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This is Not an Article About Matt Damon

This summer Matt Damon transformed himself into Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey. Reports show that purchases of the poem have increased by 76% as compared to last year’s sales. Interest in journeying deeper into Greek mythology has noticeably increased with more adaptations and translations being added into the collection and circulating. You may be inspired to craft your own “personal syllabus,” a way to guide yourself through individual learning. Last year this became a trend as people were nostalgic about having a curriculum to follow and ...

Top Picks for Fall

In the book publishing industry, fall is the biggest and busiest season. It’s a busy season at the library, too. Check out the following list of books—with reviews from the publishers—to start building your hold list before these popular titles arrive at the library. Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult. “Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.” Off the Reservation by Stephen Graham ...

Best Nonfiction Books of 2026 (so Far)

There are many “Best Books of 2026 So Far” lists out right now, so I chose some of Amazon’s “Best of 2026” nonfiction picks to share with you. London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe (364.152 Keefe). “From the bestselling, prizewinning author of Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, a spellbinding account of a family devastated by the sudden death of their nineteen-year-old son, only to discover that he had created a secret life which drew him into the dangerous criminal underworld that lies beneath ...

Summer reads

It has been too hot this summer to do much besides relax with a cool drink and a great book. Here are a few that I enjoyed recently. The world is ending: Earth is weeks away from being swallowed by a black hole. After forty years together, husbands Don and Rodney are finally out of time. They depart Maine and head for Washington state with the goal of fulfilling a long-kept promise. We Burned So Bright by T. J. Klune (Fantasy Fiction Klune – New) is a heartfelt novel about the commitments we make to our loved ones, even when they tear our world apart. Lillian Martin was the breakout ...

Summer Reading and Beyond

This year’s summer reading program theme was Unearth a Story. I want to take a moment to thank all the parents, caregivers, children, and teens who participated this year. I would also like to thank the library staff. They did an excellent job helping to make the program happen throughout a very busy summer. We recorded over 725 people in attendance at the 36 programs scheduled for this summer. At the end of the program, finishers received a free book, a grand prize ticket, temporary tattoo, and the chance to vote for a new toy to play with in the library. It was wonderful watching our ...

Introducing Me

The feeling of meeting someone and finding out you share the same interest in books is one of my favorites, and one of the reasons I love working in libraries. My favorite books are ones that are more character-based and deal with emotional issues like navigating complex relationships or dealing with grief. The best of them have a humorous (sometimes dark) narrator leading the way, allowing for laughs. I recently started in my role as a librarian here in New Ulm, focusing on adult programs and technology assistance, including our Memory Lab. As a way to get to know me, here are some ...