Quirky

 Hall Memorial Library 

Northfield, NH

Yes, that’s the first word that came to mind when I wandered about this library. The building has some great details. It was built in 1885 with a donation from Mary Hall Cummings in memory of her husband. There are many cute alcoves to dive into upstairs and downstairs. Some of the spaces have a bit of clutter. The lower level holds the children’s section. I thought a couple of videos would help envision the small nooks. The upstairs has cathedral ceilings and stain glass windows. I had been by the library before but it was closed at the time. Very glad I was able to return and get the full experience. It is said to be one of the finest examples of Queen Anne Architecture. Hallmemoriallibrary.org 

Innisfree Bookshop

 Bookstore 

Meredith, NH

More than a bookstore, it’s a community center. There are posters of local activities on the front windows. There is a wall of games and puzzles to browse. They have a beautiful children’s section. One of the reasons I love the town of Meredith so much is their sculptures around the village. They change yearly which is great. This year they have a sculpture of Louisa May Alcott, best known as the author of Little Women, in front of the bookstore. See below for a picture.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

 Book/Movie Review 

4.3/5*

Shelby Van Pelt

Although I read this book back in 2024, I bring it up now because I just watched the movie. I feel like there were a few changes made from the original story. The movie was worth the wait. I enjoyed Sally Field as the main character. She did a great job. The other main character is Marcellos, the octopus. I would have liked more of his wit in the movie. Poor fella was stuck in an aquarium and missed his former quiet life.

Life and Other Inconveniences

 Book Review 

Kristen Higgins

4.2/5*

The relationship between a grumpy rich grandmother and her strong independent granddaughter is the basis of this book. It took almost the entire story to understand why the title and why the picture on the front. A dog on the cover is what drew me to purchase the book plus I have read some of Higgins other books. I really enjoyed the interactions between all of the characters. The story enfolds with each person understanding the other's reasoning. You hope that it all works out in the end.

Blank Bookshelves

Observation:

 I have seen this in movies. I get that. But a home where the owner puts all of their books backwards, I don’t get. How do they know what books they have? Are they arranged so only the owner knows where books are located? I have to guess that they don’t read. The books are just for aesthetics. It is said to be an interior design craze. A way to declutter a room to make other items the main focus. Sorry but when you have a passion for books, it needs to be a part of your home life. I remember hearing someone say your home should be filled with what you love. I’ve tried to keep that in mind.

Another way to organize your bookcases is by color coding. Since I have several bookcases I decided to try it on one of my own. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be. Most books are not one solid color like I have seen in some examples.  I did the best I could. Now when I choose a book from it I consider what color I have the most of and choose one of those.

During Covid one of my favorite things to do when watching reporters and others discussing something from their homes, was to look at their bookcases. I was interested in which books were facing out. I noticed if they were the author it would be set to be visible to the viewers. They spent some time arranging for the books along with their personal tchotchkes.

The Measure

Book Review 

4.5/5*

 By Nikki Erlick

Everyone 22 years old and older gets a box. Inside is a string that will tell you how long you will live. At first it was a vague time line. After some research the scientists were able to narrow the range down to a specific month that you could expect to live to. Not everyone wanted to know. The world took a twist. Two types of people; long stringers and short were created. There was no love lost between these groups. A great story for a book club discussion.

• Do you want to know how much longer you have to live?
• How will you handle the answer?
• Will you change the way you live, your habits, your job?
• How will this effect the economy?
• Will it effect health care and insurance?
• What changes will be seen on travel and extreme sports?

The Correspondent

 Book Review 

By Virginia Evans

4.2/5*

I found it a different way to tell a story. Listening to letters to and from an older retired female law clerk. She enjoyed writing over talking on the phone so she could consider what she wanted to say. She enjoyed the ability to reread letters from the past. It felt like a legacy to her. 

This woman has been writing to everyone since she was young. It does make you want to pick up some stationary and a nice pen to begin your own letter writing. I listened to the audiobook. I appreciated the change of readers when different people were writing. It made it easier to distinguish between the characters. I’m going to miss the group now that I am finished.