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Uplifting Picks from Clemmons Branch Staff

Published 12/31/2021 by Decca Slaughter

Uplifting Picks from Clemmons Branch Staff

The holiday season is approaching, and if that makes you think of tea, kittens and spending a rainy day reading in a cozy nook, these uplifting suggestions from the staff at the Clemmons Branch Library will put you in the right frame of mind.

“Leaf by Leaf: autumn poems” by Barbara Rogasky

This lovely children's title highlights selections of 25 poems ranging from classic authors such as Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman and William Yeats to unsung poets, like Edward Thomas and Tzu Yeh, all while showcasing the artistry of photographer Marc Tauss. Reading the selections offers an introduction to previously undiscovered poets or works that certainly bring the changing of the seasons to mind.

“The Giver of Stars” by Jojo Moyes

Alice Van Cleve, a new bride on a journey to her new husband's hometown, comes up against unmet expectations when settling into her new life. To cope, she forms close friendships with a group of strong, independent and sometimes unconventional women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. Traveling against the backdrop of the harsh, but beautiful landscape of Kentucky to deliver books to a community that didn't have access to them before, Alice finds strength in a new life that she could never have anticipated.

“A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman

Ove is a curmudgeon. He has strict principles and routines, as well as a pretty short fuse. However, behind his cranky exterior is an interesting story filled with all kinds of emotion and events. One day, a young couple with two talkative young daughters move in next door and accidentally take out Ove's mailbox. This leads to a humorous and ultimately heartwarming story that includes cats, unexpected friendships, and no small amount of automotive mechanical instruction. These encounters work to change one cranky old man and the local residents he interacts with daily for the better.

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