About Blue Hill

My name is Janice Barrett Graham and I am the steward of my branch of the Little Free Library™. I am a wife of 40 years, mother of seven, nana of nearly two dozen, reader of great books, published writer of articles, stories, and books for all ages, church organist, and enjoyer of running, cycling, swimming, tennis, and other fun activities. We raised our children here at our house we call Blue Hill where we watched the pine trees grow from six to fifty feet tall and can see the neighbor's horses from the kitchen window.

Over the years I collected a nice little library and have enjoyed sharing my favorite books with friends, neighbors, kids and grandkids. (I like my books well-used; the wear and tear seems to represent a lot of thinking and learning that has taken place.) When I heard about Little Free Libraries™  I decided I had to have one of my own as another way to share my favorite hand-picked books on a regular basis. My own Little Free Library™ stands in my front yard under an aspen tree near the sidewalk. I call it Blue Hill Books, where neighbors can pick out a book, read it, and return it at their convenience. Readers can also share what they thought about the book on each book's inside cover. I'll be rotating the books in the LFL so the inventory, though small, will change and often be based on a theme. On this blog I'll post a selection from each new collection.    

A concern of mine is that readers of all ages, even if reading well, are not reading the best books (even in school), books that have stood the test of time and proved good, true, beautiful, valuable, and wise, books full of wonders and warnings, books that teach us the difference between good and evil, books that inspire, lift, and guide. About fiction, Flannery O'Connor said, "It seems to me that all good stories are about a conversion, about a character's changing."

The best stories are there for the taking. But we have to be looking. My hope is that Blue Hill Books becomes a resource for discovering some of the best, tried-and-true books. I have chosen as my slogan, what we read matters. Wrote Henry David Thoreau in Life Without Principle, "We should treat our minds, that is, ourselves, as innocent and ingenuous children, whose guardians we are, and be careful what objects and what subjects we thrust on their attention."

New books can be great too, but we mustn't forget the old. The best old books are as what C. S. Lewis called "the clean sea breeze of the centuries," and will help keep us as individuals and as civilized society on the right course.  

This blog is an extension of my Little Free Library™  where I'll supply lists, reviews, and ideas to encourage reading of the best literature, old and new. I may also include posts explaining why certain popular books are not so good.  (G. K. Chesterton said we can learn a lot from a bad book, about the times, the writer, and the readers.) Feel free to send me suggestions, lists, reviews, and comments and you may find them posted here.

You may notice that I don't always differentiate between books thought of as for different age groups such as children, youth, adults. This is because a really good book of any kind can be enjoyed and treasured by anyone who is interested in it. "A book that is only for grownups, or for six year-olds, or adolescents, may serve a purpose, but it is a limited purpose, and is usually bounded by its place in time and culture. The most exciting books break out of this confinement and can be read at any period in time, in any country in the world, and by a reader of any age," wrote Madeleine L'Engle. And if you find you've already read many of the books I suggest, keep in mind what C. S. Lewis said, that you haven't really read a great book until you've read it more than once.

My husband Steve and daughter Lili have been so helpful and encouraging in this new hobby of mine. Lili is the artist responsible for all Blue Hill Books graphic art and designs. Steve is responsible for the construction of the Little Free Library™ itself. Thank you, dear ones!

Welcome to Blue Hill Books!