that drove me crazy throughout the part I did read is how no one actually talks to anyone about anything. They just sort of talk around the problem, or not say anything at all. Honestly, a few come to Jesus meetings would sort things out pretty quickly.
Now, let's talk about characterization. It is so cliche. Liesl has spent a considerable amount of time being the deputy to the director of this library. Yet apparently all she's done is pay the bills and write some catering orders? Seriously? No! She doesn't get to that position without at least a Master's degree, and she doesn't get that without an actual knowledge of the library. I know these things! So when she becomes the acting director, everyone reminds her of how little she knows, how she's not the Director. The men in the book are quite terrible to her, they put her down, remind her she's not in charge (when actually she is), belittle her, and she just sits there and takes it. She does try to push back once or twice, but it's half-hearted at best.
I honestly couldn't do this anymore. I was looking for reasons to do anything but read this book, including cleaning out my kitchen cabinets.
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Reading Progress
January 25, 2022
–
Started Reading
January 25, 2022
– Shelved
January 29, 2022
– Shelved as:
did-not-finish
January 29, 2022
– Shelved as:
general-fiction
January 29, 2022
– Shelved as:
read-2022
January 29, 2022
– Shelved as:
netgalley
January 29, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-3 of 3 (3 new)
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Rossdavidh wrote: "Well at least you got some clean cabinets out of the deal. :) But, having worked on a University inventory IT system, and you are correct. A half-million dollar item goes missing, it will get notic..."Well my cabinets aren't as clean as I'd like. Also rhis is supposed to be set at ar urban university in Toronto with $1B in research spending a year. That's barely believable but certainly not with these other issues involved.
I'm 2/3 done, and I'm bothered by the same things you are. Liesl could not have gotten to her position without some leadership skills.And the business with Miriam was so frustrating - who lets someone just not show up for work and waits a week to investigate?! You call them, you call their emergency contacts, and then you send the police to go do a wellness check. This should go past noon, much less a week!
Now, you and I worked at a large state university, so I suppose it might be different at a small college. But they probably don't have expensive artifacts in the first place.