The Lions of Fifth Avenue

When I read that The Lions of Fifth Avenue (#937) was set in the New York Public Library's main branch on Fifth Avenue, and that the plot involved rare book thefts eighty years apart which may be connected, I really looked forward to reading Fiona Davis' novel.  Despite that fact that this book was chosen as a Good Morning America Book Club selection, I have to admit to being disappointed.

The sections set in 1913 are about a family of four who live in a seven room apartment located inside the library.  (It really does exist.)  Jack Lyons is the library's Superintendent and is busy writing the Great American Novel.  Meanwhile, his wife Laura yearns to attend the newly-opened Columbia School of Journalism so she, too, can have a career she is passionate about.  Son Harry and daughter Pearl tend to get lost in the shuffle as their mother discovers herself, the Bohemian world of the Village and the true love of her life, Amelia Potter.  But not all is well at the Library, where a book thief is finding his way into a locked cage holding the rare books.  The Lyons are under suspicion...

Fast forward to 1993, when Sadie Donovan, granddaughter of the now famous Laura Lyons, a prominent feminist essayist, is an assistant curator of the Berg Collection of rare Books at the New York Public Library.  The Berg Collection is about to host a major exhibition of books and artifacts in their possession  when things earmarked for the exhibit begin to go missing.   Somehow, Sadie has never found the occasion to mention to her boss that she is related to Laura Lyons, and with the taint of book thefts attached to the Lyons name, now does not seem to be a good time to bring it up.

I did think the ending was telegraphed well in advance, and I was impatient for Sadie to finally catch on to what was happening.  I hardly think that Laura's discovery that she was a lesbian made her into a "New Woman", or that the discovery of her affair eighty years later would produce such a shockwave as the novel implies.  But what I think really annoyed me about this book was the scorn Sadie pours on the tourists who come to visit the New York Public Library.  It is, according to the descriptions here, well worth seeing, yet Sadie makes plain in her attitude that they are not welcome in her library (with the possible exception of an hour or two alternate Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment).  Frankly, I find that insulting.  I'm sure Ms. Davis is happy when your local library buys her novels and lends them out to us, the great unwashed.  She really ought to be encouraging people to use the myriad of resources available at your local library, and when the occasion arises, to visit the great libraries of the world.  

If you really want to read something worthwhile, check out Christina Baker Kline's excellent novel The Exiles.  (See my post of 10/25/20.)