by Erika Swyler

I listened to the audio book of this title for Book 39. A book that involves a bookstore or library.

I really liked this book. I had read reviews in which readers said they could not connect to or relate to the protagonists, especially Simon, but I found him very relatable, and very human.

Simon is a librarian living in a slowly crumbling house and a parallel life, in many ways. He receives a book from a stranger and begins to read and unravel the mysteries within.

The book he is sent is a wonderfully old tome, a history of a travelling fair, or probably a fayre actually.

The Book of Speculation is a telling both of Simon’s experience of the book he is sent, and the story within that book.

It is also about family and how we define that word, of connections made and lost, and of love in myriad forms and expressions.

Simon’s family is formed, reformed, broken down and reconstructed in this emotionally honest story.

This book is also very well-constructed and kept me engaged throughout. I was equally fascinated by the story in the book, and the story in the book in the book. Each time the narrative changed I felt like I was returning to friends I had missed ever so slightly, much as I had enjoyed the ones I was with.

The end gallops forward and I listened breathlessly, hands in soapy water, staring out of the kitchen window, task at hand forgotten.

A thoroughly enjoyable audio book which I am completely sure would be just as delightful to read.