Library Lines ...

Dimmitt Book Club recently met here at Rhoads Memorial Library to view a movie, “Miss Potter”, shown by Libby Cleveland. Renee Zellweger starred in the title role of Beatrix Potter, author and illustrator best known for her books featuring Peter Rabbit.

Miss Potter, born July 28, 1866, in London, England, was also a conservationist and a natural scientist. The film highlighted Miss Potter’s struggle against the constraints of English society, her difficulties with her domineering mother, and the unexpected death of her beloved fiancé, Norman Warne. She later married William Heelis at the age of 47.

Potter wrote over 60 books, 23 of them children’s books. She is credited with being a pioneer of character merchandising as, in 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the oldest licensed character. In 1905, with proceeds from book sales, she bought Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey and, over the years, bought adjoining farms to preserve the area’s unique landscape.

Potter developed a keen interest in farming and land preservation and became a prize-winning breeder of Herdwick sheep. She continued writing and illustrating books until diminishing eyesight made it difficult; she died of pneumonia and heart disease at the age of 77 on Dec. 22, 1943.

Closer to home, some newly released books have arrived and are ready for checkout. They include: -”The Edge” (a 6:20 Man thriller) by David Baldacci; -”The Wishing Bridge” (a Christmas novel) by Viola Shipman; -”Someone Always Nearby” (historical fiction about Georgia O’Keeffe) by Susan Wittig Albert.

Thanksgiving is next week and we will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 23-25. We will reopen Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 9 a.m.

Until next week, Happy Reading!