Jeanette Walls completely earned my admiration with her memoir, The Glass Castle, so I was excited to read her new novel, Half Broke Horses. Drawing on family stories, Walls writes about her grandmother, Lily Smith. Spunky, no-nonsense, and fearless, Lily was a true woman of the West and her story is made all the more captivating by Walls' descriptive writing.
Told from the perspective of eight girls, this is the true story of a team of girls who traveled from Afghanistan to the United States to compete in a soccer tournament. I read this book straight through, captivated by the bravery and spirit of girls who risked their lives in order to play a sport they loved.
For years I have been stuck at a crossroads and struggling with the question of “What now?” Reading this humorous and inspirational essay about Patchett’s own experiences grappling with and eventually embracing this seemingly daunting question, that she realizes is life's vitality, renewed my desire to explore the possibilities of the unknown with curiosity & hope.
This beautifully tender and yet disturbing novel about a father and daughter who depend on one another for survival and love as they are alienated from everyone else will haunt you long after you're done reading, arousing more questions than it answers. Why do they hide out in the wilderness and fear discovery in the city?
This novel is much more than a murder mystery. It blends fact and fiction to explore the complex world of post-WWII Hollywood: an era that is both glamorous and deceptive. Solving his brother's "suicide" becomes more challenging when Ben Collier befriends the German émigrés who are not only America's brightest stars in the film industry but most vulnerable to the Red Scare.
This is a truly inspiring account of one regular guy's courageous attempt to drastically reduce his environmental impact for one year. Beavan grapples with traditional American attitudes toward transportation, food, consumerism, and the idea of progress. Candid and unpretentious, he lays bare his failures, successes, insecurities and moments of clarity.
No Impact Man by Colin Beavan
Reviewed by Tracy
In this book, the contemporary culture theorist Peter Sloterdijk insists that the 20th century began in 1915 with the German chlorine gas attack on French-Canadian troops at Ypres. This was the first time that an enemy's living conditions were assaulted. This book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how terrorist warfare has been made possible.
This debut novel by NPR broadcast journalist touches on some difficult subjects: the violent death of a child, hatred and ultimately, forgiveness. How long can a family cling to an emotion for survival even though it is destroying their lives? Can hate really be left behind and forgiveness take its place? This would make an excellent bookclub selection.
When Carrie Host came to speak at an event here at the store, she said that the reason she felt compelled to write a memoir was because there were all these books about "battling cancer" and "surviving the fight" but nobody had written about the love. That is just what she features: the love of and for her family and friends that enables her to stay afloat. This is a descriptively rich memoir.
Between Me and the River by Carrie Host
Reviewed by Christine
What's the best soil to use for potatoes? How do you make beer from the barley you've sewn? When do you plant which crops and why? And plenty of answers to questions you didn't even know you needed to ask. Just like the high school text books it resembles, Seymour's book has all the answers to your pre-farming studying delivered in a very approachable manner.
Through a series of themed entries, musings and poems, Minato invites us to eavesdrop on her life-experiment with sustainability in a little cabin in the backwoods of Oregon. We come to know her quirky "landmates," the resident wildlife (including a lizard who survives the spin cycle) and the land itself. Generous helpings of humor, observation and self-reflection.
Siesta Lane by Amy Minato
Reviewed by Tracy
Are you a member of a book club? Want to start a bookclub? Want to know what a bookclub is? Come join us at the Boulder Book Store to hear suggestions, ask questions, and/or share your bookclub experience. Bookclubs from all over the Boulder area are invited to come to this annual event where we will be discussing anything and everything that has to do with bookclubs. No matter what genre, no matter how old your bookclub is, we'll help you out by providing suggestions for new books to read, new bookclubs to start, and even bookclub etiquette! Any and all of your questions will be answered, you will be able to meet other bookclub members, and you will find some great new ideas for your bookclub for the upcoming year. This is a great resource for all current and future bookclub members!
This book is filled with amazing stories about altruistic wild animals and house pets that have completed acts that have no purpose other than fairness, kindness, or assistance. Even animal skeptics who believe they act on nothing more than instinct will be convinced that not only do animals possess morality, but that their moral drive can often SURPASS our own.This week, I decided to write about a brand new restaurant that has opened up right across the street from the Boulder Book Store. Many locals are familiar with Tom’s Tavern, a restaurant that thrived in Boulder for years and had one of the best burgers in town. However, the restaurant closed about a year ago, and Salt has recently taken over its location. A contemporary and delightfully simple bistro, Salt uses organic and local farmers to bring you the best of what’s around. Every dish on their menu references which farm it came from, which is quite thoughtful as it allows customers to know exactly where their meal is coming from, and it recognizes the farms, giving them due credit.
Since Tom’s Taverns was famous for their delicious burgers, I thought it only fair that I try Salt’s version. Their grassfed burger from Lasater Ranch was a generous size, came with delicious fries, and simply put, was scrumptious. They are most certainly a contender for one of the best burgers in town. Furthermore, the service was very friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable. Surrounding tables seemed to devour their meals just as quickly as I did.
Overall, I believe Salt will be one of the most popular restaurants on Pearl Street. With an unbeatable combination of great food, friendly staff, and decent range of prices, this restaurant can hold their own as well as any other restaurant in Boulder. If your curiosity gets the best of you, check out their website at http://saltboulderbistro.com/, or try it for yourself. They are located at 1047 Pearl Street, Boulder CO 80310.
Jillian's Joints is a new weekly column devoted to highlighting some of the great shops and restaurants on Boulder's beautiful Pearl Street Mall. Jillian is a CU student and is interning with Boulder Book Store's Marketing Department this fall.
Award-winning illustrator David Small has an unnerving knack for portraying creepy in just a few brush strokes. Lurking within these pages are the all-too-real members of his unfortunate family scowling, smirking, baring their teeth, and furrowing their brows. Darkly funny, infuriating, and emotionally charged, Stitches is a fascinating study and an engrossing visual experience.
Stitches by David Small
Reviewed by Tracy
Perhaps Orhan Pamuk’s best novel, The White Castle will tangle your mind in knots as you follow the crisscrossing stories of the two main characters. His subtle look at the formation of Eastern and Western identity, coupled with a masterfully executed literary ruse, will leave you wanting to read the book straight through again, trying to figure out just when—and how—you’d been duped.
After living in Boulder for two years now, I have found that my knowledge of Boulder and its infamous Pearl Street has grown incredibly vast. I’m always on the lookout for new shops or restaurants as well as rediscovering some of the businesses that have been here for a while. 
In Dreaming in Hindi, Katherine Russell Rich challenges head on the theory of the "critical period" in learning a language. This book satisfied my nerdy love of all things word-related with a pleasant and refreshing combination of narrative and linguistic theory. It's a good account of how much language really influences individuals, culture, and experience.
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