In a modern world where we can easily access almost any knowledge via the Internet, this novel is a reminder that written knowledge used to be rare, magical, and something one might risk their lives to protect. Stories and knowledge not written down eventually vanish along with everyone who knows them, which is what makes the written word so powerful. This story of a book that makes its way around the world and across the centuries, to touch the lives of dozens of people, is ultimately a love letter to books, wrapped into a series of compelling, interlocking stories of memorable characters. It was a joy to read and I would highly recommend it! I will add that it’s very long, and my pet peeve is novels that needed a better or more aggressive editor — but I feel this one earns its length. Try the audio book if it’s too much to get through on the page!