Bremen Library Newsletter

November 2024

Dear Bremen Library Patrons,

Good News! We have found a new library director. Melissa Chase will be joining us on November 20. She lives in Damariscotta with her husband and her grown daughter and family. Melissa has a wealth of library experience starting as a teenage page in her hometown library in Massachusetts. She is a warm and welcoming person and the entire board feels she will be a great addition to the library. We plan to have an open house after she has a little time to settle in but please stop by after the 20th to welcome Melissa and introduce yourself.

Whether you ’re ready to read something pithy by the wood stove or you just want to escape from reality for a bit we have many things to offer here at the Bremen Library. Keep reading to hear about a great program coming up and a lot of new books just arrived..

Best,

Ellen Dickens, Interim Director

(207) 529-5572

bremenmainelibrary@gmail.com

Wreath Sale

The Bremen Library Wreath Sale begins soon. Official sale dates are Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1 from 9am to 2pm at the Bremen Town House, Route 32 in Bremen. However, beginning Friday, Nov. 15 you can stop by the Town House from 9:30 am to noon or 1 to 2:30 pm to pick out a wreath or you can call the library at 529-5572 to pre-order a wreath or to find out about shipping a wreath. Fully decorated wreaths range from $30-$45 with plain and bow-only wreaths less.

These wreaths are beautifully decorated with natural materials by a talented squad of decorators who gather the materials themselves. Each one is unique. This is a major fund-raiser for the library and a real community effort. You can support the library while purchasing a one-of-a-kind holiday decoration for your home.

Upcoming Program - Thursday, November 14

Author Talk: The Caretakers: War Graves Gardeners and the Secret Battle to Rescue Allied Airmen in World War II by Caitlin DeAngelis

We are pleased to present internationally renowned cemetery expert Caitlin Galante DeAngelis on Thursday, November 14 at 4 pm. DeAngelis will talk about her book The Caretakers: War Graves Gardeners and the Secret Battle to Rescue Allied Airmen in World War II, a fascinating story about the cemetery gardeners who worked for the Imperial War Graves Commission after World War I, caring for the WWI cemeteries in France. In 1940, these caretakers were trapped in France when the Nazis invaded. Some were arrested and sent to internment camps; others joined the French Resistance.

Through meticulous research, never-before-published journals and papers, and compassionate storytelling, DeAngelis honors the sacrifices made by War Graves gardeners and their families.

The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Books received in late October

Fiction

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

A Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel in this fiendishly clever, suspenseful new novel

The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

From the bestselling historical novelist, a rich, transporting story that follows a family of glassmakers from the height of Renaissance-era Italy to the present day.

Non-Fiction

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten—aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon—shares her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table.

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.

November books - Fiction

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

A funny and piercing satirical novel with sensational reviews

Break Every Rule by Brian Freeman

From the New York Times bestselling author of Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series comes a breathtaking thriller about a man whose only chance to rescue his family is to return to the past he thought he’d left behind.

Bad Liar by Tami Hoag

Small-town labels are hard to shake. Hometown hero. Fallen angel. Can anyone ever escape their past?

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

Welcome to Eris: an island with only one house, one inhabitant, one way out The propulsive and powerful new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

An enchanting new tale about three characters living along two great rivers (the Tigris and Euphrates), all connected by a single drop of water.

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

It’s the new Louise Penny you’ve been waiting for

In Too Deep by Lee and Andrew Child

The new Jack Reacher you’ve been waiting for

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

An exquisitely moving story about grief, love and family—but especially love

Playground by Richard Powers

Set in the world’s largest ocean, this awe-filled book explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize in a still-unfolding oceanic game, and interweaves beautiful writing, rich characterization, profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity

Eleanore of Avignon by Elizabeth DeLosier

The story of a healer who risks her life, her freedom, and everything she holds dear to protect her beloved city from the encroaching Black Death

The Author’s Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams & 2 more

At Castle Kinloch in the Scottish Highlands, literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley is found dead under strange circumstances, leading Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh to investigate three American novelists—each with their own motives and secrets—as he uncovers connections between Presley’s murder and the castle’s dark history.

November books - Non-fiction

Patriot by Alexei Navalny

Alexei Navalny began writing Patriot shortly after his near-fatal poisoning in 2020. It is the full story of his life: his youth, his call to activism, his marriage and family, his commitment to challenging a world super-power determined to silence him, and his total conviction that change cannot be resisted—and will come.

The Language of Breath by Jesse Coomer

Discover Better Emotional and Physical Health through Breathing and Self-Awareness. This is a gift from the Damariscotta/Newcastle Rotary Club

Art Show: Sarah Wilde - In the meeting room through December 7.

Library Hours:

Wednesday & Thursday 10-5

Friday 10-3

Saturday 9-noon