#the library of unrequited love

[luciferslilith7]

"To the old you from the old me"

~Oscar Wilde

Picture Credit ~ 📍pinterest

@luciferslilith7

[classycoffeesublime]

I wish I could Tell you all the things I feel whenever I look at you.

[booksandwords]

The Library of Unrequited Love by Sophie Divry. Translated by Siân Reynolds

Read time: 3 Days Rating: 4/5

The quote: Actually, modern history can be summed up in three major events that altered our view of the world for good: the French Revolution, the bloodbath of the Great War, and the invention of the contraceptive pill.

I really recommend reading this in one sitting if you can. The librarian's perspective and take on the library changes throughout. From the glossy paraprofessional to near brutal honesty that will hit home for many in the industry. That said it is accessible to the non-librarian and to a lesser extent the casual reader but the topic is definitely pointed with lots of references and comments about the systems and policies of libraries. For the casual reader, the unusual writing style and some of the librarian’s opinions could be quite confronting.

But I do think this is worth reading even if just for the style. The whole book is a one-way conversation (a combination of a monologue and soliloquy) that takes place over 2 hours in the morning as the library is preparing to open. It is quite unlike anything I have ever read before. The one-way conversation with no breaks and many, many topic changes takes some serious getting used to as you read.

Just some of the topics covered by Divry in her book through her librarian protagonist. Dewey and his system, a bit of French history, a bit of library history, the library hierarchy, the type of person who never that never comes into the library, censorship is its softest form, the forcing of class onto readers and the traditional reserve shelves. As someone trained in the industry it all hit so close to home. Like reserve shelves are just awful, they are great for saving space but they are so intimidating for readers. The classics debate is horrendous but I am firmly of the opinion that let people read what they want and eventually that will likely include some classics. Forcing them upon readers just alienates them from reading period. I just enjoyed the Frend history section I’ve never looked at French history much. All the Dewey info is brilliant I couldn’t get over how well executed that was.

It feels like there are words from the reader we don't know. The librarian responds to unknown statements at times. But it's si effective because there is enough feedback to guess what was said. There is a smart reading choice to provide little to no background on the readers’ character, though there is some implication that they are on the younger side and are definitely a regular. After I reread the blurb we do know he is male. It is worth remembering the book is a translation of Divry’s French original. I’m guessing the gender comes through in French via the grammatical gender it uses.

The unrequited love of the title feels like it is twofold. The librarians’ non-relationship with Martin is told so well. The reader is drip-fed information and it all really only comes together at the end. There also seems to be something of an unrequited love for the library itself which more than seeps through by the end. She just wants to be acknowledged and respected by colleagues and patrons alike.

There really isn’t much more I can say about this other than to say it was an experience and I’m so glad I read it. It took weeks of waiting to get my hands on it (due to covid related issues) but the wait was worth it. Think this is a rather unique experience, particularly for those in the industry.

[fanfictiondramione]

We say we're enemies friends, but I'm catching you across the room It makes no sense 'cause we're fighting over what we do And there's no way that I'll end up being with you But enemies friends don't look at enemies friends that way

Can't even tell if I love or hate you more You've got me addicted And I can't tell who's keeping score

I know what you mean when you act like that But you don't know it's breaking my heart 'Cause I don't even know what we are I don't even know where to start But I can play the part

(That Way by Tate McRae)

Art credits: Aleks Varh for IG.

[mysterieuxclairdelune]

-Miriella Marie

[books-till-dawn]

Now that I can no longer see you, I realise how much I need you.

Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

[usefulquotes7]

You will never truly understand someone who is heartbroken until you have had your heart broken by someone you really loved. Joy

[lovers-serenade]

hello! i'm new on tumblr. i'm someone who loves the "idea of love" more than love itself. whenever i see any potrayal of love, i truly want to feel it in my soul. writing about love is my only way to forge a connection that deep.

and therefore, here i am. i'll be writing poetry, fiction, perhaps some fanfiction too and snippets of my thoughts. all of this to set free all the love i've really felt and the love i've imagined of to comfort myself.

cheers to spreading the warm joy, burning passion, peaceful comfort, devastating heartbreaks and powerful healing that love brings to us 🥂🤍

[madocsmurderouschild]

but i wanted it to be you.

[luciferslilith7]

"It's better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all."

@luciferslilith7

Source ~📍 pinterest

[classycoffeesublime]

[per-a-painters-poet]

You don’t taste as vividly as I wanted

But your heart’s perfectly shaped in my locket

Oh please,

you’re all I need.

Our minds are so perfectly guarded

And our bodies so hopefully honest

My heart is poundin right out my body

Will you bleed as much as you promised?

baby please,

tell me what you need.

Your fingers are awfully artly

And your skin tastes just like brandy

I’m so high breathing you in darling

Oh please,

you’re all I wanted.

— a.b.

[mysacredsecrets]

take me to the river and feed me bitter strawberries your presence is sweet enough

[ghostinxgiaw]

i tend to fall in love with the ones that don't love me back....

its happened again.

-O.

[mylittleventbook]

“𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼'𝑚 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢”

[insane-in-the-membranee]

"Please.....I need you."

"Sweetheart, I don't exist."

And I woke up.