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I’m the author of the novel, The New Town Librarian (NineStar Press, 2023) and the short story collection, Bull and Other Stories (Autumn House Press, 2016), which won the Autumn House Press Fiction Prize and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards and Publishing Triangle's Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction, as well as longlisted for The Story Prize. The New Town Librarian is my first novel.
Once upon a time, I was a new town librarian, working in small-town public libraries in southern New Jersey, where the novel is set. Now I live with my wife in Philadelphia, PA, where I write fiction, read voraciously, and enjoy the rich arts scene.
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
The New Town Librarian by Kathy Anderson is the story of Nan Nethercott, a fifty-year-old librarian looking for a change. With her love life restricted and nonexistent, Nan focuses on her career and moves to the small town of Pinetree, New Jersey. It isn’t the job in a beach town she craves, but it is a job nonetheless. But the moment Nan lands in Pinetree, she realizes she is in the midst of rather eccentric people. The library turns out to be a former jail that was renovated. However, it is the townspeople who add a spark to her life. From her landlady Immaculata to Joe the dog whisperer, there are plenty of people and even more gossip. With so much to do and people to invest in, is Pinetree the home Nan has been craving for years?
Liberating, entertaining, and rejuvenating, The New Town Librarian was a breath of fresh air. The narrative is humorous, witty, and so funny that I had a hard time putting it down. I read this story in a single sitting, and credit goes to Kathy Anderson. She has created a jolly, joyous, and incredibly relatable character in Nan. She felt like a friend I had known all my life, to be honest. Nan is charismatic, a little bit problematic, yet so very lovable. She felt like a reflection of me. She loves the smell of books, thrives on stories, and connects people's stories. Nan wants to be happy; that is the single goal in her life, and that made me connect with her. The narrative style is simple yet engaging, plus the pace of the story is fast enough to keep your attention. Nan stuck out like a sore thumb in a town filled with odd people, and that said a lot about how she perceived herself. I would highly recommend this fantastic journey of an equally fascinating protagonist!
