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Library of Brothel: A Novel
The long-anticipated, wildly inventive new novel by the Irish-Canadian writer whose previous work won the Amazon First Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and the Goldsmith’s Prize (UK).
“One of the most unique, most compelling voices in fiction.” Toronto Star
“Like her absurdist compatriots – Beckett, Joyce, O’Brien – Schofield’s novels are existentially confounding, syntactically wild, and buckshot with wit.” The Guardian (UK)
“Schofield’s style feels almost decadently addictive.” The New Yorker
"Do you want to come in?Come here.Come in.Stop resisting.You are on the mat now.Just step over it.And in you come."
Enter Anakana Schofield’s bedazzling a building called “Library of Brothel,” perched in a city where no one has a job, no one can find a date, and many struggle just to be housed. Rumours swirl around the crumbling structure and rapacious developers have their eyes on it. But what we find inside is a unique customers take shelter, workers love their jobs, and each room offers a new kind of intellectual stimulation. How can such a precarious place survive?
Riotous, dramatic, passionate and funny, Library of Brothel is a cri de coeur for human connection and the right to meaningful work.
“One of the most unique, most compelling voices in fiction.” Toronto Star
“Like her absurdist compatriots – Beckett, Joyce, O’Brien – Schofield’s novels are existentially confounding, syntactically wild, and buckshot with wit.” The Guardian (UK)
“Schofield’s style feels almost decadently addictive.” The New Yorker
"Do you want to come in?Come here.Come in.Stop resisting.You are on the mat now.Just step over it.And in you come."
Enter Anakana Schofield’s bedazzling a building called “Library of Brothel,” perched in a city where no one has a job, no one can find a date, and many struggle just to be housed. Rumours swirl around the crumbling structure and rapacious developers have their eyes on it. But what we find inside is a unique customers take shelter, workers love their jobs, and each room offers a new kind of intellectual stimulation. How can such a precarious place survive?
Riotous, dramatic, passionate and funny, Library of Brothel is a cri de coeur for human connection and the right to meaningful work.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2026
About the author
Anakana Schofield
8 books136 followersAnakana Schofield is an Irish-Canadian writer of fiction, essays, and literary criticism. Her second novel Martin John was shortlisted for the Giller Prize, the Goldsmiths Prize, the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and more.. Her debut novel Malarky won the 2012 Amazon.ca First Novel and the Debut Litzer Prize for Fiction in the US and was nominated for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Malarky was selected for the highly competitive Barnes & Noble program Discover Great New Writers and named on 16 different Best Book of 2012 lists.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 Stars
Let me begin by stating that I have read two of Schofield’s previous novels (Martin John and Bina) and both of them left me highly impressed with the author’s bravery and creativity. Her latest, Library of Brothel, often left me more confused than enlightened.
The setting is a crumbling building housing a worker’s co-operative, “the only remaining analog, offline operation in Vancouver.” The Library of Brothel consists of a variety of rooms with workers who are tasked with helping people recover from the internet and “reacquainting the human with the human.” The rooms focus on exploring a specific theme but, more importantly, provide clients with “the opportunity to converse and practise interacting with another human.”
There is little in terms of a traditional plot. The workers do have conflicts with each other, but their major concern is the possibility that the library may close. Fewer clients are using their services. Developers are buying up properties all around and there is fear that their building will be next to be demolished and replaced. Workers are already struggling because of the high cost of housing; many need multiple jobs to survive.
Except for a few characters like Scrabble Woman and Security, there is little differentiation. The narrator, one of the workers presumably, states, “We are a conglomerate of eccentrics” who like “wholesome weirdness.” Characters have no names other than the themes of the rooms. And to call the themes esoteric seems almost an understatement! Some examples are History of Outrageous Political Excuses in the Last Century; Evolution and Influence of Irish Butter; History of Early Urologic Inventions: Forgotten Poets Called John; Decoding Ancient Computers and Bonding with the Antikythera Mechanism; Bayesian Analysis of Phylogenetic Trees; and Great Moments in Belly Dancing.
One theme is the value of human connection. The narrator argues that “We are necessary because humans no longer look at each other. They are ghosting in stasis. On the phones.” There is repeated reference to an “epidemic of avoidance” and the crisis of “the human retreat from the human.” The library serves to address “the great reluctance of humans to be in a room with their eyes open (and not staring at a phone) and to tolerate the prospect of each other socially, romantically, or even generally. We need to convey an urgent requirement to return to interaction or risk social extinction.” The workers want “to keep all our clients sustained intellectually while we attempt, unofficially, to reintroduce them to the concept of each other.”
There are wonderful touches of humour. There are the themes of the various rooms like Influence of the Outdoor Ukulele on Yukon Carpenters circa 1896. The library’s has no WiFi: “We remain aged cheddar to the slippy-slappy slice.” There are comments like “It’s hard to absolutely vaccinate against assholes.” And there’s the totally ridiculous: who could be shaking a fridge so violently that a jar stowed on its side would spill its contents?
And there is social commentary. The narrator comments that in Vancouver “we erase the past swifter than we can construct the present”; it’s the “microfibre cloth swipe of capital.” It’s impossible not to think of current events with statements like “Diversion is a ruse Noble Leader and other global dictators have often used” and workers being warned “not to use the word ‘socialist’ because these days it can get you deported to places you’ve never been.” The razing of neighbourhoods is bemoaned so an “established community of low-income renters and new immigrants” has made way for houses for “financially rising or arisen folks with pre-approved mortgages and an abundance of pedigree dogs and electric blinds.” People are less likely to see “volleyball playing Tamils” but more likely to see new stock in the grocery store: “adding words like organic and no cholesterol to products that had never held any cholesterol, such as a bottle of water.”
The book is written in an absurdist style. It focuses on characters trapped in absurd situations, rejects a realistic, traditional plot, and uses dark humor. This style is not my favourite so I found the book a challenging read. I know I missed much of its message. At the beginning, the reader is told that one of the library’s rules is not to anticipate anything “except intellectual stimulation” and in many ways the book does feel like an intellectual exercise, much like analyzing “The Waste Land” or “Jabberwocky.” I’m certain that if I had the time to re-read the book, I’d appreciate it more.
I recommend Library of Brothel to readers who enjoy unconventional books and love to analyze but are also able to embrace uncertainty.
See my reviews of other Anakana Schofield books.
Martin John: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Bina: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
Let me begin by stating that I have read two of Schofield’s previous novels (Martin John and Bina) and both of them left me highly impressed with the author’s bravery and creativity. Her latest, Library of Brothel, often left me more confused than enlightened.
The setting is a crumbling building housing a worker’s co-operative, “the only remaining analog, offline operation in Vancouver.” The Library of Brothel consists of a variety of rooms with workers who are tasked with helping people recover from the internet and “reacquainting the human with the human.” The rooms focus on exploring a specific theme but, more importantly, provide clients with “the opportunity to converse and practise interacting with another human.”
There is little in terms of a traditional plot. The workers do have conflicts with each other, but their major concern is the possibility that the library may close. Fewer clients are using their services. Developers are buying up properties all around and there is fear that their building will be next to be demolished and replaced. Workers are already struggling because of the high cost of housing; many need multiple jobs to survive.
Except for a few characters like Scrabble Woman and Security, there is little differentiation. The narrator, one of the workers presumably, states, “We are a conglomerate of eccentrics” who like “wholesome weirdness.” Characters have no names other than the themes of the rooms. And to call the themes esoteric seems almost an understatement! Some examples are History of Outrageous Political Excuses in the Last Century; Evolution and Influence of Irish Butter; History of Early Urologic Inventions: Forgotten Poets Called John; Decoding Ancient Computers and Bonding with the Antikythera Mechanism; Bayesian Analysis of Phylogenetic Trees; and Great Moments in Belly Dancing.
