'Much of the dialogue is worth of Alan Bennett' Spectator

When novelist Chris Paling went for a job at his local library, he anticipated a quiet life. It took two hours between the stacks to discover that the reality was somewhat different. Chris found that at times the library is an extension of A&E; at others a hostel for the homeless; a psychiatric ward; a crime scene; a study hall; a place of safety; a boxing ring; a confessional booth; a theatre space; a venue for knitting and book groups; an information hub for people trying to find a long-lost relative; and a job. On most days the library is all of these.

At the heart of this wonderful and heartwarming book is the extraordinary cast of characters who visit the library most days. Libraries are full of stories. Not all of them in books.

Amusing, tragic, surreal and eccentric, Reading Allowed is a fascinating portrait of the classic British institution that is our local library which will both enchant and delight.

'There are many detractors who question whether libraries are still relevant in the digital age. Paling's keenly and kindly observed account of his encounters offers a gentle insight as to why they still are' Sunday Times

'Not only was I captivated by Paling's lovingly wrought series of pen portraits, I was amused, moved and - perhaps most surprising of all - uplifted' Daily Mail