To shake the post-holiday blahs, libraries in Great Britain are promoting books to lift the spirits, reports The Guardian ("Glad Tidings of Mood-Boosting Reading," Jan. 10, 2012). According to The Reading Group, which organized the promotion, some research “shows reading improves mental well-being and reduces stress by over two-thirds.” Chosen by reading groups in the United Kingdom and endorsed by a British mental health professional, the entire list of recommendations is available at LibraryThing. In the meantime, here is a sampling:

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson

The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett