As I was looking back over my list of recent reads, I realized I have read far fewer books since Thanksgiving. It can be hard to make time for reading with numerous family, work, and community commitments this time of year. If you are able to make time for reading, here are a few that I believe are worth your time.

Liz Bennet loves her part-time job as a “stage kitten” at the Meryton burlesque show. She is excited to hear that the show’s producer is considering purchasing the Meryton venue to create a full-time burlesque venue, which would be mean steady jobs for all of the performers. Her best friend Jane falls for the financial backer, Charles Bingley. But Liz is offended and irritated by Charles’ friend and financial advisor, William Darcy. You’ve guessed it: “A Certain Appeal” by Vanessa King is another retelling of “Pride and Prejudice,” and the most charming one since “Bridget Jones’ Diary.” I really enjoyed the characters and the unique setting.

In “The Book of Magic” Alice Hoffman revisits the Owens family for the fourth and last installment of the Practical Magic series. The Owens family is cursed, thanks to their ancestor Maria Owens. Maria was nearly drowned as a witch by John Hawthorne, the man who she thought loved her. As she waited for death, she cursed her ancestors to never be able to keep true love, and all manner of deadly accidents and illnesses have plagued lovers of the Owens family ever since. When Kylie Owens’ boyfriend Gideon is struck by a car, she is determined to break the curse once and for all, no matter what it takes. Even if it means using left-handed, dark magic. Hoffman brings back all of the beloved Owens women for one more magical adventure, including epic love stories, great characters, and beautiful and haunting settings.

Emily Ratajkowski was an unknown catalog model until she was featured in the music video for “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke. The music video was controversial because the women featured were completely nude in the uncensored version, and Ratajkowski was catapulted to fame as a result of the controversy. In this collection of essays Ratajkowski discusses her experiences using her body and image to make a living and how that has shaped her interactions with men. “My Body” by Emily Ratajkowski is a nuanced look at coming of age in the public eye and one woman’s struggle to own her own body and public image.

“The 21st Century: Photographs from the Image Collection” by National Geographic features some of the magazine’s most stunning images from 2000-2021. It showcases photographs of cultural moments, beautiful scenery, incredible science, and more. The photographers’ account of events is included for some of the most striking photographs, and the context offered elevates the significance of each image. This would be a great book to pore over on a Sunday afternoon.

If you’d like to request any of these books, visit www.newulmlibrary.org and click on Library Catalog or give us a call at 507-359-8331. We’d be happy to place these or any other books on hold for you.

The library is located at 17 N. Broadway and is open to the public Monday to Thursdays 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday and Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The library will be closed on Friday, December 31 and Saturday, January 1. Happy New Year!