March has been eventful. Reading as escape, release or just a break is all the more important during chaotic times. Reading can help us process what is happening and sometimes just give us a break from what is happening. So, grab a book or download a magazine and spend time relaxing as you read.
Hopefully we have well and truly entered the season of mud. I don’t like it, but know that we have to get through this season to get to spring. It is very easy to stay indoors in this season and read in the evenings (or knit). Thus far this year I am working hard at alternating my reading between light, cozy titles and heavy reading of a variety of genres. I’ve read non-fiction social commentaries, histories, literary novels that explore social issues, and a classic or two that just took more energy to read as the language was dense. Keeping up, at least nominally with the news, means I have to keep reading light, cozy titles to stay healthy.
I mentioned in last week’s column that I’d be sharing book prompt ideas two weeks in a row, because I forgot to include ideas in the column for Feb. 28. This week the prompt is to read titles based on the last sentence of the book. This was a prompt I borrowed from another list and had to go searching for books that were supposed to have the best last sentences. Here are eight titles that I’ve read that I could agree had a good last sentence. The subject matters vary tremendously, and they were written between 1868 and 2005, so other than their last sentence being a marvelous end to the book very little in common.
Oops! I was supposed to provide titles for the next reading challenge prompt in last week’s column and didn’t remember until it was too late to change my submission. I will provide title suggestions this week and next week will get back on schedule. So, you will get two prompts in a row. I did however remember to schedule the Facebook post with the prompts, so you can always check the library’s Facebook page to find the suggestions.
New books are such a treat. It is so much fun to see what is new and handle the books or even read them before anyone else. You, too, can stop by the library and find new books that no one (except maybe library staff) has read. Enjoy being the first in the community to read a new book. You can have the privilege of sharing what you are reading with friends and family and know that they haven’t read it yet.
Happy Valentines Day! I hope you can find plenty to love in whatever you are reading. We have lots of great books to interest you. We’d love to have you stop by and take a look.
Welcome to February. You are already a quarter of the way through the second month of 2025. I hope your reading is going well and you are excited for whatever comes next.
I have often heard people say the month of January lasts a year and at times that has rung true. Not this year. Welcome to the last day of January. I’m not quite sure how we got here so quickly. February begins tomorrow and it doesn’t look like time will slow down anytime soon.
I hope your January 2025 has been full of wonderful time reading whether you like cozy, curl up under a blanket reading or you have read waiting for an appointment or waiting for a child to finish practice.
I hope your reading year has gotten off to a strong start and you are ready for our 2025 reading challenge prompt No. 2. Read a book that reminds you of childhood whether your own or not is up to you. Our suggestions include “The Wishing Game” by Meg Shaffer, “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving, “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens and “The Little Friend” by Donna Tartt. If you are more interested in reading aloud might we suggest “The Hobbit, or there and back again” by J.R.R. Tolkien, “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery, or “Holes” by Louis Sachar. Teens and adults would definitely enjoy “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton and “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson.