Fiction_L Archives gentle reads Dates: 12/5/00,7:15 PM  through  12/14/00,4:33 PM  (13 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to December 2000 thread menu   |    Fiction_L Archives Menu

Postings are in chronological order (as received by the list server), with the original posting at the top of the page.

FROM: "Rita Squires Smith" <[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 7:15 PM

I recently saw a list of books (and of course, have no idea where) that I
would call "gentle reads". Similar to Jeannette Oke, but without so much
religion. What I am looking for are books for our senior outreach program.
Many of these seniors think that books nowadays have too much sex
and/or violence in them. Any recommendations?


-----------------------------
Rita Smith
Missoula Public Library
301 E Main
Missoula, MT 59802
[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us
406 721 2665
-------------------------------------
"Reading a really good book is like reading a part of the author's heart."
(Kevin Frederick - my 9 year old son, after reading the last of the Indian in the Cupboard series)

FROM: "Karen Traynor" <[removed]@midyork.lib.ny.us>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 8:56 PM

The Mitford books by Jan Karon and Lillian Jackson Braun's mysteries would
fit this category.

Karen Traynor
Sullivan Free Library
519 McDonnell Street
Chittenango, NY 13037


----- Original Message -----
From: Rita Squires Smith <[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us>


> I recently saw a list of books (and of course, have no idea where) that I
> would call "gentle reads". Similar to Jeannette Oke, but without so much
> religion. What I am looking for are books for our senior outreach
program.
> Many of these seniors think that books nowadays have too much sex
> and/or violence in them. Any recommendations?

FROM: Jennifer Loeffel <[removed]@mcfls.org>
REC'D: 12/5/00, 8:58 PM

What about Jan Karon's Mitford series?

Jennifer Loeffel
Greendale Public Library


-----Original Message-----
From: Rita Squires Smith [[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 3:39 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: gentle reads

I recently saw a list of books (and of course, have no idea where) that I
would call "gentle reads". Similar to Jeannette Oke, but without so much
religion. What I am looking for are books for our senior outreach program.
Many of these seniors think that books nowadays have too much sex
and/or violence in them. Any recommendations?


-----------------------------
Rita Smith
Missoula Public Library
301 E Main
Missoula, MT 59802
[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us
406 721 2665
-------------------------------------
"Reading a really good book is like reading a part of the author's heart."
(Kevin Frederick - my 9 year old son, after reading the last of the Indian in the Cupboard series)

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 12/6/00, 12:19 AM

In a message dated 12/5/2000 8:06:35 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us writes:

<<
I recently saw a list of books (and of course, have no idea where) that I
would call "gentle reads". Similar to Jeannette Oke, but without so much
religion. What I am looking for are books for our senior outreach program.
Many of these seniors think that books nowadays have too much sex
and/or violence in them. Any recommendations?
>>

I think the best place to start is sort of where you are: Fiction_L. There
are already several lists in the website archives. Go to
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html (this is address is always at the
bottom of each post), then click on Booklist Menu, then browse down until one
of the topics works for you. On Booklist Series Two, e.g., there is a list
called: Gentle Romance Authors. You could start with that.

Also, if your clients like romance and tenderness, but not sex per se, don't
forget Mary Stewart (gothics), Rita Boucher (regency romances), etc.

IMHO - and hoping this helps.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
Romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: Mary K Chelton <[removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 9:31 AM

Here's a list of "gentle reads," less elegantly and euphemistically titled.

Mary K.

Safe and [Mostlyl Sinless Authors

Evelyn Anthony Norah Lofts

Maeve Binchy Catherine Marshall

Lilian Jackson Braun Barbara Michaels

Pearl S. Buck Margaret Mitchell

Agatha Christie L. M. Montgomery

Catherine Cookson Jeanette Oke

R. F. Delderfield Mary Emily Pearce

Daphne DuMaurier Frank Peretti

Clyde Edgerton Elizabeth Peters

Edna Ferber Rosamunde Pilcher

Paul Gallico Jean Plaidy

Joseph Girzone Belvah Plain

Rumer Godden Eugenia Price

Martha Grimes Barbara Pym

O. Henry Marjorie Rawlings

GraceLivingston Hill Miss Read


Francine Rivers

Cecilia Holland Phillip Rock

Isabelle Holland Elliot Roosevelt

Victoria Holt Dori Sanders

Eva Ibbotson Betty Smith

Frances Parkinson Keyes D. E. Stevenson

Elswyth Thane

Margaret Truman

Also, any Silhouette or Harlequin Romance (as opposed to other
Silhouette or Harlequin categories, i. e., Desire orSuperromance)

--
**************************************************************************************
Home: 35 Mercury Ave., East Patchogue, NY 11772-4609. Phone: (631)
286-4255 or 776-2166
Work: Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens
College, 254 Rosenthal Library, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, NY
11367. Phone: (718) 997-3790 general office; 3667 direct voice; 3797
fax, e-mail [removed]@pop.mail.rcn.net
**************************************************************************************

FROM: Meg Sarff <[removed]@libby.rbls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 11:21 AM

Rita,
I have a list like that on our website at
www.rbls.lib.il.us/dpl/GRgentle.htm
Meg

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Meg Sarff [removed]@libby.rbls.lib.il.us
Public Services Manager Davenport Public Library
Voice: 319.328.6848 321 Main Street
Fax: 319.326.7809 Davenport, Iowa 52801-1490
www.davenportlibrary.com
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

On Tue, 5 Dec 2000, Rita Squires Smith wrote:

> I recently saw a list of books (and of course, have no idea where) that I
> would call "gentle reads". Similar to Jeannette Oke, but without so much
> religion. What I am looking for are books for our senior outreach program.
> Many of these seniors think that books nowadays have too much sex
> and/or violence in them. Any recommendations?
>
>
> -----------------------------
> Rita Smith
> Missoula Public Library
> 301 E Main
> Missoula, MT 59802
> [removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us
> 406 721 2665
> -------------------------------------
> "Reading a really good book is like reading a part of the author's heart."
> (Kevin Frederick - my 9 year old son, after reading the last of the Indian in the Cupboard series)
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: ROBIN BEERBOWER <[removed]@MAIL.OPEN.ORG>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 12:04 PM

I also do outreach and following are the favorites of "my" homebound
patrons:

Elizabeth Cadell
Grace Livingston Hill
Betty Neels (all of hers are "harlequin" type but she is extremely
popular)
Rosamund Pilcher
Ann Purser
Effie Wilder
Miss Read
Essie Summers
Madeleine Brent
Dorothy Eden
Catherine Cookson (some of hers get a little dark, though)
Mary Pearce
Bess Streeter Aldrich
Francis C Ames
Bristow, Gwen
Coleman, Jane Candia
Jane Kirkpatrick
Kay McDonald
Carrie Young
Rosalilnd Laker
Robin Hatcher

Some mystery authors that have proved to be popular:

Rhys Bowen
Anne George
Jeanne M Dams
Corinne Holt Sawyer
Sister Carol Anne O'Marie

The following authors are also requested but there might be a few
objectionable words or mild sex in them (I had one patron who wouldn't
read a Harlequin style romance because the couple was kissing on the
cover):

Jennifer Chiaverini (2 in quilt series)
Dorothy Garlock (extremely popular despite being a bit more racy)
EL Swann - Night Gardening

I'll probably think of more but that's all for now. I realize I
didn't add any authors for male readers but most of the requests from
men are for mystery or thriller authors. Let me know if you would
like suggestions for these.

Robin Beerbower
Outreach Services
Salem (OR) Public Library
PO Box 14810, Salem, OR 97309
[removed]@open.org
503-588-6089

>>> "Rita Squires Smith" <[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us> 12/05 1:38 PM >>>
I recently saw a list of books (and of course, have no idea where)
that I
would call "gentle reads". Similar to Jeannette Oke, but without so
much
religion. What I am looking for are books for our senior outreach
program.
Many of these seniors think that books nowadays have too much sex
and/or violence in them. Any recommendations?


-----------------------------
Rita Smith
Missoula Public Library
301 E Main
Missoula, MT 59802
[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us
406 721 2665
-------------------------------------
"Reading a really good book is like reading a part of the author's
heart."
(Kevin Frederick - my 9 year old son, after reading the last of
the Indian in the Cupboard series)

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 12/6/00, 1:05 PM

>From: "Rita Squires Smith" <[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us>
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: Re: gentle reads
>Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2000 14:38:55 -0700
>
>I recently saw a list of books (and of course, have no idea where) that I
>would call "gentle reads". Similar to Jeannette Oke, but without so much
>religion. What I am looking for are books for our senior outreach program.
>Many of these seniors think that books nowadays have too much sex
>and/or violence in them. Any recommendations?
>

We covered this a while back on this list, Rita, and I sent a very long list
of authors that fit the description. If you can't find it in the archives,
please say so, and I'll try to find it and resend.

>
>-----------------------------
>Rita Smith
>Missoula Public Library
>301 E Main
>Missoula, MT 59802
[removed]@missoula.lib.mt.us
>406 721 2665
>-------------------------------------
> "Reading a really good book is like reading a part of the author's
>heart."
> (Kevin Frederick - my 9 year old son, after reading the last of the
>Indian in the Cupboard series)
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 12/8/00, 10:02 AM

>From: Brett Castleberry <[removed]@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>
>
>
>
> May I suggest the works of D. E. Stevenson? Her stories are set in
>England and Scotland. They are just good, uplifting stories about all
>sorts of people, and can be enjoyed by both men and women. She was a
>perennial favorite with my seniors when I was doing outreach. She was
>prolific, so once you get someone started with her, he or she is set for
>a while.


I would think Angela Thirkell's continuations of the Barsetshire Saga of
Anthony Trollope would fall within the same parameters. There were a lot of
those too.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: "Deb Warner" <[removed]@co.durham.nc.us>
REC'D: 12/8/00, 1:01 PM

I just finished a new book that might well appeal to Jan Karon fans:
HOME TO HARMONY by Phillip Gulley. Harmony is a small town in the Midwest.
The writer is a Quaker preacher, as is his narrator. The book is humorous
and more anecdotal than Karon's work, but they have something of the same
flavor. He also has 2 books entitled HOME TOWN TALES and FRONT PORCH TALES
neither of which we own, but they also might be possibilities. It is
indicated as "First Year" which smells like a series in the works. Now, I
don't commonly choose inspirational titles but I thoroughly enjoyed this one

FROM: "Melanie C. Duncan" <[removed]@mail.bibb.public.lib.ga.us>
REC'D: 12/8/00, 2:09 PM

At 02:24 PM 12/8/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I just finished a new book that might well appeal to Jan Karon fans:
>HOME TO HARMONY by Phillip Gulley.

I'll second Deb's recommendation. Very tongue-in-cheek humor in this book;
I read it straight through.


Sincerely,
Melanie C. Duncan, M.S.L.S.
Christian Fiction columnist, Library Journal
Editor/Publisher, The Bookdragon Review (ISSN 1527-0157)
http://www.bookdragonreview.com

All opinions expressed are my own.

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 12/9/00, 12:08 PM

I just finished a "gentle" read that will soon be going to large print via
Thorndike: The Ultimate Deception by Florence B. Smith. It's a western, lots
of page-turning action but little in the way of cursing, sex, or violence.
Smith has written something like 39 historical novels of the West, and I
believe 10 of them qualify for large print in terms of length.

Fran Baker
Novelist/Author Profiler (www.todayslibrarian.com/articles/Oct11talk1.html)

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 12/14/00, 4:33 PM

If anyone's still interested in that string, I would highly recommend Jane's
House by Robert Kimmel Smith. If memory serves, it's about a widower who
remarries, and the new wife - and stepmother - is never accepted as part of
the family unit - is resented by the man's childern. A lovely book.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

Return to December 2000 thread menu   |    Fiction_L Archives Menu

The Webrary® and Fiction_L are services of the Morton Grove Public Library "Webrary" is a registered trademark of the Morton Grove Public Library. All rights reserved. Copyright of Fiction_L postings belongs to their respective authors; postings may only be reused with the author's permission. Compiled lists (compilations of titles or authors from earlier postings on a particular topic) may not be reused for commercial purposes. To use a compiled list for non-commercial purposes, please credit "Subscribers of the Fiction_L mailing list." All other content is ©2012 Morton Grove Public Library, 6140 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove, IL 60053-2989, (847) 965-4220.