The Librarianist; A Novel

The Librarianist – A National Bestseller

From award-winning and bestselling author Patrick deWitt comes the quietly profound story of Bob Comet, a retired librarian whose life has been shaped by literature—unaware that his own journey holds a narrative just as rich and compelling.

Living a solitary existence in his mint-green house in Portland, Oregon, Bob fills his days with books and routine. But when he encounters a lost elderly woman at the market and escorts her back to a senior center, a new chapter of his life begins. Hoping to ease his long-standing loneliness, he starts volunteering, finding himself unexpectedly surrounded by an eccentric group of peers—and confronted by unresolved fragments of his past.

Beneath Bob’s unassuming exterior lies the story of a boyhood runaway adventure during WWII, a love lost and taken, and the quiet dignity of a life devoted to books. His journey, filled with bittersweet moments and wry humor, reveals the beauty found in a life lived on the periphery.

With his signature blend of offbeat humor, heartfelt introspection, and compassion for outsiders, Patrick deWitt crafts a luminous portrait of an introvert’s world. The Librarianist is a celebration of the so-called "ordinary" life—one that, upon closer examination, proves to be anything but.