Large Print: A Sight for Sore Eyes

Between staring at a computer monitor all day, Netflix at night, and then presidential tweets first thing in the morning, our eyes experience a great deal of strain throughout the day. This is one likely reason that print book sales have stayed strong in the digital era, as a respite from screen time. Any analog book might do the trick, but for some, the 10-12 point font can still be an effort to read.  Many people find Large Print books, with 16-18 point font, are the comfiest option for relaxing labored peepers.

Large Print books were originally developed for the visually impaired, but are popular with anyone who enjoys a bigger font.  Beyond the optical advantages, the larger letters allow for fewer words on a page, so it feels like you are flying through the story when reading one. The larger font also tends to equate to more pages in the book, so even a light romance could be mistaken for weighty literature. (They do weigh a bit more, though. Good for the biceps!)

We are always adding new books to this collection, which hovers at around six thousand titles. Our Large Print books span all of our genres and include many of our most popular new titles. Below is a list of recently acquired Large Print books that the critics have loved and you may want to set your sights on:

The Lido by Libby Page. Set in England, an inter-generational team work to save a beloved community pool.
"...the upbeat tone prevails swimmingly." Library Journal
"...the water's fine." Kirkus Reviews

A Double Life by Flynn Berry. A London doctor doesn't know if she is the daughter of a murderer or a wronged man.
"...builds to shocking but satisfying conclusion." Publishers Weekly
"...a polished psychological thriller that will be devoured by fans of Ruth Ware, Gillian Flynn, and Paula Hawkins." Library Journal

The Best Cook in the World by Rick Bragg. Part memoir, part cookbook, Bragg pens a warm, humorous tribute to his mother and growing up in the South.
"His prose evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of a rural Alabama kitchen..." Booklist (Starred Review)
"Affectionate, funny, and beautifully written: a book for every fan of real food."  Kirkus Reviews

Those Other Women by Nicola Moriarty. An Australian woman's leaked angry social media posts stir a backlash.
"There is real suspense here, generated not by a crime, but by the snowball effect of small actions and how they can grow and grow." Library Journal
"...a darkly droll page-turner." Publishers Weekly

The Philosopher's Flight by Tom Miller. In a re-imagined WWI-era America, women hold the power as this male protagonist enters a previously all-female school of magic and science.
"...Miller has already set a high bar for any book vying to be the most entertaining novel of 2018" BookPage
"A fun, fast-paced coming-of-age story laced with magic." Kirkus Reviews

Swimming With Elephants by Sarah Bamford Seidelmann. In this medical doctor's memoir of spiritual awakening, Seidelmann explores her transition to being a shamanic healer.
"Seidelmann is an often irreverent narrator whose memoir is as transformative as it is off-the-wall." Foreward
"This book will resonate with those yearning to learn more about global spiritual traditions from a fellow Westerner's perspective." Publishers Weekly

Crimson Lake by Candice Fox. A wrongly accused detective flees to the croc-infested Australian wetlands.
"This compelling first solo...boasts full-bodied characters, suspense with a quirky edge, and a strong sense of place."  Booklist (Starred Review)
"The surprising conclusion will leave the reader looking forward to...further adventures." Publishers Weekly

By the Book by Julia Sonneborn. This modern retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion follows a college professor seeking tenure.
"This decidedly filmable update of the classic romance—without zombies or vampires—will charm lovers of Jane Austen and chick-lit alike." Kirkus Reviews
"Entertaining, romantic, and smart...a delightful way to spend an afternoon." Library Journal  

-Ransom Jabara is a Collection Development Librarian at Lawrence Public Library.