The Bookmark with Susan Crutchfield

New Hours, Fun Fall Programs and Book Recommendations

Wow what a summer it has been! We have had so much fun at the Carnegie Library this summer welcoming thousands of people through our doors. By the time you read this the kids will be back in school. That may feel like the end of summer but we all know weather wise we have quite a few months left. So, I hope everyone still has time to enjoy a good book by the pool.

We know once school begins again it is more difficult to make it to the Carnegie with the kids to pick up books and enjoy the library so we are excited to announce that we are expanding our hours! We will now be staying open until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we will be open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. We hope these expanded fall hours will give you an opportunity to visit us!

We also have some amazing fall programs coming up for children, adults and teens! Some of the programs on the horizon are Invasion of Normandy with Willard Womack, Teen Recycled Book Art, Preschool Open Play, Lego Club, Chess Club, Teen Open Art, Armchair Travelers-London and so, so much more. You can always check out our schedule at newnancarnegie.com/calendar for more information.

I want to leave you with some book recommendations. These do not have a specific theme but are just books I have read recently that I have enjoyed and rated five stars.

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman—This book is set in Baltimore and centers around a music teacher, Billy and a former rock star, Margot. It had a very sweet love story and I enjoyed reading about Baltimore. The supporting characters in this book also had good storylines including Billy’s ex-wife and son and Margot’s ex-husband.

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer—This book is set on the island of Barbados in the 1830s. The Emancipation Act of 1834 frees all slaves but at the Providence Plantation the master announces they have to continues to work for him for six years. So one of them, Rachel decides to run. This book is about her journey to find her five children who were sold away from her. This book ripped my heart to shreds and put it back together several times. The writing in this book was stunningly beautiful. I felt like I was in this world with Rachel. It’s enraging, tragic, beautiful and ultimately about a mother’s deep & abiding love and determination.

No Exit by Taylor Adams—This is a thriller about a blizzard, a group of strangers and so much creepiness and tension! This was a terrifying book. The trapped atmosphere with no help but your own wits is just the scariest setting. Let’s be real I would have died within the first hour. But luckily Darby is made of sterner stuff than me so this book was full of suspense and cleverness.

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton—This is a dystopian book set in the future in Florida. Weather patterns and rising sea levels are changing the make up and climate of Florida. During a devastating hurricane Wanda is born. This book follows her throughout the years as her life rapidly changes. This is a book about survival, nature, found family, and community. The writing in this book was really beautiful. We hope to see you at the Carnegie soon!  in support of our Give BIG campaign. delivering the services that enhance the quality of life throughout Coweta County.

Susan Crutchfield is the director of the Carnegie Library in Historic Downtown Newnan. She also is a professional photographer and enjoys volunteering with the Newnan ArtRez and the Newnan Theatre Company.

• 1/3rd of Georgia’s children start school unprepared to learn?

• 75% of Georgia’s students who are poor readers in third grade will remain poor readers in high school?

How Do Books Help?

The more words a child hears, the larger the child’s vocabulary and the larger the child’s vocabulary, the more likely the child will be a proficient reader. However, in order to read with a child, books must be in the home.