The Lonely Hearts Book Club
Well, this is a pretty charmer. I already knew Lucy Gilmore was talented, but The Lonely Hearts Book Club proves that she’s talented in the women’s fiction arena as well.
Lonely, meek librarian Sloane Parker has bonded with crusty octogenarian Arthur McLachlann, an imperious bibliophile, over their daily mutual rejoinders and a title game she’s created that drives him bananas. Then one day Arthur doesn’t show up at the library, and Sloane worries that something terrible has happened to him.
She tracks him down and discovers he’s in the local hospital recuperating from an illness. To help him pass the time, she creates a kind of book club. Word spreads in the community, and soon other people who have been lacking human connections in their lives show up and form something of a family unit. Books are read, relationships change and develop, and a love for reading is shared. As Sloane becomes more and more of a leader, shedding her earlier frailties, she begins to contemplate love – and wonder what might happen if she has to say goodbye to Arthur.
The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a good, warmhearted story split between several points of view and a handful of narrators. You’ll come to know Arthur – and the love he has suppressed for years – and Sloane, who grows into a full person as she takes control of the book club. Though the characters here are easy to love, they aren’t pushovers and they aren’t cardboard people.
All the while, Gilmore’s polished style and ease with the English language makes readers fall in love with her prose. It’s a beautiful novel, and one that sings. It also loves literature, and celebrates its characters’ love of literature, in a gorgeous way. The Lonely Hearts Book Club is a treasure that’s impossible to put down.
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Recent Comments
I liked this but didn’t love it quite as much as some others did. Oddly, one of the most touching aspects of the book for me came near the end, when Sloane breaks up with Brett, her handsome but not-right-for-her fiancé. Sloane has commented several times about how kind he is, yet I didn’t really see it till their final conversation when he is warm and honest and supportive and lets her go in a way that allows her to feel regret but not guilt.
That was a great scene; I love the way Gilmore wrote that break-up.
Lisa, after reading your review, I decided to get the book. It’s very well written and I was completely engaged. Then I hit the 20 percent mark and the author introduced a second point-of-view character. Since they’re both speaking in the first person, I’m finding it challenging to tell the two characters apart. The problem is made worse by the fact that I’m listening to the audiobook and both characters are women. If one was a man and the narrator varied the voices, I’d probably be fine. I plan to keep listening, but I’m wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.
That’s interesting! I didn’t listen to the audio version of this; for me the second POV read distinctly, but I know that’s a YMMV thing.
Hi Lisa. I finished the book today and it’s one of my new favorites. As you predicted, I got used to the POV changes–I think there were only six. It might have helped in the audiobook if there’d been a few seconds of music or even words like “Part 2,” “Part 3,” to separate the voices. But still, it was fine. Actually, I tried to find a copy in a local bookstore to see how the physical book handled the transitions, but it wasn’t in stock. Thanks again for your review.
Aww, I’m glad it worked for you after all!
I got this book today, thanks to this review! It looks so good!
Hope you like it!
This book sounds really good. I read that Sloane works in Coeur d’Alene at the library and I remember the area as being really beautiful.
It’s really good, Lucy Gilmore has rarely disappointed me.