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This dystopian novel which pulls heavily from 1984 follows a book censor as he becomes obsessed in the books he‘s reviewing. It looks at a society where the majority of books are banned and a child having an imagination is considered an illness. The absurdness of it all would be funny if not for how terrifying the parallels to certain things happening in the world.

Al-Essa's “looking glass“ is perhaps more than it seems, and we are easily manipulated into caring for characters even though they bear titles, like stock figures, rather than names. The “Everyman“ approach keeps a strange distance, until we come to understand the power of our own imaginations with an ending that has been described as a “narrative rupture“ or a “twist worthy of Kafka.“ #TOB2025

I found this entertaining, but also unsettling as more and more book banning occurs around me. I‘m not sure how I feel about the ending.

A humorous, clever and satirical story about book censorship. I enjoyed all the references to Orwell's 1984 and other banned books.

#ToB25
#gottacatchemall (Raticate: betrayal) @PuddleJumper

Books about the future can be really fun and scary, all at the same time. This poor schlub, whose job is making sure allowed books reflect the views of the current government, is caught in a quandary when he starts to fall in love with the stories that are banned. Was never sure where this book was going, but it felt timely and sometimes realistic.

@BarbaraBB

#BookReport

Only two books finished this last week. While I‘m enjoying being back in the office it is cutting into my reading time. I enjoyed the tagged book. A very timely fairytale.

Scary! First, the books. Then, the ideas. Finally, the ones who really scare the dictatorships, the ones with imagination.

Our children.

https://pen.org/transgender-books-removed-from-stonewall-national-monument-websi...

"And even though, time and time again, books had been presented to him as evil agents plotting to take over the world, and even though books had almost thrown him out of the house-not to mention biting his wife-he couldn't bear the thought of burning them. Banning them was punishment enough."

I‘m not usually a fan of satires, but I liked this one. Though it was a bit too close for comfort to our potential medium term future in the US. #tob25

I did not expect that ending! A quick moving look at the effects of censorship and attempts to control a population‘s thoughts and feelings. Important reading especially considering the state of the world. Dis I love it as much as everyone else seems to? No. #tob25

This was a read. While I am not giving it 5 paws this will stick with me for a long while. Also Poirot said it passed inspection.

A short book in translation about book censorship. It gets a pick from me, but I‘m glad it was short because it‘s all just been a lot lately.

I guess if all I‘m up for is books about cats solving mysteries I shouldn‘t be reading #TOB short list titles 😂

On to George!

The alternative is resistance, but you‘re too busy reading novels.

The first chapter the first two paragraphs.

#ToB25
I really enjoyed this one! A translated work from Kuwait that is for book lovers. A great book for now with the book banning that is happening everyday. I love how Al-Essa weaves classics through the story, and how she shows what books can do for a person.
This was a super quick read that I tackled in 24 hours, highly readable and fun.

That Tom Gauld cartoon from the Guardian seems relevant to the book I am reading.

Wow, this dystopian novel was great! I loved how it plays with how books can take over one's subconscious, giving fiction more agency than is usual in these types of books. Only one quibble with this one, #tob #tob25 : why oh why is it up against James? I have no idea how to even compare them 😂
#weeklyfavorites25 @Read4life

Here's my Christmas haul! It's a bit late because I took my time cashing in my Christmas gift voucher and the book that was a direct present was mislaid by the post office 🙃
So, I got:
The Book Censor's Library by Bothayna Al-Essa
L'énigme du nom propre (poems) by 15th c. Uzbek author Alisher Navoiy
Jâmi's Mejnun & Layla
Nezâmi's Mejnun & Layla
Palpasa Café (for #Nepal #FoodandLit)
Barzakh by Mauritanian author Moussa Ould Ebnou

Very happy!

Such a creative approach to writing about a topic that (obviously) terrifies and infuriates me. I went in expecting one kind of story and was very surprised by the twists and turns of this one. A fun read and a light pick for me. #TOB2025

Thank you Helen @squirrelbrain !

Really looking forward to reading this. And I am OBSESSED by the postcard. (Obviously 😁. It‘s fab!) Thank you xx

I clearly didn‘t love this #ToB book as much as other Littens (looking at you in particular Holly, @Hooked_on_books ). I mean, I loved the writing style and all of the bookish references but I found it really depressing and the Book Censor‘s life was so ultimately futile.

I‘ve been trying to figure out why it felt more so than 1984 and I think the MC was actually likeable and, of course, there‘s the inclusion of his daughter in this one.

I like this one a lot. I'm not sure about the ending, but it says some very interesting things about thinking as resistance. I think about the current backlash against the "intellectual elite" in the US, the drop in literacy/reading, and this idea that looking beneath the surface of things is at best a waste of time and at worst unpatriotic/immoral. The antidote appears to be to think/read, but that doesn't seem like enough. #tob25

Finally, one I‘ve appreciated from the #ToB25 shortlist (of the ones I hadn‘t read prior to the announcement). Translated literature is always tricky for me but I‘ve come to appreciate it more and more. And this one was especially relevant in this day while the book banning runs rampant in America. The Alice in Wonderland combined with 1984 vibes really worked for me.

Reading my next #ToBshortlist 📚 🐇

Photo is the latest full moon that shown like a huge spotlight.

#Dec2025 Book117

Loved this. It‘s the first non-reread I‘ve given more than 4⭐️ to this month. I love how she brought in classics like 1984 and Alice in Wonderland. A truly important read in this time of repression and book banning.

A man gets a job as a book censor in his repressive state. But he didn‘t anticipate falling in love with books. Now he must manage his books and his family with ever increasing danger from the state and the resistance. #tob25

“‘When the world is this abysmal, getting used to it is the worst thing that can happen to you.‘”

Holly, you were so right about this one!

I find this to be more accessible than Fahrenheit 451, though I think it‘s because the prose is more to my liking. It‘s also eerily a parallel to the current book banning climate in the US, so much so that it felt in parts like I was reading a nonfiction text.

And this is meant to be satire! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Once the book censor reads a book that captures his imagination, he is lost. A victim of new thoughts that worm their way in. It leads him to ask questions about existence and colors his experiences in a new way. This becomes dangerous because the more he reads, the further down the rabbit hole he goes. And real reading is illegal. His journey includes trying to save his daughter from her "affliction" of imagination. The ending leaves you wanting.

I'll read anything with a rabbit on the cover. Go ahead and judge me. Bunnies are awesome and I will defend this opinion. This book is also quite great. Very big brother meets Fahrenheit 451.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

"What about the department head? How come he gets to keep the books he banned?" The question tumbled out before he could stop it.
"People who make the rules are allowed to break them."
"It's not fair"

My daughter and I went out for some retail therapy and to commiserate. I got this because it sounded interesting and timely.

You can ban books but you can‘t ban people‘s imagination. That‘s the takeaway for me from this super original novel. It‘s the story of a book censor in a dystopian future who can‘t resist the books he has to read - and ban. Distracted by rabbits with watches the book turns into a kind of Alice in Wonderland like story. The censor and I as a reader had no idea what was real or what wasn‘t. A good book from this #Kuwait author. #ToB25

I read the NBA longlists because I know I‘ll read some really great books. And if I‘m lucky, I‘ll come across one that‘s extraordinary. And that‘s this one. This book explores book banning and the fight against it in a way that has lightness and whimsy. I loved this book. One of my best of the year for sure.

NBA longlist, translated literature

🔥