Monday kicks off a fun couple of weeks for Austin area folks interested in literature and history.

Several events are planned around the annual Page Turners citywide read and Austin native and Nobel Prize-winner Richard Eberhart.

One big annual event is “Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse” author Faith Sullivan’s 7 p.m. April 20 talk at Austin Public Library. Book clubs and many Austin residents have been reading the book about World War I-era rural Minnesota teacher and giving it rave reviews.

If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. For starters, it’s a quick read and a good book that touches on a vast variety of themes.

But the book is just part of the experience. Last year, I loved the chance to read Allen Eskens’ “The Life We Bury” and then get a chance to hear him speak about his writing process. It’s a rare chance to read a book and then get a face-to-face with the author, all while sharing it with your community.

Another great event will be at 4 p.m. on April 17 when a Literary Landmark is dedicated for Eberhart at Austin High School. It’s rare to have a Nobel Prize winner hail from your community. It’ll be great to bring more awareness to Eberhart, his writing and his ties to Austin.

A few hours later at 6 p.m. April 17, the finalists — students from Austin Public Schools — for the annual Eberhart Poetry Contest will gather to read their poems at the Hormel Historic Home.

Several other events are planned to lead up to the citywide read’s culmination on April 20.

Here’s a full calendar of what’s coming up:

April 10: History Happy Hour: Mower County in World War I, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hormel Historic Home. Presented by Dean Ulland. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of WWI. Presenter will tell of the many ways the war affected people in our community. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., presentation at 6 p.m. Refreshments available. Free for members of the HHH, Friends of the Library, and Mower County Historical Society; $5 for non-members. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

April 12: Austin Page Turners Lunch & Learn, noon at Riverland Community College Library. “Good Afternoon Riverland, Good Night Mr. Wodehouse: A Facilitated Discussion” presented by Melissa Siebke. R.S.V.P. by April 7 to Jeannie Kearney 507-433-0600 or jeannie.kearney@riverland.edu.

April 17: Richard Eberhart Literary Landmark Unveiling, 4 to 5 p.m. at Austin High School. Celebrating the life and works of Richard Eberhart. In partnership with the Friends of the Austin Library, MALF will christen Eberhart’s hometown as America’s newest Literary Landmark. The official dedication will include a special program and the unveiling of commemorative plaque. Literary Landmark events are free and open to the public, and we would love to see you there. For more information, call 507-433-2391.

April 17: Eberhart Night of Poetry, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hormel Historic Home. Finalists from the Eberhart Poetry Contest will have the opportunity to read their poems and share their thoughts about an adult/teacher who inspired them to be a poet. Open to the public. For more information, call 507-433-4243.

April 18: “Big Book Clubs Meets Little School House,” 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sweet Reads Books and Candy. Presented by Jaimie Timm. All are welcome to this Page Turners event about early Minnesota education. For more information, call 507-396-8660.

April 20: 2017 Austin Page Turners Event — Author Visit: Faith Sullivan, 7 to 8 p.m. at the Austin Public Library. 2017 Book Choice is “Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse” by Faith Sullivan. Open to the public. Refreshments will be served prior to the presentation. Book signing will follow. For more information, call 507-433-2391.