Friday, October 30, 2009

Staff Recommendation: Half Broke Horses

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.


Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls
Reviewed by Mandy

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Staff Recommendation: However Tall the Mountain

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.


However Tall the Mountain
by Awista Ayub
Reviewed by Mandy

Monday, October 26, 2009

Staff Recommendation: What Now?

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.


What Now? by Anne Patchet
Reviewed by Alyssa

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Staff Recommendation: My Abandonment

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?

My Abandonment by Peter Rock
Reviewed by Alyssa

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Staff Recommendation: Stardust

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.

Stardust by Joseph Kanon
Reviewed by Alyssa

Monday, October 19, 2009

Staff Recommendation: No Impact Man

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

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Staff Recommendation: Terror from the Air

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.

Terror from the Air by Peter Sloterdijk
Reviewed by John

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Staff Recommendation: The Crying Tree

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.

The Crying Tree
by Naseem Rakha
Reviewed by Sally Laventure

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Staff Recommendation: Between Me and the River

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

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Staff Recommendation: The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It

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.


The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It
by John Seymour
Reviewed by Christine

Friday, October 9, 2009

Staff Recommendation: Siesta Lane

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

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Under the Covers: The 4th Annual Boulder Book Store Talks to Bookclubs

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!

We'll be meeting on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH at 7PM in the BALLROOM, but please RSVP by NOVEMBER 1ST to bookclubs@boulderbookstore.com. We'll have plenty of refreshments and giveaways to go around, so get ready for a night of fun and conversation!


photo courtesy of polyvore.com

Staff Recommendation: Wild Justice

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.

Wild Justice
by Marc Bekoff
Reviewed by Cesa

Monday, October 5, 2009

Dining at Salt Bistro, the Restaurant Next Door

Jillian's Joints: Week Two: Salt Bistro, 1047 Pearl Street

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.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Staff Recommendation: Stitches

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

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Staff Recommendation: The White Castle

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.

The White Castle by Orhan Pamuk
Reviewed by Dan Yockel

Friday, October 2, 2009

Looking for a place to shop this weekend?

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.

Jillian's Joints: Week One: Common Era, 1500 Pearl Street

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.

The store I’m currently crazy about is one that I’ve been familiar with for some time now, but I’ve just reignited the flame for this old love. Common Era, located on 1500 Pearl Street, is known for selling contemporary clothes, shoes and accessories and for carrying some of the cutest and most fashion forward trends. They also do their own sewing work, updating old styles and giving them a new life. With their remodel in May, Common Era is revamped and even has a cool blog that keeps fans in the know with events, fashion trends and more. To check them out online, go to http://www.mycommonera.com.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Staff Recommendation: Dreaming in Hindi


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.


Dreaming in Hindi by Katherine Russell Rich

Reviewed by: Christine