To the Library and Beyond Thank you to those who have donated books to the library recently. We so appreciate your contributions to our children’s and adult sections. We’re adding new titles almost daily thanks to you. If anyone has excess books and not sure of what to do with them we’ll look them over & either keep them or send duplicates elsewhere. Please be aware we discard tattered, musty, soiled, and wet books. For after-hours drop off books can be placed in our back-alley book drop or in covered cardboard boxes left in the protected corner at the bottom of the front stairway. Be sure to leave a note if you want any books back if we’re not able to accept them. Two thoughts about the power and importance of reading occurred to me recently. Stories are a unique way for readers to understand, respect, and appreciate other places and cultures. And medical research says it’s valuable to having a good cry now and then, and what better way than through the pages of a good book or movie! There’s no clinical downside to crying. Conversely, there is a downside to holding it all in, your jaw locks and your shoulders take up residence near your ears for starters. Most of us know those tensions. Joan’s book review this week is The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews published in 2002. This novel’s story is about a man who is discouraged with life in part by not being able to provide for his family. He suddenly travels through time interacting with some wise historical people including Christopher Columbus, Anne Frank, Abe Lincoln and the like. The man receives maxims for successful living from these figures. When he then finally travels home, he finds ways to solve his problems and presumably lives well. Joan didn’t say whether he cried, yet I imagine his shoulders were relaxed and smiles released his locked jaw. She did enjoy this entertaining book. Keep reading! Frances Conklin
| COTTONWOOD
|