I started off 2023 by reading a lot of great nonfiction books, with one novel thrown in. I certainly had time to get some reading done; I can thank our recent snowfall for many days of canceled plans. Let library staff know if you’d like to place a request for any of these titles.

Cartoonist Tom Gauld brings his erudite yet accessible wit to all things library, publishing, writing, and books in his latest collection, “Revenge of the Librarians.” His simple yet expressive cartoons lampoon the struggle of writing, reading, and loving books, as well as interacting with other people who love them, too. This is a great lighthearted read for the New Year.

Stephanie Thomas’ “The Little Book of Rest: 100+ Ways to Relax and Restore Your Mind, Body, and Soul,” is a gem. It is a short guide to finding ways to calm and restore your mental and physical well-being – something we could all use after the stress of the holidays and recent snow storms. Some of the suggestions are obvious, but still helpful because Thomas gives practical and easy-to-follow instructions on how to put these relaxation techniques into action. This would be a great book to check out for a weekend; you could just jump around and choose which techniques work for you in the moment.

Jennette McCurdy got her start as a child actor, starring on Nickelodeon’s “iCarly” when she was a preteen. It was never her dream to become an actor; it was something her mother wanted for her. In her memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” McCurdy details her difficult relationship with her abusive mother, which was complicated by her mother’s long battle with cancer. McCurdy skillfully illustrates how her close relationship with her mother made it difficult to recognize the abuse she was receiving. It has had life-long repercussions for her mental and physical health. This is a tough read, but worth it.

Sonya is living as a prisoner after The Uprising. Her father was an authority figure in the Delegation’s government, but was killed along with the rest of her family when the Triumvirate took over when Sonya was a teenager. Now an adult, Sonya is given one last chance to earn her freedom by finding a young woman who went missing during the Delegation’s rule. Her search will lead her to discover old allies, new enemies, and the truth about her father’s work for The Delegation. I appreciate a sci-fi novel that isn’t part of a series and Veronica Roth’s “Poster Girl” is entertaining!

Library staff would be glad to help you place requests on these or any other titles. Don’t forget that the library has snowshoes, sleds, and a snow fort building kit available for checkout, among many other items in our Library of Things!

New Ulm Public Library is located at 17 N Broadway and is open Monday-Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The library will open at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24 to allow library staff to attend training in the morning. For more information on library events and hours, visit www.newulmlibrary.org and choose Library Events.