One theme is the value of human connection. The narrator argues that “We are necessary because humans no longer look at each other. They are ghosting in stasis. On the phones.” There is repeated reference to an “epidemic of avoidance” and the crisis of “the human retreat from the human.” The library serves to address “the great reluctance of humans to be in a room with their eyes open (and not staring at a phone) and to tolerate the prospect of each other socially, romantically, or even generally. We need to convey an urgent requirement to return to interaction or risk social extinction.” The workers want “to keep all our clients sustained intellectually while we attempt, unofficially, to reintroduce them to the concept of each other.”
There are wonderful touches of humour. There are the themes of the various rooms like Influence of the Outdoor Ukulele on Yukon Carpenters circa 1896. The library’s has no WiFi: “We remain aged cheddar to the slippy-slappy slice.” There are comments like “It’s hard to absolutely vaccinate against assholes.” And there’s the totally ridiculous: who could be shaking a fridge so violently that a jar stowed on its side would spill its contents?
And there is social commentary. The narrator comments that in Vancouver “we erase the past swifter than we can construct the present”; it’s the “microfibre cloth swipe of capital.” It’s impossible not to think of current events with statements like “Diversion is a ruse Noble Leader and other global dictators have often used” and workers being warned “not to use the word ‘socialist’ because these days it can get you deported to places you’ve never been.” The razing of neighbourhoods is bemoaned so an “established community of low-income renters and new immigrants” has made way for houses for “financially rising or arisen folks with pre-approved mortgages and an abundance of pedigree dogs and electric blinds.” People are less likely to see “volleyball playing Tamils” but more likely to see new stock in the grocery store: “adding words like organic and no cholesterol to products that had never held any cholesterol, such as a bottle of water.”
The book is written in an absurdist style. It focuses on characters trapped in absurd situations, rejects a realistic, traditional plot, and uses dark humor. This style is not my favourite so I found the book a challenging read. I know I missed much of its message. At the beginning, the reader is told that one of the library’s rules is not to anticipate anything “except intellectual stimulation” and in many ways the book does feel like an intellectual exercise, much like analyzing “The Waste Land” or “Jabberwocky.” I’m certain that if I had the time to re-read the book, I’d appreciate it more.
I recommend Library of Brothel to readers who enjoy unconventional books and love to analyze but are also able to embrace uncertainty.
See my reviews of other Anakana Schofield books.
Martin John: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Bina: https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/...
Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/).
Review of advance copy
I don’t even know where to start with this book! The varying rooms/experts/workers felt like I was transcended into my brain where all of my memories on distinct facts or lessons I’ve learned are all arguing with one another. The dialogue was chaotic and humorous, but ultimately captivating.
Simultaneously, this was a spectacular play on work and living conditions under present day capitalism. The issue of value in capitalism is an underlying theme. It challenges the reader throughout the novel to ponder whether these niche experts are valuable, if the Library of Brothel itself is valuable if it is not profitable. This is especially important in a time of mass AI implementation. The depth and uniqueness of the workers/rooms are explored throughout the book. However, mention of AI is bland yet poses a substantial threat.
The book brings in many themes of working conditions, management, value, living conditions, and societal experiences and restlessness, all in an artistic manner. While obsessed with the internal world of the Library of Brothel, I was reminded periodically about the state of society outside of the building, thus demonstrating the struggle of work/life balance.
This was a great read! Fuck AI, and as always, power to the workers.
Simultaneously, this was a spectacular play on work and living conditions under present day capitalism. The issue of value in capitalism is an underlying theme. It challenges the reader throughout the novel to ponder whether these niche experts are valuable, if the Library of Brothel itself is valuable if it is not profitable. This is especially important in a time of mass AI implementation. The depth and uniqueness of the workers/rooms are explored throughout the book. However, mention of AI is bland yet poses a substantial threat.
The book brings in many themes of working conditions, management, value, living conditions, and societal experiences and restlessness, all in an artistic manner. While obsessed with the internal world of the Library of Brothel, I was reminded periodically about the state of society outside of the building, thus demonstrating the struggle of work/life balance.
This was a great read! Fuck AI, and as always, power to the workers.
Review of advance copy
Received this ARC not knowing what to expect, and after finishing this book, I'm still not sure what I read. Unconventional format, but with some entertaining bits.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews