The Bookmark: Southern LitFest News and Cozy Read Recommendations

By SUSAN CRUTCHFIELD, Newnan Carnegie Library Director

It has been an interesting 2024 so far with freezing cold temperatures. My favorite way to warm up is to curl up under a fuzzy blanket with a cozy book. Cozy books have surged into popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Books that are termed cozy usually have low stakes with fun characters, often in a small town. They stay away from really serious topics and make you feel happy after reading.

Another thing that has been helping me stay warm is the fun of planning the 2024 Southern LitFest with the Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation. This amazing event will occur June 7 & 8th and we are excited to bring some amazing authors to Newnan. We will be having some great events including an amazing Local Author Showcase and a fun kid’s program at the Newnan Theatre Company. We are also excited to welcome authors, Sally Bethea, Gwen Roland and photographer C.C. Lockwood.

And together with the Newnan Cultural Arts Commission the big fundraiser of the weekend will be a special appearance from columnist, novelist, and stand-up storyteller, Sean Dietrich. Stay tuned to the Newnan Carnegie Library Foundation social media as we roll out all the exciting details in the next few weeks. Mark your calendars for this amazing weekend.

Hopefully the cold weather will be drifting away but just in case here are a few of my favorite cozy books.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett: This is a beautiful book about faeries and the search for more information about the Fair Folk. Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor who is writing an encyclopedia of faeries so the whole book is told in that format. I love when books weave fairy tales throughout their pages. This book is beautifully written.

Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery: This is definitely a classic book that is well known for its story of an orphan who finds a home in Avonlea. I would recommend the whole series of eight books. These are lovely books about found family, quirky small-town characters and are just so full of love. This is one of my favorite series and I return to it again and again.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree: This is a cozy fantasy story about an orc who decides she is tired of fighting and wants to live a quiet and simple life. Viv decides to open a coffee shop in a small town. This story is set in a world where the concept of coffee is very new. I loved reading about how Viv introduces coffee to this small town. This is also a tale of found family, magic and the joy of belonging. I found this book to be very sweet and heartwarming.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: This is another classic childhood favorite. Cassandra and her family are living in a crumbling castle. The main format of the book is Cassandra writing in her journal. So, we get a very up close and personal look into her thoughts, experiences and dreams. There are some really interesting people who surround Cassandra. This is a coming-of-age story with absolutely breath-taking writing that (no pun intended) captures your imagination. I also love books about young girls who want to be writers so this is definitely a favorite of mine (add the Betsy-Tacy books, Emily of New Moon and Pat of Silver Bush to this list). This book makes me happy every time I pick it up.