Neillsville Public Library

ADULT PROGRAMS

Author Visit: John Armbruster

Author Visit: John Armbruster

John Armbruster the author of “Tailspin” will visit on October 23rd  at 6 PM.

John Armbruster has taught American history and government at the middle and high school levels for twenty-nine years. Before becoming a teacher, he wrote for public radio and newspapers after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He lives on a small farm outside of Viroqua, Wisconsin, in the heart of the Driftless Region.  His email said: “I grew up in Chili, and I know Neillsville well from all those county fairs when I was in 4-H.”

Tailspin by John Armbruster:

World War II tail gunner Gene Moran fell four miles through the sky without a parachute and lived. Captured by the Germans, he survived a harrowing eighteen months as a prisoner of war, including a six-hundred-mile death march in 1945 across Central Europe.

When Gene returned home, he kept those memories locked up for nearly seventy years. His nine children knew little of their dad’s war story. But when John, a young history teacher, learns of Gene’s amazing fall, he’s desperate to learn more. Finally, Gene agrees.

So begins a series of “Thursdays with Gene” interviews. Gene, nearing his ninetieth birthday, recounts incredible tales. But John has no idea what wounds he’s reopening. Gene’s nightmares and grief return. But both men persevere, bonded by their close and growing friendship.

As the interviews go on, John faces an ordeal of his own. His wife is fighting brain cancer. What will happen to his wife and his two young children? John must continue uncovering Gene’s story of survival as he himself confronts the greatest trial of his life.

Tailspin is more than a war story. It’s a story of two men’s separate journeys confronting trauma and loss. It’s a story of resilience and hope.

Summer/Fall Movie Challenge

Summer/Fall Movie Challenge

Try our new library challenge. Watch a movie from each one of the prompts provided.  Complete and turn it in by December 15th to win a free DVD.  Please pick up the challenge in the library or download it here.

A to Z Reading Challenge

A to Z Reading Challenge

The new reading challenge for the rest of the year.  The rules of the challenge are that the title must begin with the letters of the alphabet excluding “The” or “A”! Complete & Return by December 15, 2024. Please pick up the challenge in the library or download it here.

Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak

There will be a sneak peek at our new releases on Thursday, September 26th at 4 pm! You are allowed 2 items from the Sneak Peek table and the checkout period is just two weeks!

Neillsville Storybook Trail

Neillsville Storybook Trail

You are invited to visit our brand new Storybook Trail!!

Where: Schuster Park along the walking path

What: Enjoy this new opportunity in our Schuster Park along the walking path as children of all ages experience the fun of reading and some trivia while walking along the beautiful park path.  At the end of the storybook walk, Please sign our guestbook through the QR code on the last post of the trail! The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.  StoryWalk is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson.