The Librarian of Burned Books: A Novel

Viv travels to Coney Island, where she first met Edward and Hale. She remembers how she and her friend Dot had met the boys and became involved with them. She found it curious how different both brothers were, with Edward exhibiting more signs of wealth. They spent the summer together, until Viv was sent away to boarding school. She wrote desperately to Hale, but her letters all went unanswered. She did keep in touch with Edward, and their friendship grew. Viv wonders what Hale will be like now.

Hannah attends a weekly soirée at the home of her friend Natalie, where she is greeted by her friend Patrice. Patrice tells her that her girlfriend Marie has begun seeing someone else. Natalie joins them, and they talk about love and broken hearts in Paris. She tells them about the art of kintsugi, in which a damaged item is repaired with gold. They argue about the role of poetry in survival.

When Hannah arrives back home, she meets her abrasive landlady Brigitte, who hands her the mail. One of the letters is from Althea, which Hannah does not open, and one contains scant news on Adam’s ongoing trial. Despite Adam’s continued survival, Hannah does not hope for a happy ending.