...books that we think are well-written and uplifting, and they’re light in tone. (Think: no explicit sex or violence.)The list includes some of my personal favorites like The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. Again use this link to see the entire list and their commentary.
What I like the most about the list is that while these books can be called gentle, Book Page did not use that term, which turns off many younger readers. These are all interesting stories, with original and intriguing plots and characters, and resolved, satisfying endings. They are a great option for any reader looking for a "good read."
More importantly, I am getting many patrons who come to me looking for a heart-warming story during these trying times. With all fo the bad news in the world, they want to escape to a lighter story.
While this Book Case list is a great start, you will need more than 10 books to keep your patrons satisfied. I have also had great success suggesting Adriana Trigiani
, Sandra Dallas and Fannie Flagg to readers looking for "heart warming books." Also check out my review of The Tower, The Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart, including the readalikes.Although they are harder to find, there are some good "Gentle Reads" resources floating out there in cyberspace. Some of my favorites include:
- Hennepin County Library’s list of gentle reads
- Salt Lake County (UT) Library's Books with “Old Fashioned” Qualities, a list which includes both fiction and nonfiction
- Sachem (NY) Public Library's list of gentle reads
- Metropolitan Library System’s (IL) Readers’ Advisory Special Interest Group’s compiled Gentle Reads list (2007)
Feel free to share some of your personal favorite "heart warming reads."
No comments:
Post a Comment