The Book Censor's Library

“Bothayna Al-Essa's The Book Censor's Library is a necessary masterpiece, proving that true fiction is not an escape into a dreamlike Wonderland but a cautionary excursion into the depths of the human condition. More than ever, we need Bothayna Al-Essa's rallying cry against censorship, be it political, religious or academic, because, as her novel so brilliantly illustrates, censorship is always an admission of intellectual cowardice.” —Alberto Manguel, author of A History of Reading

"An urgent, sweeping call to arms for the protection of books and book lovers everywhere." —Kirkus Reviews

"Al-Essa (Lost in Mecca) riffs on Kafka with this canny story of a book censor who transforms into a reader. Throughout, Al-Essa lays out the supposed dangers of reading in coolly ironic terms ('He knew about the maladies caused by books.... He knew if he peeked inside his own head he’d find worry, depression, fury at the world'). This allegory brims with intelligence." —Publishers Weekly

“Meaning, metaphor, and the material are all at stake in this sly fable of a near-future won by censors who ban not just books but imagination, dreams, and desire. Like the fluffy white creatures munching cabbage across these pages, I fell right down Al-Essa's rabbit hole--I'd follow these characters anywhere.” —Emily Drabinski, president of the American Library Association

“Expertly infusing both comedic heart and dystopian warning, Bothayna Al-Essa reminds us how lucky we are to embody the stories we love.” —Jade Song, author of Chlorine

“The Book Censor's Library was a riveting tale that was part homage to books and reading and part social commentary of the horrors of authoritarianism. Full of literary references, it's a treasure trove of Easter eggs for those keen to spot every mention and every metaphor. But it was also a captivating story as we follow the book censor through his journey uncovering the delights and dangers (at least in his world) of literature.” —Nicki J. Markus, author of Time Keepers

“Bothayna Al-Essa's claustrophobic satire summons the spirits of Orwell, Carroll, and Kafka, serving as a sharp reminder to cherish free speech. . . . a fast-paced meditation on the power of language to stir us out of numbness.” —Farah Abdessamad, The New Arab

“Time will tell whether The Book Censor’s Library possesses the same kind of world-changing verve of, say, Orwell’s 1984. . . . In the meantime, call all your friends, and especially your enemies, in Florida, and let them know that you’ve heard that Al-Essa’s novel might, especially with its liberal use of unregulated rabbits, be even more dangerous than some already banned books.” —Bruce J. Krajewski, Ancillary Review of Books

“At once fascinating and disturbing. Like other stories about books and writing, The Book Censor’s Library drags the reader into itself, claiming to be one kind of book but unexpectedly (and imperceptibly) turning into another.” — Rachel Cordasco, Necessary Fiction

“This one reads like Fahrenheit 451 with a sense of humor.” — Molly Odintz, CrimeReads

“These pages catch readers in a whirlwind of literary delights, while revealing the danger of censorship's dark claws.” —Tonja Drecker, Bookworm for Kids

“Set in a future that feels all too possible, The Book Censor’s Library is a clever and fantastical satire of book banning. Littered with literary references,it’s a love letter to books and the enduring power of imagination. A thought provoking and timely novel.” — Sophie Chen, Belmont Books

“An assertion of literature's importance & the persistence of imagination, this novel echoes canonized tales of totalitarian dystopia. In this story driven by intertextuality, we follow a man as he discovers humanity in fiction & finds the fear of difference at the root of censorship.” —Nath Mayes, Carmichael’s Bookstore

“Just like the New Censor, I found myself bewitched by this book.” — Katherine Nazzaro, Porter Square Books

“I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading dystopian literature and the classics.” —Chris Billings, Morgenstern Books